Qatar

This section includes an article focusing on Qatar’s strong equestrian tradition. In recent years, leaders have been making moves to reintroduce the state’s equestrian past. This has involved investing in facilities at home, as well as building up Qatar’s profile in racing circuits abroad. The chapter also includes a listing of leading hotels and resorts, as well as useful telephone numbers and...

With assistance from Clyde...

In conjunction with The Advisors RSM, this chapter outlines the new rules and regulations for foreign firms operating in Qatar. It also looks at key sections of Law No. 21, a new tax code that came into effect in January 2010, as well as the executive regulations released in support of the law. This chapter includes an interview with Jaber Al Hedfa, Partner, The Advisors RSM.

Recent years have been tough going for the global retail sector, and the Gulf region is no exception to this trend. As unemployment has risen, bank credit has dried up and consumer confidence has withered. In Qatar, however, things look somewhat brighter. Although growth in the sector has slowed, the state has recently seen expansion of both retail brands and shopping outlets. In addition to the...

Promoting development by nurturing a healthy population is enshrined in Qatar’s constitution and is a cornerstone of the government’s long-term development strategy. The state’s population has increased rapidly over the last decade, but so too has expenditure on health care services, climbing from $339 per capita in 2000 to $1560 per capita by 2010. Investments in health care are expected to help...

To diversify the economy and move away from a reliance on its hydrocarbons wealth, the government has invested heavily in reforming the education sector. Indeed, more than QR19bn ($5.21bn) of the 2011/12 national budget has been allocated to education, a 12% increase compared to the previous year. Along with providing adequate funding, the government has made significant progress in reforming the...