In recent years, QNB has been expanding across the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Most recently, in 2019, QNB has opened up a branch in Hong Kong. This branch is HKMA regulatory approved.

QNB expanded their operations to Vietnam in 2015, Myanmar the following year, and India in the year to follow.

QNB hosts a total of around 29,000 employees while serving around 20 million customers.

These ratings can be found under the highlights section. Additionally, the bank has been the host to many highly rated and internationally recognised financial publications.

QNB offers services in investment banking, corporate banking, and governmental and institutional services. Its subsidiary QNB Financial Services was the first independently regulated and licensed brokerage company launched by a bank in Qatar.

QNB prioritises integrity, transparency, social responsibility and continuous development and improvement.

Company Sustainability Activity

QNB’s three pillars of sustainability are sustainable finance, sustainable operations, and going beyond banking.

Sustainable finance looks into customer experience, data security and sustainable investments.

QNB’s sustainable operations cover governance, risk management, employee value proposition, diversity and inclusion, responsible procurement and supply chain, and finally environmental impacts of operations.

QNB’s desire to go beyond banking, prioritises community investments and socioeconomic development. Their beyond banking sector is still relevant to the financial sphere, but adopts a more social approach

QNB’s first green bond sold for $600 million. As such, QNB became the second commercial bank in the Gulf to venture into the green market. QNB uses these green bonds to raise capital for projects with environmental benefits, for example, renewable energy.

QNB asserted that this inaugural bond is part of their commitment to support the transition towards a greener economy, their sustainable finance objectives, and the ambitions of QNV 2030.

Highlights

Lending portfolio financing is environmentally friendly, low carbon activities 7.54 Qatari Riyal Billion
Topped the leaderboard for ESG disclosure at the QSE for the second consecutive year (Qatar Stock Exchange)
Obtained a second party opinion on their GSSB framework; and conducted a third-party pre-issuance
QNB was included in the FTSE4Good Index, highlighting QNB’s successfully commitment to ESG and sustainability

Targets

QNB does not note any tangible targets, but instead forms a generic statement: “We will set targets to minimise the carbon emissions associated with our operations and improve resource efficiency (e.g. energy, water, paper, waste).”

In tandem with this statement, QNB notes that moving forward they aim to increase internal awareness towards the risks of sustainability opportunities associated with their lending portfolio.

Additionally, QNB says they are committed to achieving the SDGs and seek to diversify the Qatar economy by strengthening the private sector.

Progress

QNB notes that their Board of Directors approved the integration of formal sustainability requirements within the QNB Group wholesale credit policy and credit review practices.

Beginning in 2018, QNB has continued to engage in the financing of a number of projects that reduce carbon emissions. This was, and is continuing to, be achieved through transactions such as the financing of renewable energy, externally certified green buildings and low emission transportation.

Reduction in Carbon Intensity Since 2015:

2015 = 5.0 (tonnes CO2/ employee)
2020 = 3.7(tonnes CO2/ employee )
An overall reduction of 1.3 tonnes CO2/ employee

Total GHG Emissions (tonnes of CO2e):

2017: 94,709
2018: 89,943
2019: 88,625

Total Paper Consumption (kg):

2017: 1,466,734
2018: 1,413,965
2019: 1,036,948

Certificates

UN Sustainable Development Goals

UN SDGs Compliance

SDG 1: No Poverty

Financial performance and stability
Talent attraction, development and retention

SDG 4: Quality Education

Financial inclusion, accessibility and education

SDG 5: Gender Equality

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Supporting SMEs and entrepreneurship
Financial inclusion, accessibility and education
Customer experience
Responsible customer communication and marketing
Talent attraction, development and retention
Community investment and socio-economic development

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Financial inclusion, accessibility and education
Community investment and socio-economic development
Sustainable investment, lending, products and services
Environmental impact of operations
Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
Data security and customer privacy

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

Financial inclusion, accessibility and education
Diversity and inclusion

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Green building projects from green bonds

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Promote just, peaceful, inclusive societies and institutions

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Engagement with the Gulf states

Evaluation

Qatar National Bank has demonstrated its commitment to sustainability through the inclusion of sustainable financing. This expands into sustainable operations and also goes ‘beyond banking’.

Qatar National has conclusively aligned itself with 9 of the 17 SDGs, making sizable contributions to pursuing sustainability in the Gulf Region. Highlighting their overarching capabilities and desire to contribute to a sustainable future, by not limiting their own experience and powers to a minimal number of SDGs to follow.

What is most notable about QNB is its use of SDG 17 and its positive desire to form alliances. QNB acknowledges that for deeper progression into sustainability, there must be an alliance with other banks and corporations within the Gulf area. Engaging with these banks and corporations will allow QNB to protect the environment and mitigate the threats of climate change alongside others who value the same.

Despite all these positive points and their security when it comes to green certificates and relevant listings, QNB is not very clear or specific on future sustainability goals. They skim over one vague target for the future and it is one that does not directly align with sustainability.

Therefore, this company has been rated a C.

Analyst Outlook: Neutral

QNB’s is on the road to sustainability. With more specific and measurable targets, the bank could receive a positive outlook.

Key Points

Largest green bond issuance from bank in the region 600 million USD
48% female employees
Became a constituent of the FTSE4Good Index
Topped the leaderboard for ESG disclosure at the QSE for the second consecutive year (Qatar Stock Exchange)
Obtained an SPO on their GSSB framework; and conducted a third party pre-issuance review of their eligible green and social lending portfolio.

Qatar National Bank

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