Qatar

While the acquisition of iconic British department store Harrods in May by Qatar Holding – one of the government’s investment vehicles – made international headlines, the country’s domestic retail sector is also very much on the move. Though impressive in themselves, the spate of new developments are less likely to catch the attention of the global media than the $2.2bn Harrods deal, Qatari shoppers are set to benefit from a major increase in retail options, some of which will rival the Knightsbridge emporium for opulence and range.

After establishing itself as the world's leading supplier of liquid natural gas (LNG) products, Qatar is now targeting its resources towards its own domestic market.

Qatar's real estate sector is on course to post a strong performance this year, having had by its own standards a slow 2009, though by any other measure the industry rode out the global economic downturn with ease.

Qatar is to invest billions of dollars in the coming years to develop an extensive rail network serving local commuters, international travellers and the country's growing logistics industry.

Backed by strong government support and operating in an economy that recorded some of the fastest growth in the world last year and is expected to expand by up to 18% in 2010, Qatar’s banking sector is poised to begin another period of accelerated growth.