Interview: Hussein Fakhreddine, Acting CEO, QInvest, on deepening investment and sustainability momentum
What trends are shaping investment opportunities and how do you see capital markets supporting economic diversification?
HUSSEIN FAKHREDDINE: Policy-led efforts to diversify Qatar’s economy are opening up new avenues for investment, guided by Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy 2024-30. Capital markets are central to this push, with the Qatar Stock Exchange gaining prominence through regulatory reforms, inclusion in global indices like MSCI Emerging Markets and growing foreign investor interest.
Recent milestones, such as the book-building process in the MEEZA initial public offering, updated securities lending and borrowing frameworks and a QR1bn ($274m) market-making programme, are enhancing liquidity and price discovery. Sectoral shifts are also driving investor interest, including liquefied natural gas expansion, renewables, logistics, tourism and artificial intelligence. A roadmap of more than 50 initiatives is helping broaden the financial product base, from equities and sukuk (Islamic bonds) to environmental, social and governance (ESG) linked bonds.
In what ways has the global shift toward sustainable and green finance impacted investment strategies?
FAKHREDDINE: Regulators and financial institutions have integrated ESG principles in national policy and practices, with Qatar Central Bank’s ESG and Sustainability Strategy providing a structured approach to manage environmental and climate-related risks, enable capital flows into green sectors. These shifts have been backed by action, including the issuance of country’s first ever sovereign green bond in 2024, and similar issuances from private institutions, creating momentum in the local green bond market.
Frameworks for sustainable sukuk and ESG-linked financing tools, introduced by Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), have further supported this shift. Investment strategies increasingly prioritise renewable energy, energy-efficient infrastructure and ESG-compliant real estate sectors. Sustainability is no longer peripheral – it is embedded in Qatar’s broader investment thesis.
To what extent is the development of Islamic finance necessary for achieving broader economic goals, and how is innovation meeting global standards?
FAKHREDDINE: Islamic finance supports economic diversification by broadening the investor base, attracting liquidity from a global Islamic finance market projected to reach $6.7trn by 2027. It facilitates private-sector growth through asset-backed instruments suited to small and medium-sized enterprises, and aligns with global interest in ESG-focused investment.
Qatar is advancing innovation to meet global standards with regulatory support enabling the launch of green sukuk and sharia-compliant exchange traded funds. A key development is the introduction of a Digital Asset Framework by the QFC Authority which allows tokenisation of sukuk and other Islamic instruments, in line with Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions standards.
How is the regulatory environment supporting the expansion of proprietary investment, and which areas present the highest growth potential?
FAKHREDDINE: Regulatory reforms – covering bankruptcy, public private partnerships and commercial registration – are creating a more competitive investment environment. Incentives such as tax exemptions in free zones, 100% foreign ownership, and easy profit repatriation further support capital inflows.
Improved market infrastructure and alignment with global standards have boosted transparency and investor confidence, attracting major global firms to Qatar. Key growth sectors include technology, particularly digital infrastructure and data centres, as well as construction and real estate, driven by large-scale investment in renewable energy and industrial development.
Read More from OBG
