Analysis

Key drivers boost Qatar’s transport sector competitiveness
OBG
plus

Substantial public investment in logistics infrastructure over the past decade has helped establish a robust business environment that facilitates access for foreign companies. The government has prioritised spending in the sector to stimulate increased financing from private firms in the coming years. The development of high-tech logistics centres – including Hamad International Airport (HIA), Hamad…

Analysis

Qatar adopts smart mobility solutions for sustainable urban transport
OBG
plus

The GCC’s population has more than doubled over the past 25 years, growing from 26.2m in 1995 to 56.4m in 2021, outpacing the global growth rate of 30%. Urbanisation has also accelerated across the region, driven by rapid economic development, migration and the concentration of economic activities in urban centres. By 2015 the GCC led Arab countries as the most urbanised subregion, with an urbanisation…

Analysis

Qatar embraces cleaner fuels and emerging technologies for greener transport
OBG
plus

With fossil fuels still powering roughly 99% of global shipping, the sector is seeking to reduce emissions through cleaner fuel sources – including methanol, ammonia and wind – that could soon see increased use. Increased Investment In August 2022 Breakthrough Energy Ventures, a coalition of private investors founded by US tech entrepreneur Bill Gates, helped Danish start-up Blue World Technologies…

Analysis

Qatar leads energy innovation with investment in sustainable technologies
OBG
plus

Qatar is well positioned to capitalise on emerging trends in energy technologies. These include the large-scale production of hydrogen, the transformation of hydrogen into ammonia for transport and fuel, and the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) facilities, ensuring that the former two are clean. In November 2024 QatarEnergy (QE) and Qatar Fertiliser Company (QAFCO) broke ground on what…

Analysis

The Gulf advances clean energy transition with carbon capture and hydrogen investments
OBG
plus

As hydrocarbons producers reap sustained revenue from high global prices, national oil companies (NOCs) in the Gulf are accelerating investment in carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS); hydrogen; and cleaner sources of energy to make their activities less carbon-intensive and support the energy transition. Gulf NOCs’ low-cost production advantages and massive hydrocarbons resources mean…

Analysis

Qatar strengthens material security to enhance manufacturing and exports
OBG
plus

Eyeing 3.4% annual growth in non-hydrocarbons GDP and up to $100bn in foreign direct investment by 2030, Qatar launched the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) Strategy 2024-30 to make industrial and manufacturing development central to economic diversification. Introduced in January 2025, the strategy builds on the Qatar National Manufacturing Strategy 2024-30 outlining 15 initiatives and 60…

Analysis

Qatar offers new financing options for industries outside green bond markets
OBG
plus

As companies look to shift towards more environmentally sustainable operations, those in fossil fuel or heavy-polluting sectors are increasingly turning to transition bonds – a relatively new class of debt instrument used to fund a company’s s efforts to reduce its environmental impact or lower carbon emissions. They are often issued in large carbon-emitting industries that would not normally qualify…

Analysis

Technology and tourism drive smart growth in Qatar’s urban development
OBG
plus

With a population that has remained around 3m since 2023 – up from approximately 1.5m in 2008, primarily driven by labour migration and large-scale infrastructure development – Qatar has experienced an increasingly rapid pace of urbanisation. In parallel, the tourism sector achieved a major milestone in 2024, recording 5m international visitors and surpassing the annual target of 4.8m – representing…

Analysis

Qatar’s urban demand and landmark projects boost real estate investor confidence
OBG
plus

While some segments of Qatar’s real estate market faced challenges in 2024, these shifts have opened up new opportunities – particularly in the evolving villa segment, which is adapting to changing tenant tastes and market dynamics. Rental rates for villas dropped by 7.5% in 2024, averaging QR15,085 ($4140) per month. The steepest declines were observed in Nuaija (20%) and West Bay Lagoon (9%),…

Analysis

Qatar explores urban cooling technologies for sustainable construction
OBG
plus

With temperatures in cities set to rise in the coming decades, many public and private players in emerging markets are looking to tackle the challenge of extreme heat through technology, sustainable building techniques and the expansion of urban green spaces. Heat Consequences The Covid-19 pandemic helped spur the growth of smart cities, with governments tapping into data-collection infrastructure…