The Middle East

In response to the blockade imposed by some of its neighbours in June 2017 Qatar has expanded its trading relationships, particularly with Iran, Turkey and Russia. The country has also promoted its own domestic industries to help surmount limitations on imports. As a result, the retail sector has shifted towards locally produced goods, especially in food and luxury segments. The supply of...

The development of new facilities is set to continue in the coming years, with a raft of new hospitals and clinics under way across the...

Qatar’s education sector has a rich mixture of state and independent kindergartens, schools and universities bolstered by continued investment aimed at serving a growing population and supporting the country’s economic development. Education administrators pay close attention to international standards and indices that measure student learning outcomes and are working through a five-year...

Tourism is one of the most promising prospects for growth as Qatar aims to shift its economy from one dependent on hydrocarbons to one that is more diversified and sustainable. Efforts aimed at attracting visitors from a wider range of countries, international marketing campaigns and liberalised visa reforms have helped the sector maintain momentum despite the blockade. The 2022 FIFA World Cup...

The year 2020 presents exciting prospects for the Qatari ICT sector. Vodafone and Ooredoo have committed to roll out 5G in all densely populated areas, along primary roads and motorways, and at venues associated with the 2022 FIFA World Cup by the end of 2020. In anticipation of this, stakeholders will be closely monitoring the opening of Lusail City. Investors will also be looking for further...

The real estate market in Qatar saw a boom between 2013 and 2017, and after some turbulence in recent years, has begun a period of recovery, with 2019 reflecting stabilisation. As developers continue to fulfil requirements for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the real estate pipeline is likely to reach its peak between 2020 and 2022, after which new supply will fall back to earlier levels. There are...