German companies in Qatar remain confident about local prospects, while navigating external pressures from international markets, according to the latest AHK World Business Outlook survey.
The survey shows that optimism is spread across different company sizes. Firms with fewer than 100 employees, mid-sized enterprises, and large corporations all participated, reflecting a broad base of perspectives, the report also showed.
According to the survey, sectoral representation is led by service providers, who comprise “69%” of participating companies. Manufacturing and construction firms account for “28%”, while trading companies make up the remainder. This mix underscores the varied footprint of German business activity in Qatar, the report pointed out.
The survey also reported that international policy development remains a factor. It stated that “64%” of surveyed companies report active business in the US. The companies cited “tariffs, export controls, and competitive pressures” as key challenges.
Local sentiment in Qatar remains steady, according to the survey. It stated that companies continue to view the market as stable, with investment and employment plans largely intact.
“In terms of future investments, the percentage of companies projecting higher investments has been stable at 38%, and about every third of the participants expect the investment to remain the same. The number of companies that plan lower or no investments slightly increased to 31%.
“In the coming year, the prospects for local employment still appear positive, with about 60% of companies anticipating stability in their workforce number. While only 14% of businesses expect a decline in the team strength (down by 2%), the intention to increase the headcount declined from 42% to 27%,” the survey showed.
The survey also noted that confidence is evident amongst the respondents. It stated that in Fall 2025, “62%” of the firms assessed their current business situation as “good,” up from “58%” in Spring 2025. Looking ahead, the survey reported that “59%” expect conditions to improve further over the next 12 months, “38%” anticipate that conditions will remain about the same, and only “3%” anticipate otherwise.
“In terms of future investments, the percentage of companies projecting higher investments has been stable at 38%, and about every third participant expects the investment to remain the same. The number of companies that plan lower or no investments slightly increased to 31%,” the survey showed.
The employment prospects mirror this cautious optimism, the survey pointed out. “Fifty-nine percent” of companies expect workforce stability, and “27%” plan to increase headcount, while “14%” of businesses “expect a decline in the team strength.”
The survey also showed the “biggest risks” that companies perceive to impact their economic development in the next 12 months. Half of the surveyed firms identify demand as a central concern, while trade barriers and preferential treatment for local companies are cited by “36%” of the respondents. Financing conditions (“32%”), economic policy (“32%”), and supply chain disruptions (“32%”) are also named among the leading considerations.
“While uncertainty surrounding US trade policy remains a factor influencing the outlook of local businesses, its expected impact has eased over the past six months. Only 38% of the companies anticipate negative impacts on their business, whether major or minor, coming from 58% in spring. Now, 62% foresee no consequences,” stated the survey.
The survey, conducted between September 29 and October 17, 2025, reflects responses from over 3,500 German companies worldwide. The findings suggest that while global conditions require careful navigation, Qatar offers a resilient environment for German firms.
The AHK reported that “German companies in Qatar are reporting a notably optimistic outlook, with 62% viewing current conditions as positive.”
