Commercial Bank and Alternatif Bank Support Turkish Companies' Gulf Expansion

Commercial Bank and Alternatif Bank brought Turkish companies and key regional stakeholders together at "Beyond Borders: Empowering Turkish Business in the Gulf Region", held with the support of the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Türkiye (DEİK). Senior representatives from National Bank of Oman and United Arab Bank, in which Commercial Bank holds equity stakes, also attended the event, which explored investment, financing and growth opportunities across the Gulf.

Designed to strengthen economic and commercial ties between Türkiye and Gulf countries, the event addressed regional investment and growth opportunities, access to finance, cross-border banking, trade finance and corporate banking solutions. It enabled Turkish business leaders to engage directly with leading Gulf financial institutions and establish a foundation for new partnerships.

Participants included Commercial Bank Group Chief Executive Officer Stephen Moss; Chair of the DEİK Türkiye–Qatar Business Council Abdullah Altunkum; United Arab Bank Chief Executive Officer Shirish Bhide; and National Bank of Oman Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Zahran Al Hinai. Guest speakers Prof. Dr. Hakan Kara and Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kasım Han presented their assessments of the outlook for Türkiye and Gulf markets, geopolitical developments and regional economic conditions, offering perspectives relevant to investment and growth decisions.

Omar Hussain Alfardan, Chair of Alternatif Bank and Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Commercial Bank, said there was considerable potential to deepen economic ties between Türkiye and the Gulf through mutual investment, long-term partnerships and new forms of cooperation. He noted that Türkiye's manufacturing and entrepreneurial strengths complement the Gulf's investment capacity and regional connections.

Alfardan said the event offered an opportunity to turn this potential into tangible prospects, forge connections among business leaders and lay the groundwork for lasting partnerships. He added that the banks would continue combining Alternatif Bank's strengths in Türkiye with Commercial Bank Group's regional experience and reach to support trade and investment between Türkiye and the Gulf.

Stephen Moss said Türkiye was an important trade and investment partner for Qatar and the wider Gulf, adding that the group's regional financial network could help advance these economic ties. He said Commercial Bank's strong position in Qatar, its 35.89% stake in National Bank of Oman and its 39.99% stake in United Arab Bank were important elements of its regional presence across Türkiye, Qatar, Oman and the UAE.

Moss said the longstanding relationship with Alternatif Bank brought its knowledge of the Turkish market together with the regional experience of Commercial Bank, United Arab Bank and National Bank of Oman. This combination, he said, enabled the institutions to support Turkish companies seeking finance, entering Gulf markets and building lasting business partnerships. He described the DEİK-supported event as a platform for creating new opportunities and deepening economic ties between Türkiye and the Gulf.

Abdullah Altunkum said relations between Türkiye and Qatar continued to grow on a foundation of dialogue and mutual trust, with the goal of turning these ties into greater trade, investment and tangible cooperation. He described Qatar as an important partner in helping Turkish companies access opportunities across the wider Gulf, citing the region's financial strength, investment capacity and opportunities across different sectors.

Altunkum added that companies seeking a strong and lasting presence in new markets required access to finance, connections with suitable partners and a close understanding of local dynamics alongside commercial opportunities. He said the DEİK Türkiye–Qatar Business Council would continue helping Turkish companies pursue opportunities in Qatar and across the Gulf more effectively.

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