The Middle East

A steady decline in sale and rent prices since 2016 was accelerated in 2020 with the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to strong activity in property transactions. The lower prices – reflected in various indices – was not seen as cause for alarm in the sector, however, but a welcome market correction that is allowing Qatari properties to compete with other GCC markets...

Qatar launched a mandatory health insurance plan as a replacement for the previous public health insurance scheme, commonly known as SEHA, introduced in 2013. As in other GCC countries, Qatar’s reforms come in response to rising demand from an ageing population and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, alongside the desire to rationalise public expenditure and...

A concerted effort to improve health care delivery in Qatar has created a system characterised by strong public and private investment, innovative technologies and a high standard of care. In the 2021 Legatum Prosperity Index, published by the UK think tank Legatum Institute, Qatar ranked 39th out of 167 countries and second in the MENA region in terms of health. The ranking...

As the construction industry redefines its priorities to ensure sustainability, there is increasing recognition of the benefits of regenerative architecture as a means of lowering emissions. According to the “2019 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction” published by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the construction sector accounts for nearly 40% of global...