DOING BUSINESS

AND INVESTMENT
OPPORTUNITIES
IN QATAR
QATAR HEART OF THE ARABIAN GULF
HOW IS QATAR DIFFERENT?
 Qatar’s Economical Global Ranking
 A supportive, modern Qatari Constitution
 Qatar’s National Vision 2030
 Offers diverse Business Opportunities
 FDI Policies and Governmental
Facilities.
 AND…
 One of the highest income-per capita countries.
 Family-friendly lifestyle and an extremely safe
living environment.
 World-leading education, medicine, leisure and
sports facilities.
 Politically stable and economically secure.
 Developing rapidly in all aspects.
GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS INDEX
 Qatar is one of the richest countries in the world.
 Real GDP growth rate of 22% between 2006 and
2013.
 Real GDP growth: 6.3% (2014)
 GDP per capita: $101,513 (2013)
 Highest average growth rate in the Gulf Cooperation
Council .
OUTSTANDING PROGRESS IN QATAR’S
ECONOMICAL DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH

16th Most Competitive Economy in Most Innovative in the Middle East

the World & 2nd Most Competitive in & 33rd in the World
the Middle East

Global Competitiveness 2014-15 Global Innovation Index 2012

World Economic Forum

Most Peaceful in the Middle East &

Most Network-Ready in the Middle 22th in the World
East & 28th in the World

Global Peace Index 2014

Global Information Technology Report 2013
QATAR’S SOVEREIGN RATINGS REMAIN STRONG ON
THE BACK OF ROBUST ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS

S&P Moody’s Fitch CI1 EIU

Overall
Foreign Foreign Foreign Country Banking
Outlook LT2
Currency LT2 Currency LT2 Currency LT2 Sector Rating
Risk

Qatar AA Stable Aa2 AA AA- A BBB

UAE - - Aa2 - AA- BBB BB

Bahrain BBB Stable Baa2 BBB BBB BB BB

Saudi
AA- Stable Aa3 AA- A1+ BBB BBB
Arabia

Kuwait AA Stable Aa2 AA AA- BBB BB

Oman A Stable A1 - A A BBB

Source: Bankscope, March 2015

Note: 1 – Capital Intelligence STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
Note: 2 – Long-term
QATARI CONSTITUTION

Legislative

Executive Judiciary
QATAR’S NATIONAL VISION 2030
1 Human development
Development of all its people to enable them to sustain a prosperous society.

2 Social development
Development of a just and caring society based on high moral standards.

3 Economic development
Development of a competitive and diversified economy.

4 Environmental development
Management of the environment in harmony with economic
growth and social development.

National Development Strategy (2011-2016)

QATAR’S GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
TO ECONOMIC POLICY
 Achieve sustainable economic growth.
 Strengthen and broaden the country’s fast-growing
economy.
 Diversify the economy.
 Help secure the future prosperity of its people by
building a diversified asset base.
 Promote economic growth.
 Create the right investment climate.
 SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN ALL SECTORS
AND INDUSTRIES IN QATAR
 Cumulative number of incorporated companies (excluding deleted and
liquidated companies) by sector since 1980, shows sustained growth.
All the sectors have contributed to national growth since the 1980s,

Figure 10 - Netthough thegrowth
cumulative rate of increaseby
of industries innumber
the lastof decade has been the highest.
net incorporated
companies excluding distribution sector
Construction and industrial activities
25
Consulting and technical services

20 Education
Companies (000)

15 Energy and utilities services

Finance
10
Food and beverage

5 Healthcare

0 Lifestyle services
1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012
Tourism and entertainment
DIVERSE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
IN QATAR
Percentage of incorporated companies by sector
Figure 7 - Percentage of net incorporated companies by sector
0.65% 0.50%
0.94% 7.76%
3.27% Construction and contracting
0.72%
Other industrial activities
0.65%
Consulting and technical services
Distribution (wholesale and retail)
Construction and
contracting Education
12.84%
Construction industry Energy and utilities services
59.42% 16.61%
Finance
Food and beverage
9.47% Lifestyle services
Manufacturing
3.72% Healthcare
Tourism and entertainment
Figure 8 - Employment in each sector
1.4% 0.8%
0.7% Construction and industrial activities
1.7% 0.3%
2.1% Distribution (wholesale and retail)
Employment in each sector 2.8%
Energy and utilities services
7.0%
Tourism and entertainment
Education
47.2% Healthcare
Food and beverage
36.0%
Finance
Consulting and technical services
Lifestyle services
 INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Qatar’s investment
... generating different opportunities over time
agenda includes …
▪ Investments directly III
linked to World Cup Opportunities for sectors benefitting from
(e.g., stadia, hotels) development of infrastructure/operations

▪ Investments not directly linked

to World Cup but enabling
successful organization (e.g., II In addition,
rail network, roads)
Size of opportunity

Opportunities from operations of significant

90-110 infrastructure and services multiplier
Bn USD1 effect for
general
 Investments necessary economy
due to general I
increase of economic Opportunities from
activity/ population infrastructure
(e.g., utilities, public construction
infrastructure)
70-80 130-140

Time
World Cup
VARIOUS INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Infrastructure Sports, culture & Energy Finance & Healthcare,

and real estate tourism investment Insurance education &
opportunities environment
Real estate Developers Drilling Hedge funds Hospitals
development
Infrastructure Consultants Exploration Investment Medical centers
projects institutions
Consultants Travel agencies Transportation Banks Medical
research
Construction Airlines LNG/ GTL Leasing Schools
companies
Real estate Tourism Equipment Financial Colleges
investment authorities suppliers consultants/
advisors

Culture Onshore & Insurance Universities

authorities offshore
QATAR’S MEGA PROJECTS

Lusail Light Rail Transit & Long

Lusail City Qatar Media City
Distance
Target investments USD 45Bn Target investments LRT:USD 14Bn; Long Target investments USD 3.5Bn
Estimated population 200,000 Distance: USD : 34Bn 25,000 people will work here
Lusail LRT:38.5 kms of rail with 37 stations
Long Distance: 390 kms with 6 stations (phase1-4)

Hamad Seaport Doha Metro Phase 1& 2 Roads and Highways

Target investments USD 7.4Bn Target investments USD 65.2Bn Target investments USD 23Bn
One of the world’s largest port developments 241km of rail with 106 stations across Doha 550km of road across 221 projects

Source: MEED – Qatar Megaprojects 2013

QATAR’S MEGA PROJECTS (Cont.)

Hamad International Airport extension

$2 bn

Msheireb Downtown Doha

Target investments US$ 5.5Bn Education sector: $7.2 bn

31 Hectare development in the heart of Doha
2022 FIFA WORLD CUP PROJECTS™

Al Bayt Stadium Qatar Foundation

Al Khor City Stadium

Al Wakrah Al-Rayyan Stadium

Stadium (Expansion)
HOW CAN FOREIGN INVESTORS
BENEFIT FROM THE FDI POLICIES?
1
FDI
 100% foreign ownership is possible through authorization by the
Ministry of Economy and Commerce in most sectors , if necessary.

• A foreign Investor can have up to 100% ownership in the following

business sectors:
2 Agriculture Industry Health Education
Sectors

Tourism Energy IT Business

Counsultancies

Enviromintal Services Technical

Sport &Culture Counsultancies

• Up to 49% of foreign ownership in all other sectors.

3
Tax • New draft law has been approved to exempt foreign investors from
corporate profits and units in investment funds which are listed for
trading from income tax.
• Tax exemption for Belgian companies.
FURTHER MEASURES TO IMPROVE
QATAR’S BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
1. Qatar Financial Centre （QFC）

Onshore business and financial centre offering its own

world-class legal, regulatory and tax environment.
•Allows 100% foreign ownership
•Allows 100% repatriation of profits
•Transparent environment
•Independent judiciary and dispute resolution services (QICDRC)

Suitable for a wide range of businesses:

• Financial Services • Management Offices

• Professional Services • Trusts
• Business Support Services • Holding Companies
• Company Headquarters

Source: www.qfc.qa
2. Qatar Science and Technology Park （QSTP）

Qatar’s primary incubator for

Suitable for technology businesses
technology development, fostering the
related to the following sectors:
environment required for accelerating
commercialisation of research •Energy
•Environment
•Allows 100% foreign ownership •Health Sciences
•No taxes •Information & Communication
•Duty-free import of goods, equipment
and services
•Unrestricted repatriation of capital
and profits
•No restriction on hiring expatriate
employees

Source: www.qstp.org.qa
3. Manateq
The State of Qatar is investing in
building three economic zones in Manateq Special Economic Zone Location Map

primary locations.
•Zone 1 “Ras BuFontas” focusing on the
logistics, information & communications,
healthcare, and high tech industries.

•Zone 2 “AlKaraana” focusing on the

building materials, machinery &
fabrications, energy and environment, and *
safety and maintenance industries.

*
•Zone 3 “Um AlHoul” focusing on the *
petrochemicals, building materials, maritime,
logistics, metals, and food processing
industries.

* EZ = Economic Zone
Source: Manateq, November 2014
START YOUR INVESTMENT PROCEDURES

Apply for the approval from the specific government authority

1 depending on which sector you are willing to invest in.

Apply to the Investment Promotion Department under the Ministry of

2 Economy and Commerce.

3 Submit an investment feasibility study.

Complete the application for the commercial registration to obtain the

4 commercial registration from the Ministry of Economy and Commerce.
FURTHERMORE ENCOURAGING INCENTIVES
ON WHY TO INVEST IN QATAR!

Tax breaks

Transparency

Access to finance

Highly skilled labor

No income tax on salaries

Freedom of money transfers

abroad
GOVERNMENTAL FACILITIES TO INVESTORS

1. Single window registration – Ministry of

Economy and Commerce.

2. Qatar International Court and Dispute

Resolution Centre
QATARI- BELGIAN RELATIONS
• Agreement of Encouragement and protection
of mutual investments in 06/11/2007.
• Agreement for avoid double taxation.
• Qatar Invest 1.06 billion Euro in European
Private Bank( KBL).
• Total Trade volume : 6.87 Billion Qatari
Riyals.
 ً‫شكرا‬

Thank You