The Middle East

Oil and gas accounted for around 51.5% of Qatar’s economic output in 2013, and investments in upstream and downstream capacity are set to ensure future growth. Qatar is working with international partners to build three new petrochemicals facilities, which will help to expand domestic output. Further, the government is also investing in research and development programmes, as well as looking...

Qatar’s insurance sector has become the third largest in the GCC region in terms of written premiums. The sector is home to a range of domestic giants and international players that enjoy a choice of regulatory frameworks, and insurers are now gearing up to capitalise on the raft of infrastructure projects expected to arise from the national development strategy and Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA...

Regional political turbulence since 2011 has resulted in a challenging environment for exchanges across the GCC, but Doha’s relatively young bourse has shown its resilience over 2013. The Qatari bourse grew by 24.2% over 2013, led by a 38.7% expansion in the transportation sector. Even the year’s slowest-growing sectors – insurance and real estate – posted double-digit expansion. It has also...

Having shown considerable resilience in the face of the global economic crisis, Qatar’s banks now stand to benefit from the nation’s anticipated economic growth. A pipeline of large-scale projects and the government’s development strategy, which is set to use the country’s hydrocarbons revenues to bring about economic diversification, both promise to supply lenders with plentiful opportunities...

With sustained, long-term economic growth, the highest per capita income in the world, a stable and well-capitalised banking sector, a sovereign wealth fund that is of true global significance and one of the largest reserves of natural gas just offshore, Qatar today has many advantages. It is clear that Qatar is in a strong position from which to continue its robust economic performance, and the...

2013 saw the transition of power from the former Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, to Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, his fourth son and second son with Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, a move unprecedented elsewhere in the Gulf but not unexpected in Qatar. Qatari investments straddle the globe, and the world’s top financial, construction, energy, retail and real estate businesses are vying for...