Reporting double-digit average GDP growth since 2004, the Qatari economy boasts a decade-long track record of extremely strong expansion. The state has risen to become one of the world’s richest countries on a per capita basis. Hydrocarbons production and exports support the state’s economy; Qatar is the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), and has witnessed a rapid…
A rapidly expanding population and a steady supply of hydrocarbons and infrastructure projects have allowed Qatar’s banking sector to maintain the double digit growth it has achieved over recent years. However, while the project pipeline remains full, the increasingly competitive banking environment has encouraged the nation’s lenders to seek revenue in previously untapped segments of the…
Having been formally upgraded to emerging market status by the influential Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) in the summer of 2014, the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) entered 2015 on the back of a memorable year. The exchange closed out 2014 as the fastest-growing stock market in the region, and now that it enjoys a greater prominence in global financial markets, the impetus for continued…
It has been another strong year for Qatar’s Islamic financial services (IFS) companies, which have continued a well-established trend of outpacing their conventional rivals in terms of growth. The nation’s IFS sector has emerged as one of the region’s most vibrant, comprising a rapidly expanding Islamic banking segment, an array of Islamic financing companies, an Islamic insurance market…
Insurers in Qatar once again showed strong financial performance in 2014, and with the supply of large projects generated by the nation’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the industry is well positioned to make further gains. In the meantime, a process of reform that aims to streamline the regulatory regime continues apace, while the ongoing implementation of a new health insurance scheme…
Home to the world’s largest non-associated natural gas field and significant oil reserves, Qatar is a leading player in the global energy market. It is also at the forefront of the international gas-to-liquids (GTL) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) industries, as well as fast becoming a major centre for research and development (R&D) in hydrocarbons. A member of the Organisation of Petroleum…
A rapidly expanding economy and growing population mean that demand for power and water from both industry and households in Qatar has never been greater. This trend is set to continue for some time to come, with an ambitious multibillion-dollar programme of infrastructure building in the lead-up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, requiring more people, more electricity and more water. Thus the pressure…
While Qatar is home to one of the world’s leading oil and gas sectors, the country has also been developing a thriving industrial sector in recent years. According to data from Qatar National Bank (QNB), more than half of the state’s GDP is accounted for by the non-hydrocarbons sector, with figures from the third quarter of 2014 showing industry – manufacturing, construction, electricity,…
Rapid population growth and economic expansion in the past decade have put unprecedented levels of demand on Qatar’s transportation network. Although the highly anticipated opening of the new Hamad International Airport (HIA) in May 2014 relieved some of this pressure, further developments will be needed as the state prepares to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup in less than seven years. Qatar…
The state’s fastest-growing sector, construction is booming in Qatar, with the government planning to spend over $200bn as part of a major infrastructure investment scheme. Big-ticket transport projects coupled with the rapid expansion of tourism, education and real estate builds will see the sector continue to dominate economic diversification efforts under the auspices of Qatar National…
