Ministry of Justice Convenes Inaugural Banking Sector Forum on Service Efficiency

Under the patronage of HE Ibrahim bin Ali bin Issa Al Hassan Al Mohannadi, Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, the Ministry of Justice held its inaugural forum with Qatar’s banking sector under the theme “A Shared Vision for Enhancing Service Efficiency.” Representatives of banks and other banking institutions operating in Qatar attended the forum, which focused on developing procedures and services, strengthening institutional integration and improving service efficiency.

The forum was attended by Amer Saeed Al Ghafri, Assistant Undersecretary for Real Estate Registration and Notarization Affairs, and Ali Mohammed Al Yafie, Assistant Undersecretary for Legal Affairs. Participants reviewed matters relating to the Real Estate Registration and Notarization Sector and the Experts Department, with the aim of strengthening direct communication with financial institutions, discussing practical challenges and exchanging proposals to streamline procedures.

The Real Estate Registration and Notarization Sector reviewed the principal legislation governing its work and the Ministry’s efforts to expand digital and electronic services. Discussions also considered direct integration between banking and Ministry systems and secure channels for sharing real estate data, improving the reliability of information and supporting efficient credit decisions.

Topics included developing mortgage registration procedures, assignments of rights and their associated challenges, and financing secured by future rights connected with real estate projects. Participants also examined procedures governing the transfer of rights, mortgages and guarantees after title deeds are issued, together with digital services, electronic notarization and electronic signatures.

Al Ghafri said the forum reflected the Ministry’s commitment to cooperating with different sectors and drawing on their expertise to develop the administration of justice and raise its quality. He said it would enable both sides to discuss challenges affecting shared procedures and services, exchange expertise and identify opportunities to simplify requirements and strengthen digital integration.

He stressed that effective cooperation should be based on clear procedures and complementary institutional roles. Data and information exchanges must comply with applicable regulations and requirements concerning governance, confidentiality and information security, helping improve service reliability and transaction speed.

Al Ghafri expressed hope that the discussions would identify cooperation priorities and produce practical proposals that could be implemented and monitored. These proposals could pave the way for joint initiatives addressing challenges and improving the customer experience.

Areej Mohsen Al Shammari, Director of the Documentation Department, presented the forum’s objectives, applicable legislation and digital services supporting electronic integration with the banking sector. The presentation covered direct links between bank systems and the Real Estate Registration and Notarization Sector, secure data channels, electronic applications, identity verification, electronic signatures and expanded smart services, while immediate access to real estate information would support credit decisions.

Services for the banking sector will become fully electronic in January 2027, when the Ministry will stop accepting manual applications. The available services include registering and releasing mortgages, sales, correcting owners’ names or property classifications, ownership disclosures and issuing title deeds, including replacements for lost or damaged documents.

Other services include debt assignments, account pledges, pledges of securities and shares in joint-stock companies, acknowledgements of share pledges and assignments of rights. The forum also examined completing mortgage registration and release entirely online without physical attendance and improving integration among the entities involved to accelerate transactions.

For real estate financing, discussions addressed banks’ need to verify a property’s status and registered encumbrances before granting financing, particularly for major real estate projects. The Ministry reported that 375 electronic transactions had been completed for banks during the final quarter of 2026.

The Experts Department outlined its work to develop the expert profession and improve the quality of technical reports in banking disputes. Its efforts address challenges involving the interpretation of banking transactions, the accuracy of financial calculations and the technical reasoning supporting conclusions, contributing to the administration of justice and the protection of litigants’ rights.

The department highlighted the importance of encouraging banking specialists to register on the roster of experts and contribute to complex technical matters. Cooperation and knowledge exchange must preserve experts’ independence and impartiality and avoid conflicts of interest, helping produce more accurate reports and assisting judicial bodies in deciding banking disputes.

Proposed areas of cooperation included the quality of technical reports, the role and appointment of banking, accounting and financial experts, and specialist expertise in anti-money laundering, payment cards, electronic transactions, letters of credit and guarantees. Participants subsequently discussed recommendations, observations and legislative proposals concerning real estate registration and notarization services, as well as cooperation on banking expertise.

The forum forms part of efforts to deepen institutional partnerships, exchange expertise and establish joint mechanisms between the Ministry and the banking sector. These efforts are intended to keep pace with digital transformation, enhance service efficiency, support Qatar’s business and investment environment and advance Qatar National Vision 2030.

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