Qatar
Banking sector profile — Middle East & North Africa
Data as of October 2026 • TGB Intelligence Unit
Policy rate as of 7 October 2026: 4.10% (QCB deposit rate; source: Qatar Central Bank)
Banking sector at a glance
Structure and performance
Qatar's banking system held QAR2.21tn (US$607.2bn) of assets in August 2026, about 274% of 2025 GDP. QNB Group dominates, with consolidated assets of US$382.2bn at end-2025, including sizeable international subsidiaries, followed by Qatar Islamic Bank, Commercial Bank and Masraf Al Rayan. Islamic banks, including QIB, Masraf Al Rayan, Dukhan Bank and QIIB, form a large segment and report under AAOIFI standards as modified by QCB. The state is a major counterparty: banks' claims on central government were QAR396.3bn and on public non-financial corporations QAR242.7bn in August 2026.
Banks rely heavily on non-resident funding. Liabilities to non-residents were QAR813.7bn in August 2026, 37% of total assets, against claims on non-residents of QAR393.6bn, leaving net foreign assets at minus QAR420.2bn, about US$115bn. Resident deposits included in broad money totalled QAR752.8bn, below claims on the private sector of QAR1.01tn, so lending also depends on government and non-resident funding.
Capital buffers are substantial. Shareholders' equity equalled 10.7% of system assets in August 2026. Requirements are demanding: at end-2025 Qatar Islamic Bank faced a QCB minimum of 15.03% including the conservation and D-SIB buffers and its Pillar 2 charge, against an actual total capital ratio of 22.2% and a CET1 ratio of 18.5%. QCB's review in March 2026 found that capital levels significantly exceed regulatory requirements and that provisioning provides strong coverage against credit risk.
The dominant risk is the economic fallout of the 2026 regional conflict. Citing recent geopolitical developments, QCB announced pre-emptive support measures in March 2026: unlimited riyal repo facilities against eligible securities, a new term repo of up to three months, a cut in the reserve requirement to 3.5% from 4.5%, and permission for banks to defer affected borrowers' payments for up to three months. Structural risks include concentration on government-related borrowers and reliance on external funding.
Structural trends
The shifts shaping banking in Qatar.
Banking assets rose 2.3% between December 2025 and August 2026 to QAR2.21tn.
Liabilities to non-residents reached QAR813.7bn in August 2026, 37% of bank assets, leaving net foreign assets at minus QAR420.2bn.
Claims on public non-financial corporations fell to QAR242.7bn in August 2026 from QAR280.0bn at end-2025, while claims on central government rose to QAR396.3bn.
Leading institutions
Largest banks in Qatar by total assets.
| # | Bank | Total assets (US$) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | QNB Group | US$382.2bn | Commercial |
| 2 | Qatar Islamic Bank | US$60.7bn | Islamic |
| 3 | Commercial Bank (Qatar) | US$53.0bn | Commercial |
| 4 | Masraf Al Rayan | US$49.8bn | Islamic |
| 5 | Dukhan Bank | US$34.0bn | Islamic |
| 6 | Doha Bank | US$33.0bn | Commercial |
| 7 | Ahli Bank | US$17.2bn | Commercial |
| 8 | QIIB | US$17.2bn | Islamic |
Largest banks in Qatar by total assets, FY2025 audited accounts. Domestic groups as in the TGB Bank Rankings; other domestic banks from their own audited accounts; subsidiaries of foreign groups shown with their own accounts and marked. Not a ranking table. Converted at official central-bank rates for each fiscal year-end.
Supervision and capital rules
QCB licenses and supervises banks, finance companies and payment providers onshore, while firms in the Qatar Financial Centre are supervised by the QFC Regulatory Authority. Banks have calculated capital under QCB's revised Basel III rules since the first quarter of 2024; for 2025 the minimum CET1 ratio was 6.0% before buffers, with CET1 of 8.5% and total capital of 12.5% required including the conservation buffer, plus D-SIB buffers and bank-specific ICAAP Pillar 2 charges. Liquidity is monitored through Basel III ratios, including the LCR. Islamic banks report under AAOIFI standards as modified by QCB. In 2026 QCB supported the system with loan deferrals and unlimited repo access, and raised policy rates in September in line with the Federal Reserve.
What changed in 2026
- March 2026: QCB announced pre-emptive support measures on 29 March, offering unlimited riyal repo and a new term repo of up to three months, cutting the reserve requirement to 3.5% from 4.5% and allowing loan payment deferrals of up to three months.
- September 2026: QCB raised its deposit, lending and repo rates by 25bp to 4.10%, 4.60% and 4.35%, effective 17 September, after the Federal Reserve's increase.
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