Qatar’s relatively small population and status as the world’s biggest gas exporter have helped it to become the world’s richest country in terms of GDP per capita. In recent years, however, it has faced strong economic headwinds. The oil price decline in the second half of 2014 was a challenge to hydrocarbons-producing states throughout the...
Rising oil prices and effective policy-making have played a significant role in returning Qatar to the healthy trade surplus it enjoyed prior to 2017, when political events caused substantial disruption to import and export activity. A swift response by a range of government ministries has secured new routes to global markets. In March 2018...
Offsetting fluctuations in hydrocarbons output and prices, the non-energy sector accelerated in 2018, growing by 6% in the first half of the year, according to an IMF report released in November 2018. Real GDP growth of 2.4% was projected for 2018, up from the 1.6% growth of 2017. This expansion is set to gather momentum again in 2019, with...
When Qatar found itself subject to an economic blockade in 2017, a number of financial data points were of immediate interest to economic observers. The sudden withdrawal of foreign deposits was an early concern, and one which the government quickly overcame by pouring capital from public bodies into the system (see Banking chapter).
A number of significant developments related to foreign direct investment (FDI) set to be implemented by the end of 2019 will further strengthen Qatar’s appeal as a destination for international investors. Expected developments include the opening of two special economic zones (SEZs), changes to foreign investment legislation and the launch of...
Global trade faces protectionist headwinds that are dampening the outlook for growth in the coming years. According to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), trade volume grew by 4.7% in 2017 and is expected to have moderated to 3.9% in 2018 and dip further to 3.7% in 2019. Although this means growth will fall below the 4.8% average seen since...
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