First Leasing Bank (FLB), a Bahrain-based wholesale bank incorporated under a licence granted by the Central Bank of Bahrain, is the first bank in the kingdom dedicated to the introduction and expansion of equipment leasing throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

The bank, a key sponsor of Gulf Industry Fair 2009, conducts both government and commercial transactions in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
“First Leasing Bank’s shareholders and management team have a unique combination of experiences, background, and financial acumen,” a spokesman of the bank says.
 “It presents the Gulf with an unequalled combination of local knowledge and international experience in lease-financing for transactions of $500,000 and above. More than just a leasing company, First Leasing Bank is a provider of high-quality asset-based financing.”
 The bank structures a range of products and services for lessees and vendor partners. FLB provides solutions for most asset classes including industrial, manufacturing, medical, printing and publishing, construction, telecommunications, IT, transportation, marine and special purpose real estate.
Earlier this year, in August, First Leasing Bank signed a $13.5 million agreement to lease construction and transportation equipment to Konstruktor Engineering Qatar.
The leased equipment will be used by Konstruktor to complete the third phase of the $1.1 billion Doha Expressway project, a key infrastructure development that will link the north and south of Qatar to the road network of Saudi Arabia.
“First Leasing Bank’s involvement in one of Qatar’s most prominent infrastructure projects, the Doha Expressway, reflects the strength of our integrated leasing capabilities,” said First Leasing Bank chief executive officer Gregory Brinkerhoff.  “As part of First Leasing Bank’s GCC-wide support strategy, we are very pleased to expand our presence in Qatar through this lease agreement with Konstruktor,” he said.
The Doha Expressway, a mega project that is being carried out by Qatar ‘s Public Works Authority, comprises 13 phases in total. The project includes the construction of a three-lane dual carriageway, service roads on both sides, and two multi-level interchanges, in addition to the development of the network infrastructure and landscaping work.
Konstruktor Engineering was awarded a contract by the Qatar government for the construction of the third phase of the Doha Expressway project.  Konstruktor is planning to support several other key infrastructure projects within Qatar and the GCC states.
The Public Works Authority’s five-year plan includes the completion of 40 major road projects and infrastructure developments at a total cost of over QR14 billion ($3.9 billion).
Konstruktor Engineering Qatar, a branch of Croatia-based Konstruktor Inzenjering Split, is an infrastructure developer widely engaged in the construction of civil and industrial engineering projects across the world.
Earlier this year, First Leasing Bank had signed a $23-million agreement to lease medical equipment to Al Seif Hospital, Kuwait, which is slated to be one of Kuwait ‘s foremost medical facilities.  The hospital’s main areas of specialisation will be gynaecology, obstetrics, paediatrics and cosmetic surgery.