Qatar

Health services in Qatar are in the midst of transition, with a new national health insurance scheme progressively being implemented. While government officials maintain the system will improve medical outcomes and efficiency, the private sector has objected to their limited responsibilities under the new regime.

With plentiful supplies of natural gas, Qatar has over the years looked for alternatives to its liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, from investments in industrial facilities to value-added processing. One increasingly viable option is the manufacturing of gas-to-liquid (GTL) products, which are enjoying growing demand by the global marketplace.

A combination of far-reaching reforms, major government investment and cross-border partnerships has paved the way for Qatar to begin developing a more competitive education sector, but ensuring graduates are adequately suited to the workplace remains key.

As one of the world’s largest consumers of water and electricity on a per capita basis, Qatar is looking to reduce its utilities usage. However, with the demand for water likely to outstrip supply in the near future, the government is also taking steps to boost capacity.

Demand for residential and retail real estate in Qatar remains strong, largely as a result of demand outstripping supply. However, over the longer term, new space – particularly in retail – is set to come onto the market and will likely soften prices.

A by-product of rapid economic growth, the volume of solid waste generated by Qatar has been increasing steadily in recent years. While the government is looking to reduce this output by encouraging waste minimisation and recycling efforts, investments in additional processing facilities will likely be necessary.