Qatar Finance and Business Academy (QFBA) has announced the winners of the first edition of the National Finance Researcher Award during a special ceremony held to recognise outstanding students at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels and to honour their innovative contributions in the fields of finance and business.Launched under the sponsorship of Doha Bank, the award seeks to inspire and support the next generation of finance researchers in Qatar, promote academic excellence, foster creativity and innovation, and provide a national platform for young researchers to present their work and contribute to the development of Qatar’s financial and banking sectors.Dr Khalifa al-Yafei, CEO, Qatar Finance and Business Academy, expressed his pride in the successful launch of the award, emphasising the academy’s ongoing commitment to empowering emerging researchers and cultivating an environment of academic innovation.“This award reflects our commitment to fostering a thriving research culture in the fields of finance and business and to recognising the intellectual efforts that contribute to knowledge-based economic development. It aligns with the objectives of Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy and the Qatar National Vision 2030. As a strategic initiative, the award will continue annually to encourage high-impact research and help translate academic findings into practical applications that benefit the national economy.“We also extend our sincere appreciation to Doha Bank for its generous sponsorship of this award, which underscores the bank’s commitment to advancing scientific research and innovation in the financial sector. Congratulations to all the winners for their exceptional achievements.”During the event, Doha Bank was recognised for its valuable contributions, along with members of the judging panel, which comprised a distinguished group of academics and industry experts. The ceremony concluded with the announcement of the winners in the five designated award categories.Selections were made following a thorough evaluation process conducted by an independent panel, based on a set of rigorous academic standards, including originality, innovation, methodology, depth of analysis, relevance, impact, practical implications, and knowledge contribution.The winners are:- Buthaina Rashid al-Saidi, recipient of the ‘Best Qatari Finance Researcher Award’ for the paper titled ‘The impact of investment allocation on the financial performance of listed insurance companies in Qatar’.- Jamela Ali Mohammed, first place (bachelor’s degree Research Project Award) for the paper ‘Exploring the incorporation of ESG investment for SRI in Qatar’.- Abeeha Shoaib, second place (bachelor’s degree Research Project Award) for the paper ‘How did Covid-19 affect Shariah- compliant versus conventional firms’ operating performance?’- Ameera Fatima Anaz, first place (master’s degree Research Project Award) for the paper ‘Sustainability performance, credit ratings and share price: a global study’- Bashayer Hamad al-Kaabi, second place (master’s degree Research Project Award) for the paper ‘Analysis of climate change news sentiment’s impact on GCC stock markets’The first edition of the award saw the participation of talented students from prominent academic institutions in Qatar, including Qatar University, University of Doha for Science and Technology, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, Qatar Finance and Business Academy in collaboration with Northumbria University, and Hamad Bin Khalifa University.