Qatar’s prominent Islamic bank QIIB is looking to open “fully digital branches” at Lusail City and at Msheireb Downtown Doha, said chief executive officer Dr Abdulbasit Ahmed al-Shaibei.
“We are working on those fully digital branches. At Msheireb, we plan to open the fully digital branch this year and at Lusail in 2023,” al-Shaibei told Gulf Times.
In terms of expanding its nation-wide network, the QIIB CEO said: “We will continue to focus on popular malls and other leading shopping facilities. Our branches in malls have been attracting lots of customers. We have good feedback from customers about the level of service we provide in such branches,” al-Shaibei said.
On QIIB’s joint venture Umnia Bank in Morocco, he said: “It is doing very well...growing very fast.”
“We expect Umnia Bank to break even by next year. Currently, Umnia Bank has some 33 branches across key cities in Morocco.”
Asked about QIIB’s plans to expand in Central Asia, he said: “Before Covid, we were considering Kazakhstan. Unfortunately, with Covid-19, everything got either delayed or postponed.
“But I believe Central Asia is a market with huge potential. We are not discounting any place. But we look at each market, do a lot of research and apply due diligence,” al-Shaibei said.
“We are working on those fully digital branches. At Msheireb, we plan to open the fully digital branch this year and at Lusail in 2023,” al-Shaibei told Gulf Times.
In terms of expanding its nation-wide network, the QIIB CEO said: “We will continue to focus on popular malls and other leading shopping facilities. Our branches in malls have been attracting lots of customers. We have good feedback from customers about the level of service we provide in such branches,” al-Shaibei said.
On QIIB’s joint venture Umnia Bank in Morocco, he said: “It is doing very well...growing very fast.”
“We expect Umnia Bank to break even by next year. Currently, Umnia Bank has some 33 branches across key cities in Morocco.”
Asked about QIIB’s plans to expand in Central Asia, he said: “Before Covid, we were considering Kazakhstan. Unfortunately, with Covid-19, everything got either delayed or postponed.
“But I believe Central Asia is a market with huge potential. We are not discounting any place. But we look at each market, do a lot of research and apply due diligence,” al-Shaibei said.
