Qatar Construction

While it has been a tough 24 months for many construction firms in Qatar, the sector remains a key pillar of the national economy. The industry is one of the largest non-hydrocarbons sectors, and will likely increase in importance in the next decade.

The construction sector is increasingly being driven by investments in core infrastructure to support future growth in the country. The World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report 2011-2012 indicates that inadequate infrastructure is the fourth most problematic factor for doing business in the country. The government has acknowledged...

Building green has been part of the GCC market for some time. In the pre-financial-crisis days, before 2008, when buildings in the UAE were appearing rapidly, many developers highlighted their environmentally friendly credentials. However, in a period of such rapid growth, there was a concern that green talk was simply ephemera.

With the construction industry in Qatar expecting several big changes in both the short and long term, contractors and developers are anticipating a steady increase in projects in the second half of 2012 and into 2013. It has been more than a year since the country was awarded the rights to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022, but the market has...

The award of the 2022 FIFA World Cup has put Qatar in the international spotlight. Greater international exposure has created pressure to abide by international norms and best practices. Nowhere is this more evident than in the field of labour regulations. Several trade unions, including the Building and Wood Workers International, have been in...

With Qatar about to embark on a multibillion-dollar infrastructure spending programme, debates over how this should be funded and managed are beginning to emerge. While the government undoubtedly has the capital and will to build to its own programme and specifications, there are increasingly vocal calls for it to look at other possibilities. Chief...