The political leadership of Qatar has been working over recent decades to position the country as a powerful economy and influential sovereign entity, well prepared to address future challenges. With a relatively small population and substantial revenue generated from having the third-largest proven natural gas reserves globally, Qatar has one of the world’s highest GDP per capita, at nearly $84,900…
Propelled by a major infrastructure development drive in preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and a broad-based loosening of investment and business regulations, Qatar’s economy has undergone significant expansion in recent years. The country’s immense natural gas reserves are being further tapped and production capacity expanded, while related revenue is being pumped into the diversification…
Qatar’s bid to enhance its reputation as an international investment destination gathered significant momentum during the country’s preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The changes made to investment-related legislation in recent years are expected to lead to Qatar continuing its upward trajectory in terms of its ability to attract international investment now that the tournament is in the…
Well provisioned and supervised, Qatar’s banks have withstood recent global and regional uncertainties, leaving them in a strong position for further growth. The sector’s banks stand to benefit from the country’s new strategic vision – the Third National Development Strategy (NDS-3) for 2024-30, which prioritises financial services in Qatar’s future development and diversification. Meanwhile,…
Qatari capital markets have undergone significant development in recent years, with the relevant government agencies united in the drive to see the emerging market advance further up the global economic rankings. While the performance of the country’s stock exchange has fluctuated of late, the strong fiscal performance, and timely regulatory, banking-capital-protection and systems updates – including…
Qatar has a vibrant and multifaceted Islamic financial services sector capable of providing a full suite of sharia-compliant products. The country is a major regional and global player in Islamic finance, home to three of the world’s top-10 Islamic banks by asset size. The sector has continued to grow despite the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic and recent regional and global instability. Now, with…
With an expanding economy and population, a new national strategy aimed at enhancing the insurance sector and the rollout of a new health care system, this is a period of heightened activity for Qatar’s insurance and takaful (Islamic insurance) players. Buoyed by high disposable incomes and expected future demand for liquefied natural gas, there are expectations of steady annual growth in insurance…
Qatar has reaped benefits from changes in the global energy market caused by the conflict in Ukraine, and the accelerated energy transitions of several countries. The country has signed major long-term energy supply deals with China, France, Germany and the Netherlands, and will likely renew gas agreements with South Korea in the near future. The North Field expansion project, which will increase liquefied…
Qatar’s manufacturing industry is of central importance to the government’s economic diversification drive, with high-value production lines receiving substantial public and private investment in recent years. The country appears to have worked the 2017-21 economic and diplomatic blockade put in place by a number of GCC countries to its advantage, with the new trade partnerships forged during that…
Qatar has significantly expanded its transport sector over the last decade through focused long-term strategies and high levels of public funding. In the build-up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the government invested in developing the country’s roads, rail networks and public transport systems to prepare for the influx of visitors. In line with Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV), Qatar’s transport…
