About Qatar

Qatar’s Initiatives

  • Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP) will provide world class research facilities to companies like Microsoft, Rolls Royce, EADS, Shell and GE. QSTP will also raise over $100 million in a venture capital fund.
  • Qatar has committed $8 billion for research in healthcare initiatives, the largest cash endowment of its kind anywhere in the world.
  • Qatar has created a world class sports academy, Aspire, which houses the world’s largest indoor sports dome, as part of its programme to develop the next generation of sports leaders.
  • Qatar Airways is one of the fastest growing airlines in the world. It aims to treble its fleet to 120 aircraft by 2015 and also develop a global cargo service. It has placed over $15 billion in aircraft orders.
  • Qatar is hosting 2022 World Cup.

Essential Facts on Qatar

Qatar 2030 vision foresees development through four interconnected pillars:

  • Human Development: development of all its people to enable them to sustain a prosperous society.
  • Social Development: development of a just and caring society based on high moral standards, and capable of playing a significant role in global partnerships for development.
  • Economic Development: development of a competitive and diversified economy capable of meeting the needs of, and securing a high standard of living for, all its people both for the present and for the future.
  • Environmental Development: management of the environment such that there is harmony between economic growth, social development and environmental protection.

Qatar’s Economy

  • Qatar’s real GDP has grown at an average of 15% since 2000. It is one of the world’s fastest growing economies.
  • Qatar’s GDP – presently at US$80 billion – is expected to continue to grow at a rate of around 10% per annum, with strong foreign currency reserves and increasing foreign direct investment.
  • Qatar’s economy has doubled in the past 4 years and will double again in the next 4 years.
  • Qatar’s budget is expected to record a surplus of around 10.5% in the current fiscal year 2010-2011.
  • Qatar’s risk rating is the highest in the region, with Standard and Poor rating it AA- and Moody’s Aa2.
  • Qatar is ranked number 2 in the WEF Arab World Competitiveness Report.
  • Qatar is ranked number 7 globally in the United Nations FDI Potential report.
  • Qatar is ranked number 19 in the Global Competitiveness Report.

Qatar’s Development

  • In the next 5 years, Qatar has committed to spend some $145 billion in the energy, tourism, infrastructure, airlines, utilities and other sectors.
  • Qatar is investing the equivalent of $500,000 per citizen in its economic and social infrastructure.
  • Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, Texas A&M, Virginia Commonwealth and Georgetown have campuses in Qatar, offering US standard degrees.
  • The GCC has adopted Qatar’s school curriculum. 98.6% of Qatar’s youth are literate.

Basic Facts

Qatar has a population of 1.45 mn, an area of approximately 11,500 sq km and a GDP per capita of some $80,000. The Emir, HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, is the head of state. A new constitution overwhelmingly approved in a nationwide referendum came into effect in June 2005. It provides for Qatar’s first legislative elections and an independent judiciary, and the election of two thirds of a 45 member parliament. Qatar is a member of the six member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and was a permanent member of the UN since 1971.

The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) is a financial and business centre established by the Government of Qatar and located in Doha. It has been designed to attract international financial services institutions and major multi-national corporations and to encourage participation in the growing market for financial services in Qatar and elsewhere in the region. The QFC operates to international standards and provides a first class legal and business infrastructure for those licensed to operate by the Centre. The QFC was created by Qatar Law No 7 and has been open for business since 1 May 2005.
General contact: Tel: +974 44967777, Fax: +974 44967676, Email: info@qfc.com.qa

Qatar’s Energy Sector

  • Qatar has the 3rd largest proven natural gas reserves in the world.
  • Official estimates of its gas reserves are 900 trillion cubic feet.
  • In 2010 Qatar celebrated achieving 77 million tonnes per annum (Mta) of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Qatar became world’s leading producer of LNG with the largest production capacity.
  • In 2010 Qatar became one of the largest suppliers of natural gas to India, Japan, US, Italy, UK, Brazil, Chile and Argentina.
  • Qatar RasGas is leading the world in both Environment & Safety.
  • The US$2.6 billion Energy City Qatar will be the Middle East’s first integrated energy business centre, which will feature the Middle East’s first dedicated energy trading platform, the International Mercantile Exchange (IMEX), regulated by the QFC Regulatory Authority.
  • Nakilat (‘carrier’ in Arabic) has built one of the largest LNG fleets in the world. It currently owns 16 per cent of global LNG shipping tonnage. Its LNG fleet includes 9 conventional vessels, 31 Q-Flex carriers and 14 Q-Max ships.
  • By 2010, Qatar will produce 6 MBPD oil equivalents in oil, LNG and GTL.