Best bank - Qatar National Bank
Best local partner - Qatar National Bank
Best Debt house - Gulf International Bank
With more than 50% of the banking system's total assets, Qatar National Bank could be classified as a monopoly under some definitions. Its size and close links to the government, the main shareholder and the largest customer of the banking system, make it the best positioned to win all the big-ticket business in Qatar. It is therefore the obvious choice for both the best bank and best local partner awards.
Gulf International Bank, a pan-regional investment bank based in Bahrain, wins the best debt house award. GIB was a mandated arranger on four of the six major loan deals in Qatar over the year.