Analysis Construction Construction is ‘cheaper in Dubai than Riyadh or Doha’ Dubai is only the third most expensive construction market in the Middle East after Riyadh and Doha, research has found. A real estate boom led by the leisure, hospitality and sports sectors, combined with a “distinct shortage of skilled labour”, have driven up construction costs in the Saudi capital to an average of $2,593 per […] June 21, 2024
Analysis Retail Premium Qatar malls thrive despite online competition Large high-end malls in Qatar are winning the favour of consumers who still choose to shop in person amid intensifying competition from the internet. However, other shopping venues are suffering from reduced footfall and growing vacancy rates. The flagship Doha Festival City announced last month that it is fully leased after clinching its 500th retail […] June 19, 2024
Infrastructure Qatar company buys Kazakh mobile network for $1bn Qatar Power International Holding has bought Kazakhstan’s largest mobile phone network. The Qatari company, a private conglomerate based in Lusail, has bought Kazakhtelecom subsidiary Mobile Telecom-Service LLP, Reuters reported, citing a statement from the Kazakh government on Tuesday. NewsletterGet the Best of AGBI delivered straight to your inbox every week NewsletterGet the Best of AGBI […] June 19, 2024
Aviation Qatar Airways to buy 49% of Rwanda’s flag carrier Qatar Airways is expected to buy a 49 percent stake in Rwanda’s flag carrier RwandAir as early as July as part of the Gulf airline’s strategy to expand in Africa, according to a media report. Qatar Airways’ purchase will boost Rwanda’s aviation sector and allow RwandAir to expand its operations and fleet, Financial Times reported, quoting […] June 17, 2024
Banking and Finance Qatar’s mortgage market buoyed by law reforms Qatar’s mortgage market has been given a lift by a package of regulatory reforms, industry experts told AGBI after transactions rose sharply despite high interest rates. In the first quarter of 2024, the value of Qatari mortgage transactions was nearly 90 percent higher than in the previous three months, according to ValuStrat research. It was […] June 13, 2024
Business of Sport Qatar a step closer to hosting rugby Nations Championship Qatar has been given a two-month period of exclusivity to negotiate a deal to bring rugby’s Nations Championship to the Gulf state, according to reports. Last month Doha’s sport-focused Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy proposed an £800 million ($1 billion) eight-year deal to stage a six-match finals series, involving all 12 tier-one nations, starting […] June 6, 2024
Education Qatar’s rising population increases demand for schools Qatar’s growing population is fuelling demand for new schools as investors seek to capitalise on double-digit returns. The Gulf state’s population grew from about 1.45 million in 2008 to roughly 2.9 million last year and is forecast to reach 3.2 million by the end of the decade. That translates into a need for an additional […] June 6, 2024
Finance Qatari wealth fund targets expansion in Japan Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the country’s sovereign wealth fund, is exploring new opportunities in Japan, according to a media report. “It’s a key market for us,” Abdulla Ali Al-Kuwari told Nikkei, a financial daily in Japan. The fund’s investments in Japan have “more than doubled” after it opened an office in Singapore in 2021, he […] June 6, 2024
Oil & Gas QatarEnergy signs naphtha deal with Japanese refiner QatarEnergy will supply six million tonnes of naphtha to Japan over the next 10 years starting in July. The state-backed gas producer has signed a supply deal with Idemitsu Kosan Company, a Japanese refining and petrochemicals company. Naphtha is a flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixture commonly used as a solvent. It can also be used in […] June 5, 2024
Finance UAE and Qatar in deal to avoid double taxation The UAE and Qatar have signed an agreement to prevent double taxation and curb fiscal evasion of income taxes. The agreement will enhance financial, economic, and investment partnerships between the two nations, UAE minister of state for financial affairs Mohamed Al Hussaini said. The move will bolster coordination and cooperation in tax matters, open up […] May 31, 2024
Trade Qatar explores gas, port and Gaza aid deals with Cyprus Qatar is looking at investing in ports, banking and energy in Cyprus, including expanding its ExxonMobil partnership in oil and gas exploration, the Associated Press news agency reported. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the emir of Qatar, visited the Mediterranean country this week and held talks on investment issues with Cypriot president Nikos Christodoulides. […] May 30, 2024
Aviation South African Airways denies talks with Qatar Airways South African Airways has denied it is talking to Qatar Airways about an equity injection, as observers suggest RwandAir is the Qatari carrier’s most likely target. Qatar Airways’ CEO Badr Mohammed Al Meer set rumours racing earlier this month when he revealed that the state-owned airline was “at the final stage of an equity investment” […] May 29, 2024
Oil & Gas QatarEnergy to help develop offshore oil project in Brazil A consortium including the state-backed QatarEnergy has taken the final investment decision to develop the second phase of the Sépia oil and gas field, 200km off the coast of Brazil. The other partners alongside QatarEnergy are TotalEnergies of France, Petronas of Malaysia, the Netherland’s Petrogal Brazil, and Brazil’s Petrobras, the field operator. A contract was signed […] May 28, 2024
Industry Qatar signs 15-year urea supply pact with US company Qatar, the world’s second-largest exporter of urea, has signed a long-term urea supply agreement with US-based Koch Fertilizer. The 15-year agreement, starting in July, will lead to the supply of up to 0.74 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of urea, state-backed QatarEnergy said in a statement. Locally manufactured urea will be supplied to the agricultural […] May 27, 2024
Oil & Gas Builder of Qatar-Exxon LNG facility files for bankruptcy Zachry Holdings, the lead contractor on the QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil Golden Pass LNG project in Texas, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Zachry Holding’s share of the $10 billion Golden Pass project is valued at $5.8 billion. The company said it is pursuing a “structured exit”. “Because we have been unable to find a […] May 23, 2024
Banking and Finance Qatari Islamic bank buys Kazakhstan’s Bereke Bank Lesha Bank, a sharia-compliant bank in Qatar, has acquired Bereke Bank from Kazakhstan government-backed Baiterek Holding for QAR532 million ($146 million). The Qatar Stock Exchange-listed company said in a statement that the transaction is, however, subject to regulatory approvals. Last month the bank reported an all-time high quarterly net profit of QAR28.8 million in the first quarter of […] May 21, 2024
Opinion Oil & Gas The fascinating complexity of China’s Middle East energy ties Saudi Aramco is seeking to anchor its position in the Chinese market, and particularly in petrochemicals May 20, 2024
Economy Qatar to use $549m budget surplus to reduce debt Qatar recorded a budget surplus of QAR2 billion ($549 million) in the first quarter of 2024, its finance ministry has announced. The ministry said the surplus would be used to reduce public debt, according to the state-run Qatar News Agency. Total revenue was QAR53.4 billion ($14.7 billion) in Q1, down 22 percent year on year. […] May 20, 2024
Giga-projects Affluent tourists around the globe on Saudi Arabia’s radar Saudi Arabia will invest more than $800 billion in its main giga-projects by the next decade as part of a tourism expansion strategy focused on affluent tourists in China, India and Europe. The kingdom’s tourism minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb, speaking at the Qatar Investment Forum, said: “We’re building and investing in major destinations like Neom, Red […] May 16, 2024
Aviation Qatar Airways urges Boeing and Airbus to address delays The head of state-run Qatar Airways has urged Airbus and Boeing to address supply chain issues to prevent airlines from “bleeding”. “I know they are under so much pressure when it comes to the supply chain market,” Reuters reported, quoting Badr Mohammed Al Meer speech at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha. Airbus and Boeing need to […] May 16, 2024
