Doha/Khartoum 15 November 2008 - QNB Al Islami QNB Al Islami , which is fully owned by Qatar National Bank (QNB) announced the launch of its full fledged Islamic branch, in Khartoum, Sudan.

The branch, which will begin operating on Sunday November 16, obtained preliminary authorization to carry out banking operations in Sudan early this year. The branch is located in Al Amarat Area.

The QNB Al Islami QNB Al Islami team in Sudan comprises of a group of highly trained and qualified individuals with unparalleled experience in the banking sector of Sudan. This will allow customers to benefit from QNB Al Islami QNB Al Islami 's knowledge of the Sudanese market and their expertise.

QNB Al Islami Sudan Branch holds a wholesale banking license and will provide a full range of banking services and products including investment savings, unrestricted deposit account, corporate finance, project finance and trade finance. The branch will also provide Letters of Credit and Letters of Guarantee.

Residents and citizens of Sudan can benefit from the Bank's comprehensive banking services such as money transfer to and from Sudan within 24 hours, Current and Call accounts.

The surging popularity of Islamic banking at all levels and the growth and importance of Sukuk and investment funds has led the Bank to open its first Islamic branch outside Qatar in Sudan. Opening this branch also reinforces the economic and commercial relationship between the two countries.

QNB Al Islami QNB Al Islami , launched in 2005 as the first Islamic banking established by a conventional bank in Qatar, provides a broad range Shari'a-compliant individual and corporate services in addition to various Shari'a approved financing solutions.

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About QNB Qatar National Bank (QNB) was established in 1964 as the country's first Qatari-owned commercial bank, with an ownership structure split between Qatar Investment Authority (50%) and the private sector (50%).

QNB has steadily grown to be among the largest banks in the region and is by far the leading financial institution in the country with a market share approaching 40% of banking sector assets. QNB has the largest distribution network of 41 branches and offices (including 3 mobile branches), in addition to 11 Islamic branches and offices, and more than 145 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

QNB's international presence is rapidly expanding to include new locations around the world to supplement existing branches in London and Paris and the Representative Office in Iran. In 2007, QNB opened new branches in Yemen, Oman & Kuwait and a Representative Office in Libya. The Bank's Representative Office in Singapore received a new wholesale banking licence making it a full fledged Branch of QNB. Recently, QNB also obtained licenses to operate in Sudan and Mauritania.

As part of the same expansion plan, QNB has acquired 33.2% of the shares of the Jordan based, The Housing Bank for Trade and Finance (HBTF) which also operates in Palestine, Bahrain, Algeria, Syria, UAE, Libya and Iraq. QNB also signed an agreement to establish the Qatar National Bank-Syria jointly with other Syrian private and public sectors institutions with a 49% stake for QNB. The Bank also acquired 23.8% of the shares of Commercial Bank International (CBI) based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), thus making its first entry into the UAE financial market.

In 2008, QNB entered the Tunisian market through acquiring 50% of the Tunisian-Qatari bank. QNB has also taken a 30% stake in "The Kuwaiti-Qatari Company for Ijara and Investment, which will offer Islamic financing services within the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and has acquired a 20% stake in the Doha-based Al Jazeera Islamic Company. The bank recently received approval from Qatar Financial Center to establish a new investment company; QNB Capital, which will be providing investment banking services.

QNB offers a full range of retail, corporate, investment, treasury, wealth management, and Islamic banking products and services for individuals, corporate institutions and government entities. QNB is constantly striving to provide intelligent banking solutions and its range of products and services, and delivery channels across all disciplines continues to be unrivalled.

QNB was the first conventional bank in Qatar to offer Islamic Banking products and services through QNB Al Islami QNB Al Islami and the first Qatari bank to launch equity funds for companies listed in the Doha Securities Market.

The London-based Ansbacher, QNB's Wealth Management and Private Banking subsidiary, operates in Switzerland, Channel Islands, the Bahamas, Dubai International Financial Center and Qatar Financial Center. Ansbacher was the first financial institution to be granted a license to operate at Qatar Financial Centre providing a wide range of weal omar 1.1:zy