Doha: The issuance of bonds totaling QAR 1 billion on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) was fully subscribed by investors outside Qatar, in a move that reflects the robustness of the bank's financial position and the high level of confidence that international investors have in the Qatari economy and the Qatari riyal, Executive General Manager and Chief Business Officer of Qatar National Bank (QNB) Group, Yousef Al Neama, told Qatar News Agency (QNA).

According to Qatar News Agency, Yousef Al Neama added that QNB has succeeded in executing the largest issuance of Qatari-riyal-denominated bonds in the domestic market, totaling QAR 1 billion, with a fixed interest rate of 4 percent and a one-year maturity.

The strong external demand for the subscription reflects investors' confidence in the national economy and its stability, in addition to the appeal of fixed-income instruments, which are preferred by a broad segment of investors seeking reliable returns insulated from the volatility of interest rates, Al Neama pointed out.

Al Neama further noted that this issuance comes within QNB's strategy to diversify funding sources, whether through borrowing, issuing bonds in US dollars, or pivoting toward various international markets that include a diverse base of investors.

He emphasized that issuing bonds in billions of riyals is part of an overall plan to manage and diversify funding.

The bank predicted that this move would motivate further issuances in Qatari riyals even by other banks, thereby supporting the development of the debt instruments market on the QSE and fostering its attractiveness to both domestic and international investors.

Regarding future issuances, QNB indicated that diversifying funding tools will remain part of its strategic plans, with the feasibility of laying out new issuances based on market conditions and funding needs during the upcoming period.