Qatar Islamic Bank wins top retail and SME bank awards
Tribune News Network
Doha
Qatar Islamic Bank has been named best retail bank in Qatar and best SME bank in Qatar at the MEED MENA Banking Excellence Awards 2025, reaffirming its position as a leading financial institution committed to innovation, customer excellence, and sustainable growth.
The best retail bank in Qatar award reflects QIB's strong retail proposition built around accessibility, efficiency, and trust.
The bank's success is grounded in a well-balanced strategy that integrates digital innovation with personalized support. With over 300 features and an intuitive user experience, the QIB Mobile App has become the preferred banking channel for QIB customers, offering a comprehensive and user-friendly platform for all their banking needs.
The App offers customers the ability to have full control of their accounts, cards, and transactions and to fulfil all their banking requirements remotely.
All citizens and residents in Qatar can open their first account in QIB within few minutes through the mobile app without the need to visit a branch. Existing QIB customers can open additional accounts, apply for personal financing and/or a Credit Card, instantly via the QIB Mobile App.
Further strengthening its position as a digital leader, QIB has introduced new innovations beyond banking including the QIB Marketplace providing a diverse range of products and including a section for local SMEs to display & sell products. The Bank has also introduced the first Auto Marketplace in Qatar, also within its mobile app, enabling customers to browse, book a test drive, select and finance vehicles online.
The best SME bank in Qatar award underscores QIB's comprehensive approach to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises. QIB offers a wide range of tailored Shari'a-compliant products and digital services, including online account opening, Corporate Internet Banking, and its Corporate Mobile App.
The Bank has also introduced co-branded credit cards in partnership with Ooredoo, as well as a suite of payment solutions such as POS machines, Payment Gateway, and the SoftPOS App. These services are designed to simplify banking for SMEs, improve access to financing, and help businesses manage their cash flow more efficiently, supporting their growth and contribution to Qatar's economic diversification.
QIB's continued investment in innovation, combined with its strong financial performance, has cemented its status as a market leader. For the three months ended 31 March 2025, QIB reported a net profit of QAR 985 million, a 3.1% increase over the same period last year.
Total assets grew to QAR 212 billion, while the Bank maintained a cost-to-income ratio of 16.6%, the best in the Qatari banking sector. QIB also continued to demonstrate prudent risk management, with a non-performing financing assets ratio of 1.76% and a financing-to-deposit ratio well within regulatory limits.
Commenting on the awards, Bassel Gamal, QIB's Group CEO, said: 'We are pleased to be recognized by MEED for our excellence in retail and SME banking.
These awards reflect the strength of our digital strategy, our focus on innovation, and our customer-first mindset. We remain committed to delivering secure, convenient, and inclusive banking experiences that meet the needs of individuals and businesses across Qatar.'
MEED, in partnership with GlobalData financial services publications Retail Banker International and Private Banker International, hosted the fourth edition of the MENA Banking Excellence Awards 2025.
This year's awards program honored top-performing financial institutions across the Middle East and North Africa, spotlighting innovation, customer experience, and operational excellence across various banking segments.
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