Qatar

As the country’s hosting of several major international sports and business events has brought growing numbers of tourists to Qatar, it has also highlighted the need for infrastructure to accommodate them.

Seeking to reduce the incidence of diabetes and lower the costs affiliated with its treatment, Qatar is stepping up efforts to encourage healthy lifestyles via education and informational campaigns that focus on proper diet and nutrition. The growth of private health care centres and the imminent arrival of mandatory health insurance should also play a part in stemming the disease’s growth.

Massive investments in infrastructure make for an excellent outlook for Qatar’s construction sector. The nation’s rising population, growing economy, increasing diversification and the forthcoming FIFA 2022 World Cup are all contributing factors.

Qatar is having marked success in broadening the scope of its tourism industry, attracting an increasing number of business visitors along with a rising tide of tourists coming to enjoy the country’s long list of scheduled events.

Clocking the world’s highest growth rate in 2011, Qatar is maintaining expansion despite a difficult international economic climate clouded by the eurozone crisis and doubts over the sustainability of US debt. Indeed, the country saw GDP growth of 14% in inflation-adjusted terms last year, with energy exports its leading economic driver.

The country’s banks are turning to the international bond market to bolster their cash reserves, which are likely to be needed to help fund the country’s massive infrastructure programme over the coming decade.