Qatar

Since the Supreme Education Council (SEC) was established in 2002 as a regulatory body, Qatar’s education framework has been completely reworked and updated – indeed, the sector has undergone a complete transformation.

After several years of substantial economic expansion, Qatar was recently named the wealthiest nation in the world in terms of GDP per capita. However, with many of the oil and gas related projects nearing fruition, focus is turning to manufacturing and other non-hydrocarbons businesses and the role they will play in the local economy.

Having emerged as one of the most resilient financial markets in the region in the wake of the international economic downturn of 2008-09, Qatar is working to further boost its profile. The government has made a concerted effort to expand the country’s asset management industry, in particular, to meet steadily expanding global demand for local and regional funds.

Qatar’s already busy construction industry is about to step up a gear, and it is not just the major undertaking of hosting the 2022 World Cup football tournament that is going to spur growth. A massive state investment programme to expand the nation’s infrastructure and private sector spending on residential and commercial properties are also tipped to build momentum in the sector.

On April 3, 2011, Qatar officially launched the National Health Strategy (NHS) 2011-16, the government’s plan to upgrade and improve the country’s health care sector. Based on principles originally outlined in National Vision 2030, Qatar’s long-term development programme, the NHS has the potential to bring about substantial changes to the sector.

Qatar is taking definitive steps to refine its education system, increasing the focus on preparation for employment in a knowledge-based society as the government works to boost job opportunities and diversify the economy.