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Demand remains "high" for "good quality" issuers like Qatar, which is one of the three Gulf countries that will continue to have comfortable fiscal position amid weakening oil prices due to the US tariff uncertainties, according to a top official of Standard Chartered Bank.In a media roundtable on Tuesday, Standard Chartered Bank Middle East and North Africa (Mena) economist Carla Slim said the Middle East region is in a very “unique” position to withstand and weather the storm despite expected "stagflation" in the US and disinflation in Asia."There's very high demand for good quality paper and highly rated economies and issuers like Qatar where investors want to see more issuers in these spaces because they have a lot of liquidity that they want to deploy in high quality markets," she said, adding Doha also wants to diversify its access to liquidity.Highlighting that Qatar's North Field project will significantly increase the gas contribution to the economy; she said that is going to lead to a rebalancing of a lot of macro-implicators in Qatar, all the way from the GDP (gross domestic product) composition to public debt to GDP.Qatar may have seen an economic slowdown post 2022 FIFA, but did not see any retardation year-on-year, which meant that the non-oil economies continue to grow, albeit at a slower pace, given the slower investment growth after the World Cup, she said.A global research report from Standard Chartered last year had forecasted Qatar’s economy to double in size by 2031, aided by its ability to restore government revenues to pre-2014 oil price shock levels.With North Field gas expansion, which was partly helped by the European Union officially endorsing gas as a transition fuel, Slim said there were long term contracts that Qatar has already signed for the expanded capacity, due to come online at the end of the year.Nevertheless, other regional players in hydrocarbons have actually reduced their expansion plans, partly because the Opec agreement has meant that these economies and these countries have been under producing.Highlighting that the Middle East will have "very little" direct impact from the US tariff crisis; she however said oil prices have taken a hit and that's going to have an impact.With oil prices rounding up at $65 for Brent, however she said there are only three GCC economies that continue to have a comfortable fiscal or budget position."These are Qatar, the UAE and Oman. At $65 Qatar, UAE and Oman still have a budget either that is balanced or that has a small surplus so benefits still from a surplus of liquidity from the budget perspective," she said.Finding that the indirect effects – from oil prices to forex risks – are far more consequential; Slim said yet, this environment presents an opportunity for trade rerouting and deeper South–South integration, which could ultimately benefit the GCC’s position as a global trade corridor.Expecting the region to import some stagflation from the US and disinflation from Asia; she however said "we believe that the Middle East is in a very unique position to withstand and weather this storm."Finding that the region would have very little direct hit as a result of the tariff crisis, she said the US already has a trade surplus with many of the Middle Eastern economies, implying that Washington's exports to these regions more than these regions export to the US and this is why many of the countries in the region only got initially the 10% universal rate rather than a higher tariff rate.

Techno Q has set strategic goals for 2025 which include foraying into new verticals, strengthening IT business, enhancing digitisation and automation and growing footprint in Saudi Arabia and Oman as part of efforts to enhance its market share.“2025 presents significant opportunities for Techno Q to expand, innovate, and strengthen its market leadership. By focusing on strategic regional expansion, advanced technology,” said the company’s board report, placed before shareholders at the annual general assembly meeting, which approved 2024 results and 14.2% cash dividend. On expansion into new market segments, it said the strategy is to diversify beyond core business areas (AV, ELV, and hospitality Solutions) by entering smart infrastructure, cybersecurity, and AI-driven automation as well as target growing industries such as healthcare, education, and smart cities that require advanced system integration services.“We are focused on scaling our core capabilities while entering high-impact domains such as managed IT services and digital security. Our market positioning, strong financial health, and innovation-driven mindset will drive Techno Q’s next growth chapter across Qatar, Oman, and Saudi Arabia,” said Zeyad al-Jaidah, managing director and co-founder of Techno Q.Finding strong growth potential in smart cities and digital infrastructure investments; Techno Q said the governments across the Middle East, particularly in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, are investing heavily in smart city technologies.Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and Qatar’s National Vision 2030 are driving demand for intelligent security, smart buildings, and digital transformation projects, it said, adding opportunities exist in providing AI-powered surveillance, IoT-based automation, and integrated command centre solutions. About strengthening market presence in the region, Techno Q eyes increasing market penetration in Saudi Arabia and Oman by leveraging government digitalisation projects; enhancing local partnerships by strengthening collaboration with key government and private-sector entities to secure large-scale projects; and improving regional competitiveness through investments in local talent and infrastructure to enhance service delivery and client relationships. Highlighting that with increasing cyber threats, businesses and governments are investing in advanced cybersecurity solutions, it said Techno Q’s IT Business unit can capitalise on this trend by offering network security and endpoint protection, cloud security solutions, and cyber threat intelligence and risk assessment services.In support of its outlook on the potential, Techno Q said the technology sector in the Middle East saw steady growth in 2024, despite macroeconomic pressures and geopolitical uncertainties.The digital transformation market in the region was valued at $1.48bn and is projected to reach $2.58bn by 2029 (compound annual growth rate of 11.8%), it said, adding cybersecurity spending exceeded $6.5bn, reflecting increased demand for IT security solutions. Finding healthcare and education sectors as potential areas; it said the digitisation of hospitals and educational institutions presents new opportunities for integrated AV, smart security, and automation solutions.The demand for telemedicine infrastructure, remote learning solutions, and intelligent security systems is increasing, it said. Techno Q’s 2025 goals also include enhancing operational efficiency and cost optimisation by implementing AI-powered analytics to optimise project costing, inventory management, and resource allocation; and streamlining internal processes through automation and digitisation, boosting overall efficiency.

Total value of contracts awarded in Qatar’s gas sector saw a 19-fold year-on-year surge to $4.3bn in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, according to Kamco Invest, a regional economic think-tank.There is no immediate threat of the US tariffs on the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) projects market, which is slated to “remain strong” for the whole of 2025, it also said in a report.QatarEnergy LNG recently selected India’s Larsen & Toubro Energy Hydrocarbon (LTEH) for a $4bn to $5bn package covering the engineering, procurement, construction, and installation contract under the second phase of North Field Production Sustainability (NFPS) project, Kamco Invest said, quoting MEED Projects.This includes construction and installation of two major gas compression systems — CP8S and CP4N — each weighing 25,000–35,000 tonnes. The scope of the project also involves building compression platforms, flare gas platforms, and other related structures.The total value of overall contracts awarded in Qatar stood at $5.2bn in January-March this year, which however fell 37.9% on an annualised basis. This drop in contract awards was due to a sharp decrease in the value of projects awarded in Qatar’s transport, water, and construction sectors, Kamco said.Notably, there were no contracts awarded in the transport, water, chemical, and industrial sectors of Qatar during the review period. In addition, total contracts awarded in Qatar’s construction sector fell by 64.6% year-on-year to $401mn in Q1-2025.Highlighting that the outlook for the GCC project market for 2025 is expected to remain strong; it said numerous favourable factors across the GCC are anticipated to support project market momentum in 2025.Among them is notable growth in the GCC hospitality projects during the year. As per MEED Projects, healthcare contracts worth over $3bn are currently out-to-bid, signalling a strong project pipeline. Saudi Arabia leads with 51% of the total value of the GCC healthcare pipeline in 2025. In comparison, the UAE has $6.8bn in contracts under planning and execution and Kuwait has $3.6bn in hospitality projects under similar stages.Saudi Arabia’s $450mn project — King Faisal Medical City in Asir: Phase 2 — ranks as the largest planned and un-awarded GCC healthcare project out-to-bid, followed by Qatar’s $300mn Ashghal - Hamad General Hospital (HGH) Safety Improvements (Packages 1, 2 & 3).Overall, the GCC holds around $1.54tn in contracts at the pre-execution stage, with Saudi Arabia accounting for the largest share (52.1%).A number of these projects are anticipated to be awarded within the next 6–12 months, indicating that 2025 could rival or surpass the award volumes of 2024, according to MEED Projects.About 34.3% of these contracts are in the design phase, while about 8.1% are currently under bid evaluation. Saudi Arabia leads with $801.2bn in pre-execution stage projects, followed by the UAE ($312.3bn), Oman ($169.9bn), and Kuwait ($130.8bn), respectively.Elaborating on the US tariff and its effect, it said “on the surface, there appears to be no immediate threat of US tariffs impacting the GCC projects market, as most GCC countries have limited trade exposure to the US on both the import and export fronts.”According to MEED Projects, only Bahrain sends more than 5% of its exports to the US. Furthermore, the US maintains trade surpluses with five of the six GCC markets, and as a result, a basic tariff of 10% has been imposed.In addition, hydrocarbons — the primary export commodity of GCC nations — are among the goods exempted from tariffs. However, declining oil prices, driven by negative global economic sentiment linked to US tariff effects on trade, may have an impact on GCC revenues and consequently their project funding capabilities.Reduced oil prices lead to lower government income across the GCC, which in turn may result in reduced spending on projects.

The US-Qatar Business Council (USQBC), in collaboration with the US Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA), has hosted Business Circles: SelectUSA 2025 Edition, as part of efforts to explore cross-border value creation in the US.The programme brought together business leaders, professionals, and specialists from the US Commercial Service for dynamic roundtable sessions focused on harnessing opportunities in the US market through the SelectUSA Investment Summit 2025, which is taking place next month the US.Hosted by the US Department of Commerce, the summit, which will be held at the National Harbor, Maryland from May 11-14, 2025, is a one-stop shop for companies considering expanding to the US and provides EDOs or economic development organisations with the opportunity to meet directly with global companies to facilitate investment deals.The SelectUSA Investment Summit 2025 is a high-profile event for international business investment. Qatar’s delegation will benefit from direct connections to US economic development organisations, service providers, commercial advisers, and policymakers, offering high-value networking and investment matchmaking across sectors.Organised as part of the USQBC’s ongoing partnership with ITA, the programme ‘Business Circles: SelectUSA 2025 Edition — Move & Meet, Learn & Lead’ was a practical forum to explore cross-border business opportunities, reinforcing the council’s mission to deepen economic ties and expand commercial co-operation between the two countries.“The US represents the world’s largest consumer market... Meanwhile, Qatar’s business landscape is expanding rapidly through entrepreneurship, world-class infrastructure, and the government’s drive to diversify the economy and promote the private sector. Now is the perfect moment for companies in Qatar to explore cross-border value creation in the US,” said USQBC Doha Managing Director Sheikha Mayes bint Hamad al-Thani, who emphasised the importance of advancing US-Qatar trade and investment.Janelle Weyek, Commercial Counselor at the US Embassy Doha, stressed the importance of continuing to grow the commercial and investment relationship.Srinivasa Murthy, US Commercial Specialist, highlighted the summit’s features, benefits, and registration guidelines, and encouraged participants to reach out for one-on-one calls to discuss their individual business objectives.The programme’s core component was a series of interactive Business Circle discussions, led by officials from the US Commercial Service, the USQBC team, and SelectUSA 2025 ambassadors, past members of Qatar’s delegation to the summit. These small-group conversations offered attendees first-hand insights and strategic guidance for maximising the summit’s benefits.A networking reception closed the programme, reinforcing connections built during the Business Circles and underscoring the Council’s role in facilitating valuable engagements. USQBC remains committed to fostering a thriving business environment and enabling companies in Qatar to access local and cross-border avenues to meet their strategic goals.Since inception, the SelectUSA Investment Summit has attracted thousands of international companies and economic development representatives generating more than $135bn in new investment projects supporting more than 105,000 jobs across the US and its territories.The previous version of the summit saw record-breaking numbers with more than 5,000 participants, including EDO representatives from 56 US states and territories and over 2,500 business investors from 96 international markets.

Hamad Port has seen 1.421mn twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers during 2024, reflecting a 9% jump on an annualised basis, according to Mwani Qatar.The container growth was seen maximum at 52% in June 2024; while April 2024 had seen the maximum decline of 17%. Six of the 12 months had witnessed contraction in the container movement through Hamad Port.The port also saw a 23% year-on-year rise in transshipment, reaching 683,552 TEUs, which accounted for 48% of the total containers handled, Mwani Qatar said in its 2024 annual report, which was released on Sunday.The export and import TEUs were 274,436 and 472,927, accounting for 19% and 33% of the total containers in the review period. The export and import containers were down 0.4% and 1% respectively on an annualised basis.Hamad Port, Qatar’s main gateway to world trade, in 2024 reached a major milestone by handling 10mn TEUs since beginning operations in December 2016, highlighting the port’s vital role in maritime logistics and its robust capabilities, making it a preferred hub for international shipping companies.Year-to-date berth utilisation stood at 45% for CT2 (second container terminal) and 17% in the case of CT1, it said.The berth utilisation was high as 52% and as low as 33% in March and April for CT2. In CT1, the yard utilisation was as high as 20% in March and October 2024 and as low as 12% in August 2024.Additionally, the port managed 1.018mn tonnes of general cargo; 399,554 tonnes of bulk cargo; 130,332 units of RORO (vehicles); and 20,000 livestock heads; marking 62% and 115% growth respectively with the arrival of as many as 1,578 vessels.Of the 1,578 vessels in 2024, as many as 1,452 were cargo vessels; 118 were offshore vessels; and eight were naval ships. The bulk and car carrier witnessed 79% and 10% growth year-on-year in 2024; whereas general cargo, offshore supply and container shrank 24%, 6% and 4% respectively.Of the 1,578 vessels in 2024; the report said containers were as many as 1,071 or contributed 68% to the total; followed by general cargo 179 (11%), car carrier 175 (11%), offshore supply 118 (7%), bulk 25 (2%), and naval 8 (1%).In 2024, the gate moves -- which help track the movement of containers and cargo within the facility, ensure accurate inventory management, and facilitate efficient handling and processing of shipments - were seen highest at 41,275 in July and the lowest at 34,244 in February.The average truck turnaround time - which is the total time a truck spends in the dock area picking up or dropping off a container - was 23 hours in 2024 compared to 23 hours in 2023.

The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) yesterday gained for the sixth consecutive day with its key index surpassing the 10,200 levels, on buying interests especially in the telecom and consumer goods sectors.The local retail investors turned bullish as the 20-stock Qatar Index rose as much as 67 points or 0.66% to 10,213.33 points, recovering from an intraday low of 10,147 points.The US-tariff relief continued to have its influence in the main market, whose year-to-date losses truncated further to 3.38%. As much as 53% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors in the main bourse, whose capitalisation added QR3.73bn or 0.63% to QR600.35bn on the back of large and small cap segments.The domestic funds’ weakened net profit booking had its influence in the main market, which saw as many as 0.03mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank) valued at QR0.07mn change hands across nine deals. The foreign retail investors continued to be bullish but with lesser vigour in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decrease.The Islamic index was seen gaining slower than the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills. The Arab retail investors were seen net profit takers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index rose 0.66%, the All Share Index by 0.6% and the All Islamic Index by 0.49% in the main market.The telecom sector index soared 2.88%, consumer goods and services (1.03%), industrials (0.48%), banks and financial services (0.47%), transport (0.35%) and realty (0.34%); whereas insurance declined 0.27%. Major gainers in the main bourse included Ooredoo, Industries Qatar, Inma Holding, Medicare Group, Qatar Islamic Bank and Woqod. In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares appreciate in value.Nevertheless, Al Meera, Zad Holding, Al Mahhar Holding, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, QIIB and Qatari German Medical Devices were among the losers in the main market.The Qatari individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR2.73mn compared with net sellers of QR9.31mn on April 14.The domestic institutions’ net profit booking weakened markedly to QR1.56mn against QR9.28mn the previous day.However, the Arab retail investors were net sellers to the extent of QR4.01mn compared with net buyers of QR4.07mn on Monday.The Gulf institutions’ net profit booking strengthened significantly to QR3.7mn against QR0.65mn on April 14.The Gulf individuals turned net sellers to the tune of QR0.5mn compared with net buyers of QR0.64mn the previous day.The foreign institutions’ net buying decreased noticeably to QR7.05mn against QR13.08mn on Monday.The foreign individual investors’ net selling eased marginally to QR0.01mn compared to QR1.45mn on April 14.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the second straight session.The main market witnessed 48% plunge in trade volumes to 93.94mn shares, 35% in value to QR242.08mn and 35% in deals to 11,886.In the junior bourse, trade volumes plummeted 93% to 0.06mn equities, value by 93% to QR0.18mn and transactions by 63% to 12.

Al Meera Consumer Goods Company is strengthening efforts to digitise platforms and expand self-checkout as part of its continued strategies to improve services to customers."Looking towards the future, Al Meera’s strategy remains centered on enhancing the customer experience by improving service, digitising platforms, expanding self-checkout, and upgrading store aesthetics," said its board report tabled before shareholders at the annual general assembly meeting, which approved the financial results and cash dividends of QR0.85 per share for 2024.Operationally, the focus would be on increasing efficiency and cost-effectiveness through technological advancements and streamlined processes to ensure operational excellence and deliver superior customer value, it said."In line with our continuous ambition to expand the horizons of innovation as a key driver of sustainable growth, we have made significant progress in this direction through a long-term strategy and our ambitious journey toward comprehensive digital transformation," said Al Meera chairman Abdulla Abdulaziz Abdullah Turki al-Subaie in the 2024 report.During the review period, Al Meera strengthened its market presence both online and offline with its online and home delivery service contributing 5%–6% of total sales.Over the past year, Al Meera strengthened its position as a leader in advanced retail, continuing to adopt a sustainable innovation strategy with a focus on digital transformation, a focus that led to significant advancements in 2024.As part of its digital transformation, Al Meera had in 2024 introduced smart shopping carts, the first of their kind in Qatar."Following the opening Al Meera Smart, a fully automated, check-out free branch in 2023, the first of its kind in Qatar and the region, we continued to advance our digital retail offering with the launch of smart shopping carts in January 2024, the first in Qatar, further enhancing the in-store experience and reinforcing our commitment to delivering innovative and seamless shopping solutions for our customers," according to al-Subaie.On the digital end, the company further integrated the SAP system into its operations, building upon the strategic partnership established with the global technology leader in 2023.This collaboration targets modernising Al Meera’s branches and services with advanced cloud solutions, directly contributing to its operational excellence and expansion plans and enhancing the experience for both customers and employees, the board report said.Alongside its focus on innovation and sustainability, Al Meera remains firmly committed to supporting local industries, bringing together suppliers, businesses, and customers in a celebration of Qatari-made products, driving strong engagement across its store network."Through targeted in-store promotions and marketing efforts, Al Meera reaffirmed its dedication to offering locally sourced goods while contributing to the development of Qatar’s retail sector," the board said.

Bullish on Qatar’s macroeconomic prospects, Al Mahhar Holding is exploring options on expanding its manufacturing base for the energy sector over the medium term and aims to diversify into renewables.“We are evaluating the feasibility of expanding into in-house manufacturing, assembly, and system integration for specific energy sector products and equipment in Qatar over the medium term,” said Al Mahhar Holding board report, tabled before shareholders at the recent annual general assembly meeting, which approved the 2024 results and dividend.The report highlighted that its commitment to In-Country Value (ICV) is evident through the leadership as a low-voltage switchgear assembler and explosion proof devices manufacturer in Qatar.“We aim to build on this expertise by expanding into higher voltage and control equipment solutions, continuously developing local capabilities in the energy and renewable sectors,” Al Mahhar Holding said.It is also expanding capabilities in digital fields and system integration to further enhance its Qatari credentials, it said, adding additive manufacturing is emerging as a key area in the energy and renewables sectors.“Al Mahhar Holding is positioning itself to capitalise on these advancements by investing in local capabilities in Qatar,” the report said. Seeking to diversify beyond traditional energy markets with a particular focus on renewables, electrification, and water conservation; it said through the adoption of world-class digital solutions, “we aim to improve efficiencies and enhance the competitiveness of our customers.”Specifically, in the renewables sector, it is focusing on developing technologies and solutions to reduce emissions in Qatar, with plans to increase its market share. “Al Mahhar Holding is positioning itself to play a key role in this transition,” it added.“Al Mahhar Holding Company is uniquely positioned to drive sustained growth in the energy industry, with plans to expand into future energy segments and solidify our footprint in the hydrocarbon downstream industries,” said Fahad Hussain Alfardan, its chairman, who presided over the meeting.Highlighting that its goal is to offer a comprehensive range of products and services; the report said it plans to acquire additional agencies, grow customer base, and ensure high-quality service, including maintaining a stock of spare parts and providing staff training.“In parallel with developing more in-house capabilities, we remain open to investing in new joint ventures and collaboration agreements to further local capabilities,” it said.Expecting “significant” potential to expand its product and service offerings in Qatar’s energy sector, Al Mahhar Holding is exploring opportunities across the entire value chain, including upstream, midstream, and downstream.“We believe QatarEnergy’s ongoing localisation programme (Tawteen) is a key catalyst for these opportunities,” it said. On the opportunities for 2025; it said diversification into renewables as solar, wind, and hydrogen can enhance their portfolios to meet changing market demands.Innovations in carbon capture, energy efficiency, and alternative fuels offer growth opportunities for energy and infrastructure companies, it said, adding investments in new infrastructure projects, especially in emerging markets, will boost economic growth and create jobs. Meeting ESG or environment, social and governance criteria will attract investment and drive innovation in sustainable technologies, the report said.In the infrastructure sector, Al Mahhar Holding is focused on enhancing profitability by improving efficiencies and restructuring processes.

Sports tourism remains a vital growth driver with FIFA World Cup 2022 generating an estimated $2.3-4.1bn in tourism spending and broadcasting revenue, contributing $1.6-2.4bn to Qatar’s gross domestic product (GDP), according to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). “This success has created a positive impact boosting the tourism and hospitality sectors across the region by up to 30%,” PwC said, adding the Middle East region’s sports market is projected to grow at an “impressive” rate of 8.7% over the next three to five years, outpacing the global average of 7.3%.This growth (in the Middle East sports sector) will be fuelled by significant investments in premium sports properties and infrastructure, alongside ambitious initiatives to increase grassroots participation, it said, adding “looking ahead, the region’s sports sector faces both opportunities and challenges as it balances commercial growth with sustainable development.”Qatar continues to leverage its post-World Cup momentum through strategically bidding for, and hosting, major sporting events such as the FIFA Arab Cup in 2025, 2029 and 2033; FIFA U17 World Cup in 2025 through 2029 and the Web Summit for 2024 through 2028, PwC said.Highlighting that Qatar’s successful hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and Saudi Arabia’s selection for the 2034 edition demonstrates the region’s capability; the report said the region’s position in global sports investment has strengthened significantly. Sovereign wealth funds, including Middle Eastern funds, now lead 24% of global sports investments, it said, adding Qatar Sports Investments’ $200mn investment in Monumental Sports, which owns clubs and arenas in the US, reflects a growing focus on international portfolio.Finding that the region is pioneering new commercial models, notably in emerging sports sectors; it said Qatar’s investments in Formula 1, the UAE’s development of combat sports, and Saudi Arabia’s Esports initiatives demonstrate the breadth of commercial opportunities being pursued. The Middle Eastern sports consumer is highly digitally engaged, with over-the-top (OTT) services like Shahid VIP and beIN Connect revolutionising how fans consume sports content. Innovations from entities like the Qatar-based SponixTech (immersive replays) and Saudi Arabia-based Fanera (fan experience platforms) underscore the region’s leadership in digital sports transformation.Social media is a key driver of fan engagement, with platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X playing a central role; PwC said penetration rates in the Middle East highlight the widespread use of social platforms, with the UAE at 115%, Saudi Arabia at 96.2% and Qatar at 96.8%.

QTerminals has appointed Charles Meaby as Acting Group chief executive officer, in the place of Neville Bissett.Prior to this, Meaby was Group Business Development and Commercial Officer, then Managing Director of Hamad Port.He brings more than 25 years of global experience from roles at DP World, London Gateway Port Holdings, Hutchison Ports, and Associated British Ports.Bissett, who had been with the terminals company for eight years, led QTerminals through a major internationalisation programme with the winning of a 35-year concession in Ukraine (QTerminals Olvia), a 28-year concession in Türkiye (QTerminals Antalya) and the acquisition of Kramer Group in the Netherlands (now QTerminals Kramer Rotterd

Doha's energy infrastructure will soon get a fillip, when every building turns out to be a clean power plant, supporting the national sustainability goals and enabling Qatar to lead the next wave of energy innovation, according to a top official of a South Korean global leader in AI-driven solutions for zero-energy buildings.In this regard, EnergyX Systems -- a next-generation Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) solution that transforms façades and rooftops into clean energy generators without sacrificing design -- is now in the final stages of incorporation under the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC).“Qatar has the vision, the talent, and the infrastructure to lead the next wave of energy innovation,” EnergyX chief executive officer Sean Park, who has personally relocated to the region earlier this year, told Gulf Times in an exclusive interview.The EnergyX DY-Building is a seven-storey structure (including one-storey underground parking). It was conceived not only as a headquarters (in South Korea), but as a functioning showcase of integrated technologies of EnergyX. From design to operations, the building demonstrates a complete application of optimised, data-driven, AI or artificial intelligence-powered, hardware-integrated solutions.EnergyX, a 'sustainable architecture technology company, not only manufactures and installs BIPVs but also offers AI-driven simulation, software, optimisation, and management of the entire process all the way from architectural design to architectural operations once the building is finished.“The EnergyX DY-Building was the first of its kind. But the next landmark of global energy optimisation may rise right here," he said in reference to its proposed action plans for Qatar."The EnergyX DY-Building is more than a structure — it’s a living model for what tomorrow’s architecture must become: intelligent, autonomous, and regenerative. It challenges developers, city planners, and governments to think beyond sustainability — and aim for profitable energy sovereignty," Park said, forecasting good potential in the region.During the Web Summit Qatar 2025, EnergyX had disclosed its plans to establish a major R&D (research and development) center in Qatar, committing to invest more than $100mn in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) over the next five years."As EnergyX brings its proven technology to the Middle East, Qatar may soon host the next chapter in global energy architecture — a future in which every building is its own clean power plant," he said.The company is scouting for strategic partners and such partnership involves strategic growth for both EnergyX and the countries, Park said, adding it seeks to make meaningful contribution to the ICVs (in-country value).(Ends)

Reflecting buoyancy, notably in the non-hydrocarbons, Qatar’s maritime sector saw higher vessels call, resulting in brisk yearly growth in the movement of RORO (vehicles), livestock and building materials through Mesaieed, Doha and Al Ruwais ports during the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, according to the official data.A total of 726 ships arrived in the three ports during January-March 2025, a 12.21% growth on annualised basis. In March alone, as many as 247 vessel calls were recorded, jumping 6.47% and 8.81% year-on-year and month-on-month respectively, according to figures collated from Mwani Qatar.Hamad Port - Qatar’s main seaport, located south of Doha in the Umm Al Houl area and whose strategic geographical location offers opportunities to create cargo movement towards the upper Gulf - saw as many as 120 vessels call (excluding military) on the port in March 2025.The three ports handled a total of 30,811 RORO during the first three months of this year, registering a 60.47% surge year-on-year. In March alone, as many as 10,371 RORO movements were recorded, showing 73.69% and 36.48% growth on yearly and monthly basis respectively. Hamad Port alone handled as many as 10,298 units in March this year.Qatar’s automobile sector has been witnessing renewed demand, reporting stronger sales, notably in heavy equipment, private motorcycles and private vehicles, according to National Planning Council data .The building materials traffic through the three ports stood at 159,718 tonnes during Q1-2025, which was up 11.78% on an annualised basis. In March alone, the three ports had handled as much as 88,131 tonnes, surging 68.7% and 118.1% year-on-year and month-on-month respectively.The three ports were seen handling 230,625 livestock heads during January-March 2025, which showed a 4.3% growth on an annualised basis. In March this year, the ports handled as many as 97,625 livestock heads, which declined 17.66% on yearly basis but zoomed 31.57% month-on-month. Hamad Port handled as many as 8,000 livestock heads in the review period.The container movement through three ports amounted to 336,889 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) during the first three months of 2025, down 4.17% on a yearly basis. In March alone, as many as 99,410 TEUs of containers were seen handling, which declined 27.36% and 12.17% year-on-year and month-on-month respectively.Hamad Port, the largest eco-friendly project in the region and internationally recognised as one of the largest green ports in the world, had welcomed 133,000 TEU CMA CGM Iron, the first dual-fuel methanol container vessel to visit Qatar.The container terminals have been designed to address the increasing trade volume, enhancing ease of doing business as well as supporting the achievement of economic diversification, which is one of the most important goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030.The general and bulk cargo handled through the three ports stood at 322,206 freight tonnes during Q1-2025, which fell 12.29% on yearly basis. In March alone, the general and bulk cargo handled through three ports was 70,392 freight tonnes, plunging 49.39% and 35.65% year-on-year and month-on-month respectively.Hamad Port – whose multi-use terminal is designed to serve the supply chains for the RORO, grains and livestock – handled as much as 30,116 freight tonnes of breakbulk and 7,000 freight tonnes of bulk in March this year.The container and cargo trends through the ports reflect the positive outlook for the country’s non-oil private sector.In line with the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030, Mwani Qatar continues to implement its ambitious strategy to enhance the maritime sector’s contribution to diversifying the national economy and strengthening the county’s position as a vibrant regionaltrade hub.

Development banks from Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE are expected to fund the Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority's (GCCIA) $1.1bn-$1.3bn investment programme for 2025-27, according to Standard & Poor's (S&P), an international credit rating agency.The GCCIA, in which Qatar holds 12% stake, is the interconnector for the GCC countries, ensuring security of electricity supply in the region operating under a framework that allows full costs pass through with no more than one year lag to recover differences between budgeted and actual costs.The GCCIA is currently expanding its network with about $1.1bn-$1.3bn of investments over 2025-27, which will pressure its credit metrics over the same horizon, given all projects are fully debt funded, S&P said in its latest report."This investment programme will be fully debt funded with financing expected to come from the local development banks, including of Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE," the report said, adding this would lead to negative free operating cash flow (FOCF) of about $500mn in 2025 decreasing to be free cash flow neutral from 2027 (2028 should the backbone project to be secured)."As a result, we currently expect net debt to peak at about $800mn-$850mn in 2026-27, decreasing to about $600mn by 2029. Once the backbone expansion project starts, we expect gross debt to grow by an additional $300mn from 2026, amortising over at least 10 years," the rating agency said.However, S&P expects the GCCIA to be able to cover additional debt-servicing related to this project with the additional contribution it should receive from the shareholders.Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) had in February 2025 signed a loan agreement with the GCCIA to finance the expansion of the electricity grid in Oman, as part of efforts to enhance regional cooperation and sustainable development.Stamping "stable" outlook to the GCCIA, S&P said it indicates that the rating agency expects the authority to continue receiving timely support from the GCC states, enabling the company to expand its existing network as planned.Including in its Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) calculations, the contributions from member countries used to service the debt; the report said it consider funds from operations to debt (FFO) and FOCF to debt as the key ratios because they capture the cash flow after interest-servicing and the high capital spending (capex) plans in the future years.Incorporating its expectation that the GCCIA will receive annual fees and contributions from its shareholders to service debt in a timely manner, ensuring smooth operations and deleveraging over the forecast horizon; S&P said "we therefore expect the company's FFO to debt to be above 9% and to improve to 10-22% in 2026-27."

Capital Intelligence (CI) has assigned to Gulf Warehousing Company (GWC) first-time long- and short-term ratings on the Qatar national scale of ‘qaA-’ and ‘qaA2’, respectively with "stable" outlook."We see GWC as having a very sound financial profile. The company is by far the largest logistics services provider in Qatar, and it has a dominant market share in its home market," CI said in its latest report.Although geographical diversification is still limited at present, the relatively new Omani operation (Flag Logistics) is performing well, with scope for further expansion in the future – although there are no firm plans for this at present, it said.At home, the focus will increasingly be on improving margins by introducing higher value-added supply chain services, CI added.The end-2024 asset base was dominated by fixed assets in the form of PP&E (73.5%), capital work in progress (2.2%) and right of use assets (4.4%).The second largest asset class was net trade receivables at just 8.8%. With little additional capital expenditure planned in Qatar, the proportion of the asset base comprising fixed assets is expected to gradually decline going forward.The company has a solid capital base, and one that will shortly be bolstered as a result of the planned issue of a subordinated perpetual sukuk.Part of the proceeds of this issue is earmarked for the repayment of an existing QR300mn short-term borrowing. Other credit strengths include good cash flow and a dominant market position in the logistics sector in Qatar. This latter strength, however, means that achieving domestic volume growth could be a problem for GWC."GWC is, therefore, working to increase overall occupancy at its existing facilities in Qatar while at the same time seeking to grow the proportion of higher margin 3PL (third-party logistics) and 4PL (fourth-party logistics) revenues in its overall top line. This is important as freight-forwarding (FF) revenues normally carry lower margins than warehousing and supply chain management services," it said.The management is expecting the current year to be stronger as volumes build at the Oman operation and as 4PL volumes build in Qatar.Although this year could also see work commence on an Eastern province logistics operation in Saudi Arabia, this would be unlikely to contribute to revenues in 2025.Considering effective liquidity to be satisfactory; CI said once the existing ST borrowing has been repaid, the only ST debt exposure will be the current portion of LT debt (about QR340mn at end-2024).While the remainder of the sukuk issue proceeds is aimed at funding possible expansion into Saudi Arabia, this would take the form of a joint venture with a foreign partner, it said."In the meantime, these funds would remain on the GWC balance sheet as cash, with projected end-2025 cash balances showing a sharp increase as a result," it added.GWC does not hold investment securities. Instead, liquid assets are held in the form of cash.Given the nature of the business model, inventories are very low (less than 0.2% of total assets) but trade receivables are more significant at almost 9% of total assets, CI said, adding these are of high quality (given that the top five names are Qatar governmental or semi-governmental) and generally ST in tenor – although there are some concentrations by customer in both revenues and receivables.The ratio of liquid resources to ST debt was 0.27x at the end of 2024, while the liquidity coverage ratio was 0.9x.

Lack of clarity on the US’ tariff policies and regional geopolitical tensions had their impact on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE), which saw its key index plummet as much as 111 points and capitalisation melt in excess of QR5bn this week.More than 81% of the traded constituents were in the red as the 20-stock Qatar Index knocked off 1.07% this week which saw the listed companies cumulatively report net profit of QR51.17bn in 2024.The Arab individual investors were seen net profit takers in the main bourse this week which saw Lesha Bank acquire an indirect stake in Edinburgh Airport.The local retail investors were also seen bearish in the main market this week which saw Gulf Warehousing (GWC) sign strategic service agreement with Huwaei.The domestic institutions’ weakened net buying had its influence in the main bourse this week which saw a total of 0.13mn AlRayan Bank-sponsored exchange traded fund QATR worth QR0.29mn trade across 30 deals.The foreign funds continued to be net sellers but with lesser intensity in the main market this week which saw as many as 0.01mn Doha Bank-sponsored exchange-traded fund QETF valued at QR0.16mn change hands across 21 transactions.The insurance counter witnessed higher than average selling pressure in the main bourse this week which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Islamic index was seen declining slower than the main barometer of the main market this week, which saw Knight Frank, a global property consultancy, find that leading international hotel brands accounted for 60% of Qatar's total 40,755 hotel rooms during 2024.Market capitalisation eroded QR5.14bn or 0.85% to QR600.7bn on the back of large and midcap segments this week which saw Mekdam Holding "aggressively" pursue opportunities within the QR3bn pipeline under negotiation as it seeks to strengthen its presence in high-growth sectors such as technology and engineering.Trade turnover and volumes were on the decrease in the main market; while the junior market’s trade volume and value were on the rise this week which saw no trading of treasury bills.The Total Return Index shrank 0.45%, the All Islamic Index by 0.62% and the All Share Index by 0.53% this week which saw the industrials and banking sectors together constitute about 57% of the total trade volumes.The insurance sector index plummeted 3.76%, industrials (1.05%), realty (1.01%), telecom (0.61%), consumer goods and services (0.39%) and banks and financial services (0.3%); while transport gained 0.71% this week which saw Moody’s report that said Qatar meets more than 40% of its total freshwater demand from desalination, with significant government subsidies to cover production costs.Major losers in the main market included Mekdam Holding, Commercial Bank, Qatar Islamic Insurance, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Qatar Cinema and Film Distribution, QIIB, AlRayan Bank, Dukhan Bank, Qatar Oman Investment, Qatari German Medical Devices, Salam International Investment, Mannai Corporation, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Qamco, Qatar Insurance, Mazaya Qatar, Barwa and Vodafone Qatar. In the junior bourse, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value this week.Nevertheless, Estithmar Holding, Milaha, GWC, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding and Woqod were among the movers in the main bourse this week.The Arab individuals were net sellers to the tune of QR17.26mn against net buyers of QR11.83mn the week ended March 20.The Qatari retail investors turned net sellers to the extent of QR11.47mn compared with net buyers of QR26.7mn a week ago.The domestic institutions’ net buying declined noticeably to QR160.37mn against QR185.4mn the previous week.However, the Gulf funds were net buyers to the tune of QR42.48mn compared with net sellers of QR4.63mn the week ended March 20.The foreign individual investors’ net buying expanded markedly to QR11.52mn against QR2.55mn a week ago.The Gulf retail investors’ net buying strengthened marginally to QR1.78mn compared to QR0.75mn the previous week.The foreign institutions’ net selling decreased significantly to QR102.63mn against QR222.6mn the week ended March 20.The Arab funds had no major net exposure compared with net buyers to the extent of QR0.05mn a week ago.The main market witnessed a 32% plunge in trade volumes to 587.77mn shares, 29% in value to QR1.58bn and 48% in deals to 71,475 this week.In the venture market, trade volumes jumped more than nine-fold to 0.98mn equities and value by more than nine-fold to QR2.8mn on 11% jump in transactions to 41.

The listed companies in the main market have reported a total net profit of QR51.18bn in 2024 as consumer goods and transport sectors witnessed faster earnings expansion, according to data compiled by the Qatar Stock Exchange.Amidst challenging regional environment and interest rate rigidities, the listed companies’ net earnings shot up 8.7% year-on-year in 2024 against a 3.03% decline in the previous year.The 2024 net profitability improvement was seen despite declines in the earnings of real estate sector as well as slowdown in the net profit growth in the banking and telecom sectors. On an absolute basis, the banking sector remained the largest contributor at more than 59% in the review period.The consumer goods and services sector, which has 13 listed entities, saw its total net profit surge 10.74% year-on-year to QR1.67bn at the end of 2024 against a 4.73% decline in 2023. The sector contributed 3.26% to the overall net profitability in the review period against 3.21% in 2022.The transport sector, which has three listed constituents, saw total net profits grow 4.54% year-on-year to QR2.93bn compared to 4.14% in 2023. The sector’s net profit constituted 5.72% to the total net profit of the listed companies in 2024 against 5.95% the previous year.The industrials sector, which has 10 listed constituents, saw a 1.8% year-on-year shrinkage in net profits to QR9.27bn in 2024 compared to a 35.94% contraction in 2023. The sector contributed 18.11% to the overall net earnings of the listed entities in 2024 against 20.05% in 2023.Within the industrials sector, six of them, especially two underlying firms that have direct linkages with the hydrocarbons sectors, witnessed decline in net earnings owing to the subdued demand.The insurance sector, which has seven companies, registered net earnings of QR1.31bn in 2024 against net loss of QR0.36bn in 2023. The sector contributed 2.56% to the overall net profitability in 2024.Economic expansion, population growth, and mandatory insurance schemes will increase demand in most Gulf countries this year. Overall satisfactory underwriting results and relatively high interest rates will support earnings, according to Standard & Poor’s, a global credit rating agency.The Qatar Central Bank’s (QCB) Third Financial Sector Strategy had said plans were afoot to expand the product offerings such as life and health and to launch climate insurance as well as tailored insurance services for priority sectors as logistics and manufacturing.The banks and financial services sector, which has 13 listed entities, reported a 6% year-on-year jump in total net profit to QR30.31bn against a 7.64% expansion in 2023. The sector contributed 59.22% to the total net profits of the listed companies in January-December 2024 compared to 60.47% in 2023.The telecom sector, which has two constituents, reported a 13.52% jump year-on-year in net profit to QR4.04bn in 2024 against 24.22% growth in 2023. The sector had contributed 7.89% to total net profit in 2024 compared to 7.56% the previous year.The realty segment, which has four listed entities, saw total net earnings tank 3.61% year-on-year to QR1.7bn in 2024 against a 6.46% surge in 2023. The sector constituted 3.32% to the overall net profits in 2024 compared to 3.74% in 2023.The venture market, which had two listed entities, registered a total profit of QR0.06mn in 2024, showing a 24.09% surge on an annualised basis. However, one of them has migrated to the main market this year.

Qatar meets more than 40% of its total freshwater demand from desalination, with significant government subsidies to cover production costs, according to Moody's, an international credit rating agency.This reference was made in Moody's latest article 'Water management is a credit risk for one-third of sovereigns, many emerging markets', which otherwise found that the GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council) countries have been investing in water scarcity solutions since the 1980s, such as adopting desalination and wastewater reuse technologies to address extreme water stress.In the case of Saudi Arabia, which is the world's largest producer of desalinated water by volume, it said most of its water supply came from non-renewable underground sources.The UAE meets around 48% of its drinking water demand through desalination and continues to expand its capacity despite environmental costs, whereas Kuwait and Bahrain also rely heavily on desalination to address water stress.Finding that mitigation efforts will be costly but reduce credit risks over long run; it said governments with strong water management policies and procedures, and financing capacity will be able to better manage the consequences of water stress and avoid associated credit pressures.These are mainly GCC economies such as Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE, along with Singapore. Initiatives at the global level can also help address water management issues without putting too much of a burden on individual sovereigns' fiscal strength and liquidity buffers.According to Global Water Intelligence, Qatar has made "significant" strides in its water security strategy by embracing seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination technology. In just seven years, SWRO has emerged as a key contributor to Qatar's municipal water network, providing over 48% of the country's potable water needs.Qatar's National Environment and Climate Change Strategy (QNE), announced in 2021, recognises the need to rely on reverse osmosis as a sustainable technology in the region to produce more than 55% of desalinated water.The Qatar National Vision 2030 also has a particular focus on reducing consumption, improving conservation, and on the circular water economy, highlighting the value of research, development, and innovation (RDI) in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).Ras Abu Fontas A3 Seawater Reverse Osmosis desalination plant forms part of the Ras Abu Fontas Independent Water and Power Plant (IWPP) in south Doha. It has a capacity of 163MLD (million litres per day).Umm Al Houl Power (UHP) is another IWPP located at Qatar Economic Zone in Qatar. It was built with an MSF (multi-stage flash) desalination unit with a capacity of 455MLD and with a SWRO plant with a capacity of 280MLD whose construction started in 2015.

Reversing the bearish trend of the last five days, the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) on Wednesday gained more than 28 points on the back of buying support from domestic institutions.The real estate, telecom, consumer goods and banking counters witnessed higher than average demand as the 20-stock Qatar Index rose 0.28% to 10,185.78 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,211 points.The foreign institutions were seen bullish in the main market, whose year-to-date losses truncated to 3.64%.As much as 75% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors in the main bourse, whose capitalisation added QR1.85bn or 0.31% to QR598.29bn on the back of microcap segments.The foreign individuals were increasingly net buyers in the main market, which saw as many as 0.03mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.07mn change hands across 10 deals.However, the Gulf funds were seen net profit takers in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the increase.The Islamic index was seen outperforming the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The local individuals turned net sellers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index gained 0.28%, the All Share Index by 0.29% and the All Islamic Index by 0.62% in the main market.The realty sector index shot up 1.19%, telecom (0.98%), consumer goods and services (0.68%) and banks and financial services (0.45%); while transport declined 0.84%, industrials (0.05%) and insurance (0.01%).Major gainers in the main market included Qatari German Medical Devices, Inma Holding, Estithmar Holding, QIIB, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, United Development Company, Barwa and Vodafone Qatar.Nevertheless, Mekdam Holding, Dlala, Al Mahhar Holding, Beema and Nakilat were among the shakers in the main bourse. In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value.The domestic institutions’ net buying increased significantly to QR34.89mn compared to QR10.54mn on March 25.The foreign institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR7.45mn against net sellers of QR23.89mn the previous day.The foreign individual investors’ net buying strengthened marginally to QR2.5mn compared to QR2.43mn on Tuesday.However, the Gulf institutions were net sellers to the extent of QR21.76mn against net buyers of QR4.81mn on March 25.The local individuals turned net sellers to the tune of QR12.86mn compared with net buyers of QR2.4mn the previous day.The Arab retail investors were net profit takers to the extent of QR10.12mn against net buyers of QR3.12mn on Tuesday.The Gulf individual investors turned net sellers to the tune of QR0.09mn compared with net buyers of QR0.59mn on March 25.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the fifth straight session.The main market witnessed a 7% jump in trade volumes to 135.03mn shares, 24% in value to QR390.16mn and 28% in deals to 18,834.In the junior bourse, trade volumes grew almost five-fold to 35,186 equities and value also by almost five-fold to QR0.1mn on doubled transactions to eight.