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THE NEWS MAGAZINE OF DOHA BANKJANUARY 2015 | ISSUE NO. 41

INFRASTRUCTUREDEVELOPMENT A KEY ENABLER FOR GCC BANKING INDUSTRY GROWTH

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DOHA BANK BAGS 5 AWARDS AT BANKER MIDDLE EAST PRODUCT AWARDS

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08 DOHA BANK DELIVERS CONTINUED STRONG

PERFORMANCE WITH 3% PROFIT GROWTH IN 2014

22 > October 2014 winners announced for Al Dana savings campaign

20 > DOHA BANK RECEIVES GOLDEN PEACOCK GLOBAL AWARD FOR SUSTAINABILITY

26 > Doha Bank Celebrates Country’s Prosperity on Qatar National Day

INDIA - A NEW ADDITION TO OUR

BANKING EXCELLENCE COLLECTION

Qatar • Abu Dhabi • Dubai • Frankfurt • Hong Kong • Istanbul • Kuwait • London • Mumbai • Seoul • Shanghai • Sharjah • Singapore • Sydney • Tokyo • Toronto

Wherever we operate in the world, we pride ourselves in our standards of professionalism and excellence in banking. Our regional teams have extensive

local knowledge of their individual markets,helping your business break through and succeed.

INDIA - A NEW ADDITION TO OUR

BANKING EXCELLENCE COLLECTION

Qatar • Abu Dhabi • Dubai • Frankfurt • Hong Kong • Istanbul • Kuwait • London • Mumbai • Seoul • Shanghai • Sharjah • Singapore • Sydney • Tokyo • Toronto

Wherever we operate in the world, we pride ourselves in our standards of professionalism and excellence in banking. Our regional teams have extensive

local knowledge of their individual markets,helping your business break through and succeed.

January 2015 – Issue No. 41

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Marking the end of the fiscal year 2014, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincerest thanks and gratitude to the Board of Directors, chaired by H.E. Sheikh Fahad Bin Mohammad Bin Jabor Al Thani, the Chief Executive Officer, all the managers and staff for their outstanding performance and achievements in 2014.

We march forward into 2015 after completing a satisfying business year in 2014. In its recent IMF World Economic Outlook released the global economy is tipped to grow by 3.5 per cent in 2015. China, Russia, Japan and Eurozone may witness a drop in their economic activity. However US economy is expected to accelerate further.

Doha Bank recently organized aget-together exclusively for bullion relatedbusiness customers under the theme “Sailing with Gold”, an exciting traditional dhow cruise journey in Doha Corniche waters. The event was attended by leading jewellers from around Qatar.

More than 2,700 men, women and children thronged Aspire Zone for the 10th Al Dana Green Run hosted by Doha Bank in November 2014 as residents across the city stepped outof their homes in large numbers to support and show solidarity for the cause of environmental protection.

Doha Bank was honored with the prestigious Golden Peacock Global Award for Corporate Social Responsibility at the 14th “London Global Convention”

Doha Bank dominated at the Banker Middle East Product Awards 2014, bagging top honors in as many as five different categories. Doha Bank took home the awards for “Best SME Customer Service”, “Best SME Card”, “Best Trade Finance Offering”, “Best Corporate Account” and Best Home Finance Account “at the prestigious annual awards.

CONTENTS

MESSagE frOM ThEMaNagiNg DirECTOr

MESSagE frOMThE CEO ThOuSaNDS TurN OuT

fOr DOha BaNk’S 10Th al DaNa grEEN ruN

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DOHA BANK ORGANIZES ‘DHOW CRUISE’ FOR QATAR JEWELLERS

DOha BaNk rECEivES gOlDEN PEaCOCk glOBal awarD fOrSuSTaiNaBiliTy

DOha BaNk DElivErS CONTiNuED STrONg PErfOrMaNCE wiTh 3% PrOfiT grOwTh iN 2014

THE RESOLUTIONS OF THE ExTRA ORDINARy GENERAL ASSEmBLy mEETING OF THE SHAREHOLDERS

DOha BaNk BagS 5 awarDS aT BaNkEr MiDDlE EaST PrODuCT awarDS

MulTi-ChaNNEl CaPaBiliTiES ESSENTial fOr rETail SECTOr TO TaCklE DigiTizaTiON ChallENgE’

DOha BaNk NaMED ‘BEST COMMErCial BaNk iN QaTar’ aT ifM awarDS 2014

‘INFRASTRUCTURE DEvELOpmENT - A KEy ENABLER FOR GCC BANKING INDUSTRy GROWTH’

DOha BaNk NaMED ‘BEST BaNk iN QaTar’ aT iair awarDS 2014

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The News Magazine of Doha Bank

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As part of Qatar National Daycelebrations, Doha Bank hosted anevent at its headquarters in the capitalon 17 December 2014, attended byDr. R. Seetharaman, Group CEO ofDoha Bank, and management teamsand employees from branches acrossthe country.

Doha Bank joined hands withthe Ministry of Environment (MoE)for a Beach Clean-up Campaignas part of its efforts to promoteenvironmental awareness and spreadthe sustainability message.

Doha Bank recently hosted itsannual inter-staff football tournamentat Al Sadd Sports Club. A total ofthirteen teams comprising staffmembers from various internaldepartments participated in thetournament with fun team names.

Doha Bank organized a specialceremony at its Dubai branch tocelebrate the 43rd National Day ofthe UAE. Employees representingdifferent nationalities and at all levelswithin the company, including seniormanagement, came together tocelebrate the occasion amid a livelyand joyous atmosphere that reflectedthe spirit of national pride and unity.

Doha Bank hosted a bowling andbilliards tournament for staff membersand their families as part of its yearroundemployee engagement program

Doha Bank CEO Dr. R. Seetharamanwas honored with the “BusinessEconomist Award” at the ABLF(Asia Business Leadership Forum)Leadership Weekend 2014 held atArmani Hotel, Burj Khalifa, Dubai.

Doha Bank announced the October 2014 winners of the monthly draw for its flagship Al Dana savings scheme, with a total of 18 lucky account holders walking away with cash and in-kind prizes.

Doha Bank Academy, a stateof-the-art facility dedicated to thetraining and development of bankstaff at all levels, celebrated one yearof delivering advanced professionaltraining programs to meet the bank’sgrowing local and international needs.

DOHA BANK WINS GOLDENpEACOCK GLOBAL AWARD FORCORpORATE SOCIAL RESpONSIBILITy

DOha BaNkCElEBraTESCOuNTry’S PrOSPEriTy ON QaTar NaTiONal Day

DOha BaNk hOSTS aNNual iNTEr-STaff fOOTBall TOurNaMENT

DOha BaNk CElEBraTES uaE’S 43rD NaTiONal Day

DOha BaNk iNTEr-STaffBOwliNg aND BilliarDSTOurNaMENT

21DOHA BANK AND mINISTRy OFENvIRONmENT TOGETHER IN BEACH CLEAN-Up CAmpAIGN 2014

DOHA BANK ACADEmy mARKS FIRST ANNIvERSARy

OCTOBER 2014 WINNERSANNOUNCED FOR AL DANA SAvINGS CAmpAIGN

DOHA BANK CEO HONORED AT1ST ANNUAL INDIAN INNOvATOR AWARDS

DOha BaNk CEO hONOrED wiTh ‘aBlf BuSiNESS ECONOMiSTawarD’

DOha BaNk PrOviDES PrOjECT fiNaNCE TO kuwaiT’S kharafi NaTiONal


6 Message from the MD

“State of Qatar’s winning the right to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup is expected to trigger growth in various economic sectors and pave the way for launching additional development projects in the coming years.”

Marking the end of the fiscal year 2014, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincerest thanks and gratitude to the Board of Directors, chaired by H.E. Sheikh Fahad Bin Mohammad Bin Jabor Al Thani, the Chief Executive Officer, all the managers and staff for their outstanding performance and achievements in 2014.

During the year and despite all the challenges and snags faced by various financial markets around the world, we have been able to achieve remarkable and distinctive success at both financial and services levels. We launched many innovative banking services and products while developing and enhancing the features of the existing ones. We also achieved a net profit of QR 1,354 million at the end of the year 2014. Furthermore, we attained remarkable growth ratios in most financial indicators including a growth rate in net profit

of 3.1% compared to 2013, while the return on average equity and the return on average assets reached 16.4% and 1.93% respectively.

During the meeting of the Board of Directors held on 20th January, 2015, the Board approved the draft audited financial statements for the year 2014, resolved to submit a recommendation to the Ordinary General Assembly to distribute cash dividends of QR 4 per share and another recommendation to approve the issuance of Debt notes “Bonds” using Doha Bank’s Euro Medium Term Note Programme (EMTN). In the same meeting, the Board also decided to submit a recommendation to the Extraordinary General Assembly of shareholders to obtain their approval for Doha Bank to issue Tier 1 Capital instruments amounting to QR 2 billion either directly or through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) where the instrument for the issue shall be Tier 1 Capital instruments qualifying as Additional Tier 1 Capital for Doha Bank in Qatar as per the terms and requirements of Qatar Central Bank. The Board also resolved to submit another recommendation to amend 3rd paragraph of Article (9) of the Articles of Association to increase foreign ownership of Bank’s capital shares to 49%. During the same meeting, the Board also decided to call for the Ordinary & Extraordinary General Assembly of the Shareholders to be convened on 04th March 2015, and in the event the quorum is not met, a second meeting will be called on 08th of March 2015.

Due to the strong financial position enjoyed by Doha Bank at the local and global levels, the Bank was conferred with appreciation and recognition from a number of professional bankers and financial institutions. In addition to the accolades awarded to the Bank in previous years, it was conferred with the award for the “Best Regional Commercial Bank in the Middle East

2014” by Global Banking & Finance magazine, “The Bizz 2014 – Beyond Success” award by the World Confederation of Business and “Retail Bank of the Year” at the Enterprise Agility awards in addition to other accolades such as the “EUR Straight Through Processing (STP) Excellence Award” by Deutsche Bank, “Best Regional Commercial Bank” by The Banker Middle East, “Best Retail Bank in Qatar” by The Asian Banker in Sydney, “Best Domestic Retail Bank in Qatar” as well as “Best Domestic Trade Finance Bank in Qatar” by The Asian Banking and Finance magazine.

H.E. Sheikh Fahad Bin Mohammed Bin Jabor Al Thani, the Chairman of the Board of Directors received “Excellence in Business Leadership” Award from World Confederation of Business in September 2014 during the BIZZ 2014 ceremony held in Abu Dhabi and the “Best Banking Chairman Qatar 2014” award from Global Banking & Finance magazine.

State of Qatar’s winning the right to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup is expected to trigger growth in various economic sectors and pave the way for launching additional development projects in the coming years. Hence, the Board, Management and staff of the bank should synchronize their efforts to seize these opportunities for the bank as we are confident about our abilities to bear this responsibility together as one team.

Finally, I would like to again convey my thanks and appreciation to everyone who had contributed in accomplishing these achievements but we still have a lot of work to do and targets to achieve. I wish you success and assure you of our continued support.

H.E. Sheikh Abdul Rahman Bin Mohammad Bin Jabor Al Thani (Managing Director)

MESSagEfrOM ThE MD

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Dr. R. Seetharaman (Group CEO)

Message from the CEO

we march forward into 2015 after completing a satisfying business year in 2014. As per the IMF World Economic Outlook released recently, the global economy is tipped to grow by 3.5 per cent in 2015. China, Russia, Japan and Eurozone may witness a drop in their economic activity. However, the US economy is expected to accelerate further.

The net profit of the Bank for the year 2014 is QR 1,354 million as compared with QR 1,313 million in the year 2013 representing a growth rate of 3.1%.The total assets rose from QR 67 billion in 2013 to QR 75.5 billion in 2014 i.e. a growth rate of 12.8%. Loans & advances rose from QR 41.1 billion in 2013 to QR 48.6 billion in 2014 i.e. a growth rate of 18.1%. The Customer deposits grew by 8.1%, while total deposits increased from QR 42.5 billion in 2013 to QR 45.9 billion in 2014. The total shareholders equity reached QR 11.3 billion by year end i.e. an increase of 0.2% as compared to last year. The Bank achieved an impressive growth rate of 12.5% in total operating income, which rose from QR 2.5 billion in 2013 to QR 2.9 billion in 2014. The earnings per share was QR 5.24. The return on adjusted average shareholders’ equity

and the return on average assets were 16.4% and 1.93% respectively.

In Jan 2014 Doha Bank offered up to 100% finance option for Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding Company IPO subscribers and their families. In April 2014 Doha Bank was named the Best Retail Bank in Qatar by the Asian Banker. Doha Bank received license to commence Banking operations in India and as a precursor to its entry into Indian financial market it hosted a knowledge sharing session in April 2014 both in Mumbai and Chennai. In April 2014 Doha Bank also conducted a knowledge sharing on “Projects and Contracts Opportunities and Challenges” in Doha.

Our vision is to be a top class one stop solution for all financial services by maintaining excellence in terms of performance, innovation, security and quality and sustaining the growth story.

In May 2014 Doha Bank hosted a knowledge sharing session in Kuwait on “Projects and Contracts Opportunities and Challenges”. In June 2014, a Doha Bank customer won trip to FIFA World Cup in Brazil, courtesy Visa as part of an exclusive promotion from Visa. Doha Bank offered its credit card holders 5% cash back on all international spends on all Dream, Green, and Lulu Platinum and Infinite Credit Cards this summer. For the second consecutive year, Doha Bank was named the ‘Best Regional Commercial Bank’ at The Banker Middle East Industry Awards held in Dubai. Doha Bank hosted a knowledge sharing session on “Sustainable development in the Global Arena” in June 2014. The Bank launched a bill payment promotion in association with Vodafone Qatar wherein 6 iPad Minis will be offered when Vodafone bills are paid through Doha Bank’s Internet Banking and ATMs. Doha Bank hosted a knowledge sharing session on “New World Order and Opportunities” at The, Singapore in July 2014. The Bank was also named the

‘Best Domestic Retail Bank’ and the ‘Best Domestic Trade Finance Bank’ of the year in Qatar at The Asian Banking and Finance Awards ceremony in July 2014.

In July 2014 the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Development Company ‘Enterprise Qatar’ (EQ) has entered into a partnership agreement with Doha Bank in order to further support entrepreneurs and SMEs. In Oct 2014 Doha Bankinaugurated its first electronic banking branch in Dubai. Again in Oct 2014 Doha Bank & Q-Tickets Innovate to Bring Online Usage for Debit cards to Qatar. In Nov 2014 Doha Bank was honored with the “Golden Peacock Global Award for Sustainability 2014 and the Deutsche Bank Award for Excellence in EUR Straight Through Processing. Doha Bank was also named the ‘Best Bank in Qatar’ at the IAIR Awards in Nov 2014.In Dec 2014 Doha Bank organized an exclusive get-together for Bullion related business customers with a unique theme titled “Sailing with Gold”, an exciting traditional dhow cruise journey in Doha Corniche waters.

Our vision is to be a top class one stop solution for all financial services by maintaining excellence in terms of performance, innovation, security and quality and sustaining the growth story. We are committed to sustain the growth, profitability, stakeholder and customer expectations, and maintain our hall mark in terms of performance, innovation, security and quality in 2015 as well.

Wish you all a prosperous and healthy New Year.

MESSagEfrOM ThE CEO


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H.E. Sheikh Fahad Bin Mohammad Bin Jabor Al-Thani(Chairman)

H.E. Sheikh Abdul Rahman Bin Mohammad Bin Jabor Al Thani (Managing Director)

DOha BaNk DElivErS CONTiNuED STrONg PErfOrMaNCE wiTh 3% PrOfiT grOwTh iN 2014

his Excellency Sheikh fahad Bin Mohammad Bin jabor al-Thani, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Doha Bank, announced Doha Bank’s financial results for the year 2014. Net profit for the year 2014 reached QAR 1,354 million, which represents a growth of 3.1% as compared to 2013.

H.E. Sheikh Fahad said, “This is another outstanding result and is clear demonstration that Doha Bank continues to perform consistently.”

The Bank increased its net operating income by 12.5% to reach QAR 2.9 billion. Fees and commission income for the year 2014 showed an impressive growth of 27.3%, reaching QAR 516 million as compared to QAR 405 million for 2013. Total assets increased by QAR 8.5 billion, a growth of 12.8%, from QAR 67.0 billion as at 31 December 2013 to QAR 75.5 billion as at 31 December 2014. Net Loans & Advances increased to QAR 48.6 billion in 2014 from QAR 41.1 billion in 2013, registering a growth of 18.1%. Deposits showed a year-on-year increase of 8.1% from QAR 42.5 billion in 2013 to QAR 45.9 billion as at 31 December 2014 which is evidence of the strong liquidity position of the Bank.

H.E. Sheikh Abdul Rehman Bin Mohammad Bin Jabor Al-Thani, Managing Director of Doha Bank, said, “The Bank continues to perform well with total equity, as at December 2014, at QAR 11.3 billion, registering a marginal increase of 0.2% during the last year. Through the efficient asset allocation model,

the return on average shareholders’ equity is 16.4% as at December 2014 - one of the best in the industry. The Bank has achieved a very high return on average assets of 1.93% as at December 2014, which is a clear demonstration of the effective utilization of shareholders’ funds.”

“Additionally, the working hours of 12 branches were extended to facilitate customer convenience. Doha Bank also tied up with Q-Tickets to power their online payment portal and, in order to reinforce the Bank’s network security as well as to enhance customer experience, entered into an agreement with Ooredoo to upgrade network infrastructure.”

He added, “Doha Bank’s core revenue streams have shown strong growth over the prior year period, reflecting the Bank’s intrinsic strength in terms of recurring earning capacity as also the Bank’s productive operational performance.”

Doha Bank continues to maximize shareholder value which is clearly evident from the successful results displayed. This is largely due to the Bank’s strategy to innovate, diversify and capitalize on market synergies. Dr. R. Seetharaman, Chief Executive Officer of Doha Bank, pointed out that the Extraordinary General Assembly meeting of the shareholders of Doha Bank held on 30th Nov 2014, had unanimously approved the Scheme of Amalgamation to take over the

Doha Bank delivers continued strong performance with 3% Profit Growth in 2014

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Doha Bank delivers continued strong performance with 3% Profit Growth in 2014

India operations business of HSBC Bank Oman S.A.O.G by Doha Bank Q.S.C, India on a going concern basis, subject to necessary regulatory approvals, in line with the Bank’s international expansion strategy.

Highlighting the key innovations, achievements and initiatives by Doha Bank in 2014, Dr. R. Seetharaman said, “Doha Bank inaugurated its first electronic branch in Dubai besides introducing various products and services such as acquisition financing, deal underwriting, factoring, M&A advisory, JV arranging, project financing, aircraft financing, online money transfer through credit card (which is a first in Qatar), mobile e-remittance for payroll card holders, deposit cards and mobile banking for corporate customers, CMS for UAE & Kuwait customers, to name a few.”

He added, “Additionally, the working hours of 12 branches were extended to facilitate customer convenience. Doha Bank also tied up with Q-Tickets to power their online payment portal and, in order to reinforce the Bank’s network security as well as to enhance customer experience, entered into an agreement with Ooredoo to upgrade network infrastructure.”

During the year, Doha Bank came up with various schemes, promotions and campaigns, such as pre-approved, pre-screened loan campaign, offering up to 100% finance option for Messaeid Petrochemical Holding Company IPO subscribers, ‘Win Your Loan Back’ campaign, extension of personal loan offer, as well as an increase in ATM cash withdrawal limit. In

its continued effort to support Entrepreneurs and SMEs, Doha Bank entered into a partnership agreement with Enterprise Qatar, an SME development company. Doha Bank’s annual summer credit card campaign provided eligible cardholders with attractive cash back on all international spend as well as on local spends. Also, Doha Bank’s Al Dana Savings Program - one of Qatar’s best-rewarding savings programs - distributed prizes to winners of its monthly and quarterly draws with select customers receiving QAR 1 million each. The Bank also implemented VBV / MCSC to secure online card transactions.

Total Assets (QAR million)

Total Deposits (QAR million) Net Profit (QAR million)

Net Loans & Advances (QAR million)

Total Equity (QAR million)

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

75,5

1445

,947 1,

354

48,5

5911

,288

66,9

7042

,522

1,31

341

,109

11,2

71

55,2

1234

,401

1,30

533

,775

7,55

1

52,7

4431

,699

1,24

131

,028

7,08

1

47,2

3030

,822 1,

054

26,5

476,

034

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014


10 The Resolutions of the Extraordinary General Assembly Meeting of the Shareholders

THE RESOLUTIONS OF THE ExTRAORDINARy GENERAL ASSEmBLy mEETING OF THE SHAREHOLDERSh.E. Sheikh fahad Bin Mohammad Bin jabor al-Thani, Chairman of Doha Bank, announced that the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Shareholders of Doha Bank has passed the below resolutions in its meeting held on Sunday 30th of November 2014:

• The Extraordinary General Assembly meeting of the Shareholders of Doha Bank has unanimously approved the Scheme of Amalgamation under Section 44A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 of India to take over the business of India Operations of HSBC Bank Oman S.A.O.G on a going concern basis by Doha Bank Q.S.C, India, in terms of the draft Scheme of Amalgamation placed before the Shareholders and authorized the Board of Directors and those authorized by the Board of Directors to complete the required formalities to obtain approval of Qatar Central Bank and any other competent authority in Qatar and in India and to make any required changes, modifications and amendments to the Scheme of Amalgamation, take all necessary actions to execute this resolution and implement the Scheme of Amalgamation

and sign all the relevant applications and documents in relation there to to complete the transaction.

• The Extraordinary General Assembly meeting of the Shareholders of Doha Bank has unanimously agreed to amend Article (21) of the Article of Association to be read after amendments as follows:

“The company shall be managed by Board of Directors of seven members elected by the Ordinary General Assembly through secret ballot.”

H.E. Sheikh Fahad Bin Mohammad Bin Jabor Al-Thani extended his sincere thanks and gratitude to the shareholders and to the officials at Qatar Central Bank, Ministry of Economy and Trade and to Qatar Financial Markets Authority for their continued support to the Bank. He also extended his sincere thanks to the members of Board of Directors, CEO and executive management for their efforts and wished them all success and prosperity.

H.E. Sheikh Fahad Bin Mohammad Bin Jabor Al-Thani(Chairman)

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Doha Bank bags 5 awards at Banker Middle East product awards

DOha BaNk BagS 5 awarDS aT BaNkEr MiDDlE EaST PrODuCT awarDS

Doha Bank dominated at the Banker Middle East Product Awards 2014, bagging top honors in as many as five different categories. Doha Bank took home the awards for “Best SME Customer Service”, “Best SME Card”, “Best Trade Finance Offering”, “Best Corporate Account” and Best Home Finance Account “at the prestigious annual awards.

Dr. R. Seetharaman, Group CEO of Doha Bank, along with the respective departmental heads jointly received the awards from Mr. Robin Amlot, Managing Editor of CPI Financial - the publisher of “Banker Middle East Magazine” - at a ceremony held at Doha Bank Tower.

Dr. Seetharaman said, “Doha Bank has transformed into a dynamic entity with strong values and a customer-centric approach. The Bank is today driven by innovative customer-focused services. These awards will further bolster our resolve to build on the goodwill of our peers and our customers and set the highest benchmarks in the industry. Time and again, Doha Bank has proven to outperform in various geographies, across customer segments and under challenging market conditions. ”

Doha Bank today has a global presence through its international branches in UAE and Kuwait and through

representative offices in Canada, Germany, UK, Turkey, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, and Sharjah (UAE). Doha Bank is a strong believer in a single-window approach to client relationships through dedicated relationship managers who ensure that corporate customers are provided high-quality, personalized services.

Tailored to suit the needs of Qatar’s dynamic population, the housing loan product by Doha Bank represents the Bank’s commitment to offer the most competitive interest rate in the market. Doha Bank’s housing loan scheme is well suited to meet the needs of Qatar’s local and expatriate population.

Doha Bank was the first bank to identify the potential of SMEs in Qatar, and as such, was the first mover in the market, introducing a dedicated SME Banking unit to design and introduce products aimed specifically at meeting the unique requirements of SMEs. Doha Bank’s SME team has been able to service more than 800 customers with credit facilities in excess of QR 1 billion in Qatar which speaks volumes about the Bank’s excellent customer service and market reputation.

Doha Bank SME unit was also the first to introduce a plastic card which suited the needs of SMEs perfectly. The dedicated

SME card supported a broad spectrum of uses for small and medium entrepreneurs such as purchasing raw materials, paying for goods and services availed, making online purchases from the comfort of their office and also using it for various immigration services, saving them the hassle of carrying cash at all places.

Doha Bank is one of the leading providers of trade finance services, catering to the local, Middle East and international markets with a winning combination of local market expertise, global presence and advanced technology to support clients’ trade finance requirements while ensuring the soundness of all component banks within the corresponding banking network.

The Banker Middle East Product Awards allow industry participants to recognise banking products and services that are either exceptionally innovative or have generated excellent financial results and/or transference of market share. Banker Middle East Magazine focuses exclusively on the MENA financial sector, providing accurate reporting, in-depth analysis and unbiased editorial.

Doha Bank Group CEO Dr. R. Seetharaman with Mr. Robin Amlot, Managing Editor of CPI Financial, and senior Doha Bank and CPI Financial representatives at the Banker Middle East Product Awards presentation ceremony


12 ‘Multi-Channel capabilities essential for retail sector to tackle digitization challenge’

The fundamental challenges facing retailers against the backdrop of rapid digitization of the retail landscape and the growing shift towards mobile-based financial solutions that aggregate multiple payment methods were among the key issues that came under the spotlight at the ‘Digitization in Retail’ conference hosted by Doha Bank in November 2014 at The St. Regis Doha.

H.E. Sheikh Abdul Rehman Bin Mohammad Bin Jabor Al-Thani, Managing Director of Doha Bank attended the conference which was held under the theme ‘Digitizing the Retail Experiences and New Payment Solutions for Consumers’. The conference gathered leading regional and international experts from across the banking, retail and e-commerce sectors to explore how conventional retailers can compete in a digitized marketplace by developing multi-channel capabilities to keep pace with changing consumer behavior.

“Digital technology is fundamentally changing the world of retail,” said Dr. R. Seetharaman, CEO of Doha

Bank, in his welcome address. “Technology is no longer seen as an operational support function but instead as a key driver of competitive advantage. The challenge for retailers is how to adapt to this changing environment and align their offering to evolving technology trends and consumer preferences. Consumers are today able to make purchases in a number of different ways, which makes it imperative that retailers integrate their physical store presence with robust online capabilities, at the same time adapting to new payment methods and systems.”

Joseph Noujaim, CEO of Bloomerangs, made an insightful presentation on the topic “Cloud and Mortar – How to Cope with the Informed Consumer”. Emphasizing the pitfalls inherent in retailers trying to catch up with the connected consumer, Noujaim said, “The focus for retail stores must be on developing interesting solutions for the business, rather than for the consumer. In order to make their stores more

responsive to consumer interest and expectations, retailers must look to take advantage of the latest technologies to enhance their in-store experience. They need to tap into the possibilities offered by innovative concepts such as proximity marketing and create smart services that will assist them in identifying consumers, serving these consumers faster and meeting their unique needs. Essentially, this calls for a mindset shift from consumer-based marketing to store-based marketing.”

With Unified Commerce fast becoming the new buzzword, Thomas Huigens, CMO of iKajo.com, offered a fascinating glimpse into how innovative payment solutions can help provide a seamless shopping experience for the consumer. “We are in an age where the consumer, and not the retailer, dictates the payment form and method – making it essential that the payment platform supports a cross-channel approach. Today’s consumer needs to be able to pay the way he or she chooses, regardless of location and device, and

‘MulTi-ChaNNEl CaPaBiliTiES ESSENTial fOr rETail SECTOr TO TaCklE DigiTizaTiON ChallENgE’

Doha Bank Managing Director H.E. Sheikh Abdul Rehman Bin Mohammad Bin Jabor Al-Thani and Group CEO Dr. R Seetharaman with keynote speakers at the ‘Digitization in Retail’ conference held at The St. Regis Doha

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‘Multi-Channel capabilities essential for retail sector to tackle digitization challenge’

this is spurring a shift towards mobile-based platforms that are uniquely capable of aggregating payment methods. Technologies such as digital wallets are radically altering the retail payment landscape; studies predict that e-wallets will equal cards as the most popular payment method globally with a total transaction value of USD 1,656 billion by 2017 – a clear indication of the pivotal role that e-wallets will play in the future in ensuring a unified purchase and payment experience for the consumer.”

Highlighting how banks play a crucial role in furthering the e-commerce and m-commerce revolutions which have taken the retail world by storm by providing a platform for innovative payment modes, Suresh Bajpai, Head of Retail at Doha Bank, said, “In the 21st century, due to the over-influx of technology, customers’ lives are one with their smartphones; they connect online via multiple devices and social media networks and lead a digitized lifestyle. To keep pace with consumers, retailers have evolved from doing business the conventional way

through ‘bricks & mortar’ stores,

“Technology is no longer seen as an operational support function but instead as a key driver of competitive advantage. The challenge for retailers is how to adapt to this changing environment and align their offering to evolving technology trends and consumer preferences. Consumers are today able to make purchases in a number of different ways, which makes it imperative that retailers integrate their physical store presence with robust online capabilities, at the same time adapting to new payment methods and systems.”

to offering customers seamless online and mobile shopping, purchasing and payment experiences. Banks are the link which provides the platform that offers both customers and retailers novel payment modes, mechanisms

and solutions. This event attempts to showcase how Doha Bank is

capitalizing on some of these new payment technologies to provide the best experience to the consumer while facilitating the retailer.”

Following the conclusion of the keynote sessions, commemorative awards were given out to the merchant partners of Doha Bank in recognition of their outstanding commitment to creating value for the bank’s customers through innovative promotions and programs.

Merchant partners of Doha Bank were honored at the ‘Digitization in Retail’ conference for their outstanding commitment to creating value for the Bank’s customers through innovative promotions and programs


14 Doha Bank named ‘Best Commercial Bank in Qatar’ at IFM awards 2014

Doha Bank ended 2014 on a high note by winning two awards at the prestigious International Finance Magazine Awards 2014. Doha Bank was named “Best Commercial Bank – Qatar” at the annual Awards while the bank’s Group CEO, Dr. R. Seetharaman, won the award for “Outstanding Contribution to Banking”.

The awards cap off an exceptional year for Doha Bank in which it won several prestigious accolades, including being named “Best Commercial Bank in the Middle East” at the Global Banking & Finance Review Awards 2014, and “Best Regional Commercial Bank” at the Banker Middle East Industry Awards 2014.

The International Finance Magazine - headquartered in London, United Kingdom - is one of the world’s leading financial publications, with a readership spread across 200 countries around the globe. The IFM Awards, held annually, are considered among the world’s most prestigious awards in banking and finance.

“The IFM awards confirm yet another year of success for Doha Bank and are further acknowledgement of our outstanding achievement in business performance and customer satisfaction as we continue to move along on our journey towards excellence,” said Dr. Seetharaman.

He added, “In the last couple of years, Doha Bank has received numerous regional and international honors covering various facets of our business – from Banking and Innovation to Quality Commitment and Corporate Social Responsibility – demonstrating the wide-ranging operational excellence we have been able to achieve and maintain. We look forward to building on this success in 2015 to open new frontiers of growth and innovation while creating unmatched value for our customers.”The IFM Awards celebrate excellence in its purest form. An event that recognizes and honors

individuals and organizations in the international finance industry that make a significant difference and add value, the Awards herald the highest standards of innovation and performance and shines a spotlight on those who make a contribution to raising the bar in the financial industry through activities of note.

The International Finance Magazine reaches out to the masses globally. With a discerning focus on emerging markets, IFM provides news, analysis and commentary on a variety of topics including Banking, Islamic Finance Asset Management, Wealth Management, Hedge Funds, Pension Funds and Emerging Market. The magazine addresses economic and business factors affecting these markets and helps identify regions, industry sectors and companies that are making a difference.

DOha BaNk NaMED ‘BEST COMMErCial BaNk iN QaTar’ aT ifM awarDS 2014

Doha Bank received two awards at the prestigious International Finance Magazine Awards 2014 – for ‘Best Commercial Bank in Qatar’ and for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Banking’, awarded to the Bank’s CEO Dr. R. Seetharaman

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‘Infrastructure Development - A key enabler for GCC Banking industry growth

Doha Bank’s CEO, Dr. R. Seetharaman delivered a keynote address at the 26th Annual International Seminar hosted by ICAI (Institute of Chartered Accountants of India) Abu Dhabi Chapter. The topic of the presentation was “Uncertain Times: Can GCC Banking Take Off?”

In his address, Dr. Seetharaman reflected on key trends and developments in the global and GCC economies. He said, “The International Monetary Fund forecasts global growth to average 3.3 per cent in 2014 and to rise to 3.8 per cent in 2015. The weaker growth outlook for 2014 reflects setbacks to economic activity in the advanced economies during the first half of 2014, and a less optimistic outlook for several emerging market economies. The growth for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan is expected to be 2.7 per cent in 2014 and 3.9 per cent in 2015 while GCC GDP at current prices is expected to grow by 3.7 per cent in 2014. The current account balance as a percentage of GDP at current prices is expected to be 18 per cent in 2014.”

Highlighting the current trends in GCC banking sector, he said, “The GCC

has projects worth more than $529 billion in 2014, which in turn have triggered a surge in contract financing and project financing. The SME sector is also a key focus area for regional banks. The GCC banking sector has witnessed regulatory reforms in line with the global financial architecture following the economic crisis; however, infrastructure development and capital market reforms are providing new opportunities and will be key enablers for improved business performance within the GCC banking industry.”

Commenting on GCC capital markets, Dr. Seetharaman said, “The Qatar and UAE markets have surged this year after MSCI upgraded both countries to emerging market status. All GCC markets witnessed correction recently on account of fall in oil prices but have stabilized again. Positive results during earnings season have cushioned the effects of the price correction. I believe the MSCI upgrade of Qatar and UAE would encourage family-owned companies to go public; the upgrade represents an opportunity for Qatar and UAE companies to refocus on corporate governance, encourage foreign ownership and thereby improve their market capitalization. Qatar Exchange is also planning to introduce margin trading and covered short selling in the

near future.”He continued, “In the first half of 2014, the GCC region witnessed 10 IPOs which were worth a combined $2.26 billion, while the GCC bond issues for 2014 are worth more than $38 billion. In July 2014, Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet gave its approval to open the stock market for direct foreign investments, with the actual opening of the market scheduled for the first half of 2015. In the same month, UAE published new rules allowing firms in the country to use existing shares when listing on local exchanges or raise fresh equity capital. Private equity groups are expected to be among the main beneficiaries of the new law.”

Dr. Seetharaman highlighted the predominant role of wealth funds in stabilizing and diversifying GCC economies. He said, “GCC economies are dominated by Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWF) that account for more than 30% of the global SWF assets, valued at $6 trillion. Gulf SWFs have invested in a wide range of industries and high-risk assets with higher expected return. Qatar, for instance, has made investments in UK, France and Germany. Assets under management in the GCC are poised for further growth.”

‘INFRASTRUCTURE DEvELOpmENT A KEy ENABLER FOR GCC BANKING INDUSTRy GROWTH’

Doha Bank CEO Dr. R. Seetharaman addresses the audience at the 26th Annual International Seminar hosted by ICAI


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Doha Bank secured two top honors at the 4th annual IAIR Awards held recently at The Palace Downtown Dubai. Doha Bank was declared “Best Bank in Qatar” and its CEO Dr. R. Seetharaman was named “Man of the Year” at the prestigious global awards, adding to the bank’s burgeoning tally of awards and recognitions this year.

Dr. Seetharaman received the awards from Guido Giommi, President, IAIR Group. Speaking at the awards ceremony, Dr. Seetharaman said, “As a forward-thinking and responsible corporate citizen, Doha Bank has embraced sustainable business practices and has been an acknowledged leader in environmental protection. The ‘Best Bank in Qatar’ award recognizes Doha Bank’s contribution to sustainable development and its continued emphasis on environmental stewardship, both within Qatar and in the wider region.”

He added, “Sustainable development involves contribution towards

economic growth, social development and environmental protection. The sustainable development mission should aim for poverty eradication, environmental sustainability, and sustainable consumption and production. Some of the key challenges to sustainable development include climate change, energy security and increase in natural and man-made disasters. It is encouraging, in this context, to note that at the recent G20 meeting, the United States made a commitment of $3 billion towards Green Climate Fund while Japan pledged $1.5 billion to the Fund.”

Elaborating on Doha Bank’s sustainable development initiatives, Dr. Seetharaman said, “Doha Bank advocates and practices Green Banking, which is one of our core business philosophies aimed at supporting sustainability into the future. Doha Bank organizes the ‘ECO-Schools Program’ where we work with educational institutions to build awareness of key environmental issues. We have also

launched Green Credit Card, the first eco-friendly credit card in the GCC. Our Green Account represents Doha Bank’s proactive approach to eco-friendly banking and its drive for a cleaner and greener environment by promoting the concept of ‘paperless banking’.”

He added, “We further encourage eco-friendly banking by embracing technology-driven concepts such as Internet Banking, SMS Banking, Phone Banking, E-Remittances and Electronic Bill Payments. Additionally, Doha Bank conducts Green Quiz and seminars on global warming and climate change to spread environmental awareness in Qatar and other countries. We also host activities such as Green Fun Run, support tree planting projects, and provide funding for district cooling facilities.”

DOha BaNk NaMED ‘BEST BaNk iN QaTar’ aT iair awarDS 2014

Doha Bank Named ‘ Best Bank in Qatar’ at IAIR awards 2014

Doha Bank CEO Dr. R. Seetharaman receives the ‘Man of the Year’ award from IAIR Group President Mr. Guido Giommi

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Doha Bank recently organized an exclusive get-together for bullion-related business customers under the theme “Sailing with Gold”, an exciting traditional dhow cruise journey in Doha Corniche waters. The event was attended by leading jewellers from around Qatar.

Addressing the attendees, Doha Bank Group CEO Dr. R. Seetharaman said, “We have always realized the importance of serving a broad base of customers, including from the key jewellery segment, and our ambition is for Doha Bank to eventually become a one-stop bullion solution provider for the local and regional markets.” He added that US Dollar strength had been pushing the bullion and crude prices lower.

K.V Samuel, acting Head of Treasury and Investments, presented an update on the latest bullion-market developments and shared the market experience with the attendees. Noting

that gold is an investment for generations to come, Samuel said that any fall in price is an opportunity to buy more of the metal and capitalize on its strength as a solid long-term investment.

“We have seen substantial demand for bullion when the price dropped to about $ 1,130 in July and from there the price quickly rallied to above $ 1,200,” he said, adding that, in the short term, bullion prices are expected to consolidate in the $ 1130-1255 range.

He also said “gold may drop further to $ 1032 or even to $ 934, before the major bull rally begins”. In the next major bull phase, gold prices may reach $ 2850-3000, he added.

Athul Kumar, Head of SME, explained working capital financing modalities for jewellers while Abu Backer, Head of Operations, spoke about the operational modalities in physical gold delivery process.

After being the first bank to import and sell gold in Qatar in 2012, Doha Bank has taken the next step forward with different innovative gold products, including hedging solutions, to cater to wholesalers/ jewellers based in Qatar and the GCC.

Last year, Doha Bank signed a MoU for strategic alliance with PAMP, the world’s leading bullion brand, to import bullion to Qatar.

Doha Bank currently distributes renowned Swiss and other physical gold bars in the local market in sizes starting from 5 grams to 1 kilograms. Bullion bars are available over the counter at Grand Hamad Street branch and other selected branches.

Doha Bank organizes ‘ Dhow Cruise’ for Qatar jewellers

DOHA BANK ORGANIZES ‘DHOW CRUISE’ FOR QATAR JEWELLERS

Leading jewellers from around Qatar attended the ‘Sailing with Gold’ dhow cruise organized by Doha Bank


18 Thousands turn out for Doha Bank’s 10th Al Dana Green Run

More than 2,700 men, women and children thronged Aspire Zone for the 10th Al Dana Green Run hosted by Doha Bank in November 2014 as residents across the city stepped out of their homes in large numbers to support and show solidarity for the cause of environmental protection.

The largest annual community event in Qatar, this year’s Al Dana Green Run proved the biggest in the event’s history as people across age groups, nationalities and social backgrounds came forward enthusiastically to take part in the 3-km run around Khalifa

Stadium. Participants included professionals, men and women of different ages, sports enthusiasts, and members of various socio-cultural groups.

“We are overwhelmed by the support we have received from all quarters of the society,” said Dr. R. Seetharaman, CEO of Doha Bank. “As the most widely attended community run in Qatar, Al Dana Green Run occupies a special place in the country’s sporting and socio-cultural landscape. The event connects emotionally with the city’s residents who look forward to

the green run each year, and it is a matter of great pride and joy for us that the impact of the event, in terms of building greater environmental awareness, has grown progressively stronger over the years.”

“We believe protecting the environment is everybody’s responsibility. Each of us, as individuals, can make a contribution towards making the world a better place to live in, and at Doha Bank we are committed to reducing our overall carbon footprint and to creating the platforms and opportunities that

ThOuSaNDS TurN OuT fOr DOha BaNk’S 10Th al DaNa grEEN ruN

Doha Bank continued its environmental leadership by hosting the milestone 10th edition of its hugely popularAl Dana Green Run in November 2014

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Thousands turn out for Doha Bank’s 10th Al Dana Green Run

enable the community to adopt more environmentally responsible practices,” he added.

The 10th Al Dana Green Run was hosted by Doha Bank in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, General Directorate of Public Security, the Traffic and Patrol Department, Qatar Red Crescent Society, and the Aspire Academy. Held every year with the aim of raising public awareness about

environmental conservation and promoting the concept of green living, the event is supported by the Qatar Olympic Committee and the Qatar Association of Athletics Federation.

This year’s Al Dana Green Run – which marked the event’s 10th anniversary – featured an enhanced line-up with as many as 10 race categories, enabling people from various social segments and fitness levels to take part in the event.

The Al Dana Green Run is the biggest Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) event in Qatar. The event takes its name from Doha Bank’s Al Dana Savings Scheme, the premier savings program of its kind in Qatar which offers customers the chance to win life-changing cash prizes.


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Doha Bank was honored with the prestigious Golden Peacock Global Award for Corporate Social Responsibility at the 14th “London Global Convention” hosted by the Institute of Directors. Dr. R. Seetharaman, Group CEO received the award from Rt. Hon. Theresa Mary May, MP – UK Home Secretary, at a ceremony held at the House of Lords, UK Parliament, Westminster, London.

In a special address delivered at the House of Lords, Dr. Seetharaman said, “Institutions cannot afford to ignore long-term goals and focus only on the short term. And long-term goals are achievable only when they are sustainable. Corporate structure and culture should focus on linking performance objectives with performance measures and should have a consistent design. Improved oversight over Board compositions, improved transparency and disclosure standards and effective use of audit functions are key areas which require focus.”

Highlighting how the Board can implement sustainable development, he said, “The Board should recognize the importance of staff, customers, communities and the risks associated with shrinking natural resources. An

understanding of these issues and their impact on the business model, long-term success and ability to deliver on strategy are critical. Board diversity, which includes not only gender diversity, becomes really important in ensuring the Board is fit to drive change towards a sustainable business model. Solving problems requires working across functions and this can happen only if the senior team has collaborative leadership styles.”

Doha Bank has been consistently registering strong growth rates during the last decade with its participative leadership philosophy and has maintained a strong upward trajectory, including in terms of total asset growth, loan growth, deposit growth and shareholder equity growth year-on-year. International rating agencies such as Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings have assigned a stable outlook to Doha Bank, as has Capital Intelligence, on account of its strong financial fundamentals, asset quality, and robust liquidity.

At the London Global Convention, Dr. Seetharaman also participated in a session titled “Global Perspectives on Corporate Governance” where

he spoke on the “Changing Face of Global and Corporate Governance”. “Global governance is placing emphasis on global economic recovery with focus on areas such as infrastructure development, trade and competition. Economies, institutions and individuals need to follow governance. It can be called corporate governance for institutions and global governance for economies. Individuals are affected by corporate governance and global governance due to the links with institutions and economies, respectively,” he said.

Dr. Seetharaman also highlighted emerging trends in corporate governance in recent years. “The fines and penalties faced by global financial institutions recently have re-emphasized the importance of corporate governance. UK came with the stewardship code in 2010. Its principal aim is to make institutional investors, who manage other people’s money, engage in corporate governance in the interests of their beneficiaries. Risk management, remuneration and incentive systems, Board skills and independence and shareholder engagement are among the key areas which need focus.”

DOha BaNk rECEivES gOlDEN PEaCOCk glOBal awarD fOr SuSTaiNaBiliTy

Doha Bank receives Golden Peacock Global Award for Sustainability

Doha Bank CEO Dr. R. Seetharaman receives the ‘Golden Peacock Global Award for Corporate Social Responsibility’ from Rt. Hon. Theresa Mary May, MP, UK Home Secretary, at a ceremony held at the House of Lords

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Doha Bank Academy marks first Anniversary

Doha Bank Academy, a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the training and development of bank staff at all levels, celebrated one year of delivering advanced professional training programs to meet the bank’s growing local and international needs. Established in September 2013 to support the strategic vision of Doha Bank management which aims to foster a learning culture in the bank, “The Academy” was born out of Doha Bank’s belief that quality of human capital is the major enabler for an organization’s sustainable competitive advantage.

Doha Bank Group CEO Dr. R. Seetharaman said on the occasion: “Doha Bank Academy allows our staff at all levels to stay in tune with the latest developments in the banking sector. It is also an invaluable resource for those seeking to develop new skills, such as training in secondary languages, as well as other soft skills in various areas

that help them excel. Further, it serves the strategic purpose of supporting the bank’s assessment needs to help plan the careers of those exceptional individuals who will be groomed to take on more responsibility.”

In line with these objectives, a number of Qatari students were awarded scholarships in 2014 to pursue their higher education with various international universities. To emphasize the importance of education for career growth, an individual career plan (ICP) has been tailored to the specific needs of talented Qatari employees, for the primary purpose of helping them reach higher career goals at Doha Bank.

Dr. Seetharaman confirmed that several internship opportunities were also offered to date in 2014. These structured internship programs designed by Doha Bank Academy feature dedicated mentor-guided

trainings with various departments at the bank.

Mr. Abdul Rahman Ali A. Al Mohammed, Head of Human Resources, added, “In 2014, at the end of just three quarters, Doha Bank has already surpassed the training figures from past years, thanks to the availability of the dedicated training Academy. The real impact of the Academy is in that a major percentage of the staff participated in the various modules throughout the year.”

DOHA BANK ACADEmy mARKS FIRST ANNIvERSARy

The state-of-the-art Doha Bank Academy marked one year of delivering advanced professional training programs for employees at all levels


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Doha Bank announced the October 2014 winners of the monthly draw for its flagship Al Dana savings scheme, with a total of 18 lucky account holders walking away with cash and in-kind prizes.

Mr. A. M. Mubarak, who holds an Al Dana account with Doha Bank, was the biggest winner of the October draw, taking home a whopping QR 500,000 in the Al-Riyada Premium Draw, while Mr. A.S. Al Kuwari, won the QR 100,000 Monthly Premium Draw for customers maintaining QR 50,000 or more in their Al Dana accounts.

Ten other Al Dana account holders received QR 10,000 each, while five Al Dana Young Savers won the latest iPad device in the lucky draw.

“2014 is turning out to be yet another year of never-ending bonanza

for Al Dana customers,” said Dr. R. Seetharaman, Group CEO of Doha Bank. “The entire concept of Al Dana is built around encouraging people to embrace saving as a way of life, to help them manage their finances more efficiently so that they can secure the future of their families. Further, the prize structure of the program is designed in such a way as to ensure that maximum customers have a chance to win from the countless rewards on offer.”

Al Dana’s prize structure ensures there is a prize catering to every type of savings appetite. This includes all eligible customers maintaining a minimum balance of QR 5,000, and special draws for those maintaining higher balances.Suresh Bajpai, Doha Bank’s Head of Retail Banking, said, “Al Dana

is an expression of Doha Bank’s commitment to raise awareness amongst the community about the importance of financial discipline. It encourages them to lay the foundations for their future while rewarding them with life-changing opportunities. We invite everyone to save before the year end Raffle Draw to get a chance to win in 2014.”

October 2014 Winners announced for AL Dana Savings campaign

Doha Bank’s flagship Al Dana Savings Scheme continues to encourage people to adopt a culture of saving while rewarding them with life-changing opportunities

OCTOBER 2014 WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR AL DANA SAvINGS CAmpAIGN

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Doha Bank CEO Dr. R. Seetharaman was honored with the “Business Economist Award” at the ABLF (Asia Business Leadership Forum) Leadership Weekend 2014 held at Armani Hotel, Burj Khalifa, Dubai. Dr. Seetharaman was recognized for his outstanding contribution in financial media in areas such as economics, banking, finance and sustainable development through commentaries and opinions and for promoting bilateral trade and investment relationships between various countries. He received the award from H.E. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, UAE Minister of Economy.

Held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Culture, Youth and Social Development, the ABLF Leadership Weekend 2014 brought together the best of Asia’s leaders on one stage, from myriad fields of knowledge and expertise – ranging across policy and governance, finance and business, soft power, diplomacy and international relations – united under the premise that sustainable leadership and development is the only antidote to the social and economic restrictions on contemporary Asia.

Other recipients of the ABLF Awards 2014 included H.H. Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak, H.E. Reem Ebrahim Al Hashimi, Minister of State in the Cabinet of the United Arab Emirates, H.E. Shaukat Aziz, Former Prime

Minister, Pakistan, H.E. Mohamed Thani Murshed Ghannam Al Rumaithi, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Chamber, H.E. Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, CEO and Director, Mashreq Bank, H.R.H. Prince Saud Bin Khalid Al Faisal, Deputy Governor for Investment Affairs, Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority, Fahd Al Rasheed, CEO and Managing Director, Emaar Economic City (EEC).

Dr. Seetharaman also participated in a panel session titled “Asia’s Economic Zeitgeist: A Focus on Risks and Opportunities”. Other members of the panel included P. Chidambaram, Former Union Minister of Finance, Government of India, Dr. Hatem Samman, Chief Economist and Economic Advisor, Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Naina Lal Kidwai, Executive Director on the Board of HSBC Asia-Pacific and Chairman of HSBC India.

Speaking on the panel, Dr. Seetharaman said, “According to IMF October 2014 outlook, growth in the Asia Pacific region is expected to remain steady at 5.5 percent in 2014 and rise to 5.6 percent in 2015. Asian economies have benefited from trade liberalization, enjoyed rising income levels and have seen the emergence of a large body of middle class consumers. There has been an increase in working age population and wider use of advanced technology. These economies have also attracted significant foreign direct and foreign

portfolio investments in recent years, and here in the GCC, countries such as Qatar and the UAE have been upgraded to emerging market status by MSCI and have, in turn, witnessed significant FDI inflows.”

Giving an insight into financial inclusion trends in Asia, he said, “In Asia, many countries have employed financial inclusion as an important part of their strategies to achieve inclusive growth. In China, reforms allowed the rural banking system, once dominated by state-owned banks, to diversify and enabled new market players to expand financial services to rural areas. In India, the first ever unique identification project, where identities are biometrically scanned, is enabling unbanked individuals to access credit and other banking services. Philippines showed how technological innovations, supported by good business models and government policies, can be harnessed to deliver low-cost and efficient financial services to the poor. Despite the various initiatives, the great challenge for Asia’s development is improving its citizens’ access to formal financial institutions like banks, credit unions, cooperatives, or post offices. Dr. Seetharaman added that some of the ways to improve financial inclusion include mobile banking, branchless banking, micro finance, financial education and consumer protection.

Doha Bank CEO honored with ‘ABLF Business Economist Award’

Doha Bank CEO Dr. R. Seetharaman receives the ‘Business Economist Award’ at the ABLF Leadership Weekend 2014 from UAE Minister of Economy H.E. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori

DOha BaNk CEO hONOrED wiTh ‘aBlf BuSiNESS ECONOMiST awarD’


24 Doha Bank CEO Honored at 1st Annual Indian Innovator Awards

Dr. R. Seetharaman, CEO of Doha Bank, was recognized with the “Banking Innovator” award at the first annual Indian Innovator Awards held at The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina.

The awards honored Indian innovators who have established themselves as clear industry leaders and who have made significant contributions to the Middle East business arena, setting the benchmark for corporations operating across the region.

Anitha Nandini, Consul – Commerce, Press and Information, Consulate General of India, presided over the event as keynote speaker, with veteran UAE royal photographer Ramesh Shukla being the special guest of honor.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Seetharaman shed light on the state of the world economy. “The US economy continues to recover and the dollar index has reached all-time highs recently which acknowledge the same. Japan and the Eurozone struggle to recover while the slowdown in the Chinese economy has also created concerns in financial markets. The GCC capital markets had fallen recently on account of the drop in oil price, while the Indian economy is reflecting confidence under the new government and the inflation pressures are easing.”

Commenting on business and technology trends in the banking industry, Dr. Seetharaman said, “I believe the costs of regulation and competitive pressures will lead to industry consolidation. Technology has transformed the way we bank and is one of the main drivers behind the accelerating pace of innovation in this sector. Online banking, mobile banking, chip and pin have now become part of our way of life for everyday banking.”

He added, “Banks in the UAE have been prime beneficiaries of a revival in which the economy grew by more than 4 per cent last year as interest rates reached new lows and credit growth rebounded. In Saudi Arabia, private sector lending increased by more than 11% till September 2014, while public sector lending in the same period had gone up by close to 9%. Oman witnessed lending growth of approximately 9% while in Qatar the figure stood at more than 10%, with the retail, contracting and services sectors being the primary drivers of growth.”

Highlighting the impact of digital banking, Dr. Seetharaman noted that digital banking is becoming the new channel for financial institutions to improve revenue growth and accelerate cross-selling. “Financial institutions will aim to improve

customer experiences through innovative offerings in digital banking. To be successful in the market, banks must engage with their customers every day, and to do this they must also promote and sell non-financial services. Banks can invite customers through social media channels and make customers emotionally involved. As digital banking continues to revolutionize bank-customer relationships, local GCC banks appear well positioned to build on a solid online banking trend.”

Dr. Seetharaman also addressed the issue of cyber security and related risk management, noting that technology has increased many of the traditional Information Security risks associated with banking activities. “With the significant change in terms of how banks do business these days, the rules have changed and the Information Security risks are greater than ever. The risks are further compounded today due to privacy concerns, vulnerabilities, cyber terrorism, insider sabotage, mobile computing, wireless access, spyware etc. Regulations are undergoing change to support managing Information Security risk for financial institutions, and many banks have introduced new policies and standards that address the dynamic nature of Information Security.”

DOHA BANK CEO HONORED AT 1ST ANNUAL INDIAN INNOvATOR AWARDS

Doha Bank’s Group CEO Dr. R. Seetharaman added another feather to his cap by winning the ‘Banking Innovator’ award at the first annual Indian Innovator Awards held in Dubai

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Doha Bank wins Golden Peacock Global Award for Corporate Social Responsibility

Doha Bank was awarded the prestigious “Golden Peacock Global Award 2014 for Corporate Social Responsibility” for demonstrating outstanding commitment to social welfare. The award ceremony was held in Mumbai, India recently as part of the 9th International Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility organized by the Institute of Directors (IOD) and attended by distinguished bankers, academics, environmentalists, economists, legislators and policymakers.

Dr. R. Seetharaman, CEO of Doha Bank, said, “This milestone award symbolizes Doha Bank’s ability to balance its financial targets, economic value addition and social welfare. We at Doha Bank are committed to creating positive social

and environmental impact, and this award recognizes our various initiatives particularly in the field of education and health. We take great pride in being a dynamic entity with strong values and a customer-centric approach, and we remain resolutely focused on contributing towards public welfare through our economic, environmental, and social initiatives.”

He added, “Doha Bank, through its Eco-Schools Program, is committed to creating a platform for schools to contribute to socio-environmental change and the intellectual development of the society. The program seeks to integrate sustainability into the operational framework of schools and encourage schools to become eco-friendly institutions by taking practical steps towards a greener path and by reducing their carbon footprint. We are also expanding this program across various geographies where we have a footprint.”

Doha Bank maintains a well-defined Environmental Policy with the principles of “Reduce, Reuse & Re-cycle”. The Bank also runs various initiatives to support the country’s “Go Green Qatar” initiative – examples include beach clean-up, dedicated Green Bank website, environment-friendly and bio-degradable credit cards, paperless banking, Green Bank Task Force Committee, annual marathon (Al Dana Green Run), participation in Earth Hour, and public awareness campaigns through ATMs.

Doha Bank continues to be one of the pioneers of “Green Banking” in the Middle East region and continually reaches out to the community through its CSR endeavors. The Bank remains committed to advocating awareness on environmental issues and focusing on the economic and social challenges both regionally and across international borders.

Doha Bank has won numerous regional and international recognitions in the last few years for its commitment to community welfare and environmental protection

DOHA BANK WINS GOLDEN pEACOCK GLOBAL AWARD FOR CORpORATE SOCIAL RESpONSIBILITy


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as part of Qatar National Day celebrations, Doha Bank hosted an event at its headquarters in the capital on 17 December 2014, attended by Dr. R. Seetharaman, Group CEO of Doha Bank, and management teams and employees from branches across the country.

Dr. Seetharaman extended his congratulations to the Emir of Qatar H.H. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, and to the government and people of Qatar on the occasion of National Day. He also wished the State of Qatar further stability, prosperity and growth. Dr. Seetharaman hailed the wise leadership of H.H. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Emir of Qatar who is leading the country into the ranks of the world’s developed countries through establishing high levels of safety and security and improving education and healthcare, with the aim of raising the welfare of the Qatari people.

“We are proud of playing a role in building a prosperous nation such as Qatar, in line with the National Vision and the strategic goals of the government. On this occasion, I thank the wise leadership of the country as well as the Qatari people for their loyalty and support. It is to them that we owe our achievements over the years,” said Dr. R. Seetharaman.

As part of Doha Bank’s National Day celebrations, the CEO presented employees from branches across the country with gifts. The headquarters of the bank were also decorated with the colors of the national flag.

DOha BaNk CElEBraTES COuNTry’S PrOSPEriTy ON QaTar NaTiONal Day

Doha Bank celebrated Qatar’s march to progress and prosperity by organizing a special event at its headquarters on the occasion of the Qatar National Day

Management teams and employees from branches across the country gathered at the Doha Bank headquarters to celebrate theNational Day

Doha Bank celebrates country’s prosperity on Qatar National Day

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Doha Bank provides project finance to Kuwait’s Kharafi National

Doha Bank has successfully closed a Project Finance deal of KD 25 Million with Kharafi National of Kuwait.

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to finance Kharafi National. Doha Bank is committed to supporting the wider business community in Kuwait. For this reason, we see the potential to further grow our relationship with Kharafi National in terms of cross-selling our financial products and support their long term financial needs,” said Dr. R. Seetharaman, CEO, Doha Bank.

Kharafi National is a Kuwait based leading Infrastructure Project Developer in water, wastewater treatment and reclamation, district cooling, solid waste management and enhanced oil recovery as well as a leading Contractor and Facilities Management Service Provider to the petroleum, chemicals, power, water and commercial sectors in the Middle East and Africa. As developers of infrastructure, it’s engaged in projects on a BOT, BOO or PPP basis.

Doha Bank was founded in Doha, Qatar on March 15, 1979; and today is one of the largest commercial banks

(assets) in Qatar. The Bank has earned the award for the “Best Commercial Bank Middle East 2014” at Global Banking & Finance Review, “Bank Of the Year in Qatar 2013” at The Banker Awards and “Best Regional Commercial Bank in the Middle East 2013” at the Banker Middle East Industry Awards, which exemplifies Doha Bank’s continued commitment to the industry and its stakeholders.

Doha Bank reinforced its leadership in industrial finance by concluding a landmark deal with Kuwait’s Kharafi National

DOha BaNk PrOviDES PrOjECT fiNaNCE TO kuwaiT’S kharafi NaTiONal


28 Doha Bank celebrates UAE’s 43rd Natinal Day

DOha BaNk CElEBraTES uaE’S 43rD NaTiONal Day

Doha Bank organized a special ceremony at its Dubai branch to celebrate the 43rd National Day of the UAE. Employees representing different nationalities and at all levels within the company, including senior management, came together to celebrate the occasion amid a lively and joyous atmosphere

that reflected the spirit of national pride and unity.

From national flags of different sizes to banners, festoons and even the special celebration cake, the UAE national colors of green, red, white and black dominated the scene. The day also saw a

range of engaging activities organized to commemorate the nation’s founding and celebrate its story of success.

UAE national colors dominated the scene as employees at all levels gathered at Doha Bank’s Dubai branch to celebrate the 43rd UAE National Day

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DOHA BANK AND mINISTRy OF ENvIRONmENT TOGETHER IN BEACH CLEAN-Up CAmpAIGN 2014

Doha Bank joined hands with the Ministry of Environment (MoE) for a Beach Clean-up Campaign as part of its efforts to promote environmental awareness and spread the sustainability message.

Organized under the theme “Save the Beaches for the Future”, the clean-up campaign was led by membervs of Doha Bank’s Green Banking Task Force and staff volunteers of its Planet Savers Club along with MoE officials who scoured the Al Wakra Beach to pick up trash, debris and recyclables along the shoreline. Participants organized into teams and were tasked with removing the trash from their designated zones.

“As an institution at the forefront of environmental advocacy in Qatar, Doha Bank is keen to take the lead

in raising awareness among the community about all aspects of the environment and its conservation,” said Dr. R. Seetharaman, CEO of Doha Bank. “Keeping our beaches clean and protecting the overall marine ecosystem is an integral component of our mission of building a greener future, and through our annual Beach Clean-up Campaign, we aim to foster greater community involvement in environmental management and encourage young people to integrate sustainability into their daily lives.”

A representative from the Ministry of Environment said, “Doha Bank’s unwavering efforts in furthering the cause of Qatar’s green campaign, serves as an example on how institutions can support in the preservation of the environment.”A pioneering player in Qatar’s

environmental movement and in promoting the concept of green banking within the region, Doha Bank was conferred with the ‘Environmental Award’ at the 3rd Arab Organization for Social Responsibility Awards held in Dubai in March 2014 in recognition of its ongoing efforts to minimize its carbon footprint.

Ocean trash ranks as one of the most serious pollution problems of our time; trash in the water and on the shore affects the health of people, wildlife and economies. Keeping beaches clean and trash-free is crucial to supporting ocean health as beaches provide habitat and nesting grounds for a wide range of terrestrial and marine species.

Doha Bank employees once again took the lead in promoting environmental awareness in Qatar as they joined efforts to pick up trash and debris along the Al Wakra Beach

Doha Bank and Ministry of Environment together in Beach clean - up Campaign 2014


30 Doha Bank hosts Annual Inter- Staff football tournament

Doha Bank recently hosted its annual inter-staff football tournament at Al Sadd Sports Club. A total of thirteen teams comprising staff members from various internal departments participated in the tournament with fun team names.

Team Laith captained by Bashar Ghoul, emerged Cup Champions after knocking out Team Tornedo, which secured the runners up title. Team Call Center won the Plate Champions title with Team Kick Busters finishing in second place, while Team Dangerous, which included office boys from various branches, was declared Best Losers.

Mohamed Ahmad Omar from Team

Call Center was declared Player of the Tournament for his consistently outstanding performance on the field; Mohamed Ismail from Team Laith bagged the Best Scorer award in the tournament while Faisal Abu Alfain from the same team took home the award for Best Goalkeeper.

“I would like to congratulate all the teams who participated in Doha Bank’s Football Tournament 2014 for demonstrating a healthy competitive spirit. Internal events like these are integral to Doha Bank’s success and offer our staff members from various branches the opportunity to interact and mingle with one another. A vibrant team spirit was evident in the

way each team performed and I would like to thank all the staff members for putting up a spirited show as one large family,” said Dr. R. Seetharaman, Group CEO of Doha Bank.

“We appreciate the efforts of the organizing and volunteering teams in ensuring the smooth running of the event. We truly value everyone’s support in making this edition of the event a success yet again and look forward to another fun-filled and entertaining tournament next year,” he added.

DOha BaNk hOSTS aNNual iNTEr-STaff fOOTBall TOurNaMENT

ChAmPiOnsTEAm LAiTh

Bashar Ghoul Tawasol

Faisal Abu Alfain Legal

Hisham Hassan Legal

Mohamad Ali Main Branch

Mohamad Ismail Main Branch

Tarek Al Sayed Retail

Hisham Mohamed CPU

Antony PLA

Abdul Nasser PLA

Sherif C - Ring Branch

CUP RUnnERs UP TEAm TORnADO

Akram Mohammad Jarkho

Group Finance

Mohamed Batran Group Finance

Mostafa Nabil El Masry

Internal Audit

Abdelrahman Hamed

Trade Finance

Hussain Mohammed Hasan

Doha Sooq

Hamad Abdulla Al-Meer

Branches Distribution

Emad El Din Abdel Halim Okas

Remittance

Mohamed Amer DSU

Foud Mahmoud Ali Hussein

DSU

PLATE ChAmPiOnsTEAm CALL CEnTER

Khaled Soliman Aly Mohammed

Call Center

Ali Mohammed Ayad

Call Center

Alaa El Dien Abou Seada

Call Center

Ahmed Mohamed Gamal El Din

Call Center

Magdi Elsayed Abdelhamid Mahmoud

Call Center

Khalid Fathy Call Center

Mohamed Safarulla

Call Center

Mahmoud Samir Hendy Elgendy

Call Center

Mohamed Ahmed Omar

Call Center

Steven Pio Bastian Call Center

31


Doha Bank hosts Annual Inter- Staff football tournament

PLATE RUnnERs UP TEAm KiCK BUsTERs

Adnan Butt ITD

Naeem Tahir ITD

Yasir Latif ITD

Azad Rahiman ITD

Ashraf Qattan ITD

Maneesh ITD

Hussain ITD

Ali Zaidi ITD

Shariq ITD

Santa Kumar Chaudhary

Souq Area

BEsT LOsERsTEAm DAngEROUs

Shifan Md’s office

Nalir Complaints

Vijay Chairman's office

Mohammed Irshad

Al Riyada

Abdul Rahman Al Riyada

Aravind Al Riyada

Bishri Private banking

Harees Al handasa branch

Faslan Muserib branch

Faris Retail

PLAyER Of ThE TOURnAmEnT

Mohamed Ahmed Omar

Call Center

BEsT sCORER

Mohamed Ismail Main Branch

BEsT gOAL KEEPER

Faisal Abualfain Legal


32 Doha Bank inter-staff Bowling and Billiards tournament

1sT PLACE TEAm - PAARA DigE

Manjula Sandanayke Group Finance

Thivanka Samithadasa Treasury and Investments

Susantha Bandara Treasury and Investments

Dinesh Jayalath Group Finance

4Th PLACE TEAm - hR

A.Rahman Al Mohammed

Human Resources

Khalid Panjwani Human Resources

Khot Kaisar Yousuf CEO's Office

Abdulla A.Rahman Human Resources

5Th PLACETEAm - KingPin

Anthony Ariel Retail

Arturo JoseTechnology & Operations

Mark ZeusTechnology & Operations

Jefferson Calinao Technology & Operations

2nD PLACE TEAm - WE’RE On sTRiKE

Anniete I. Dizon Retail

Diego Nicholas Angsioco Retail

Joseph Dennis Austria Technology & Operations

Oscar Paul Berlin Wholesale Banking

3RD PLACE TEAm - AvEngERs

Adnan ButtTechnology & Operations

Naeem Tahir ITD

Faisal Kamal Group Finance

Azeez Rahman ITD

DOha BaNk iNTEr-STaff BOwliNg aND BilliarDS TOurNaMENTDoha Bank hosted a bowling and billiards tournament for staff members and their families as part of its year-round employee engagement program.The annual tournament provided an engaging platform for Doha Bank staff to come together and enjoy a fun day out as more than 500 men, women and children – representing employees from various business divisions and at all levels of the organization as well as their families –gathered at the Qatar Bowling Center for an evening of competition and camaraderie.

The arena came alive with energy and excitement as 50 bowling teams – each comprising players in uniquely designed

uniforms - put their best foot forward in their quest for the top spot after Mr. Neil Buckley, Head of Technology and Operations, set the ball rolling with the ceremonial first roll. Following the group stages, it was left to the eight quarterfinalists to battle it out for the top prize and, at the end of a thrilling contest, Team “Paara Dige” - comprising Manjula Sandanayake, Thivanka Samithadasa, Susantha Bandara and Dinesh Jayalath - emerged the tournament’s winners, with Team “We’re On Strike” finishing runner-up and Team “Avengers” claiming the third spot.

The pool tournament attracted equally enthusiastic participation in both the

singles and doubles format, with over 70 staff putting their cueing skills to test. Abhishek Srivastava from Direct Sales Unit came out the winner in the singles while Mohamed Shaker Mohideen and M. Azeem from Central Market branch bagged top honors in the doubles event.

Kids present at the venue were not to miss out on the fun as they had their own mini tournament where over 30 cash prizes were up for grabs.

33


Doha Bank inter-staff Bowling and Billiards tournament

POOl SiNglES

CHAMPION Abhishek Srivastava Central Market

RUNNER UP Rico Paquibut Dukhan Branch

POOl DOuBlES

CHAMPIONMohamed Shakir MohideenMohammed Azeem Saheer

Central Market

RUNNER UPCollin Perera Viraj Maduranga Perera

DBAC

BEST PLAyER OF THE TOURNAMENT khalid Sherullah Technology and Operations

Highest Scoring Male Anniete I. DizonRetail

Highest Scoring Female Lorabelle Padillo Technology & Operations

POOL TOURnAmEnT

Highest Scoring Team Blue Thunder

Lowest Scoring Team HR

Best Uniform Lucky Strikers

Over 70 staff took part in the singles and doubles tournament showing extreme skill, when they were strategically cracking and putting the pool balls for one title

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