Doha, 21 April 2008

• Key sectors in the economy will be surveyed
• Index will measure business expectations of Qatar’s Business Community
• First index of its kind for Qatar will be launched in September 2008

al khaliji and the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority have entered a partnership with Dun & Bradstreet (D&B), the world’s premier financial data and business information provider, to develop Qatar’s first Business Optimism Index.

Business Optimism Indexes are commonly used to better identify and understand the growth expectations of the business community and its response to current developments within an economy. Over time business optimism Indexes develop into leading indicators of economic activity, and thus assist the business and investment community, and also government, in short-term economic forecasting and strategic planning.

David Proctor, al khaliji CEO, said: “At al khaliji, everything we do is based on solid research. The Business Optimism Index will provide a next generation tool for our local and regional business community to monitor the dynamic and rapidly changing Qatar business environment. I’m confident the Index will become an indispensable reference for businesses, banks, research institutions and international organizations, and help us all to better anticipate and make provisions for changes in the economic landscape.”

Stuart Pearce, CEO and Director General of the QFC Authority said: “The QFC’s primary role is to attract new expertise and capacity from leading financial services institutions and professional services providers from around the world to support Qatar’s investment and development programme. We do so partly by providing them with as much value-added information as possible, and the results of the survey that will form the basis of this index will be invaluable to them in judging the direction and mood of the market in timing their business decisions.”

Rajesh Mirchandani, CEO of D&B South Asia Middle East added:

“The Qatar economy has exhibited strong resilience in the recent past, and continues to be an attractive investment destination. Retaining investor interest is influenced to a large degree by the availability of frequently updated economic information. The D&B Business Optimism Index (D&B BOI) has been designed to serve this requirement, by capturing the sentiment of the business community about Qatar's economic prospects and making it available on a quarterly basis." Commenting on the partnership with al khaliji and QFC, Rajesh Mirchandani adds “We at D&B believe strongly in drawing from local partnerships to add value to our insight and analysis on the economy. We are pleased to have al khaliji and QFC on board for this initiative. We feel that the combined strength of the three institutions will add significant value to the Business Optimism Index on Qatar, and thus to the business community as a whole.”

As the latest addition to D&B’s global series of Business Optimism Indexes, the Business Optimism Index on Qatar will be issued on a quarterly basis and will be one of the most effective ways to keep track of where businesses think the Qatari economy is moving.

For further information on al khaliji, please visit www.alkhaliji.com

Press Contact

Florence Janin
Senior Executive, Corporate Affairs, al khaliji
Mobile: +974 559 1547 – email: fjanin@alkhaliji.com

Maitha Al Qader
Principal, Corporate Affairs, al khaliji
Mobile: +974580842/ +971504277427 – email: malqader@alkhaliji.com

Tatjana Marinko
Director-Business Development, D&B
Tel: +971-04-3695700 - email: marinkot@dnbsame.com

Steve Martin
Director of Corporate Communications and Marketing
Qatar Financial Centre Authority
Tel: +974 496 7755 - email: s.martin@qfc.com.qa

Layla Salem
Corporate Communication Executive
Qatar Financial Centre Authority
Tel: +974 4967793 – email: l.salem@qfc.com.qa

About Dun & Bradstreet

Dun & Bradstreet is considered to be the world’s premier financial data and business information provider, and widely recognized as the world’s leading business knowledge provider. Established in 1847, the company owns and maintains the world’s largest commercial database containing some 125 million business records, and provides business information solutions to the world’s business community. Ranked by Fortune Magazine as the most respected company within its field, D&B’s products and services are synonymous with trust, insight, and expertise.

Dun & Bradstreet South Asia Middle East (D&B SAME) was established in 2003 and is responsible for developing the company’s products and services in and for the region. Recognizing the paucity of information on the regional economies, D&B has made it one of its core commitments to develop analytical tools that will assist in better explaining developments in the region.

About al khaliji

al khaliji was incorporated in Doha in January 2007, and completed its IPO and listing on the Doha Securities Market in August. Our aim is to become a major corporate and retail commercial bank across the Gulf and have recruited an experienced international management team and nearly 240 employees to execute this strategy.

Our shareholder structure gives us regional and local strength and depth. The bank’s 191 founding shareholders, drawn from Qatar, Oman, the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain own 43% of al khaliji’s authorized and issued capital. Paid at 50%, their subscription in 312 million shares raised an initial QAR 1.56bn in ordinary capital. A Gulf-wide Private Placement of 288 million shares (again, paid at 50%) raised another QAR 1.44bln, or 40% of the bank’s authorized capital. Following completion of the IPO, Qatari investors hold 17% of the bank’s authorised capital, worth an initial QAR 600m paid at 50%. In total, al khaliji has an authorized and issued capital of QAR 7.2bln divided into 720 million ordinary shares paid at 50% equivalent to QAR 3.6 bln

Our activities are underpinned by the highest standards of service, easy to understand products, and reliable, innovative technology. Built in response to customer demand for a bank that is designed to meet their needs and their lifestyles, al khaliji is bringing a new banking approach to the region in response to new research findings and customer needs.

About QFC

The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) is a financial and business centre established by the Government of Qatar and located in Doha. It has been designed to attract international financial services institutions and major multi-national corporations and to encourage participation in the growing market for financial services in Qatar and elsewhere in the region. The QFC will operate to international standards and provide a first class legal and business infrastructure for those operating within the QFC. The QFC was created by Qatar Law No.(7) and has been open for business since 1 May 2005.

QFC Authority

The QFC Authority is the commercial, administrative and legislative body responsible for driving the commercial strategy of the QFC and for developing relationships with the global corporate community and other key institutions both within and outside of Qatar.