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Education is an important pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030, the country’s development plan to diversify the economy and reduce its dependence on hydrocarbons. To that end, Qatar has prioritised developing and reforming the education sector, with a substantial portion of its energy revenue dedicated to education. Although the decline in international oil prices in recent years has resulted in some cuts to funding, public spending is once again on the rise in the country, with education allocated 9.3% of the 2019 budget. While the economic blockade had an adverse effect on opportunities for regional academic collaboration, the impact on the overall sector has been limited, with a slight dip in student enrolment and staff retention in some private schools. This chapter contains interviews with Hassan Rashid Al Derham, President, Qatar University; and Richard O’ Kennedy, Vice-President for Research, Development and Innovation, Qatar Foundation.

Education is an important pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030, the country’s development plan to diversify the economy and reduce its dependence on hydrocarbons. To that end, Qatar has prioritised developing and reforming the education sector, with a substantial portion of its energy revenue dedicated to education. Although the decline in international oil prices in recent years has resulted in some cuts to funding, public spending is once again on the rise in the country, with education allocated 9.3% of the 2019 budget. While the economic blockade had an adverse effect on opportunities for regional academic collaboration, the impact on the overall sector has been limited, with a slight dip in student enrolment and staff retention in some private schools. This chapter contains interviews with Hassan Rashid Al Derham, President, Qatar University; and Richard O’ Kennedy, Vice-President for Research, Development and Innovation, Qatar Foundation.

The 2016 slump in oil prices led the Qatari government to identify industries with high growth potential in a diversified economy. Tourism was among the sectors prioritised due to the opportunities presented by infrastructure investment and major events such as the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The sector’s promising performance comes amid the backdrop of a regional blockade led by Saudi Arabia and several other Arab countries. Efforts to diversify source markets – especially important as prior to the blockade tourism in Qatar was dominated by travellers from the GCC – have also led to an increased number of visitors from countries such as India, Russia and China. Altogether, these factors bode well for the future of the tourism sector in Qatar. This chapter contains an interview with Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary-General, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy.

Qatar’s ICT market is well established, and character¬ised by high levels of mobile and internet penetration rates. Internet services are both affordable and quick, with fibre-based connections available since 2012. The country’s two main telecommunications operators are also working to roll out 5G services in all heavily populated areas by the end of 2020. The deployment of advanced technology runs alongside the Qatar National Vision 2030 strategy. On the IT side, government officials are working to strengthen the sector, with plans for the development of a new smart city, e-government services and a robust start-up ecosystem currently in the works. This chapter contains an interview with Sheikh Hamad bin Abdulla Al Thani, CEO, Vodafone Qatar.

As a key driver of diversification efforts, the real estate sector has been an important contributor to economic growth in recent years. According to a 2018 report, non-mining and quarrying sectors registered a combined compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8% between 2013 and 2017, which was largely attributed to four sectors: construction, health care, insurance and real estate, with the last registering a CAGR of around 7.6%. Despite this positive performance, early 2018 saw growth moderate, most likely influenced by a regional blockade that saw Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt sever diplomatic ties with Qatar in July 2017. However, the effects were short-lived, and the sector is back on track and poised for growth. This chapter contains an interview with Nasser Al Ansari, Chairman and CEO, Just Real Estate.

Qatar’s construction industry has flourished over the past five years to become a key engine of the economy. Although activity remains robust, the wider economic squeeze brought about by the 2014-16 oil glut has been felt in the sector, as the effects of lower oil and gas revenue trickled down to impact government expenditure and investor confidence. A narrower project pipeline and increased competition for contracts has forced contractors to cut margins and take on greater risk. Nonetheless, with the 2022 FIFA World Cup just three years away, a partial rebound in energy prices, and the government turning its attention to new developments in the energy and defence sectors, figures are hopeful for 2019. This chapter contains an interview with Saad bin Ahmad Al Muhannadi, President, Public Works Authority.