Financial Hubs Like Qatar Must Remain Agile and Proactive: Al-Jaida

Financial hubs like Qatar must remain agile and proactive amidst evolving global legal and regulatory landscapes, according to a top official of the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC).

This was highlighted by Yousuf Mohamed al-Jaida, chief executive officer, QFC, at an asset management workshop in collaboration with the international law firm K&L Gates.

The event convened industry experts, financial professionals, and legal specialists to explore the complexities and opportunities arising from various market forces, providing attendees with valuable insights, practical updates, and forecasts to help them navigate the rapidly changing asset management sector.

The workshop featured engaging discourse through panel discussions and fireside chats, covering key topics such as local and global asset management trends, regional market integration, evolving regulatory frameworks and establishing fund with the QFC.

"Facilitating these discussions reflects the QFC’s commitment to advancing Qatar’s financial ecosystem and reinforcing the country’s position as a hub for innovation, regulatory excellence, and sustainable investment strategies,” al-Jaida said, highlighting the critical role of regulatory foresight and strategic collaboration in shaping the future of asset management.

The workshop discussed in detail the process of establishing a fund and regulated fund manager in the QFC, explaining which funds and strategies are permitted.

A panel on global legal and regulatory trends, featuring experts from the QFC and K&L Gates, shed light on the impact of developments, such as the US' new administration, recent advancements in the EU, and emerging regional regulatory initiatives, including Qatar’s regulations on digital assets and tokenisation, on the domestic business landscape.

The state of the asset management industry in the GCC or Gulf Co-operation Council was also explored, highlighting the benefits the GCC region could get from following a regional fund market like the ones that were adopted internationally.

"By sharing practical insights on fund establishment and regulatory trends, we aimed to support Qatar’s vision of becoming a global financial hub and foster meaningful conversations that drive growth," said Amjad Hussain, senior partner at K&L Gates.