Economy Qatar offers $1bn of incentives to boost business investment Qatar is offering $1 billion of incentives to encourage local and international business investment in the gas-rich Gulf state. Under the programme, Qatar will cover up to 40 percent of local expenses for five years, according to a statement on Wednesday. Business setup costs, construction, office leases, equipment and employee-related expenses can be claimed, Invest […] May 21, 2025
Opinion Trade In the Gulf, the US outpaces China where it counts Gulf states know there is more to gain from denser cooperation with US defence and tech companies May 21, 2025
Petrochemicals QatarEnergy prepares for chemicals growth QatarEnergy plans to more than double its capacity for plastics raw materials globally as it anticipates growth in the chemical industry, CEO Saad Al-Kaabi said on Wednesday. The state-owned company expects its US ethane cracker project to start production in the first quarter of 2027, Al-Kaabi told the World Gas Conference. The project, a joint […] May 21, 2025
Oil & Gas Qatar’s gas project expansion to begin output in mid-2026 Qatar’s North Field East natural gas expansion project will begin production in mid-2026, QatarEnergy CEO Saad Al-Kaabi said in a statement on Tuesday. Al Kaabi told Reuters in 2023 that production at the North Field expansion will begin in 2026 with new trains coming online “every few months”. State-owned QatarEnergy has signed a string of supply deals with European and Asian partners in its massive North Field expansion project, […] May 21, 2025
Trade Qatar to double US investments Qatar’s $526 billion sovereign wealth fund intends to more than double the value of its investments in the US, CEO Mohammed Al-Sowaidi said this week. At a conference in the Qatari capital, Doha, Al Sowaidi said the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) will be “probably buying more than double what we’ve been doing for the past […] May 21, 2025
Trade Japan is Qatar’s top international investor Japan was the top international investor in Qatar last year, contributing half of its foreign direct investment, official data published this week shows. Tokyo contributed almost $1.4 billion of Qatar’s total FDI in 2024, according to Invest Qatar’s 2024 report. Japan is the world’s second largest importer of liquefied natural gas and Qatar’s second biggest […] May 21, 2025
Aviation Qatar Airways announces record profit but risks remain State-owned Qatar Airways announced record profits in the year to March 31 after carrying more passengers and using its seat capacity more efficiently. Net income jumped almost 30 percent to QAR7.9 billion ($2.2 billion) in the 2024-25 fiscal year, an increase of more than QAR1.7billion on the year before. Passenger numbers rose almost 8 percent […] May 19, 2025
EXCLUSIVE Finance Qatari state faces UK legal action over $6bn debt Swifthold Foundation, a Panama-registered Anglo-Spanish family office, is mounting legal action against the state of Qatar over a $6 billion debt owed by a member of its royal family, the latest stage in a dispute that dates back more than a decade. Swifthold, whose individual founders or beneficiaries are not publicly known due to the […] May 19, 2025
Analysis Finance Qatar’s $526bn wealth fund bets big on technology Qatar Airways captured the headlines this week with its near $100 billion order for Boeing aircraft during US President Donald Trump’s Gulf visit. But behind the scenes the country’s $526 billion sovereign Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) is making investments that could prove to be of greater strategic importance to the country, with an increasing focus […] May 19, 2025
Finance Saudi Arabia and Qatar clear Syria’s World Bank debt Saudi Arabia and Qatar have between them repaid the $15.5 million outstanding debt of Syria to the World Bank, the Washington-based multilateral has confirmed. “As of May 12, 2025 there are no remaining outstanding balances on International Development Association (IDA) credits to Syria,” the Bank said in a statement. The country will now be eligible […] May 19, 2025
Opinion Trade Trump’s Gulf visit was grand – but the real test starts now Pledges and deals may change when reality hits May 18, 2025
Tech US and UAE agree tech plan as Trump lands in Abu Dhabi US and Emirati officials agreed a framework to enhance exchanges in advanced technology as Donald Trump arrived in Abu Dhabi on Thursday evening on the third and final leg of his tour of the Gulf. The deal includes commitments from both sides to ensure the shared technology is handled securely, Reuters reported, citing an unnamed […] May 15, 2025
Oil & Gas Qatari minister says oil price could put companies out of business Many oil producing companies could be forced out of the market if crude prices remain below $70 a barrel for a long time, according to Qatar’s energy minister. Saad Al-Kaabi told CNBC, the US cable TV news network, that oil prices of $70 to $85 per barrel are reasonable for producing countries to get enough […] May 15, 2025
Oil & Gas Qatar risks losing out to US in Japan LNG sales Liquefied natural gas customers in Japan may be turning away from Qatar for their additional needs in favour of the US. American suppliers offer more flexible contractual terms and are adding production capacity, a Japanese government energy official said. “Qatar is very strict,” said Yarita Masataka, director of the LNG and methane management division at […] May 15, 2025
Oil & Gas Qatar’s investment in US tops $30bn, says minister Qatar has invested more than $30 billion in various projects in the US, the country’s energy minister has said. Saad Al-Kaabi said that the Doha government’s investment is mostly in the Golden Pass LNG project in Texas, which is 70 percent owned by QatarEnergy and 30 percent by ExxonMobil, CNBC Arabia reported. US President Donald Trump […] May 15, 2025
Trade Qatar takes centre stage on Trump’s Middle East mission Major deal announcements kept rolling in on Wednesday as Donald Trump travelled from Riyadh to Doha on the second day of his visit to the Gulf. Qatar Airways agreed to purchase up to 210 Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777X jets for $96 billion in what the White House described as Boeing’s “largest ever wide-body order”. […] May 15, 2025
Opinion Trade Trump in his happy place: Purple carpets and big deals in Saudi Arabia The challenge now is to maintain the momentum and atmosphere of the trip May 14, 2025
Infrastructure Qatar to spend $22bn on water infrastructure works Qatar is to spend billions of dollars as part of its five-year strategy to develop drainage, sewage and flood prevention infrastructure. The government-backed Public Works Authority (Ashghal) will invest more than QAR81 billion ($22.3 billion) to implement various infrastructure projects, the state-run Qatar News Agency reported. These projects include the development of citizens’ lands, government […] May 14, 2025
Aviation Trump dismisses concerns over Qatari plane gift US president Donald Trump has dismissed ethical concerns about his decision to accept a Boeing 747-8 jet as a gift from the Qatari royal family. Trump said it would be “stupid” to turn down the generous offer. The $400 million luxury plane, which would be outfitted to serve as Air Force One, would be one of […] May 13, 2025
Infrastructure Qatar to build $4bn power and water facility Qatar is to build a new power and water facility to meet the needs of a growing population and economic expansion. Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) has signed an agreement with the Luluah Sky Energy Holding consortium to build the 2,400 megawatt (MW) and 110 million gallons per day (MGD) Ras Abu Fontas […] May 13, 2025
