Qatar Economy

While Qatar has made great strides to diversify its economy, government revenues are still heavily dependent on the hydrocarbons industry. As a result, low global oil prices caused a major contraction in state income. This coincides with an already planned peak in government spending on infrastructure, including preparations for the 2022 FIFA...

Since gaining independence in 1971 Qatar has quickly risen to prominence both regionally and internationally to become an economic, political and cultural powerhouse in the Middle East. With a relatively small local population and substantial revenues generated from having the third-largest proven natural gas reserves globally, Qatar has one...

On August 9, 2017 Qatar announced a programme that grants visa-free entry to citizens of 80 countries, allowing nationals of 33 of those nations to stay for 180 days and those from the remaining 47 countries to stay for up to 30 days. The list includes India, Turkey, most of Europe, China, the US, Canada, South Africa and Indonesia. In early...

Following a challenging 2016, when the price of Brent Crude dipped briefly below $30 per barrel and governments across the GCC were compelled to significantly adjust their fiscal plans, 2017 has brought the region some respite – both to current accounts and the wider economy.

Like many of its GCC neighbours, Qatar has implemented an overarching, long-term strategy that provides a set of development objectives, known as Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030). Organised around four main pillars – human, social, economic and environmental development – the stated goal of QNV 2030 is to transform the country into an “...

Economic affairs remain a matter of prime concern for us, especially in light of the circumstances created by the sharp decline in hydrocarbons prices; however, we are determined to achieve the goals that we have set for ourselves in the Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030). New realities are emerging in the global energy industry as a result...