Qatar is seeking to build the skilled workforce needed to support its ambitions of becoming a regional financial and fintech hub.
“Developing national talent is essential to achieving the Qatar National Vision 2030, serving as a fundamental pillar for supporting sustainable economic growth,” Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Chief Executive Officer Mansoor Rashid Al-Khater said in a statement.
As parf of this plan, the QFC has partnered with the Qatar Finance and Business Academy (QFBA) to expand internships and industry training, according to an announcement.
The two organisations signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a framework to strengthen collaboration in talent development and help bridge the gap between academic learning and industry practice.
Under the agreement, QFC will offer internship opportunities to Northumbria University students enrolled at QFBA, giving them practical industry experience and potential pathways to future employment.
The collaboration also covers lectures, seminars, workshops, career fairs and other academic and professional events aimed at promoting knowledge exchange between industry and academia.
The partners will also collaborate on the Takween Excellence Award Programme, which supports high-performing Qatari undergraduate students pursuing disciplines considered critical to the country’s financial sector and future economy.
“This partnership with QFBA reflects our shared commitment to preparing the next generation of professionals with the expertise and practical experience they need to meet the evolving demands of the modern workforce,” Al-Khater said, adding that it would expand training and development opportunities for firms operating within QFC.
QFBA Chief Executive Officer Khalifa Al Salahi Al Yafei said the partnership would help “translate academic knowledge into practical experience that reflects the realities of the workplace” while expanding opportunities for students and young professionals to gain hands-on industry experience.
The initiative comes as Gulf financial centres increasingly compete not only through regulatory reforms and investment incentives but also by developing domestic talent capable of supporting fast-growing sectors such as fintech, digital banking, payments, wealth management, and artificial intelligence.
For Qatar, building a pipeline of finance professionals has become an important complement to efforts to attract international firms to QFC, which offers companies a separate legal and regulatory framework, allows up to 100% foreign ownership, full repatriation of profits, and a 10% corporate tax on locally sourced profits.
Industry observers say that while financial centres across the Gulf have successfully attracted global institutions through business-friendly policies, sustaining long-term growth will depend on the availability of skilled local professionals.
Firms increasingly require expertise that combines financial knowledge with emerging technologies, cybersecurity, data analytics and regulatory compliance.