The Banking Executive Magazine- June 2026 Issue

QNB, Mastercard QNB, Mastercard TO EXPAND CARDS, DIGITAL PAYMENTS ACROSS SYRIA QNB Group has collaborated with Mastercard to support end-to-end in- frastructure readiness for compre- hensive international card payment acceptance in Syria, including Point- of-Sale, e-Commerce, and SoftPOS. The landmark collaboration rein- forces the bank’s role as a trusted partner in driving the development of the country’s financial sector, in line with the group’s strategy to promote digital payments in the markets where it operates. Both parties are working together with the Central Bank of Syria, ensur- ing alignment with applicable regu- latory, operational, and risk management requirements, and re- flecting a shared commitment to strengthening the payments ecosys- tem in the country. Adel Ali al-Malki, senior executive vice-president of Group Retail Bank- ing at QNB, said: “Through this part- nership with Mastercard, and in co-operation with the Central Bank of Syria, QNB Group continues to support the acceptance of interna- tional payment cards in Syria. This represents another step forward to supporting financial inclusion and enhancing the future of digital pay- ments in the region.” Adam Jones, division president, West Arabia, Mastercard, said: “Master- card and QNB Group share a com- mitment to developing robust payment ecosystems and promoting financial inclusion across the region. We are excited to work together with the Central Bank of Syria to advance readiness for the first international transaction that will connect people and businesses in the country to the global payment network and open a whole new world of opportunities.” The collaboration reflects the com- mon vision of the two companies for harnessing the power of technology and innovation to support Syria’s economic growth journey and con- tribute to building a prosperous fu- ture for the country. the BANKING EXECUTIVE 54 ISSUE 210 JUNE 2026