Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (IPA Qatar)
Overview
Established in 2019 as part of the Qatar National Vision 2030, the Investment Promotion Agency of Qatar (IPA Qatar) is mandated to attract more Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) into Qatar. The IPA Qatar aims to be a single and complete source for investment solutions in the State of Qatar by attracting FDI in all of the country’s priority sectors. IPA Qatar also pursues targeted, sector-specific investment promotion agendas and coordinates investment promotion and marketing activities with key stakeholders, as well as develops policy advisory.
The goal of the advisory is to bring the cutting edge of competition to Qatar and establish it as a regional and international destination for investment. Qatar has recently made several changes designed to reform in order to become a more attractive destination for business. This includes the Foreign Investment Law of 2019, which allows up to 100% foreign investment in all sectors. Other initiatives include the launch of single-window services to simplify commercial registration; the establishment of IPA Qatar; the opening up of the real estate sector to foreign investors; the facilitation of the permanent residency application process for real estate investors; and the establishment of the QFZA. The majority of these initiatives were launched between 2017 and 2019, which shows the rapid progress the country is making. Qatar benefits from its geostrategic location between Asia, Africa, and Europe. The QFZA is geographically open, ready to accept investments from all over the world and benefit from well-developed infrastructure, which includes the Hamad Port, the Hamad International Airport, as well as internal roads and highways. In addition, Qatar benefits from a high human development index and high levels of education.
There are several other benefits investors can leverage, including the country’s various trade links, bilateral investment protection agreements, double taxation agreements, and free trade agreements. These are just a few factors that offer Qatar a competitive edge in the economic ecosystem.