Recent discussions highlighted Qatar’s aspirations to establish itself as a global investment destination, particularly within the real estate sector. The panel discussion, titled “The National Economy: Development & Investment Opportunities,” featured executives from the Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (Invest Qatar), Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ), and Qatar Financial Centre (QFC). These leaders emphasized Qatar’s commitment to economic diversification and its ambitious future plans.
Sheikh Ali Alwaleed al-Thani, CEO of Invest Qatar, outlined the country’s three-phase growth strategy. After developing the hydrocarbon sector and infrastructure in preparation for the 2022 World Cup, Qatar is now concentrating on its third national development strategy. This strategy focuses on the financial services, manufacturing, logistics, and ICT sectors, with a strong emphasis on developing human capital.
“What is crucial to this strategy is the growth of human capital. Traditionally, Qatar’s growth was driven by hydrocarbons, but we need to invest in our human resources. This investment is evident in education, healthcare, and fostering an environment that attracts and retains talent,” Sheikh Ali stressed. He further noted that the government aims to position human capital innovation as a key driver of future growth.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamid al-Thani, CEO of QFZ, emphasized Qatar’s distinctive “one integrated family approach” to attracting investments. He cited successful public-private partnerships that facilitate knowledge transfer and support sustainability objectives. “In line with the Qatar National Development Strategy, we aim to diversify the economy through key sectors like manufacturing, logistics, and IT. We are also focused on enabling knowledge transfer through these partnerships,” he said.
Yousuf Mohamed al-Jaida, CEO of QFC, elaborated on the center’s role in providing a robust legal and regulatory framework for investors. He explained how QFC offers various structures, including special purpose vehicles, holding companies, and trust arrangements to help investors manage risks associated with real estate investments. Al-Jaida also mentioned plans for innovation in the sector, such as the potential tokenization of real estate assets to enhance accessibility and liquidity.
Qatar has set ambitious targets, including 4% growth in the non-hydrocarbon sector and attracting $100 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) over the next seven years. “We are all working towards these targets. The clusters outlined in the National Development Strategy—manufacturing, logistics, and tourism—will indirectly impact the real estate sector, as the development of these clusters attracts investment and talent, which in turn affects real estate,” al-Jaida explained.
