Retail

The combination of high disposable income, a growing population and rising tourist arrivals makes Qatar an attractive market for retailers of all segments. On the back of real GDP growth of 3.7% in 2015, private consumption was expected to have expanded by 9.5% in 2015, according to BMI Research. This surge is projected to continue, with household spending forecast to increase by an average of 15.8% per year through to 2020. Such momentum largely depends on broader growth in retail trade, hotels and restaurants, for which combined sales rose by 10.47% to reach $15.82bn in 2015, or 9.2% of GDP, according to figures from the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics and the Qatar Central Bank.

This chapter contains an interview with Abdul Aziz Mohammed Al Rabban, Chairman, Business Trading Company; and Partner, Place Vendôme, Qatar.