Trade & Investment
From The Report: Qatar 2025
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Qatar’s strategically advantageous proximity to major international marketplaces and its vast natural gas reserves position it as an integral component in global supply chains. In light of dwindling investment inflows in recent years, the government is working to streamline business regulation, while the country’s already extensive list of bilateral and multilateral trade agreements is undergoing expansion, a trend which could gather pace given the current shake-up taking place in relation to traditional global trade relations. Qatari authorities have reason to be optimistic, in spite of the recent drop-off in FDI inflows and trade receipts. Indeed, global investors continue to demonstrate appetite for involvement in GCC countries’ diversification agendas where suitable regulations are in place.

This chapter contains interviews with Abdulrahman Hesham Al Sowaidi, CEO, Qatar Development Bank; Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al Thani, CEO, Invest Qatar; and Yousef Al Jaida, CEO of Qatar Financial Centre.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Strategic location: Economic zones and tax environment help to boost Qatar’s status amid restructuring of international commercial relations
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Qatar’s strategically advantageous proximity to major international marketplaces and its vast natural gas reserves position it as an integral component in global supply chains. In light of dwindling investment inflows in recent years, the government is working to streamline business regulation, while the country’s already extensive list of bilateral and multilateral trade agreements are undergoing expansion, a trend which could gather pace given the current shake-up taking place in relation to traditional global trade relations. With demand set to grow for the country’s number-one commodity in the coming years as countries pivot to cleaner…

Interview

Initiating competitiveness: Abdulrahman Hesham Al Sowaidi, CEO, Qatar Development Bank, on empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to compete and thrive in international markets
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Interview: Abdulrahman Hesham Al Sowaidi, CEO, Qatar Development Bank, on empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to compete and thrive in international markets How is strategy being developed to ensure long term sustainability in the Qatari market? ABDULRAHMAN HESHAM AL SOWAIDI: The Third National Development Strategy (NDS-3) defines priorities for the economy until 2030, addressing local and global economic trends. A core focus of NDS-3 is empowering the private sector and enhancing…

Analysis

Regulatory updates: GCC member countries are increasingly administering forms of taxation to diversify revenue streams
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Since gaining independence at various points during the 20th century, the GCC countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE – have maintained a fiscal model built on oil revenue and a low- to no-tax environment. Historically, GCC governments did not impose taxes because they achieved independence without fiscal burdens such as reparations or colonial taxes, relying instead on oil and gas wealth to fund public services and development. This resource driven model supported social contracts based on government-provided benefits rather than taxation, promoting economic stability, political loyalty, consumer spending and foreign…

Interview

Attractive destination: Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al Thani, CEO, Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (Invest Qatar), on how infrastructure expansion enhances the country’s position on the global market
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Interview: Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al Thani, CEO, Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (Invest Qatar), on how infrastructure expansion enhances the country’s position on the global market How has the moderation in hydrocarbons prices impacted Qatar’s ability to sustain its trade surplus? SHEIKH ALI AL WALEED AL THANI: Qatar has maintained a strong trade surplus, recording $97bn in 2022, $66bn in 2023 and $40.4bn in 2024, despite fluctuations in hydrocarbons prices. As a leading exporter of natural…

Analysis

Gaining influence: Increased financing in emerging markets aligns with national sustainability targets and development strategies
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Qatar has built an outsized global investment presence through its sovereign wealth fund, Qatar Investment Authority (QIA). Established in 2005, QIA was valued at over $526bn as of November 2024 and has, in recent years, pursued a strategy to diversify beyond Western markets and energy exports. This shift has seen Qatar expand its international investment footprint, with a growing emphasis on emerging markets while positioning the country as a forward-looking investor aligned with global economic trends. Western Markets As of June 2024 around 90% of QIA’s portfolio was concentrated in Europe, the US and Qatar, with 7% allocated to Asia. In…

Interview

Capital shifts: Yousef Al Jaida, CEO of Qatar Financial Centre, on laying the groundwork for sustainable growth through financial innovation and global partnerships
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Interview: Yousef Al Jaida, CEO of Qatar Financial Centre, on laying the groundwork for sustainable growth through financial innovation and global partnerships How have regulatory reforms influenced the ease of doing business for foreign investors in financial technology (fintech) and asset management? YOUSEF AL JAIDA: Streamlined licensing procedures, expanded foreign ownership rights and the establishment of specialised commercial courts improve legal certainty. The launch of the Qatar Fintech…