The central bank’s circular to banks on February 1 said that non-Shariah compliant banks must close Islamic branches by year end and stop taking deposits in those units immediately.
Qatari banks including Qatar National Bank, Commercial Bank of Qatar, Doha Bank and International Bank of Qatar have Islamic banking divisions.
HSBC Amanah, the Islamic banking unit of Europe’s largest bank, is in discussions with the central bank “to find a workable solution,” the company said in an e- mailed statement on February 6.
End item/ 129