International investor confidence in Qatar and other GCC countries remain strong with a large majority expecting continued economic growth despite the regional conflict, according to a new survey.
The poll, conducted by Consulum, a Mena (Middle East and North Africa)-rooted strategy and communications firm, in partnership with HarrisX, a leading global public opinion firm, surveyed 2,043 investors across the US, UK, Germany, France and China.
According to the survey, about 70% of investors across the key markets view Qatar favourably as a place for investment or to do business.
It also shows that nearly 83% of global travellers still plan on travelling to Qatar next year.
"The data is clear: investors are backing Qatar,” Consulum Intelligence head Ranulph Murray said. “Nearly seven in ten investors across key global capitals rate Qatar favourably as a place to invest and do business, and that confidence is holding steady even against the recent tensions.”
The survey recognises Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries as established players in the world economy.
The results point to a global investment community that is not retreating from the Gulf – it is watching closely, remaining committed, and expecting the region to emerge from the current period stronger.
About eight in 10 global investors (82%) express confidence in the Gulf region's economic outlook.
Confidence is highest in China (91%), the US (84%) and the UK (84%), with Germany (80%) and France (71%) also recording strong majorities.
Beyond sentiment, 69% of investors rate the region as a great or good place to invest or do business right now.
One of the largest surveys of its kind in the region, another survey by Consulum/HarrisX, showed that public confidence across the Gulf remains strong, with trust in government running consistently high and broad support for national development programmes.
Some 89% of the respondents believe that Qatar is on the “right track”, while 91% said the economy was moving in the right direction.
According to the survey, trust in government institutions is also high, with 88% saying that they trust authorities to manage regional conflicts and 91% expressing confidence in the government’s ability to protect Qatar from the consequences of instability.
Across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain, public confidence in national economies run above 90% in each market, suggesting that the optimism of global investors is matched by the populations living and working in the region.
Public backing for national development programmes remained firm across the markets surveyed, with the vast majority saying programmes should continue or be adapted rather than paused.
“The international investment community sees the Gulf’s economic story as one of sustained momentum,” said Consulum chief executive James Davies. “Investors are not reacting to a geopolitical moment – they are making a long-term verdict on the strength and resilience of what the GCC has built.”
