Qatar Starter Kit

A guide to help you understand the ins and outs of the business environment in Qatar, along with the culture, lifestyle, and more.

Key Information on How to Get Started

You can explore this section to learn about Qatar, key sectors and organizations, the economy, culture & lifestyle, and history. There are many options for how to start your business in Qatar based on industry and incentives, which you can learn about throughout the Qatar Starter Kit. Given the plentiful opportunities and avenues to establish a regional export business or offices in Qatar, we recommend you take the first step by walking through and completing the Business Portal. USQBC may then contact you for further information.

Ready to get started doing business between the US and Qatar? Our Portal is the first step.

Go to Portal

Key Sectors

Our team has created Starter Kits for each of the most popular sectors in Qatar.


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Logistics
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Tourism
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Manufacturing
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Agriculture
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Tech
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Education
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Financial Services
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Construction & Real Estate
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Health
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Energy
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Sports
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Media
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Defense & Aerospace
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Retail
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Trade & Investment
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Legal
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Key Organizations

Quick description about which ministries and organizations are related to each sector, and how they can help you.

Logistics
Tourism
Manufacturing
Agriculture
Tech
Education
Financial Services
Construction & Real Estate
Health
Energy
Sports
Media
Defense & Aerospace
Retail
Trade & Investment

QatarEnergy (QE)

QE is the national energy organization responsible for the sustainable development of the oil & gas sector in Qatar. QE’s activities encompass the spectrum of the oil & gas value chain including exploration, production, and sales in all its forms.

Go to QatarEnergy Guide

QatarGas

Established in 1984, QatarGas is the largest liquified natural gas company in the world. It produces and supplies the globe with 77 million tons of LNG annually from across its four ventures—Qatargas 1, Qatargas 2, Qatargas 3, and Qatargas 4.

Go to QatarGas Guide

Qatar Petrochemical Company (QAPCO)

Established in 1974, QAPCO is one of the world’s largest and most successful producers of low-density polyethylene (LDPE). QAPCO produces a wide range of LDPE grades that are suitable for all thermoplastic processing techniques.

Go to Qatar Petrochemical Company Guide

Qatar Fertilizer Company (QAFCO)

Qatar Fertilizer Company QSCC (QAFCO) was incorporated in 1969 as a joint venture, and is currently owned by Industries Qatar (IQ) with 75%, Fertilizer Holdings AS (10%) and Yara Nederland BV (15%). It is part of Qatar’s growing petrochemical industry.

Go to Qatar Fertilizer Company Guide

Golden Pass LNG

Golden Pass LNG is a joint venture company formed by Qatar Petroleum (70%) and ExxonMobil (30%) which represents a $10 billion investment that will add natural gas liquefaction and export capabilities to the existing terminal in Sabine Pass, Texas.

Go to Golden Pass LNG

Chevron Phillips Chemical Company (CPChem)

CPChem is a joint venture between Chevron Corporation and Phillips 66. CPChem is one of the world’s top producers of olefins and polyolefins. The company operates 33 manufacturing and research centers.

Go to CPChem Guide

Excelerate Energy

Excelerate Energy is a US LNG company based in the Woodlands, Texas. Excelerate is the pioneer and market leader in innovative floating LNG solutions, providing integrated services along the entire LNG value chain.

Go to Excelerate Guide

Chevron

Chevron is an American multinational corporation, headquartered in San Ramon, California, and is active in more than 180 countries. It is engaged in every aspect of the oil, gas, and geothermal energy industries.

Go to Chevron Guide

Ashghal

Ashghal or the Public Works Authority, was established in 2004 to be responsible for the design, construction, delivery, and asset management of all infrastructure projects and public buildings in Qatar.

Go to Ashghal Guide

Al Jazeera Media Network

Al Jazeera is one of the largest and most prominent Arab news networks. Based in Doha, Al Jazeera has been characterized by its dedication to providing accurate and unbiased news.

Go to Al Jazeera Guide

Qatar Central Bank (QCB)

QCB is the monetary authority of the country. QCB is responsible for the country’s banking and monetary policy and regulating the financial sector in a way that maintains and improves the stability of the national economy.

Go to QCB Guide

Qatar National Bank (QNB)

QNB is the largest bank in Qatar and the largest financial institution in the Middle East and Africa. It stretches across thirty countries in three continents where it provides a variety of financial products and services through over 1,200 branches.

Go to QNB Guide

Al Sulaiti Law Firm

Al Sulaiti Law Firm is one of the largest law firms in the Middle East with offices across 17 countries. The firm is a full service law firm combining knowledge and expertise to ensure clients have access to the best legal solutions and services.

Go to Al Sulaiti Guide

Al Khaliji Commercial Bank

Al Khaliji Commercial Bank ("al khaliji") offers a wide range of banking products and services to premium, business, corporate, and international customers in Qatar, the UAE, and France.

Go to al khaliji Guide

DLA Piper

DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers located in more than 40 countries. DLA strives to be the leading global business law firm by delivering quality and value to their clients.

Go to DLA Piper Guide

Dr. Ghada M. Darwish Karbon Law Firm

The Dr. Ghada M. Darwish Karbon Law Firm, founded in 2012, is based in the Duhail district. The firm strives to integrate the civil legal system with the Anglo-Saxon culture system to achieve a harmonious legal environment, providing top legal services.

Go to Dr. Ghada M. Darwish Karbon Law Firm Guide

Ministry of Public Health (MOPH)

MOPH is the government entity responsible for drafting and overseeing the implementation of healthcare policy in Qatar. MOPH aims to achieve better health, better care, and better value for all.

Go to MOPH Guide

Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC)

HMC is the main provider of healthcare in Qatar and one of the leading hospital providers in the Middle East. For more than four decades, HMC has been dedicated to delivering the safest, most effective and compassionate care to all its patients.

Go to Hamad Medical Corp Guide

Ministry of Municipality & Environment (MME)

The Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) is a Qatari government entity that serves to protect the environment and develop the natural resources in the state of Qatar as well as support the country’s food security initiatives.

Go to MME Guide

Qatar Foundation (QF)

QF is a non-profit organization made up of more than 50 entities working in education, research, and community development. Its unique ecosystem works to create global opportunities and empower people to shape the present and future.

Go to QF Guide

Ministry of Culture and Sports (MOCS)

The MOCS is the government entity responsible for organizing programs to celebrate national events, regulating licenses to own and establish radio, television broadcasting stations, and monitoring the press, as well as distributing licenses to them.

Go to MOCS Guide

Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC)

The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy’s (SC) mission is to successfully deliver all infrastructure and host country planning and operations required for Qatar to host an amazing and historic FIFA World Cup in 2022.

Go to Supreme Committee Guide

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI)

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) is responsible for the regulation of trade and industrial activities in Qatar. Its scope is to ensure fair trade and competition and restrict fraudulent and monopolistic activities.

Go to MOCI Guide

Qatari Diar

Qatari Diar was established in 2005 by the Qatar Investment Authority. Qatari Diar is entrusted to support Qatar’s growing economy and to coordinate the country’s real estate development priorities.

Go to Qatari Diar

Ministry of Defense (MOD)

The Ministry of Defense (MOD) in Qatar is responsible for the Qatar Amiri Land Forces, Air Forces, Naval Forces, and the Calibration Center of the Qatar Armed Forces.

Go to MOD Guide

Raytheon Technologies Corporation

Founded in 1922, Raytheon Technologies serves customers in the commercial aerospace and defense industries. Raytheon’s four businesses are Intelligence & Space, Missiles & Defense, Collins Aerospace, and Pratt & Whitney.

Go to Raytheon Guide

Ministry of Transport & Communications (MOTC)

MOTC is a government entity responsible for the regulation of land, maritime, and air transport in Qatar. MOTC was established in 2016 and was founded directly in support of the Qatar National Vision 2030.

Go to MOTC Guide

General Electric (GE)

Founded in 1889, GE is a multinational company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. It is best known for its work in the Power, Renewable Energy, Aviation, and Healthcare industries.

Go to GE Guide

The Boeing Company

Boeing is a world-class leader in the aerospace industry. Boeing designs and manufactures rotorcraft, electronic and defense systems, and advanced information and communication systems.

Go to Boeing Guide

Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin is a global security, aerospace, and information technology company that works closely with the US government as well as with governments around the world.

Go to Lockheed Martin Guide

Barzan Aeronautical LLC

Barzan Aeronautical LLC operates as an independent commercial company focused on the application and use of aerial ISR systems that support the defense and security requirements of Qatar, the United States, and NATO allies.

Go to Barzan Aeronautical Guide

Honeywell International

Honeywell is a US multinational technology company. They deliver industry solutions that include aerospace products and services, control technologies for buildings and industry, safety and productivity solutions, and performance materials globally.

Go to Honeywell Guide

Qatar Chemical Company (Q-Chem)

Q-Chem is a Qatari company owned by Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding Company, Chevron Phillips Chemical Qatar, and Qatar Petroleum. The facility is a world-class integrated petrochemical plant capable of producing all types of petrochemical products.

Go to Qatar Chemical Company Guide

ExxonMobil

For more than 135 years, ExxonMobil has been developing quality fuel products. From the early days of Standard Oil to Mobil and now present day as ExxonMobil, the company has played a pivotal role in the energy sector’s legacy globally and in Qatar.

Go to ExxonMobil Guide

ConocoPhillips

COP is an engineering company that uses technology to maximize production of resources and develop areas that were thought to be unrecoverable. In 2003, ConocoPhillips and Qatar Petroleum signed a Heads of Agreement to develop Qatargas 3.

Go to ConocoPhillips Guide

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) is an American company specialized in research and technology development. The company provides remotely operated surveillance aircraft, Predator family systems, and airborne sensors.

Go to General Atomics Guide

Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (IPA Qatar)

The IPA Qatar oversees investment promotion activities under the Invest Qatar brand and acts as the country’s umbrella organization for foreign direct investment attraction.

Go to IPA Qatar Guide

Qatar Free Zones Authority

The Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZA) is an independent authority created in 2018 to oversee free zones in Qatar, offering opportunities for businesses seeking to expand globally.

Go to QFZA Guide

Qatar Financial Centre (QFC)

QFC is one of the world's leading and fastest growing onshore business and financial centers. QFC offers service based companies 100% foreign ownership.

Go to QFC Guide

Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP)

QSTP is Qatar’s premier hub for applied research, technology innovation, incubation, and entrepreneurship. It is an economic free zone that houses various international corporations, SMEs, research institutions, and local tech startups.

Go to QSTP Guide

Qatar Investment Authority (QIA)

QIA is the sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar. QIA's mission is to invest, manage and grow Qatar's reserves in order to support the development and diversification of Qatar's economy, and prepare for a time beyond the hydrocarbon era.

Go to QIA Guide

Qatar Rail

Qatar Rail is a state-owned railway company, responsible for rail transport in Qatar. The company is responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of the entire rail network and systems.

Go to Qatar Rail Guide

Qatar Airways

QA is one of the youngest global airlines to serve all six continents, as well as the world’s fastest-growing airline. QA connects more than 130 destinations on the map every day from Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar.

Go to Qatar Airways Guide

Hamad International Airport (HIA)

Hamad International Airport (HIA) is Qatar’s new airport which opened in 2014. HIA serves over 360,000 flights and 30 million passengers per year.

Go to Hamad International Guide

Hamad Port

Hamad Port is Qatar's main seaport, located south of Doha in Umm Al-Houl. It can handle up to 7.8 million tonnes of products annually, making it Qatar's largest port and where the majority of its trade passes through. It became operational in 2016.

Go to Hamad Port Guide

Milaha

Milaha (est. 1957) is one of the largest and most diversified maritime and logistics companies in the Middle East, focused on providing integrated transport and supply chain solutions.

Go to Milaha Guide

Ministry of Finance (MOF)

Qatar’s Ministry of Finance (MOF) regulates financial policies and oversees the public finances. Its responsibilities include drafting and implementing the annual state budget and managing the fiscal strategy.

Go to MOF Guide

Mwani

Mwani is responsible for substantially developing Hamad Port. The company is not only strongly positioned to develop a regional shipping hub in the region, but also plays a major role in diversifying the Qatari economy ready for a post-hydrocarbon future.

Go to Mwani Guide

Darwish Holding

Darwish manages a range of companies that offer products and services in Qatar. Darwish has a diversified portfolio across many industries including consumer distribution, investment, retail, real estate, business services, and technology.

Go to Darwish Holding Guide

Alfardan Group

Alfardan Group is a family run business that specializes in luxury products and services and delivers some of the world’s most-recognizable brands to the Qatari market.

Go to Alfardan Group Guide

Al Mana Group

Al Mana is a Qatari conglomerate with operations in automotive distribution and services, real estate and investments, retail, food and beverage, engineering, technology, media, and entertainment.

Go to Al Mana Group Guide

Ali Bin Ali Holding

Ali Bin Ali, established in 1945, is one of Qatar’s largest retail and distribution companies. It has 18 businesses, representing 300+ companies in sectors such as food and beverage, fashion, hospitality, mall management, hypermarkets, and manufacturing.

Go to Ali Bin Ali Guide

Qatar University

Qatar University (QU) is the national institution of higher education in Qatar and the country’s only public university. QU is today a beacon of academic and research excellence in the region, and one of the leading universities in the Middle East.

Go to Qatar University Guide

Salam International

Salam International is a public shareholding company involved in various industrial sectors. The company establishes, incorporates, acquires, and owns enterprises in the commercial, industrial, educational, real estate, financial, and service sectors.

Go to Salam International Guide

LuLu Group

LuLu Group International is a multinational company operating in over 37 countries. LuLu Group Qatar has several lines of business that include retail, shopping malls, wholesale distribution, food processing, hospitality, and more.

Go to LuLu Guide

AbuIssa Holding

AbuIssa Holding is an internationally recognized leader both as a partner for growth and in exploring the possibilities of innovative new business. AbuIssa houses over 70 distinguished businesses across 11 sectors.

Go to AbuIssa Holding Guide

NBK Holding

Nasser Bin Khaled (NBK) was founded with the aim of creating a world class company. NBK manages the selling and distribution of international brands in Qatar and now has significant involvement in the industrial and trade sectors.

Go to NBK Guide

Al Qamra Holding

AQH is one of the leading business conglomerates of Qatar, it manages a portfolio of companies specializing in a diverse array of sectors, such as real estate, construction, education, aquaculture services, and agriculture.

Go to Al Qamra Holding

Ministry of Education and Higher Education

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE) is tasked with supporting and regulating education in Qatar, including public and private schools at all levels and institutions of higher education.

Go to MOEHE Guide

Qatar National Library

Qatar National Library (QNL) is a modern facility that provides the people of Qatar with access to over one million books. In its role as a research library QNL fosters global insight into the history and culture of the Arabian Gulf region.

Go to Qatar National Library Guide

Target Trading & Contracting W.L.L.

Target is an established firm in Qatar that is one of the GCC’s most prominent stainless steel stockholders. Target provides stainless sheets, coils, pipes, bars, and other stainless steel products to various industries in the region.

Go to Target Guide

United Development Company

United Development Company Q.P.S.C. (UDC) is Qatar's leading construction firm leading and a Qatari public shareholding company with the purpose of identifying and investing in long-term projects that contribute to Qatar's progress.

Go to UDC Guide

Qatar Development Bank (QDB)

QDB is a financial entity owned by the government with the purpose of investing in and developing local industries and supporting small and medium sized enterprises in Qatar.

Go to QDB Guide

Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE)

The goal of the QSE is to support Qatar’s economy by giving investors a platform where they can trade fairly and efficiently. The QSE is part of a national strategy that seeks to make Qatar a world class international market.

Go to QSE Guide

Qatar Business Incubation Center (QBIC)

QBIC is one of the largest incubation centers in the region. QBIC was created to provide all the necessary tools to enable Qatari entrepreneurship to succeed, which includes funding, office space, mentorship, and guidance.

Go to QBIC Guide

McDermott International

McDermott International is an American company providing engineering and construction solutions to the energy industry. They deliver production facilities, pipelines, and subsea systems from concept to commissioning for complex projects.

Go to McDermott Guide

CDM Smith

CDM Smith is a privately owned engineering and construction firm that aims to provide client services and innovative solutions in water, environment, transportation, energy, and facilities.

Go to CDM Smith Guide

Fluor Corporation

Fluor Corporation is one of the leading publicly owned engineering, construction, maintenance, and project management firms. Fluor’s core values of safety, teamwork, and excellence act as the company’s behavioral compass to advance their objectives.

Go to Fluor Guide

Parsons Corporation

Parsons is a digitally enabled solutions provider and is largely focused on the defense, intelligence, and critical infrastructure markets. Parsons delivers cyber security, and other innovative services to federal, regional, and local government agencies.

Go to Parsons Guide

Sidra Medical

Sidra Medical is a health and research institution with a mission to raise the standard of healthcare throughout Qatar. Sidra’s strong partnerships with other leading institutions allow it to advance scientific discovery in medical research.

Go to Sidra Medical Guide

MetLife

MetLife is one of the world's leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits, and asset management to help its individual and institutional customers.

Go to MetLife Guide

Palantir Technologies Inc

Palantir was founded with the mission to help organizations make better use of data while preserving privacy and civil liberties. Palantir offers three main products; Gotham, Foundry, and Apollo, which are specialized to the needs of their client.

Go to Palantir Guide

Microsoft

One of the most renowned computer software program companies, Microsoft has a long history of innovation and improvement. It currently is teaming up with many of the large institutions in Qatar to create seamless and positive technology experiences.

Go to Microsoft Guide

Visa

Visa is a global payments technology company that connects consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and governments to fast, secure and reliable credit and business transactions.

Go to Visa Guide

Qatar National Tourism Council

The Qatar National Tourism Council is a governance council that was approved by Qatar's leadership to oversee, coordinate, consolidate and focus the efforts of its key members and stakeholders.

Go to National Tourism Council Guide

Katara Cultural Village

Katara Cultural Village is the largest, most multidimensional cultural project in Qatar. It endeavors to spread awareness about the importance of every culture and serve as a guardian to Qatar’s heritage and traditions.

Go to Katara Village Guide

Katara Hospitality

Katara Hospitality is a Qatari global hotel owner, developer and operator. Katara Hospitality actively pursues its strategic expansion plans by investing in hotels in Qatar while growing its collection of properties in international markets.

Go to Katara Hospitality Guide

Museum of Islamic Art (MIA)

MIA represents Islamic art from three continents over 1,400 years. Through safeguarding masterpiece collections of Islamic art and showcasing extraordinary exhibitions, MIA shares knowledge, spreading curiosity, understanding, and joy.

Go to Museum of Islamic Art Guide

National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ)

The National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) is dedicated to bringing to life the unique story of Qatar and its people. Designed as a vibrant and immersive space, diverse communities can come together and experience Qatar’s past, present and future.

Go to NMoQ Guide

Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA)

The QFMA was established as an independent regulatory authority designed to supervise the financial markets and firms that have received authorization to engage in activities related to securities in or from the State of Qatar.

Go to QFMA Guide

Al Faisal Holding

Al Faisal Holding is one of the leading diversified private holding companies in Qatar. Al Faisal has played a key role in the development of the economy of Qatar by attracting foreign investment.

Go to Al Faisal Holding Guide

Al Balagh Trading & Contracting

Al Balagh Trading & Contracting was founded in 1977 and is a diverse company primarily specializing in five areas: construction, oil and gas, trading, medical and scientific equipment, and IT solutions.

Go to Al Balagh Guide

Ezdan Holding Group

Ezdan Holding Group is involved in the real estate sector. Its primary endeavors consist of the acquisition and sale of property and land and the provision of general contract services for all types of projects and buildings.

Go to Ezdan Holding Guide

Fusion Group

Fusion Group is a Qatari company offering its clients over 360 services, such as immigration services, company formation, and local company partnership.

Go to Fusion Group Guide

Mannai Corporation

Mannai is a Qatari company which provides a wide variety of services and solutions to its ever growing client base. Its businesses are in oil and gas, automotive distribution, and information and communication technology.

Go to Mannai Guide

The Pearl

The Pearl-Qatar is United Development Center’s flagship project. It is one of the largest mixed-use developments in the Middle East and one of the largest real-estate developments in the Gulf.

Go to The Pearl Guide

Ooredoo

Ooredoo is Qatar's leading communication company and delivers world class services to customers, business, residences, and organizations. Ooredoo is focusing on building a supernet network to make Qatar among the best connected countries in the globe.

Go to Ooredoo Guide

Qatar Fintech Hub (QFTH)

QFTH seeks to bring together a community of fintech entrepreneurs, industry experts, regulators, and investors for the purpose of developing new financial technologies. QFTH supports Qatar’s vision to become a leading global fintech hub.

Go to QFTH Guide

Media City

Qatar’s Media City is a team that was created for the purpose of promoting media-related activities in the country. They have attracted more than 33 different news outlets and continue to search for more to partner with.

Go to Media City Guide

Bloomberg

Bloomberg is the global leader in business and financial data, news, and insight. Bloomberg Television has a remote studio for live reports in Qatar based in QFC.

Go to Bloomberg Guide

Aspire Zone

Aspire Zone is a sports complex located in Doha, Qatar. The zone offers world-class training, sports medicine, research, and education facilities, which allows it to act as a destination for the international sports industry.

Go to Aspire Zone Guide

Aspetar Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Hospital

Aspetar is a world leading specialized orthopedic and sports medicine hospital, staffed by some of the world’s leading sports medicine practitioners and researchers. It is an accredited FIFA medical center of excellence. Aspetar is part of Aspire Zone.

Go to Aspetar Orthopedic Guide

Barwa Real Estate

Barwa Real Estate Corporation QPSC is a public shareholding company, which is engaged in the real estate operations, development and brokerage.The corporation is owned by Qatari Diar Real Estate and Investment.

Go to Barwa Real Estate Guide

Al Muftah Group

Founded in 1963, Al Muftah Group is a Doha based private consumer goods company with more than 190 employees, specializing in Automotive, Real Estate, satellite TV broadcasting and Transport, among others.

Go to Al Muftah Group Guide

Redco Group

Redco Group is the leading manufacturer of Precast and GRC Elements in the State of Qatar. The company has produced a variety of Precast Elements, ranging from roof slabs, beams, retaining walls to boundary walls and GR decorative cladding panels.

Go to Redco Group Guide

Redco Construction Al Mana

Redco Construction-Almana is a private Qatari company headquartered in Doha, which operates as a general contractor. It is specialized in constructing high and medium rise buildings, hotels, residential, offices, malls and large compounds.

Go to Redco Construction Al Mana Guide

Qatar Engineering & Construction Company

Qatar Engineering & Construction Company (Qcon) is the leading National EPC & Maintenance Contractor in the Oil & Gas, Petrochemical, Fertilizer and Power industries. Qcon continues to be a major contributor to the hydrocarbon infrastructural development.

Go to QCon Guide

UrbaCon Trading & Contracting Company (UCC)

UrbaCon Trading & Contracting Company (UCC) W.L.Lis a Qatari based international construction services company and a leading Grade A licensed builder. It is located in Lusail, Qatar and is part of the Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction Industry.

Go to UCC Guide

Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry (QCCI)

The QCCI was established in 1963, and its primary function is to organize business interests and represent the Qatari private sector both locally and internationally and to support the country’s economic actors and productivity.

Go to QCCI Guide

Al Seal Contracting & Trading

Al Seal Contracting & Trading is a Doha based construction company that provides civil contracting for residential and commercial buildings. It is part of the Office Administrative Services Industry.

Go to Al Seal Contracting & Trading Guide

Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA)

The key function of QBA is to work as the link between Qatar’s strategic plans and the activities of Qatari businessmen. QBA aims to play a leading role in the development of private sector activities at the local and international levels.

Go to QBA Guide

Qatar Insurance Company (QIC)

Established in 1964, QIC was the first domestic insurance company in the State of Qatar. Today, QIC is the market leader in Qatar and a dominant insurer in the GCC and MENA region.

Go to QIC Guide

Nakilat

Established in 2004, Nakilat is a shipping and maritime company based in Qatar. With the world’s largest LNG shipping fleet comprising 69 LNG carriers, the company provides the essential transportation link in Qatar’s LNG supply chain.

Go to Nakilat Guide

Al Meera

Al Meera Consumer Goods Co QSC is a Qatar-based company engaged in the purchase and sale of consumer goods. Al Meera is a Mass Grocery Retailer (MGR) having 54 branches, the biggest retail chain in Qatar.

Go to Al Meera Guide

About Qatar

Located in the Arabian Gulf, the State of Qatar is a peninsula about the size of Connecticut and is attached to the southern border of Saudi Arabia. Qatar is a constitutional monarchy that has been ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s. HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who reigned from 1995-2013, has been credited for transforming the nation with vast economic growth, primarily through its revenues of oil and gas. HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is Qatar’s current Amir and head of state. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani assumed his role as ruler in June of 2013 and promised continuity in the advancements made by his father.

$175.8B

GDP of Qatar in 2019

85.7%

of Population are Expatriates

Business Hours

The working week is from Sunday to Thursday, with Friday and Saturday as the weekend.

Currency

The official currency of Qatar is the Qatari Riyal (QR).

Time

Qatar local time is 3 hours ahead of GMT; 8 hours ahead of Washington, DC. There are no daylight savings time adjustments.

Country Code

The International phone code is +974

Language

Arabic is the official and main language, but English is widely spoken in every part of the country.

Driving Side

All automobiles drive on the right side of the road.

0.08%

Qatar Unemployment Rate in 2020

The World’s 3rd Highest per capita GDP in 2019

Qatar’s government structure is considered a constitutional monarchy. The current ruling family is the House of Al Thani. Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani assumed his duties as Amir of the State of Qatar on 25th June 2013, following the announcement of The Father, Amir, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s decision to hand over his power to his Heir Apparent in an address to the Qatari people, and the pledge of allegiance to Sheikh Tamim as the new Amir. The Amiri Diwan is the seat of rule of the State of Qatar. It is the sovereign body and the administrative office of The Amir. The Shura Council, which is planned to be a newly instituted elected body in October 2021, is one of the two main branches of Qatar's legislative body. Any law shall be presented before the Shura Council, for consideration and suggestions. The other branch is the Cabinet, which proposes bills, prepares draft laws, and refers them to the Council, for due consideration and recommendations thereafter.

Qatar’s National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030) is the country’s roadmap for future development and defines the long-term outcomes for the country as a whole rather than the processes for reaching these outcomes. It provides a framework within which national strategies and implementation plans can be developed. The National Vision aims at transforming Qatar into an advanced country by 2030, capable of sustaining its own development and providing for a high standard of living for all of its people for generations to come. Throughout QNV 2030, the importance of building a sustainable and environmentally responsible country is evidenced throughout the four core pillars of the vision. The State of Qatar foresees development through four interconnected pillars: human development, social development, economic development, and environmental development. The State of Qatar’s National Vision 2030 prioritizes environmental stewardship to build a more sustainable future. According to this vision, Qatar has implemented many programs and projects to curb air pollutants, reduce C02 emissions, and increase reliance on renewable energy.

Qatar offers world-class education for Qatari nationals and international students in the country’s efforts to transition to a knowledge-based economy. Qatar is ranked 4th in the world and 1st in the Arab world in education quality, in the Global Education Quality Index issued by the World Economic Forum in Davos 2021. Under Sheikha Moza and Sheikha Hend, Qatar Foundation has been driving regional innovation and entrepreneurship, fostering social development and a culture of lifelong learning, and preparing Qatar’s brightest minds to tackle tomorrow’s biggest challenges. Qatar Foundation is home to nine universities, 8,000+ students, and over 90 nationalities. In addition to providing quality education, Qatar prioritizes investments in education and research. These investments aim to contribute to human, social, and economic development through the provision of quality education by focusing on those affected by poverty, conflict, and disaster. Education Above All (EAA) champions the needs of children, youth and women to empower them to become active members of their communities; EAA is a foundation founded in 2012 by Sheikha Moza. Launched in 1997, Education City is Qatar Foundation’s flagship initiative. With its research centers, universities, libraries, and schools, Education City is focusing on creating world leaders and educationalists in Qatar. Education City is home to satellite campuses for six American universities, one British university, and one French university.

Over the past few years, Qatar has succeeded in reinforcing its economic standing on the world map in accordance with the policies adopted by the Qatari government. The Qatar National Vision 2030 aims to lay the foundations for a diversified and competitive knowledge-based economy. Qatar is one of the fastest-growing regional economies and among the most promising globally, maintaining balanced growth rates despite various global challenges.

The Qatari Government, which is the dominant actor in Qatar’s economy, encourages private investment in many sectors and continues to take steps to encourage more foreign investment, to include the government’s work around establishing the new Private-Public Partnership (PPP) Law in 2020 (see information on the PPP Law from ITA in English).

Although the oil and gas sector, which has attracted tens of billions of dollars in foreign direct investment (FDI), Qatar’s economic policies have provided support for various sectors and bolstered their contribution to economic growth, thus strengthening and enhancing investor confidence in the national economy. However, Qatar is determined to make use of its resources to diversify and assure its future beyond being merely a provider of fuel. With a sovereign wealth fund of US$335 Billion, US$37 billion and increasing foreign exchange reserves, Qatar will have the resources to be a major player in energy markets and other international markets for the medium and long term.

Since its establishment in 1981 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Qatar has been a key member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The GCC is a political and economic alliance of six Middle Eastern countries—Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. The purpose of the GCC is to achieve unity among its members based on their common objectives and their similar political and cultural identities, which are rooted in Arab and Islamic cultures. Improving service delivery, promoting economic diversification, strengthening governance, and enhancing human capital (with a focus on jobs and gender) are key areas of focus in all GCC countries.

“Comprehensive development is our main goal in striving for the progress and prosperity of our people.”
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani

Economics

In the last decades, Qatar has succeeded in reinforcing its economic standing on the world map, in accordance with the policies adopted by the Qatari government, and the Qatar National Vision 2030. Qatar’s economy is principally driven by revenues yielded from the country’s natural gas and petroleum resources. Qatar has about 12% of the world’s proven reserves of natural gas, the third largest reserves in the world. As Qatar’s economy was impacted by the 2017 blockade and the Covid-19 pandemic, the economy is expected to return to positive growth of 2.5% in 2021 and 3.9% in 2022, with expected benefits from a recovery in global LNG demand, post-pandemic global economic recovery, and expected boom in the services sector ahead of the FIFA 2022 World Cup.

10th

GDP per capita rank in 2021

11th

Rank in largest Wealth Fund

Qatar’s National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030) is the country’s roadmap for future development and defines the long-term outcomes for the country as a whole rather than the processes for reaching these outcomes. It provides a framework within which national strategies and implementation plans can be developed. The National Vision aims to transform Qatar into an advanced country by 2030, capable of sustaining its own development and providing for a high standard of living for all of its people for generations to come. Throughout QNV 2030, the importance of building a sustainable and environmentally responsible country is evidenced throughout the four core pillars of the vision.

The State of Qatar foresees development through four interconnected pillars: human development, social development, economic development, and environmental development. The State of Qatar’s National Vision 2030 prioritizes environmental stewardship to build a more sustainable future. According to this vision, Qatar has implemented many programs and projects to curb air pollutants, reduce C02 emissions, and increase reliance on renewable energy.

The 2021 State Budget is based upon a conservative average oil price assumption of $40 per barrel as set forth by the Ministry of Finance. This reflects a continued policy of conservative revenue estimation to maintain a fiscal balance and minimize the impact of the fluctuation in energy prices on the State Budget. The total expenditure is expected to reach $43.97 billion during 2021; accordingly, the budget anticipates a deficit of $9.50 billion. The Ministry of Finance will cover the projected deficit from available resources or through issuing debt instruments in the domestic and international financial markets, if needed.

Additionally, $19.8 billion was allocated for major projects. This includes allocation for new projects along with ongoing development projects in various sectors and those related to hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. This also includes allocations for citizens’ land development projects and related infrastructure.

The State continues to give priority to the education and healthcare sectors, whereby allocations for the education sector amounted to $4.78 billion, which includes spending to expand schools and other educational facilities. Allocations for healthcare amounted to $4.53 billion, covering additional high priority projects to further promote and expand medical and healthcare facilities scheduled to be implemented during 2021.

The Qatar National Vision 2030 has created a blueprint for diversification to cushion the economy from future swings in demand for commodities. New measures were taken in 2019 to encourage foreign direct investment, including legal changes to allow 100% foreign ownership of companies in most sectors. Qatar seeks to move to a knowledge-based economy. Innovation plays a vital part within the process of transitioning from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy, promising a more sustainable future.”. Qatar has put measures in place to encourage and attract investment in various sectors including education, health, tourism, and industry, which would foster innovation and build human capabilities.

The 2017 blockade on Qatar gave the state an opportunity to accelerate the pace of implementation of plans and strategies for economic diversification. A new government body – the Investment Promotion Agency of Qatar (IPA Qatar) – was formed to streamline procedures for businesses interested in expanding in Qatar. In line with the country’s strategy to draw foreign investment and diversify its gas-centered economy, the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) aims to license about 150 sports companies by 2022.

Qatar’s attractive business environment and the ongoing preparations to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, is still contributing to providing investors with the opportunity to finance, develop, and operate projects in several sectors including food security, sports, tourism, health, education, and logistics. In addition to the previously listed factors, the prospect of hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup has also prompted Qatar to accelerate economic diversification and spend hundreds of billions of dollars on stadiums, transport links, and other infrastructure projects. Residents are seeing the benefits of these projects, which include improvements to expressways and the opening of the Doha Metro. Government planners are also looking beyond the hosting of the event to ensure that it has a lasting sustainable economic legacy, by developing the project pipeline.

The Qatar National Vision 2030 has created a blueprint for diversification to cushion the economy from future swings in demand for commodities. New measures were taken in 2019 to encourage foreign direct investment, including legal changes to allow 100% foreign ownership of companies in most sectors. Qatar seeks to move to a knowledge-based economy. Innovation plays a vital part within the process of transitioning from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy, promising a more sustainable future.”. Qatar has put measures in place to encourage and attract investment in various sectors including education, health, tourism, and industry, which would foster innovation and build human capabilities.

The 2017 blockade on Qatar gave the state an opportunity to accelerate the pace of implementation of plans and strategies for economic diversification. A new government body – the Investment Promotion Agency of Qatar (IPA Qatar) – was formed to streamline procedures for businesses interested in expanding in Qatar. In line with the country’s strategy to draw foreign investment and diversify its gas-centered economy, the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) aims to license about 150 sports companies by 2022.

Qatar’s attractive business environment and the ongoing preparations to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, is still contributing to providing investors with the opportunity to finance, develop, and operate projects in several sectors including food security, sports, tourism, health, education, and logistics. In addition to the previously listed factors, the prospect of hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup has also prompted Qatar to accelerate economic diversification and spend hundreds of billions of dollars on stadiums, transport links, and other infrastructure projects. Residents are seeing the benefits of these projects, which include improvements to expressways and the opening of the Doha Metro. Government planners are also looking beyond the hosting of the event to ensure that it has a lasting sustainable economic legacy, by developing the project pipeline.

Qatar has a total investment target of $55 billion in the US and Asian markets, according to an investment strategy announced in 2016 by Qatar Investment Authority (QIA). In 2019, the Qatar Investment Authority’s (QIA) pledged to invest $45 billion in the United States, concentrated in the infrastructure sector, with total Qatari investment in the US exceeding $200 billion.

Having opened an office in New York City in 2015, QIA has developed approximately $9 billion worth of real estate projects in New York with Brookfield Property Partners LP. While investing in many real estate properties, especially offices in New York and Los Angeles, QIA acquired about 10% of the Empire State Realty Trust Inc, which is the owner of the Empire State Building. QIA has also bought the St. Regis New York, a 238-key property in Midtown Manhattan, from Marriott International for $310 million, after acquiring the St. Regis in San Francisco back in 2018. The same year, in 2018, Katara Hospitality, a hotel-centric subsidiary of Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, acquired the full ownership of the Plaza Hotel in New York City for $600 million.

QIA has helped develop many real estate projects via Qatari Diar, its real estate development entity. Amongst many other projects, Qatari Diar has helped jumpstart (with $650 million) the redevelopment of the old convention center site in Washington, DC into what is now CityCenterDC, the landmark 10-acre, mixed-use development located in the heart of the nation’s capital. Qatari Diar and Hines, the international real estate firm, and Conrad Hotels & Resorts by Hilton Worldwide, also partnered on the construction of the Conrad Washington, DC. This is a 360-room luxury hotel with 30,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space at CityCenterDC.

Additionally, there have been numerous large investments generated by energy as well. In 2019, ExxonMobil and QatarEnergy (QE), previously Qatar Petroleum (QP) partnered to proceed with the development of the Golden Pass LNG export project located in Sabine Pass, Texas. The $10+ billion liquefaction project will have capacity to produce around 16 million tons of LNG per year. It is expected to create about 9,000 jobs over the five-year construction period and more than 200 permanent jobs during operations. Preliminary estimates by an independent study indicate the project could generate up to $31 billion in US economic gains and more than $4.6 billion in direct federal, state, and local tax revenues over the life of the project.

Other Qatari investments in the US led by QIA involve a $500 million in equity financing to SoFi in 2019, and a recent $200 million investment in EatJust in 2021. Mobile-first personal finance company Social Finance, better known as SoFi, plans to use the $500 million cash injection to invest in more growth and strengthen its now $2.3 billion total balance sheet. In 2021, EatJust, a vegan food startup from San Francisco making plant-based alternative products, including plant-based eggs, has secured major funding led by the State of Qatar, a deal that is receiving international recognition and making headlines globally given its scale. Qatar’s investment into the company that has created America’s fastest-growing egg brand, which is made entirely of plants, is one of the most significant accelerations of the plant-based market to date.

The US was one of the first investors in Qatar and has proven to be a key partner in the country's rapid economic development. US companies are present across the country's economy in all sectors including oil & gas, technology, healthcare, and construction, among others. More and more American companies are entering the Qatari market and US-Qatar trade grows exponentially every year (check out our Statistics page for more information on the trade relationship). The US is Qatar’s largest foreign direct investor with a total of $110.6 billion in FDI, and the US is the largest single source of exports to Qatar at $6.5 billion in 2019. More than 850 US companies now operate in Qatar in a variety of key industries, and there was over $9.4 billion in trade between the two countries in 2019, a growth of over 100% since 2017.


Qatar is currently the US’ 50th largest goods trading partner with $8.2 billion in total (two-way) goods trade during 2019. Goods exports totaled $6.5 billion and goods imports totaled $1.7 billion. The US goods trade surplus with Qatar was $4.8 billion in 2019, a 66.7% increase ($1.9 billion) over 2018. Sales of services in Qatar by majority US-owned affiliates were $626 million in 2017 (latest data available). US foreign direct investment (FDI) in Qatar (stock) was $14.2 billion in 2019, a 0.3% increase from 2018.

ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, Excelerate Energy, and Chevron Phillips Chemical Company are among the leading companies in the energy sector in Qatar. In partnership with QatarGas and Rasgas, ExxonMobil has helped develop the North Field, the world’s biggest gas field, and supplied Qatar with technology to make it the top competitor in the LNG market. In 2003, ConocoPhillips and QatarEnergy (QE), previously Qatar Petroleum (QP), signed a Heads of Agreement to develop Qatargas 3, a large-scale LNG project in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar, which has a 25-year life span and is still ongoing today. In 2018, Excelerate Energy signed an agreement with Nakilat, a global leader in energy transportation, with the world's largest LNG carrier fleet in operation, to establish a joint venture company, acquiring a 55% interest in a floating storage regasification unit (FSRU), the first of its kind to join the Nakilat fleet. This acquisition is significant to the State of Qatar as this was the first FSRU co-owned by a Qatari company, paving the way for Qatari LNG to expand its outreach to developing and emerging markets. Chevron Phillips Chemical Company signed an agreement with QE to pursue the development, construction, and operation of a petrochemicals complex in Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City, anticipated to start in late 2025.

Fluor, McDermott, Honeywell, CDM Smith, Parsons, and Jacobs have been at the forefront of the construction and engineering sector in Qatar.

Fluor, through its joint venture in Qatar, Qatar National Facility Services (QNFS), is providing multi-discipline maintenance services to Qatar Shell at the Pearl gas-to-liquids (GTL) plant in Ras Laffan, Qatar. The facility, jointly developed by QE and Shell, is the largest gas-to-liquids facility in the world, capable of producing 140,000 barrels of GTL products per day and 120,000 barrels of oil per day of natural gas liquids (NGLs) and ethane. From 2002 to 2012, Parsons provided concept, preliminary, and detailed designs for other projects of similar scope and services under the Doha Expressway program. In 2013, Parsons signed a design and construction supervision contract awarded for the Package 9 of the new Doha Expressway.

In 2012, Jacobs, via CH2M Hill Inc., an engineering company that provided consulting, design, construction, and operations services for corporations and governments, won Qatar’s World Cup program management contract and will oversee the construction of sports facilities in Qatar.

In October 2020, QatarEnergy (QE), previously Qatar Petroleum (QP), selected Honeywell as the main instrument and control contractor to support the North Field East (NFE) project, being developed by Qatargas on behalf of QE. Honeywell’s technology will provide the NFE project with streamlined automation and safety systems while reducing schedule risks and delivering CAPEX efficiencies.

While CDM Smith was officially registered in Qatar 2012, it has since completed large projects across the entire spectrum of transportation, and continues to contribute to infrastructure developments in the country. CDM Smith is a Supervision Consultant for the Lusail Expressway project, an essential component of Qatar's spectacular transformation, designed to transfer people and services quickly and easily into and around Doha, benefiting this booming region for years to come.

In January 2021, McDermott International secured a contract with Qatargas. Under the contract, McDermott International will deliver front-end engineering and design (FEED) services for Qatar Energy's North Field South (NFS) project. McDermott will also provide replication of five offshore wellhead platforms, as part of the contract, which will be executed from its office in Doha.

Microsoft and Google have recently started to create a US footprint in Qatar's Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector. In December 2019, Microsoft announced its plans to establish a new cloud datacenter region in Qatar to deliver its intelligent, trusted cloud services and expand the Microsoft global cloud infrastructure to 55 cloud regions in 20 countries. The new region is anticipated to be available starting with Microsoft Azure in 2021, and Office 365, Dynamics 365, and Power Platform to follow. Government entities, organizations, public and private enterprises, and developers will have access to scalable, highly available, and resilient cloud services to accelerate their digital transformation journeys from the new cloud region in Qatar. In March 2020, the Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZA) announced that Google Cloud signed its first strategic collaboration agreement in the Middle East with QFZA to launch a new cloud region in Doha. The region will be available for Google Cloud customers globally. This agreement will contribute to advancing Qatar’s government strategy to promote investment to the country as the Google Cloud region will be a major and invaluable part of Qatar’s expanding offering, serving a wide range of businesses both locally and internationally.

Culture & Lifestyle

Qatar is a country nestled in the Arabian Gulf, boasting its iconic location as a great place for travelers coming from all around the world. Qatar has enjoyable beaches, desert landscapes, culinary experiences, and ancient architecture. Keeping in line with its National Vision 2030, Qatar has been able to provide a quality lifestyle to visitors while preserving its rich heritage. Qatar also offers an abundance of professional opportunities, quality education, and high healthcare standards.

31

Major international Sporting events hosted by Qatar

85.7%

of Qatari population are Expats

Qatar is a nation of diverse beauty and tradition. Keeping in line with its national vision 2030, Qatar has been able to provide a quality lifestyle to visitors while preserving its rich heritage. There is an amalgamation of traditionalism and modernity that makes Qatar stand apart while the country lays immense emphasis on protecting its authenticity. Qatar is growing spectacularly fast, and because of this there are numerous job opportunities for expats. Interestingly, Qataris are considered a 'minority' in their own nation, with only 15% of them accounting for Qatar's total population. The remaining ~85% is made up of expats of over a hundred different nationalities. Although Arabic is the official language of Qatar, English can be spoken anywhere and can be considered as the country’s second language.

Qatar attracts young graduates and professionals wishing to start or enrich their career in the Gulf. Expats reportedly represent 85.7% of the Qatari population. With numerous job opportunities, a strong economy, attractive salaries, a non-existent tax rate, and a great healthcare system, Qatar offers various assets to attract and invite expats from all over the world to settle in to discover its culture and lifestyle. According to Expat Insider Survey 2018, Qatar is quickly becoming increasingly popular with expats – especially expat families. This is mostly due to the rapid increase in the quality of education and healthcare. Qatar has a great healthcare system. Regardless of whether you are a local or an expat, the Hamad Medical Corporation offers free medical treatment to anyone who registers with them. InterNations states that: "The best and most affordable healthcare in the Gulf States can be found in Qatar, where 64% of expats say that the healthcare is affordable, and seven in ten attest to its high quality.” Integrating with the local culture and adapting to the lifestyle are also important aspects of expat living.

As is the case with other Arab nations, local culture is linked to the tenets of Islam. Although non-Muslim foreigners aren’t expected to adhere to Islamic law, they are expected to be aware of it and respect its principles. Qatar is quite modern and offers a range of cultural and entertainment options for the expat community.

Traditional cuisine in Qatar reflects the cultural diversity of the country, with many dishes influenced by Indian, Iranian, and North African cuisines, while also borrowing national delicacies from across the Gulf. Spices are a staple of Qatari cuisine. The most popular spices are cardamom, cumin, cloves, and saffron. The Arabian Gulf provides Qatar with an abundance of seafood, which makes fish a popular ingredient in Qatari cuisine. Camel meat is also an important ingredient in Qatari cuisine, and can be found on the menus of many of the country’s restaurants and hotels. It is usually served as a cut – such as a steak – in a stew or in a rice dish, such as Machboos, which is similar to Indian biryani. Other famous dishes include Balaleet, a fragrant pasta dish made from fine vermicelli noodles, sweetened with sugar and topped with an egg, and Harees, a thick and silky porridge made from soaked split wheat and meat.

In the past decade or more, Qatar has started to assert itself in the world of global sports. Qatar is a great place to be a sports spectator to watch everything from seasonal camel races to professional football matches, tennis and golf tournaments, equestrian events, and motocross races. Tickets to sporting events are free or relatively inexpensive and easy to get from kiosks in most malls and other locations around Doha.

Qatar is also home to many major international sporting events. The largest sporting event hosted in Qatar was the 2006 Asian Games, hosted in Doha. There were 46 disciplines from 39 events contested. Qatar will also be hosting the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup, the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and the Asian Games in 2030; Qatar will be the first Arab nation to host the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup.

In addition to hosting major sporting events, Qatar is also a significant investor in sports through Qatar Sports Investments (QSi, a closed shareholding organization founded in 2005 headquartered in Doha), whose generated revenues are reinvested into Qatar's sport, leisure and entertainment sectors. QSi counts in its portfolio Paris Saint Germain, a key player in the French sports market.

Qatar is a regional leader in news as well as sports coverage. The Qatari government has encouraged the establishment of Media City, with the goal to drive the growth and development of the media industry and to become an international hub for businesses, organisations, and entrepreneurs in the fields of media and technology.

Qatar’s most globally renowned media outlet is the Al Jazeera Network, founded in 1996, and now one of the world’s most high-profile and well-respected broadcasters. The Arabic channel quickly established a reputation as a pioneer addressing controversial topics in the region, and is often considered to be a more independent alternative to the coverage provided by state-owned broadcasters in the MENA. By 2000, Al Jazeera’s programming was seen 24-hours a day in more than 20 countries, and the network was a leading source for Arabic language news. In an effort to expand its presence, Al Jazeera launched an English-language branch in 2006, and in 2013 the channel Al Jazeera America debuted in the United States.

Qatar is also home to beIN Sports, a global network of sports channels, which has played a major role in the increased commercialization of Qatari sports. beIN Sports is the dominant television sports channel in the MENA region. It also operates channels in France, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, Hong Kong, Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, and Thailand.

History

Once a British protectorate without resources nor influence, the State of Qatar, a small desert peninsula that extends northward from the larger Arabian Peninsula, now finds itself at the top of the ranking of the richest countries in the world. Qatar did not make history until the middle of the 19th century when Mohammed Al Thani founded a dynasty in Doha and established an autonomous power there recognized by the British in 1868. After being under the Ottoman influence from 1871 to 1915, then under the English in 1916, the Amir Sheikh Abdallah bin Jassem Al Thani, in exchange for special protection against the threatening power of Ibn Seoul, granted London exclusive oil concessions. Qatar proclaimed its independence on September 1, 1971 when the British left the Arabian Gulf region.

2.7M

People that live in Qatar

10.5%

Population of Qatari Nationality

Little is known of Qatar’s history before the 18th century, when the region’s population consisted largely of Bedouin nomads and there were only a few small fishing villages. Qatar’s modern history begins conventionally in 1766 with the migration to the peninsula of families from Kuwait, notably the Al Khalifah.Their settlement at the new town of Al-Zubarah grew into a small pearl diving and trade center. In 1783 the Al Khalifah’s led the conquest of nearby Bahrain, where they remained the ruling family throughout the 20th century. Following the departure of the Al Khalifah tribe from Qatar, the country was ruled by a series of transitory sheikhs, the most famous of whom was Rahman ibn Jabir al-Jalahimah, who was regarded by the British as a leading pirate of the so-called Pirate Coast.

Qatar came to the attention of the British in 1867 when a dispute between the Bahraini Al Khalifah, who continued to hold some claim to Al-Zubarah, and the Qatari residents escalated into a major confrontation, in the course of which Doha was virtually destroyed. Until the attack, Britain had viewed Qatar as a Bahraini dependency. It then signed a separate treaty with Muhammad ibn Thani in 1868, setting the course both for Qatar’s future independence and for the rule of the Al Thani family, who until the treaty were only one among several important families on the peninsula.

Ottoman forces, which had conquered the nearby Al-Hasa province of Saudi Arabia, occupied Qatar in 1871 at the invitation of the ruler’s son, then left following the Saudi reconquest of Al-Hasa in 1913. In 1916, Britain signed a treaty with Qatar’s leader that resembled earlier agreements with other Gulf states, giving Britain control over foreign policy in return for British protection.

In 1935, Qatar signed a concession agreement with the Iraq Petroleum Company; four years later oil was discovered. Oil was not recovered on a commercial scale, however, until 1949. The revenues from the oil company, later named Petroleum Development (Qatar) Limited and then the Qatar Petroleum Company, now QatarEnergy (QE), rose dramatically. The distribution of these revenues stirred serious infighting in the Al Thani family, prompting the British to intervene in the succession of 1949, and eventually precipitating a palace coup in 1972 that brought Sheikh Khalifah ibn Hamad Al Thani to power.

In 1968 Britain announced plans to withdraw from the Gulf. After negotiations with neighboring sheikhdoms—those comprising the present United Arab Emirates and Bahrain—Qatar declared independence on September 3, 1971. The earlier agreements with Britain were replaced with a treaty of friendship. That same month Qatar became a member of the Arab League and of the United Nations. In 1981 the emirate joined its five Arab gulf neighbors in establishing the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), an alliance formed to promote economic cooperation and enhance both internal security and external defense against the threats generated by the Islamic revolution in Iran and the Iran-Iraq War.

Qatar’s economic prosperity is derived from the extraction and export of petroleum— discovered in 1939 in Dukhan, on the west coast, and first produced in 1949 —and natural gas. Before World War II, Qatar’s population engaged in pearling, fishing, and some trade (with little exception, those were the only occupations available) and was one of the poorest nations in the world. The importance of oil as a resource in Qatar only grew after the crisis of the pearling industry, which was partially brought about by the introduction of cultured pearls by the Japanese into the market. The fall in value of luxury goods after the Wall Street Crash of 1929 also played its role in realigning the Qatari economy towards oil.

Offshore exploration, drilling, and extracting as well as the building of infrastructure only restarted in 1947. Between December 1947 and April 1948 a new geological survey was carried out in order to set up a new camp. Finally, in December 1949, oil exports began— an event that was to determine the beginning of a new era for Qatar. In 1960, Qatar’s first offshore field was discovered. Today, this country, smaller than the state of Connecticut, possesses the world’s third largest gas reserves, and about 25 billion barrels of oil.

By the 1970s, native Qataris enjoyed one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, despite subsequent declines in income due to fluctuations in world oil prices. Qatar’s original oil concession was granted to the Iraq Petroleum Company (IPC), a consortium of European and American firms. This and later concessions were nationalized in the 1970s. While state-owned Qatar Petroleum (formerly Qatar General Petroleum Corporation and now QatarEnergy) oversees oil and gas operations, private corporations, like present day ExxonMobil, continue to play an important role as service companies.

The United States established diplomatic relations with Qatar in 1972 following its independence from the United Kingdom in 1971. Bilateral relations are strong, with the United States and Qatar coordinating closely on a wide range of regional and global issues. Qatar has played a constructive financial, political, and military role in addressing regional turmoil, and in partnership with the United States, has contributed to progress, stability, and prosperity in the region”.

Indeed, Qatar and the United States coordinate closely on Middle Eastern regional diplomatic initiatives to increase security in the Persian Gulf. Beginning in 1992, Qatar has built intimate military ties with the United States notably via hosting the Al-Udeid Air Force Base and CENTCOM Forward Headquarters, and Qatar’s support of North Atlantic Treaty Organization and US military operations in the region. Additionally, Qatar and the US have partnered to be at the forefront of international counterterrorism coalitions and will continue to strengthen coordination and enhance cooperation in a way that mirrors all the common values between the two nations, derived from international law and security standards.

ExxonMobil has enjoyed an association with the State of Qatar since 1935, when it was known as Socony-Vacuum, and later Mobil. It helped to develop the North Field, the world’s biggest gas field, and supplied Qatar with technology to make it the top competitor in the LNG market. ExxonMobil is also the only foreign participant in two domestic gas projects, Al-Khaleej Gas and Barzan Gas. ExxonMobil Research Qatar (EMRQ) opened at Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) in 2009 to conduct research in areas of shared interest to the State of Qatar and ExxonMobil. Scientists and researchers at EMRQ continue to advance projects in environmental management, water reuse, LNG safety, and coastal geology. ExxonMobil is also contributing to the Qatar National Vision 2030 by driving human development, contributing to its thriving society, and supporting responsible and sustainable development.

The two countries also have extensive economic links, especially in the hydrocarbons sector. Qatar has invested more than $200 billion in the US economy, and the United States has been an integral investor in Qatar and Qatar's development. Qatar has developed international educational institutions in the region to cater to the Middle Eastern market. While hundreds of Qatari students study in the United States, six US universities have branch campuses in Qatar's Education City complex. They are: Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUQ), Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q), Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ), Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q), Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar (SFS-Qatar),and Northwestern University.

The Qatar National Vision 2030, the document in which the government formally revealed its determination to diversify the nation’s economy, was officially launched in October 2008. Recognising that a reliance on its abundant natural resources for national income left the country vulnerable to the dynamic fluctuations of world energy prices, the “development of a competitive and diversified economy capable of meeting the needs of, and securing a high standard of living” for all its people was a central pillar of the nation’s long-term strategic plan. The means by which this outcome was to be brought about were similar to those deployed by other major hydrocarbons-producing nations in the region. Revenue from oil and gas assets was to be converted into improved infrastructure, efficient public services, the creation of a skilled and productive labor force, and the support of entrepreneurship and innovation capabilities. In turn, these achievements would provide a broader platform for the diversification of the country’s economy as well as its emergence as a regional center for both knowledge and high-value industrial and service activities.

While QNV 2030 was more a statement of intent than a roadmap to economic diversification, the real blueprint of Qatar’s ambition to broaden its economy came a little later, with the publication of the Economic Diversification and Private Sector Development (EDPSD) strategy. The EDPSD established for the first time a set of criteria by which government planners could select viable sectors for development, cognizant of the limited size of the domestic economy and workforce. The priority sectors established by this process were manufacturing, financial services, professional and scientific activities, and ICT. The tourism and logistics sectors were also earmarked for development, as they were viewed as necessary catalysts for the priority sectors.