In this page: FDI in Figures | What to consider if you invest in Qatar | Procedures Relative to Foreign Investment | Investment Opportunities
Foreign direct investment flows into Qatar have generally followed an upward trend in recent decades, thanks to the country's political stability, a stable currency pegged to the U.S. dollar, high-quality infrastructure and one of the lowest corporate tax rates in the world (10%). However, following the diplomatic crisis with countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait, the Qatari economy experienced a negative impact. This was compounded by the global economic crisis triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic. According to UNCTAD's World Investment Report 2024, FDI inflows were negative by USD 474 million in 2023. At the end of the same period, the stock of FDI was estimated at USD 27.13 billion, around 11.6% of the country’s GDP. However, Qatar is also a key international investor, thanks to its large foreign exchange reserves (the stock of outward FDI stood at USD 49.86 billion as of 2023). According to figures from the U.S. Department of State, 30% of the total inward FDI stock comes from the European Union, ahead of the U.S. (24%) and Asia (7%), while the main sectors attracting foreign investment are oil and gas, construction, public works and financial services.
Qatar aims to become a leading country in terms of its business and foreign investment environment and has set a cumulative target of attracting USD 100 billion in FDI by 2030. In 2018, the government approved a law that allows non-Qatari investors to own 100% capital in all sectors, while many Qatar Stock Exchange-listed companies have increased their foreign ownership limit to 49%. Law 1/2019 imposes a restriction on foreign ownership, capping it at 49% in the banking, insurance, and commercial agency sectors, unless specifically permitted by the Cabinet. Certain sectors, such as telecommunications, are monopolized by local state-owned enterprises, preventing both domestic and foreign competition. One element that limits the expansion of FDI flows into Qatar concerns its policies governing the private sector, especially due to the long amount of time it took to establish a privatisation programme. Other elements that hinder FDI are the country's relatively small domestic market, a lack of a skilled workforce and high cost of living, and the current diplomatic and commercial relations with other Arab countries. The public-private partnership programme launched recently is expected to improve the situation. According to UNCTAD, Qatar has signed 68 bilateral investment treaties (BITs), 32 of which are currently in force. Moreover, as a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Qatar has entered into 12 treaties with investment provisions (TIPs). Qatar plans to introduce three new laws—bankruptcy, public-private partnership, and commercial registration—as part of a legislative overhaul to attract foreign investors, according to the commerce and economy minister. The country ranks 49th among the 132 economies on the Global Innovation Index 2024 and 27th out of 184 countries on the latest Index of Economic Freedom.
Foreign Direct Investment | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|
FDI Inward Flow (million USD) | -2,434 | -1,093 | 76 |
FDI Stock (million USD) | 28,627 | 27,534 | 27,610 |
Number of Greenfield Investments* | 35 | 98 | 162 |
Value of Greenfield Investments (million USD) | 897 | 1,188 | 29,974 |
Source: UNCTAD - Latest available data.
Note: * Greenfield Investments are a form of Foreign Direct Investment where a parent company starts a new venture in a foreign country by constructing new operational facilities from the ground up.
Qatar is an attractive country for FDI, with significant opportunities for investment in infrastructure, healthcare, education, tourism, and financial services.
The reasons to invest in the country include the following:
Qatar’s investing landscape weak points are:
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Latest Update: May 2025