Lesha Bank

What Lesha Bank does

Lesha Bank LLC is a Qatar-domiciled private investment bank (formerly Qatar First Bank) that operates across Islamic banking, Sharia-compliant investment management, and aviation capital. The company pursues growth primarily through cross-border acquisitions and strategic investments rather than organic product development, as evidenced by the completed USD 135 million acquisition of Bereke Bank JSC in Kazakhstan (October 2024), the announced USD 1 billion all-cash acquisition of Guernsey-based aircraft lessor Amedeo Air Four Plus (March 2026), and indirect stakes in an investment fund (QAR 364 million) and Edinburgh Airport via an infrastructure fund. Its banking and investment operations are distributed through the acquired Bereke Bank branch network in Kazakhstan, while aviation leasing is concentrated in Lesha Aviation Capital and subsidiaries LAC 10 LLC and AA4P Epsilon Limited, which together hold 12 wide-body Airbus and Boeing aircraft leased to Emirates and Thai Airways. Revenue streams include interest and fee income from banking operations, recurring lease payments from the aircraft portfolio, and managed-asset returns from Sharia-compliant investment products, with pricing and fees not publicly disclosed and distribution conducted through direct institutional and subsidiary channels.

Name

Lesha Bank

Legal name

Lesha Bank LLC

Website

https://leshabank.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Lesha Bank is a Qatar-based private investment bank operating in Islamic banking, Sharia-compliant investments, and aviation leasing, serving retail and corporate banking clients in Kazakhstan through Bereke Bank and airlines globally via its 12-aircraft leasing fleet.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Investment Banking

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Other Financial Investment Activities (5239)

SIC

National Commercial Banks (6021), Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Islamic Investment Banking & Capital Markets Services (FSABAGAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Islamic Corporate Banking (FSABAGAC), Islamic SME & Commercial Banking (FSABAGAB), Shariah-compliant Financing Products (Murabaha, Ijara, Tawarruq, Istisna, Salam) (FSABAGAH)

Keywords

• Investment banking services
• Islamic finance products
• Aircraft leasing
• Commercial banking
• Sharia-compliant investments

Headquarters

HQ city

Doha

HQ country

Qatar

HQ region

Middle East

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Banking Operations: Traditional banking services through acquired institutions including Bereke Bank in Kazakhstan, generating revenue from interest income, fees, and financial services.
2. Aviation Capital: Revenue from aircraft leasing operations through Lesha Aviation Capital, including lease payments from airlines operating wide-body aircraft.
3. Islamic Investment Products: Islamic finance investments generating returns through Sharia-compliant instruments, including indirect investments in infrastructure funds.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Lesha Bank provides investment banking and asset ownership services, operating a commercial banking subsidiary (Bereke Bank JSC) in Kazakhstan and an aviation aircraft leasing platform (Lesha Aviation Capital, Amedeo Air Four Plus) that leases wide-body Airbus and Boeing aircraft to major airlines such as Emirates and Thai Airways. It also offers Sharia-compliant Islamic investment products, including indirect stakes in infrastructure funds (e.g., Edinburgh Airport) and other investment vehicles.

Product overview

Lesha Bank (formerly Qatar First Bank) is a financial services institution operating across multiple markets. Based on available sources, the company is primarily involved in banking acquisitions and Islamic investment activities, including the acquisition of Bereke Bank in Kazakhstan and Amedeo Air Four Plus in the aircraft leasing sector. No detailed product portfolio information is available from the provided sources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lesha Aviation Capital: Aviation capital division of Lesha Bank focused on aircraft leasing operations
• Lesha Bank LLC

Products and services

• Bereke Bank Commercial and Retail Banking Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 33% premium valuation achieved in Amedeo Air Four Plus acquisition
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Amedeo Air Four PluscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 March 2026Lesha Bank agreed to acquire Amedeo Air Four Plus Limited, a Guernsey-based aircraft lessor, in a $1 billion all-cash deal. The acquisition involves 12 wide-body Airbus and Boeing jets leased to Emirates and Thai Airways, expanding Lesha Aviation Capital's diversified fleet.
• Bereke Bank JSCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLesha Bank completed acquisition of Bereke Bank JSC in Kazakhstan for approximately USD 135 million. The transaction aims to enhance competition, introduce new technology, and expand lending in Kazakhstan's financial sector.
• AviLeaseminorOthersCompetitor in bidding for Macquarie AirFinance acquisition, demonstrating competitive positioning in aircraft leasing sector.
• Lesha Aviation CapitalcoreOthersSubsidiary entity driving the aircraft leasing strategy and managing the Amedeo Air Four Plus acquisition.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Qatar Islamic Bank: Qatar's largest Islamic bank and a direct domestic peer. Both institutions are Qatar-based Shariah-compliant banks with investment banking and corporate banking capabilities, serving similar regional client bases.
• Al Rayan Bank: UK-based Islamic bank with Qatari ownership and Shariah-compliant retail and commercial banking products. Comparable to Lesha Bank as a Qatar-linked Islamic bank operating across multiple jurisdictions.
• Dubai Islamic Bank: UAE's largest Islamic bank offering corporate, retail, and investment banking services. Comparable to Lesha Bank as a regional Islamic competitor with diversified financial services and capital-markets activities.
• Boubyan Bank: Kuwait-based Islamic bank with a strong digital and corporate banking franchise. Comparable to Lesha Bank as a mid-sized Islamic bank pursuing growth in retail and corporate banking across the Gulf.
• Kuwait Finance House: Kuwait-headquartered Islamic bank with diversified operations across banking, investment, and aviation-related financing. Most comparable to Lesha Bank given its Islamic finance mandate, multi-jurisdictional presence, and capital-deployment strategy.
• AviLease: Saudi Arabia-based aircraft lessor and a direct competitor to Lesha Aviation Capital. Specifically named as a competing bidder for Macquarie AirFinance, confirming overlapping target markets and fleet strategies.

Broad incumbents

• AerCap Holdings: World's largest aircraft lessor with a diversified fleet of commercial jets. Comparable to Lesha Aviation Capital as a wide-body lessor serving global airlines, but operating at vastly greater scale.
• Air Lease Corporation: US-based global aircraft lessor with a fleet spanning narrow-body and wide-body jets. Comparable to Lesha Aviation Capital as a lessor targeting major airlines with modern commercial aircraft.
• Al Rajhi Bank: Saudi Arabia's largest Islamic bank with extensive retail, corporate, and investment banking operations. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the Islamic finance space, though significantly larger and more diversified than Lesha Bank.
• Gulf International Bank: Saudi-headquartered wholesale bank owned by GCC governments, focused on investment banking, asset management, and treasury services. Comparable to Lesha Bank's investment banking orientation and Gulf sponsorship base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Lesha_bank

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A4 records

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lesha Bank