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…
Qatar’s construction and real estate sectors have grown rapidly in recent years, owing primarily to the significant investment made leading up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The government invested heavily in infrastructure related to the sports event, including accommodation, stadiums, transport and logistics facilities, and tourist attractions. After setbacks caused by the 2017-21 economic blockade…
Qatar’s prioritisation of its ICT sector is rooted in its ambition to become a knowledge-based economy, in line with the overarching economic development plan, Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV). This strategy is a cornerstone of its economic diversification plans and growth, with spending on ICT set to reach $6.2bn by 2026, compared to $5.6bn in 2023, according to US-based digital market intelligence…
Qatar’s tourism industry has undergone a significant transformation since 2022. In the fourth quarter of that year an estimated 1m foreign visitors arrived for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which was watched by over 1bn people worldwide and boosted the country’s reputation as a travel destination. In addition, since 2019 Qatar’s supply of hotel rooms has increased by nearly half, and a flurry of museums…
Qatar emerged from the Covid-19 pandemic in robust shape, delivering a vaccine programme that had, as of May 2024, administered 7.6m doses and protected the vast majority of the population. Moreover, shortly after the pandemic, the successful organisation of the 2022 FIFA World Cup markedly improved the country’s global reputation for health care service delivery. The state deployed medical services…
