Qatar Development Bank, GFTN Forge Strategic Partnership to Build Global Centre of Excellence in Finance & Technology

Doha to host new annual Qatar Forum and global FinTech CoE connecting the Middle East and Asia

SINGAPORE, November 13, 2025 — In a move set to reshape cross-border financial collaboration between Asia and the Middle East, the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) has signed a major strategic partnership with the Qatar Development Bank (QDB) to establish a Global Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Finance and Technology in Doha.

The agreement — signed by Abdulrahman Hesham Al-Sowaidi, Chief Executive Officer of QDB and Chairman of Qatar Fintech Hub (QFTH), and Sopnendu Mohanty, Group CEO of GFTN — marks one of Qatar’s most ambitious FinTech initiatives to date and a significant extension of Singapore’s influence in global financial innovation networks.

The partnership positions Doha as a central hub in the global FinTech corridor, strengthening regional connectivity, accelerating knowledge exchange, and deepening collaboration with Singapore’s fast-growing FinTech ecosystem.

Building a Global Financial Corridor Linking MENA and Asia

Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), GFTN and QDB will jointly drive long-term cooperation in:

global mindshare and thought leadership

policy co-creation and innovation

ecosystem development

capacity building and skills development

cross-border digital infrastructure alignment

The alliance aligns with Qatar’s national FinTech and innovation agenda, while advancing GFTN’s mission to bridge policy, capital and technology across more than 130 markets.

“Qatar’s bold innovation agenda provides fertile ground for global collaboration,” said Sopnendu Mohanty, CEO of GFTN. “Through our network spanning regulators, investors, and innovators in over 130 markets, we aim to co-design scalable solutions for Qatar and the wider MENA region.”

Flagship Initiative 1: Qatar Forum — A New Global FinTech Anchor Event

The first major initiative under the partnership is the launch of the Qatar Forum, an annual, high-profile global FinTech event to be held in Doha.

The forum will be integrated with GFTN’s major international platforms — including the Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF) — creating a seamless global innovation circuit across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and the Americas.

The event will convene:

policymakers and regulators

financial institutions and investors

global FinTech leaders and startups

academic and research partners

Doha was selected based on its rapid emergence as a regional FinTech powerhouse, supported by strong financial infrastructure, progressive regulation, and the Qatar Central Bank’s national FinTech strategy.

Flagship Initiative 2: Doha Policy, Capacity & Innovation CoE

The second initiative — the Doha Policy, Capacity and Innovation Centre of Excellence — will be jointly developed by QDB and GFTN to drive research, policy innovation, and capability development.

The Centre will:

deliver advanced policy insights and forward-looking research

support capacity building through leadership programmes, training and workshops

connect regulators, FIs, startups and global innovation networks

promote harmonised digital finance policies for emerging economies

strengthen Qatar’s position as an innovation hub linking Asia, Africa, Central Asia, GCC and the Americas

“Our mission has always been to empower entrepreneurs and build ecosystems that translate vision into impact,” said Abdulrahman Hesham Al-Sowaidi, CEO of QDB. “With GFTN’s global network and policy expertise, we aim to elevate Qatar as a global hub for financial innovation and attract world-class FinTech talent and investment.”

The CoE also supports Qatar’s Third Financial Sector Strategic Plan and contributes to the country’s long-term diversification under Qatar National Vision 2030.

Deepening Singapore–Qatar Collaboration

The partnership strengthens financial connectivity between Singapore and Qatar — two of the world’s most dynamic innovation economies — enabling:

cross-border FinTech investment

talent and knowledge exchange

harmonisation of digital policy frameworks

joint infrastructure and standards development

expansion of innovation pathways between Asia and the Middle East

It also amplifies GFTN’s work in building inclusive, resilient and interoperable financial systems, while supporting Qatar’s national ambition to become a leading global FinTech hub.

A New Global Benchmark for Financial Innovation

By combining GFTN’s extensive international network with Qatar’s strong institutional support for FinTech, the new partnership is set to create:

a true global centre of excellence for next-generation financial technology

an internationally recognised annual Qatar Forum

deeper Middle East–Asia innovation corridors

a unified global platform for policy harmonisation

strengthened regional startup ecosystems

As both economies continue to scale their digital finance ambitions, the GFTN–QDB alliance is expected to play a central role in shaping the future of financial innovation across MENA and Asia.