Qatar

The following article on the Qatari LNG market is taken from the Oxford Business Group's latest publication, Emerging Qatar 2004. For more information on how to order a copy of the most comprehensive review of the Qatari economy to date, please write to us at mail@oxfordbusinessgroup.com, or click on the link to Printed Publications on the right-hand side of the page.

The following interview with HH Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabr Al Thani, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, is taken from the Oxford Business Group's latest publication, Emerging Qatar 2004. For more information on how to order a copy of the most comprehensive review of the Qatari economy to date, please write to us at mail@oxfordbusinessgroup.com, or click on the link to Printed Publications on the right-hand side of the page.

The following article on the Qatari political scene is taken from the Oxford Business Group's latest publication, Emerging Qatar 2004. For more information on how to order a copy of the most comprehensive review of the Qatari economy to date, please write to us at mail@oxfordbusinessgroup.com, or click on the link to Printed Publications on the right-hand side of the page.

The following interview with HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, is taken from the Oxford Business Group's latest publication, Emerging Qatar 2004. For more information on how to order a copy of the most comprehensive review of the Qatari economy to date, please write to us at mail@oxfordbusinessgroup.com, or click on the link to Printed Publications on the right-hand side of the page.

International financial institutions are giving Qatar's local banks cautious nods of approval based on newly released results for 2003 - which was a third straight year of success for the sector. With oil prices high and the country's gas revenues also on the up, the banks now look set to continue seeing boom times for several years to come. But the question remains, can they use the current period of prosperity to fortify themselves for long-term success?

Despite the practically no-lose formula of mushrooming gas revenues and lofty national development ambitions, Qatar's construction boom has not been without its glitches. The fourth quarter of 2003 saw work at building sites grind to a halt as supplies of the vital ingredient - cement - dried up. A rash of new projects - and in particular the race to meet deadlines for the 2006 Asian Games - caused demand for the material to far surpass what could be produced by the country's sole cement supplier, the Qatar National Cement Company (QNCC).