QNB Group Highlights State Street Custody Agreement at Oman Capital Markets Forum

QNB Group used The Network Forum Middle East 2026 in Oman to set out its custody and cross-border connectivity work, including a strategic agreement with State Street to develop a new custody servicing model in Qatar. The Gulf Times reported the forum appearance on November 4, 2026.

QNB's Custody Model With State Street

The forum gathered financial institutions, exchanges, central asset managers and other market participants to examine the region's capital markets and post-trade landscape. QNB Group said discussions centred on improving market access, drawing international investment and advancing digital innovation, and that reforms need to deliver practical benefits for investors.

The agreement with State Street, announced earlier this year, aims to build a custody servicing model in Qatar that pairs QNB's local market knowledge with State Street's global capabilities. QNB Group said the approach reflects an industry priority discussed at the forum: combining local market access with international service expertise to support more efficient investment flows.

QNB Group's custody and securities services serve global custodians, financial institutions, asset managers and government entities. QNB Oman has operated in the Sultanate since 2007, providing corporate banking, trade finance, cash management and treasury solutions, and the forum's modernisation focus followed Oman's move to a T+2 settlement cycle in September 2026.

Abdulla Hashim al-Sada, senior executive vice president for Group Asset and Wealth Management at QNB Group, said: "Strong custody infrastructure, efficient post-trade services and seamless cross-border connectivity are essential to building confidence in regional markets and supporting their international competitiveness."

QNB's Scale Behind the Custody Push

According to akta.pro company records, QNB Group signed the strategic cooperation with State Street at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2026 to launch the custody servicing model in Qatar, combining State Street's global custody scale with QNB's local market leadership. The same records list total assets of QR1,410 billion ($382 billion), up 6% in Q1 2026 on 8% loan growth, and Q1 2026 net profit of QR4.33 billion ($1.19 billion), up 2% year-on-year.

Deals Preceding the Oman Forum

QNB Group's recent agreements include a memorandum of understanding with QFC in October 2026 to improve banking access for QFC-licensed firms and explore capital markets, covering corporate account opening, digital access and financing structures, The Peninsula Newspaper reported. In the same month, Qatar Airways and QNB Group signed a strategic global payments partnership integrating QNB's payment expertise with the airline's digital sales channels, The Peninsula Newspaper reported. In November 2026, QNB Group won 'Best Bank for Gender Diversity' and 'Best Bank for Green and Social Bond/Sukuk Issuance' at the MEED MENA Banking Excellence Corporate & Investment Awards 2026, Gulf Times reported.