QDB, Global Finance & Technology Network Sign Strategic Partnership in Singapore

Deal endorses establishment of Centre of Excellence and Support for FinTech in Doha, serving as a dynamic platform that energises fintech community both locally and regionally

Qatar Development Bank (QDB), represented by the Qatar FinTech Hub (QFTH), announced the signing of a strategic co-operation agreement with the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN), an initiative by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).

The agreement was signed by QDB CEO Abdulrahman bin Hesham al-Sowaidi, who is also QFTH chairman, and GFTN Group CEO Sopnendu Mohanty, on the sidelines of the ‘Singapore FinTech Festival’.

It establishes a long-term framework for collaboration in policy innovation, ecosystem enablement, capacity building, and the exchange of knowledge and best practices in financial technology.

The agreement endorsed the establishment of a Centre of Excellence and Support for FinTech in Doha, serving as a dynamic platform that energises the fintech community both locally and regionally. The centre will work to deliver strategic insights and pioneering research on transformative financial technologies and their impact on markets, from Africa and Central Asia to the Gulf Co-operation Council countries.

It will further contribute to strengthening collaboration between regulators, financial institutions, and innovators to develop inclusive and forward-looking policy frameworks that support emerging economies, in addition to advancing capacity building through specialised training programmes, knowledge transfer, and dedicated workshops across the financial sector.

The agreement also stipulated collaborating and coordinating on establishing a ‘Qatar FinTech Forum’ in the future, to serve as an annual international fintech event held as an extension of the ‘Singapore FinTech Festival’, aimed at advancing the future of financial technology in Qatar and the region.

Doha was selected as the permanent host of the forum due to its position as one of the fastest-growing fintech ecosystems in the region, and as a strategic bridge linking the Middle East with the global digital economy.

The forum will be a platform for exchanging expertise and ideas among policymakers, regulators, financial institutions, investors, entrepreneurs, and academia from across continents, to discuss the future of innovation and business in fintech.

Al-Sowaidi said, “Our partnership with the Global Finance & Technology Network reflects our deep commitment to positioning Qatar as a global centre of excellence for financial innovation. This aligns with the objectives of the Third Financial Sector Strategic Plan and the Qatar FinTech Strategy led by Qatar Central Bank.”

Al-Sowaidi added: “Through this partnership, benefiting from GFTN’s global expertise in policy innovation and digital transformation, we aim to build on the strong momentum the country is witnessing in developing local fintech capabilities, attract world-class innovators to Qatar, and strengthen the financial ecosystem to serve as a bridge connecting local capacity with global opportunity.

“This partnership builds on Qatar’s robust digital infrastructure and thriving business environment, which have witnessed remarkable progress in recent years. We believe it will play a pivotal role in driving sustainable growth in the fintech sector, supporting economic diversification efforts, and advancing the long-term ambitions of Qatar National Vision 2030.”

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Mohanty said, “Qatar’s bold innovation agenda provides fertile ground for global collaboration. Together with QDB’s deep commitment to entrepreneurship, innovation, and national capacity building, we are creating a platform that connects capital, policy, technology, and talent into an engine for accelerated and inclusive digital growth across Mena.”

The partnership builds on the growing collaboration between Qatar and Singapore, combining both nations’ fintech expertise to advance cross-border innovation, investment, and knowledge exchange. It reinforces Qatar’s position as a leading regional hub for fintech excellence, aligned with national strategies that support sustainable, technology-driven economic growth.