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 a 25% increase. This progress aligns with national ambitions to attract 6m tourists annually by 2030 and increase the sector’s contribution to GDP from 7% to 12%.
Qatar’s global reputation for safety – ranked the Safest Country in the World by Numbeo for five consecutive years between 2019 and 2023 – and Doha’s designation as the Arab Tourism Capital for 2023 further enhance its global appeal. These dynamics are fuelling an infrastructure boom and positioning sustainability at the core of national development. The integration of smart city solutions into infrastructure planning has become a hallmark of Qatar’s strategy, with digital technologies playing a key role in modernising the construction sector and ensuring long-term resilience.
Innovative Growth
Anchored in Qatar National Vision 2030, the country’s strong commitment to developing sustainable and technologically advanced urban environments is evident in its growing adoption of digital tools – most notably building information modelling (BIM). Far beyond a basic 3D-modelling application, BIM is a collaborative, data-rich platform that offers a comprehensive digital representation of a facility’s physical and functional characteristics. In Qatar, BIM is increasingly mandated for public infrastructure and large-scale developments, including legacy projects from the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
By enabling stakeholders to simulate every phase of a project – from design to operation – BIM enhances coordination, reduces design conflicts, and mitigates costly rework. Studies show that BIM can reduce construction costs by up to 20%, cut rework by over 50%, enhance labour productivity, shorten project timelines and lower long-term operational expenses – ultimately boosting return on investment by as much as 25%.
Qatar was an early adopter of BIM, exemplified by a $900,000 research grant awarded in 2013 by the Qatar Foundation’s National Research Fund. In collaboration with Hochtief-VICON, a global leader in virtual construction, the initiative aimed to unlock significant cost and efficiency gains and helped lay the foundation for a regional BIM knowledge centre to foster innovation and international collaboration. Beyond construction, BIM continues to deliver long-term value by supporting facilities management, enhancing energy performance and enabling data-driven decision-making throughout an asset’s lifecycle – aligning with Qatar’s broader goals of sustainability and smart infrastructure development.
Tech-Focused
Technology adoption in the construction industry has accelerated with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). Qatar’s AI market is projected to reach $567.1m in 2025, fuelled by strategic investment and a national focus on digital innovation. The market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 27.9% in the 2022-32 period, reaching $1.9bn by 2030, and could boost the country’s GDP by 2.3%, generating an estimated $5bn in revenue by that year.
In the construction sector, technologies such as machine learning, computer vision and predictive analytics are being integrated across the project lifecycle, from design to operations. These AI tools enhance planning, enable real-time risk mitigation, optimise resource use and support data-driven decisions in scheduling, cost estimation and risk assessment. AI-powered cameras and sensors also allow for real-time site monitoring, predictive maintenance and proactive safety management. Meanwhile, machine learning is streamlining contract management by automating document review, flagging high-risk clauses and ensuring regulatory compliance – ultimately reducing administrative burden and accelerating procurement.
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