QDB and GFTN to Establish a Global Centre of Excellence for Finance and Technology and Host a Premier Global FinTech Event in Doha
SINGAPORE and DOHA, 12 November 2025 — The Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) today announced a strategic partnership with the Qatar Development Bank (QDB), represented by Qatar Fintech Hub (QFTH) to establish a Global Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Finance and Technology in Doha. The initiative is designed to drive regional collaboration, strengthen connectivity with Asian markets, and deepen partnerships with Singapore’s FinTech ecosystem.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed by Mr Abdulrahman Hesham Al-Sowaidi, Chief Executive Officer of QDB and Chairman of Qatar Fintech Hub (QFTH), and Mr. Sopnendu Mohanty, Group Chief Executive Officer of GFTN, establishes a long-term framework for cooperation in global mindshare, policy innovation, ecosystem enablement, and capacity building. The partnership will serve as a key pillar of Qatar’s national FinTech and innovation strategy, advancing GFTN’s mission to bridge policy, capital and technology to build resilient, efficient and inclusive financial systems.
Under the agreement, QDB and GFTN will collaborate on two flagship initiatives:
1. Qatar Forum
Qatar Forum GFTN, in collaboration with QDB and QFTH, will host a marquee annual fintech forum in Doha, seamlessly integrated with GFTN’s global platforms including the Singapore FinTech Festival, to foster collaborative exchange and ensure continuity across the network’s international events. The forum will convene policymakers, regulators, financial institutions, investors, startups, and academia to shape the evolving discourse on innovation, inclusion and the future of finance across five continents.
Doha was chosen as the home of the Forum given its position as one of the region’s fastest-growing FinTech and innovation hubs, serving as a strategic gateway to the Middle East’s expanding digital economy. Anchored by Qatar’s advanced financial infrastructure, progressive regulatory environment, and thriving startup ecosystem, Doha is uniquely placed to connect global innovation networks, accelerate cross-border collaboration, and amplify the region’s contribution to the global FinTech landscape.
2. Doha Policy, Capacity and Innovation Centre of Excellence
GFTN and QDB will jointly develop a Centre of Excellence in Qatar to foster a dynamic FinTech community and stimulate innovation across local and regional ecosystems. The CoE will advance an integrated, impact-driven hub providing strategic policy insights and pioneering research on transformative financial technologies influencing markets from Africa and Central Asia to the GCC, serving as a key node linking Asia and the Americas. By connecting regulators, financial institutions and innovators, the CoE will promote regional collaboration and harmonised, inclusive, and forward-looking policy frameworks for emerging economies. The Centre will also focus on capacity development through advanced knowledge transfer, leadership programmes and targeted policy workshops.
Mr Sopnendu Mohanty, Group Chief Executive Officer, Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN), said: “Qatar’s bold innovation agenda provides fertile ground for global collaboration. GFTN brings to this partnership the collective intelligence of our global network connecting more than 130 markets – regulators, investors and innovators – to help design scalable solutions for Qatar and the MENA region. 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.”
Mr Abdulrahman Hesham Al-Sowaidi, Chief Executive Officer, Qatar Development Bank (QDB) and Chairman of Qatar Fintech Hun (QFTH), said: “Our partnership with GFTN reflects our commitment to position Qatar as a global hub of excellence for financial innovation. This step is fully aligned with the 3rd Financial Sector Strategic Plan and the Qatar FinTech Strategy led by Qatar Central Bank.
At QDB, our mission has always been to empower entrepreneurs, elevate investments, and build ecosystems that turn vision into high-impact enterprises. Through this partnership with GFTN’s unparalleled global network, policy expertise, and digital innovation platforms, we aim to accelerate the development of local fintech capabilities, attract world-class innovators to Qatar, and complement the existing fintech infrastructure to create an ecosystem that connects local capacity with global opportunity.
These efforts on top of the existing solid infrastructure built will drive sustainable growth, in the financial sector and support our long-term economic diversification efforts in Qatar under the Qatar National Vision 2030.”
The QDB-GFTN partnership strengthens Qatar’s collaboration with Singapore, leveraging both countries’ fintech expertise to drive innovation, cross-border investment, and knowledge exchange. Through the Qatar Forum GFTN and the Centre of Excellence, the alliance will advance regional connectivity and set a global benchmark for inclusive and resilient financial systems.
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