QATARI BANKS BULLISH ON THE FUTURE

摘要

After being largely unaffected by the three-years-plus blockade imposed on it by some of its larger neighbours, Qatar is now dealing with the economic and healthcare impacts of the global coronavirus pandemic. Banks in the Gulf state are facing the same challenges as others around the world, with a potential rise in non-performing loans (NPLs), a need to help finance the local economy - even if it affects banks' bottom lines - and pressure from governments to do more, in terms of both lending and in offering grace period for loans. Even so, while the pandemic is expected to put pressure on Qatari banks' asset quality, overall the sector is in a strong position to prosper, despite concerns over the vulnerability of some sectors, such as real estate.