On Fintech and Financial Inclusion: Evidence from Qatar

Abstract

This study examines the role of fintech adoption in enhancing financial inclusion in Qatar, with a particular focus on the mediating influence of access barriers. A structured questionnaire was administered to 220 respondents, of which 200 valid responses were retained for analysis after screening for completeness and outliers. The constructs of fintech adoption (FA), financial inclusion (FI), and access barriers (AB) were measured using validated multi-item scales adapted from prior literature. Measurement reliability and validity were confirmed through Cronbach’s alpha, composite reliability, and average variance extracted (AVE), alongside confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) for construct validity. A structural equation modeling (SEM) approach was employed to test the hypothesized relationships, using maximum likelihood estimation with bootstrap standard errors and confidence intervals. Model fit indices indicated excellent fit (χ2 = 48.983, df = 51, p = 0.554; CFI = 1.000; TLI = 1.003; RMSEA = 0.000; SRMR = 0.036). Factor loadings were all significant (p < 0.001), supporting convergent validity. However, the structural paths from FA to FI (β = −0.020, p = 0.827), AB to FI (β = −0.077, p = 0.394), and FA to AB (β = 0.054, p = 0.527) were not significant. The indirect mediation effect of AB was also statistically insignificant (β = −0.004, p = 0.700).