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01 Oct 2023

Business & Economy in Qatar

Business & Economy in Qatar

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From opening a bank account to setting up a business and climate change initiatives, this section shows why you should invest in Qatar.

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The Banking System in Qatar

Personal Banking

Investment & Trade

Infrastructure in Qatar

Energy & Sustainability in Qatar

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Public Transport

The Banking System in Qatar

Qatar Economy
Qatar Economy

Qatar Economy

Economic Growth and Gross Domestic Product (GDP)                                       One of the main…

The Banking Network in Qatar
The Banking Network in Qatar

The Banking Network in Qatar

There are hundreds of bank branches and ATMs across the country, in nearly all of the malls, hotels, souqs, hospitals and petrol stations. Visitors can usually access funds in their…

Currency and the Banking Sector in Qatar
Currency and the Banking Sector in Qatar

Currency and the Banking Sector in Qatar

Currency The unit of currency is the Qatari Riyal (QAR), divided into 100 Dirhams (Dh), issued by Qatar Central Bank (QCB). It is pegged to the US dollar at a…

Islamic Finance in Qatar
Islamic Finance in Qatar

Islamic Finance in Qatar

Current Islamic institutions include Dukhan Bank, International Islamic, Masraf Al Rayan and Qatar Islamic Bank. Lesha Bank – regulated by the QFC Regulatory Authority – is the first independent, Sharia…

Interesting Reads

Qatar's Government Entities Go High Tech
Qatar's Government Entities Go High Tech

Qatar’s Government Entities Go High Tech

Qatar is leading the way in embracing the latest and most advanced technology to improve government services and transform the economy.  The tech-savvy population and state-of-the-art research, development and innovation…

New Procedures to Support Businesses in Qatar
New Procedures to Support Businesses in Qatar

New Procedures to Support Businesses in Qatar

The authorities in Qatar have introduced two new important decisions as part of efforts to support businesses and the local economy. Local value system to be used for government tenders…

Stock Exchange
Stock Exchange

New Rules for the Stock Exchange

New rules and regulations by the Qatar Financial Markets Authority and Qatar Stock Exchange are further steps by the country to encourage foreign investment. The Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA)…

Customs Clearance Gets Faster and Easier
Customs Clearance Gets Faster and Easier

Customs Clearance Gets Faster and Easier

Qatar is making it much simpler for businesses and importers to trade in the country, with accessible information and speedy transactions. In recognition of International Customs Day on 26 January…

Employing People With a Disability
Employing People With a Disability

Employing People With a Disability

David Banes is a Global Access and Inclusion Consultant and was previously CEO of Mada, the Qatar Assistive Technology Centre. Read his thoughts on why businesses have much to gain…

Using Foreign Official Documents in Qatar
Using Foreign Official Documents in Qatar

Using Foreign Official Documents in Qatar

Residents and visitors will invariably need to use some sort of official document while in the country, for both business and personal use. But a little more is involved than…

E-Commerce Rules in Qatar: Adapting Digital Technology
E-Commerce Rules in Qatar: Adapting Digital Technology

E-Commerce Rules in Qatar: Adapting Digital Technology

The value of the country’s e-commerce market is expected to triple by 2022 as more companies in Qatar adapt to digital technology. The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) has therefore…

Evolution of Qatar Currency
Evolution of Qatar Currency

Evolution of Qatar Currency

Early man managed several thousand years of bargaining and bartering without money, and with the ever-increasing use of electronic transactions today, whether the next couple of hundred years will see…

Protecting your assets
Protecting your assets

Protecting Your Assets

Home insurance in Qatar – is it really necessary? Before most of us moved to Qatar, having insurance for our homes and personal possessions would have been automatic – a…

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Public Transport

Personal Banking

Loans, Bank Charges and Interest Rates in Qatar
Loans, Bank Charges and Interest Rates in Qatar

Loans, Bank Charges and Interest Rates in Qatar

Loans Under QCB rules, the default period for a substandard loan is three months or more, for a doubtful loan six months, and a bad loan nine months. Banks have…

Opening a Bank Account in Qatar
Opening a Bank Account in Qatar

Opening a Bank Account in Qatar

Standard Bank Facilities Debit/credit cards, standing orders, money transfers, personal loans, vehicle loans, and mortgages on current and savings accounts (including joint accounts). Some accounts offer longer terms, higher interest…

Taxation in Qatar
Taxation in Qatar

Taxation in Qatar

There are no personal taxes or statutory deductions from salaries in Qatar. Under Law No 24 of 2018 on Income Tax (‘the New Tax Law’) and its executive regulations, companies…

Financial Services and Insurance in Qatar
Financial Services and Insurance in Qatar

Financial Services and Insurance in Qatar

Financial services are provided by entities registered with the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC). Insurance products are widely available from local and international companies (see Living in Qatar). Under Law No…

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Investment & Trade

Investment and Trade in Qatar
Investment and Trade in Qatar

Investment and Trade in Qatar

Qatar has one of the fastest growing global economies thanks to the third largest concentration of natural gas reserves in the world. Recent legal liberalisation, economic diversification and an expanding…

Export and Import Regulations in Qatar
Export and Import Regulations in Qatar

Export and Import Regulations in Qatar

Exports According to the Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA), Qatar’s total exports (including exports of domestic goods and re-exports) in April 2023 was QAR30.7 bn, mainly to China, India and…

Taxation in Qatar
Taxation in Qatar

Taxation in Qatar

There are no personal taxes or statutory deductions from salaries in Qatar. Under Law No 24 of 2018 on Income Tax (‘the New Tax Law’) and its executive regulations, companies…

Intellectual Property in Qatar
Intellectual Property in Qatar

Intellectual Property in Qatar

Under Law No 9 of 2002, a trademark registration is valid for 10 years from the date of filing the application, renewable for further consecutive periods of 10 years. The…

Regulatory Bodies and Government‑owned Entities in Qatar
Regulatory Bodies and Government‑owned Entities in Qatar

Regulatory Bodies and Government‑owned Entities in Qatar

Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (IPA Qatar) Custodian of the Invest Qatar brand, IPA Qatar was launched in 2019 and is registered at the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC). The agency provides…

Qatar Investment Authority (QIA)
Qatar Investment Authority (QIA)

Qatar Investment Authority (QIA)

was established in 2005 as the country’s sovereign wealth fund to grow and diversify Qatar’s economy. QIA has two main objectives: to support the local economy; and provide liquidity when…

Qatar Financial Centre (QFC)
Qatar Financial Centre (QFC)

Qatar Financial Centre (QFC)

The QFC was established in 2005 to attract international financial institutions and firms to establish business operations in a ‘best‑in‑class’ international environment. There are two independent bodies: the Qatar Financial Centre…

Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE)
Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE)

Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE)

Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) was created in 2009 between Qatar Holding (88%) and NYSE Euronext (12%) as the successor to Doha Securities Market; Qatar Holding purchased NYSE Euronext’s stake in…

Real Estate in Qatar
Real Estate in Qatar

Real Estate in Qatar

Under Law No 16 of 2018 on the regulation of non-Qatari ownership and utilisation of real estate, implemented in March 2019, non-Qataris may own and use properties in Qatar ‘in…

Business Etiquette
Business Etiquette

Business Etiquette

Doing business in Qatar relies on personal relationships as well as the quality of the company or service. Networking and exchanging business cards is important. Men should wear suits or…

Public Transport

Infrastructure in Qatar

Infrastructure in Qatar
Infrastructure in Qatar

Infrastructure in Qatar

Qatar National Vision As arguably the world’s fastest‑growing economy, Qatar recognises the importance of diversification and sustainability. It also acknowledges the inherent challenges of a rapidly‑increasing population, further industrialisation, and…

Interesting Reads

The Ports of Qatar
The Ports of Qatar

The Ports of Qatar

Qatar has invested in the development of world-class ports such as Hamad Port, Doha Port and Al Ruwais Port. To showcase that development and the maritime history of Qatar, Mwani…

New Year, New Buildings
New Year, New Buildings

New Year, New Buildings

The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) in Qatar has announced the launch of 22 new projects worth a whopping QAR4.1 bn (USD1.12 bn) in 2023. Ashghal will continue to tender more…

Qetaifan Island North
Qetaifan Island North

Qetaifan Island North

Located off Lusail City, and designed to be Qatar’s future iconic destination, Qetaifan Island North (QIN) spans approximately 1.3 mn square metres (sq m), with 207,015 sq m of Meryal…

Ashghal's Plans for Qatar
Ashghal's Plans for Qatar

Ashghal’s Plans for Qatar

The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has some big and bold plans for changing Qatar’s landscape! Ashghal is the country’s dedicated organisation for all infrastructure projects and public buildings in Qatar….

Parks, Parks & More Parks
Parks, Parks & More Parks

Parks, Parks & More Parks

According to Public Works Authority (Ashghal), renovations to Rawdat Al Khail Park, and the upcoming Al Gharrafa and Umm Al Seneem parks will be completed within the fourth quarter of…

Record Breaking Water Security
Record Breaking Water Security

Record Breaking Water Security

Qatar may be a small nation, but it has big ideas and award-winning infrastructure! Qatar has record breaking water security! Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation, more familiarly known as…

Small and Medium Enterprises in Qatar
Small and Medium Enterprises in Qatar

Small and Medium Enterprises in Qatar

A recent decision by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has provided a unified definition of small and medium enterprises in the State of Qatar. Qatar has a number of…

Public Private Partnerships Projects in Qatar
Public Private Partnerships Projects in Qatar

Public Private Partnerships Projects in Qatar

Falling oil prices, budget deficits, and the vast number of new and ongoing infrastructure projects in Qatar have all placed a burden on the government, hence a need to develop…

Elite Paper Recycling
Elite Paper Recycling

A Smarter and Greener Qatar

Elite Paper Recycling (EPR) is a Qatari private paper manufacturing company, which strives to raise awareness in Qatar on the importance of recycling. Located in the New Industrial Area, EPR…

Marhaba Feature: Qatar's Iconic Buildings
Marhaba Feature: Qatar's Iconic Buildings

Marhaba Feature: Qatar’s Iconic Buildings

Doha Tower Architect – Ateliers Jean Nouvel Designed as part of the plan to transform the Doha Bay by building impressive buildings along the coast, the Doha Tower is a magnificent…

The Time Of Es'hail
The Time Of Es'hail

The Time Of Es’hail

The Es’hail 1 satellite’s entry into service on 18 December last year has enabled Qatar to fulfill its goals of providing independent, high-quality services to broadcasters and other stakeholders in…

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Public Transport

Energy & Sustainability in Qatar

The Hydrocarbon Industry
The Hydrocarbon Industry

The Hydrocarbon Industry

Qatar has the world’s third largest proven natural gas reserve and is the second-largest exporter of natural gas, according to the CIA World Factbook. Petroleum and natural gas are the…

Interesting Reads

Green Transport
Green Transport

Green Transport

Kahramaa, WOQOD and Mowasalat are introducing more environmentally friendly transportation across the country.  Following an agreement in January 2023 between Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) and Qatar Fuel…

No More Single-Use Plastic Bags!
No More Single-Use Plastic Bags!

No More Single-Use Plastic Bags!

The Ministry of Municipality has approved a draft decision controlling the use of plastic bags in the country.  Prime Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin…

QatarEnergy Joins Global Zero Methane Initiative
QatarEnergy Joins Global Zero Methane Initiative

QatarEnergy Joins Global Zero Methane Initiative

QatarEnergy has joined the Aiming for Zero Methane Emissions Initiative, an industry-led initiative that aims to reach near zero methane emissions from operated oil and gas assets by 2030. Aiming…

North Field Expansion Project Contracts
North Field Expansion Project Contracts

North Field Expansion Project Contracts

Qatar Petroleum has taken the final investment decisions for developing the North Field East Project (NFE), the world’s largest LNG project. Qatar Petroleum (QP) recently announced two major contracts for…

Qatar Turns to Solar Energy
Qatar Turns to Solar Energy

Qatar Turns to Solar Energy

A solar power plant is to be built for the first time in Qatar, as part of the state’s efforts to fight carbon emission and climate change. A milestone was…

AgriteQ: Globalising Qatar's Agricultural Sector
AgriteQ: Globalising Qatar's Agricultural Sector

AgriteQ: Globalising Qatar’s Agricultural Sector

When looking into the agriculture sector in Qatar, one of the most important events on the calendar is the Qatar’s International Agricultural Exhibition (AgriteQ), providing a platform for local and…

Sustainable Qatar feature cover
Sustainable Qatar feature cover

SustainableQATAR: ‘Building a Sustainable Culture Takes Effort on All Levels’

Glaciers have shrunk, ice on rivers, lakes are breaking up earlier, plant and animal ranges have shifted, trees are flowering sooner, wildfires are more frequent, droughts are taking place for longer periods,…

A New Strategy
A New Strategy

A New Strategy

A Sustainable Strategic Plan for the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (2018–2022) has been launched, with a focus on six key areas.  The new strategic plan was inaugurated by Prime…

The OGP Process
The OGP Process

The OGP Process

Qatar has one of the world’s largest reserves of natural resources, so at some point in your stay you will strike up conversation with someone working in the industry. But…

Elite Paper Recycling
Elite Paper Recycling

A Smarter and Greener Qatar

Elite Paper Recycling (EPR) is a Qatari private paper manufacturing company, which strives to raise awareness in Qatar on the importance of recycling. Located in the New Industrial Area, EPR…

Team Up to Clean Up
Team Up to Clean Up

Team Up to Clean Up

It can be easy to lapse into a predictable routine on a typical weekend in Doha. However, there are plenty of fun things to do during your days off, becoming…

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Latest News

Qatar Private Sector Exports Exceed QAR15.2 Billion in First Half of 2023, says Qatar Chamber
Qatar Private Sector Exports Exceed QAR15.2 Billion in First Half of 2023, says Qatar Chamber

Qatar Private Sector Exports Exceed QAR15.2 Billion in First Half of 2023, says Qatar Chamber

Qatar Chamber and Baladan
Qatar Chamber and Baladan

Qatar Chamber Signs Sponsorship Agreement with Baladna for 9th Made in Qatar Exhibition

Qatar Energy Minister visits Japan
Qatar Energy Minister visits Japan

Qatar Energy Minister HE Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi Successfully Concludes Working Visit to Japan

QatarEnergy Marubeni Corporation
QatarEnergy Marubeni Corporation

QatarEnergy Signs 10-Year Naphtha Supply Agreement with Marubeni Corporation

QNB Expo 2023 Doha Qatar
QNB Expo 2023 Doha Qatar

QNB Announces Strategic Partnership with Expo 2023 Doha Qatar™

Tokyo Green Transformation Week Minister Al-Kaabi
Tokyo Green Transformation Week Minister Al-Kaabi

HE Minister Al-Kaabi Says Natural Gas Vital for Balanced and Realistic Energy Transition

GWC Al Wukair Logistics Park Phase 2
GWC Al Wukair Logistics Park Phase 2

GWC Unveils Phase-2 of Integrated Al Wukair Logistics Park

Annual Meeting of State Procurement Program 2024
Annual Meeting of State Procurement Program 2024

Qatar Chamber Underscores Importance of Private Sector ‘Involvement’ in Government Purchases

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