Dubai – 8th December 2013 - QNB, the World’s Strongest Bank, has convened its Strategy Conference entitled “Shaping a MENA Icon” in Dubai. This was the first time this important Group event had taken place in the UAE and was most timely given Dubai’s successful bid for The World Expo Event in 2020.
The Strategy Conference is held in one of the 26 countries where the company has an operating presence and is attended by the QNB Senior Management team in Qatar, General Managers from relevant International Countries and Chief Executive Officers from Subsidiary companies. The purpose is to discuss relevant topics that will enhance the strategic development of the organization and help secure The Bank’s Vision of “Becoming a MENA Icon”.
The two day meeting was chaired by Mr. Ali Ahmed Al Kuwari, the Acting Group Chief Executive (AGCEO). Commenting on the significance of the Conference he said: “As the leading Financial Institution in The Region, we are delighted to be hosting this important event in Dubai. A key strength of the QNB Group is our commitment to stay close to and work together with our overseas branches, subsidiaries and associate companies. An important Forum such as this allows us to both highlight the continuing impressive progress being made by The Group and focus upon the key strategic objectives that we still need to deliver. Doing all of this for the first time in Dubai has been an additional bonus”.
The AGCEO also stated that the success of Qatar and Dubai in capturing two important global events (World Cup 2022 and Expo 2020) in the early 2020’s bodes well for the future economic growth prosperity of the GCC. Indeed, the “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future” theme of Expo 2020 was very relevant to the QNB Strategy Conference discussions taking place.
For his part, Mr. Mohamed Al Qadi, Chairman of the UAE–based Commercial Bank International (CBI), extended both a warm welcome to the Executive Management of QNB Group and stressed CBI's desire to continue to strengthen its relations with its QNB partners and work towards common shared goals.
QNB Group holds 40% of shareholders’ capital of the CBI, which operates in the UAE through 19 branches covering all UAE major cities. Earlier this year, CBI announced its new brand reflecting a strong strategic partnership with QNB Group and taking advantage of the financial strength and brand equity of the largest financial institution in The MENA Region.
In June 2013, The Strategy Conference was held in the Egyptian Capital, Cairo. This move coincided with the completion of the acquisition of the QNB Al Ahli (QNB AA), Egypt's second largest bank, formerly known as NSGB. Now, QNB Group holds a controlling stake of 97.12% in the QNB AA.
