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The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) has roped in four partners - Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), Qatar Development Bank (QDB), Qatar Research, Development and Innovation (QRDI) Council and Invest Qatar - for its Scale Now programme for digital entrepreneurs. "This strategic collaboration undoubtedly will contribute to promoting the achievement of Scale Now programme and harmonising efforts and direct these efforts that will contribute to the growth of start-ups to build a sustainable and large-scale economy in alignment with our digital agenda," Faraj Jassim Abdullah, Director of the Digital Economy Department at MCIT told media announcing the new partners. The beneficiaries will receive support from MCIT to ensure their ability to penetrate markets, while QDB pledges to provide funding tools and ability for exportation, and Invest Qatar will link those investors with global markets. He said Scale Now programme represents a significant step in empowering digital entrepreneurs in Qatar, equipping them with the tools and guidance needed to scale their businesses and expand into local and global markets. Ali al-Mawlawi, Director of Business Development at MoCI, said the ministry would work with the partners to promote transparency and ensure that the SMEs (small and medium enterprises) have access to funding and opportunities as they are a key pillar to the national economy. "Scale Now programme has a paramount importance as a national platform that accelerates the development and improvement of productivity of SMEs," he said, adding the role of MoCI is to transform the ability of these companies into a real growth by linking with the private sector firms. Mohammed al-Emadi, Executive Director of Incubation and Venture Capital Investment at QDB, said the Scale Now programme complements its support through pre-acceleration and acceleration programmes. “This partnership will enable companies to access investment as well as entrepreneurship talent, provide consultations and accessibility and penetration to markets," he said, adding QDB has incubated and accelerated more than 600 startups. Nada al-Olaqi, Senior Director, Innovation, Development and Piloting Programmes, QRDI Council, said it works in accelerating technologies to contribute to the transition towards knowledge-based economy through financing, building national capacities and mentoring. This partnership create a national platform for development that combine capital, knowledge, policies, as well as innovation to create a new generation of entrepreneurs and consolidate the position of Qatar in the area of innovation and utilising technologies, according to her. "We, along with the other partners from all stakeholders, recognise the importance of the private sector, especially SMEs and startup companies, in realising the strategic vision through the contribution of the private sector," she said. Dr Hamad al-Naimi, Strategy Manager of Invest Qatar, said its role starts with discovering opportunities and developing the businesses, and scaling up and providing accessibility through facilitating contacts with partners in the private and public sector. "We will link those start-pp companies with international investments through our relations," he said, adding "we will enable those companies to expand into new horizons and new markets, and help them in establishing strategic relations and partnerships regionally and internationally." Terming the partnership with MCIT as a 'practical example for the productive cooperation'; he said Invest Qatar would enable and empower entrepreneurship by helping new cohorts in receiving grants and financial support that will contribute to more innovation in the entrepreneurship landscape in Qatar.

Barwa Real Estate Group has sold a plot of land in Al Wakra, owned by Qatar Real Estate Investment Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Barwa Real Estate Group.Under the agreement, the sale process for the plot, which has an area of 26,632 sqm, will be completed according to the terms of the agreement, Barwa said in its regulatory filing with the Qatar Stock Exchange.This transaction is part of Barwa Real Estate's strategy to improve its portfolio performance and divest from certain non-income-generating assets, which will positively reflect on its financial indicators, contributing to achieving sustainable growth in shareholder returns."There is no conflict of interest between the contracting parties in this agreement," the filing said.

QSE edges down on domestic funds’ selling pressure, but M-cap in the positive terrainThe Qatar Stock Exchange yesterday edged down marginally with its key index losing about four points as foreign funds were seen increasingly net profit takers.The telecom, industrials and insurance counters witnessed higher than average selling pressure as the 20-stock Qatar Index was down 0.03% to 10,835.95 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,881 points.The domestic funds turned net profit takers in the main market, whose year-to-date gains truncated further to 2.51%.The Gulf individuals were increasingly net sellers in the main bourse, whose capitalisation however added QR0.63bn or 0.1% to QR650.56bn; mainly on microcap segments.The local retail investors’ weakened net buying had its influence on the main market, which saw as many as 0.08mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.19mn trade across 43 deals.The foreign individuals’ lower net buying also had its marginal impact on the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the rise.The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the main barometer of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.However, the Gulf institutions were increasingly bullish in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index declined 0.03% and the All Islamic Index by 0.19%, while the All Share Index rose 0.19% in the main market.The telecom sector index shrank 0.62%, industrials (0.44%) and insurance (0.19%); while transport gained 0.88%, real estate (0.43%), consumer goods and services (0.21%) and banks and financial services (0.19%).As many as 32 stocks gained, while 18 declined and one was unchanged.Major shakers in the main market included QIIB, Ooredoo, Gulf International Services, Qatar Insurance, Industries Qatar, Meeza, Estithmar Holding and Qamco.Nevertheless, about 63% of the traded constituents extended gains with major movers being QLM, Mazaya Qatar, Ahlibank Qatar, Nakilat, Qatar Oman Investment, Inma Holding, Qatar German Medical Devices, Widam Food, Ezdan and United Development Company. In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares appreciate in value.The foreign institutions’ net profit booking increased perceptibly to QR25.67mn compared to QR21.95mn the previous day.The domestic institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR3.45mn against net buyers of QR1mn on Sunday.The Gulf retail investors’ net profit booking expanded marginally to QR0.42mn compared to QR0.34mn on October 12.The local individual investors’ net selling weakened substantially to QR3.68mn against QR20.17mn the previous day.The foreign retail investors’ net profit booking decreased markedly to QR3.16mn compared to QR4.14mn on Sunday.However, the Gulf institutions’ net buying strengthened significantly to QR14.81mn against QR4.08mn on October 12.The Arab individuals were net buyers to the extent of QR7.88mn compared with net sellers of QR2.41mn the previous day.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure against net buyers to the tune of QR0.31mn on Sunday.The main market saw 8% jump in trade volumes to 144.47mn shares, 22% in value to QR350.41mn and 40% in deals to 18,746.In the venture market, a total of 0.14mn equities valued at QR0.34mn changed hands across 63 transactions.

Doha is all set to witness lower entry barriers for real estate investments, with tokenisation becoming a reality as Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Digital Assets Lab undertakes digital innovation through blockchain-based solutions. "Tokenisation, which converts real-world assets into digital tokens, can positively impact Qatar’s real estate sector by lowering the entry barrier for real estate investment, leading to broader investor participation and increased market liquidity," QFC Authority chief executive officer Yousuf Mohamed al-Jaida told the second day of the third Qatar Real Estate Forum, organised by the General Real Estate Regulatory Authority (Aqarat). Highlighting that tokenising real estate is among the innovative solutions it is "actively exploring" in the digital assets lab; he said to support this programme, it also introduced the QFC Digital Assets Framework 2024, which establishes the legal and regulatory foundation for digital assets, covering the entire lifecycle from tokenisation and legal recognition of property rights to custody, transfer, and exchange. "This provides the certainty and security that investors and innovators need to embrace these new technologies," he said. Stressing that for the future of real estate, its most significant contribution lies in the leadership in digital innovation; he said "the QFC's Digital Assets Lab is at the forefront of this charge, creating a regulated, collaborative environment for developing and testing blockchain-based solutions". The lab, powered by the Qatar Central Bank, fosters open innovation in Qatar through ‘proof-of-concept and proof-of-value’, accelerating the growth of Qatar's digital sector in line with the vision to establish Doha as a global financial and commercial hub by 2030. Besides the lab, where start-ups, businesses, and researchers can explore and create products, and services related to digital assets and distributed ledger technologies, al-Jaida said the QFC also has the Tech Circle, a space that supports early-stage digital and tech companies, including proptechs, a segment that will only grow as the market expands and demand for efficiency and smart solutions increase. "Proptechs will certainly reshape the real estate sector, and the QFC has the right business and regulatory infrastructure to support their operation and growth," he said. The (real estate) sector plays a vital role in driving economic diversification and remains a key contributor to the national GDP (gross domestic product), he said, highlighting that in the first quarter of this year alone, the sector accounted for 7.4% of GDP, amounting to QR13.44bn. "To strengthen this growth driver, we need to pay attention to its areas that can be improved and where new opportunities may exist," he said. Affirming that the QFC is deeply committed to fostering an environment that drives sustainable growth, and it plays a pivotal role in developing the real estate sector, beginning with making it easy for companies in this sector to establish and operate in Qatar; al-Jaida said "our real estate regulations offer a transparent framework for holding real estate through various corporate vehicles, such as special purpose companies, trusts, and family offices".

Barwa Real Estate Group has sold a land plot in Bahrain Bay, owned by GHIC Real Estate, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Barwa Real Estate.Under the agreement, the sale of the 12,478 sqm plot will be completed according to the terms set forth in the agreement, Barwa said in a mandatory regulatory filing with the Qatar Stock Exchange.This transaction is part of Barwa Real Estate’s strategy to optimise its portfolio performance and divest non-income-generating assets, positively affecting the group’s financial indicators and contributing to sustainable growth in shareholder returns."There are no conflicts of interest among the contracting parties in this agreement," the filing said.

AFG College with the University of Aberdeen has entered into a partnership with Kingdom Konsult, a local consulting firm in sustainability and the circular economy.Both the entities signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the college’s new NBK1 campus, outlining a broad plan for professional, academic, and knowledge-based collaboration.This partnership has been developed to create meaningful opportunities for AFG College students to engage with real-life business environments and build professional competencies that will complement their academic experience."This agreement signed today demonstrates our ongoing commitment as an organisation to bridging the gap between academia and industry," said Sheikha Anwar bint Nawaf al- Thani, chief executive officer of Al Faleh Educational Holding.The scope of the MoU includes the offering of internships for students, giving them direct access to innovative projects that Kingdom Konsult are working on.Such opportunities allow students to apply the theoretical concepts taught in the classroom to a practical setting, thus gaining hands-on experience at a leading sustainability driven consultancy.Kingdom Konsult will participate at the college’s annual careers fair event, offering the opportunity for mentorships, as well as attending other career focused events.The partnership will allow Kingdom Konsult the opportunity to be actively involved in panel discussions, roundtable events, as well as guest lectures, which offers students insights from a leading provider of consultancy services. "This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to advancing Qatar’s sustainability and knowledge-based economy," said Katina Aghayan, founder and chief executive officer of Kingdom Konsult.Kingdom Konsult views education as the foundation of transformation, where young talents are empowered to think critically, innovate responsibly, and lead with purpose, according to her."Together, we are cultivating the next generation of sustainability leaders who will shape a greener, more resilient future for Qatar and the region," she said.AFG College will develop bespoke professional training for the staff of Kingdom Konsult, which will focus on developing their leadership and strategic decision-making abilities. These workshops will be developed in consultation with the firm and delivered by AFG faculty."As the nation moves forward with its drive towards being a knowledge-based economy, such partnerships will prove vital in shaping future generations," Sheikha Anwar said.

Cityscape Qatar 2025, a major event in the Gulf region's property sector, yesterday got off to a glittering start at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC), bringing together more than 70 leading developers. This year's edition, inaugurated by HE the Minister of Municipality Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah al-Attiya in the presence of Majed bin Abdullah al-Hogail and Khalid bin Ahmad al-Obaidli, president of the Real Estate Regulatory Authority - Aqarat, is expected to see more than QR400mn in transactions. The 13th edition also saw unveiling of the ‘Cityscape Real Estate Investor Programme 2025’, a gateway connecting VIP and high-net-worth investors directly with Qatar's top-tier developers and government decision-makers. It is supported by Visit Qatar. As many as 13 investors, representing nine countries and a combined $2.5bn in assets under management, will gain curated access to deal flows and new investment horizons. The three-day Cityscape Qatar is being held in conjunction with the third Qatar Real Estate Forum (QREF). HE the Minister of Municipality led the ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by a tour of the exhibition as they explored key exhibitors and learned about Qatar's latest development projects and real estate offerings. Cityscape Qatar features an extensive exhibition floor, showcasing a diverse range of residential, commercial, and hospitality projects from both local and international developers. The government Pavilion showcased the strength of Qatar’s real estate sector and the diverse range of investment opportunities available. One of the most transformative initiatives has been Qatar’s groundbreaking property ownership reforms, which grant non-Qataris the eligibility to own property and invest in the real estate sector. These initiatives offer an array of benefits, such as permanent residency and the ability to invest in selected commercial activities. Leading financial institutions in Qatar had their stalls, outlining the attractive mortgage loans with competitive rates and flexible terms, further enhancing the appeal to investors and homebuyers. The growing diversity of property offerings, coupled with the country’s high quality of life, makes Qatar an ideal destination for real estate investments. Qatar had seen a robust 114% year-on-year increase in residential transactions in the second quarter (Q2), indicating growing confidence among investors on resilient performance across the country’s real estate sector, according to Knight Frank, a global property consultancy. The event allows visitors the chance to explore innovative architectural designs, discover lucrative investment opportunities, and gain valuable insights into the market's future trajectory.

Foreign funds’ sell-off drags QSE below 10,900 points; M-cap erodes QR4.29bnReflecting concerns on the international markets due to the US' additional tariffs on China, the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) today fell about 94 points to settle below 10,900 levels and market capitalisation eroded in excess of QR4bn.The foreign funds were seen net profit takers as the 20-stock Qatar Index shed 0.86% to 10,839.72 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,932 points.An across the board selling, especially in the insurance, transport and banking counters, was dragged the main market, whose year-to-date gains truncated to 2.54%.About 83% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose capitalisation eroded QR4.29bn or 0.66% to QR649.93bn; mainly on mid and small cap segments.The Arab individuals were increasingly net sellers in the main market, which saw as many as 0.38mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.88mn trade across 71 deals.The Gulf funds were also increasingly bearish in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the rise.The Islamic index was seen declining slower than the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.However, the local retail investors were increasingly net buyers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index declined 0.86%, the All Share Index by 0.83% and the All Islamic Index 0.81% in the main market.The insurance sector index tanked 1.35%, transport (1.31%), banks and financial services (0.9%), industrials (0.77%), telecom (0.38%), real estate (0.32%) and consumer goods and services (0.25%).As many as 43 stocks declined, while only eight increased and one was unchanged.Major shakers in the main market included QLM, Qatar National Cement, Qatar Islamic Bank, Qatar Insurance, Qatar German Medical Devices, Lesha Bank, Mannai Corporation, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Qamco, Qatar Electricity and Water, Barwa, Milaha and Nakilat. In the junior bourse, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value.Nevertheless, Ezdan, Ahlibank Qatar, Estithmar Holding, Mazaya Qatar and Zad Holding were among the gainers in the main market.The foreign institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR21.95mn compared with net buyers of QR22.61mn on October 9.The Arab individual investors’ net selling increased markedly to QR2.41mn against QR1.4mn the previous trading day.The Gulf institutions’ net buying weakened marginally to QR4.08mn compared to QR4.13mn last Thursday.However, the local individual investors were net buyers to the extent of QR20.17mn against net sellers of QR14.28mn on October 9.The foreign retail investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR4.14mn compared with net sellers of QR1.14mn the previous trading day.The domestic institutions were net buyers to the extent of QR1mn against net profit takers of QR7.77mn last Thursday.The Arab institutions’ net buying strengthened marginally to QR0.31mn compared to QR0.15mn on October 9.The Gulf retail investors’ net profit booking shrank noticeably to QR0.34mn against QR2.29mn the previous trading day.The main market saw 24% jump in trade volumes to 133.19mn shares and 10% in value to QR288mn but on 28% contraction in deals to 13,421.In the venture market, a total of 0.03mn equities valued at QR0.07mn changed hands across 14 transactions.

Barwa Real Estate Group, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, yesterday announced the launch of new luxury brand “Barwa Royal” as a premium realty offering and also unveiled the second phase of “Barwa Hills”. These, along with other announcements, were made at the three-day Cityscape 2025, which began here at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre. Barwa's strong participation with a range of new real estate and investment offers at the Cityscape reflect its leadership in the realty sector. Barwa Real Estate aims to launch its second brand in real estate development for sale, “Barwa Royal”, which offers fully developed, ready-to-occupy luxury residential units in the most prestigious locations of Jabal Thaileb in the heart of Lusail City. This product represents a highly attractive opportunity for both investors and residents seeking premium living. **media[367718]** Following the tremendous success and the complete sale of all units in the first phase, Barwa will launch the second phase of its Barwa Hills project, located in the Jabal Thaileb area of Lusail, a city representing Qatar’s leap toward the future and offering a wealth of attractions and recreational opportunities for families, residents, and international investors alike. Barwa Hills features high-quality residential units with practical layouts designed to meet residents’ needs while avoiding significant financial burden through a flexible instalment plan. The first phase of the project was launched during Cityscape Qatar 2024, attracting significant attention from exhibition visitors and resulting in the sale of all units. The company now aims to open reservations for the second phase. Continuing its leadership in real estate development and investment, Barwa Real Estate will also introduce a new brand in real estate investment, marking a first-of-its-kind initiative in Qatar. "This innovative offering is set to open new horizons in the local real estate market and create unique investment opportunities,” a company spokesman said. Barwa Real Estate Group is also launching a range of exclusive rental promotional offers during Cityscape Qatar 2025. These offers will cover several of its key projects, including the remaining units in the third phase of Madinat Al Mowater, where all previous phases were fully leased through a lottery system due to high demand. Other projects include Madinatna Family Residences, Argentine Neighborhood for Worker Housing, Barwa Al Baraha Worker Housing, and several additional developments. During the exhibition, Barwa Real Estate’s pavilion will witness the signing of several contracts with various companies and entities for leasing properties within its flagship projects. These agreements will contribute to boosting investment, commercial, residential, and educational activities, while increasing the value of the group’s portfolio, reflecting its ongoing approach to expanding the client base and strengthening strategic partnerships in the market.

Total value of contracts awarded in Qatar saw a 116% jump year-on-year this third quarter (Q3) as Doha's successful bid to host the 2030 Asian Games laid solid foundation for the projects market, Kamco Invest, a regional non-banking entity, has said.In contrast, total value of contracts awarded across the GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council) region fell after four of the six countries recorded year-on-year decreases in project awards during Q3-2025 as geopolitical conflict in the Middle East continue to persist and weigh on risk appetite, Kamco Invest said in its latest report, quoting MEED Projects.Total value of contracts awarded in Qatar surged by 115.9% year-on-year to $13.6bn in Q3-2025."This growth was partially driven by preparations relating to Qatar’s successful bid to host the 2030 Asian Games, which is expected to catalyse a vast array of industrial and infrastructure projects aimed at building, preparing, and upgrading facilities for the event," Kamco said.In the first nine months of 2025, the total value of projects awarded in Qatar improved 27.6% year-on-year to $20.5bn.In terms of sectoral performance, the oil and gas sectors led with the highest values of contracts awarded during Q3-2025 at $6bn and $5bn, respectively.Moreover, total value of projects awarded in the power sector reached $2.3bn in Q3-2025, up from zero awards in Q3-2024. Notable projects awarded during the quarter included about $4bn of contracts won by China Offshore Oil Engineering for the Bul Hanine offshore oil field, located 120 KM offshore in the Gulf waters.The scope entails maintenance and increased oil production at the Bul Hanine field, including installation of four wellhead platforms requiring 80,000 tonnes of fabrication work, expansion of existing offshore production stations, and construction of living quarters.The GCC region saw 27% year-on-year plunge in aggregate value of awards to $54.8bn in Q3-2025, the second-lowest figure in the last ten quarters. This downturn was primarily driven by a sharp contraction in project awards in Saudi Arabia, together with a similar weak performance in the UAE, both of which saw significant year-on-year declines in awards during the period.However, contract awards are expected to gain momentum in the fourth quarter of 2025, driven primarily by recoveries in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.“Despite a strong project pipeline, overall project awards in 2025 in the GCC are expected to decline and fall short of the 2024 record contract awards,” Kamco said.Overall, the GCC’s pipeline of pre-execution stage contracts totals $1.78tn. The construction sector holds the largest share of the contracts in the pipeline at 35%, equivalent to $624.2bn, followed by transport ($300bn) and power ($294.2bn).According to MEED, the GCC power sector has at least 29 independent power projects (IPPs) at the bidding or bid-evaluation stages, mainly led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE.One of the notable leading power projects under tender or in bid evaluation in the near term is the 3,000MW Al-Sadawi 2 solar IPP.

The US rate-cut hopes and Gaza ceasefire had their overarching influence on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE), which reported gains this week vis-a-vis bearish spell in the previous three weeks.Notwithstanding selling pressure in five of the seven sectors, the 20-stock Qatar Index gained 0.65% this week which saw QNB report net profit of QR12.83bn in the first nine months of this year.The Gulf institutions were seen net buyers in the main bourse this week which saw Dukhan Bank post net profit of QR1.19bn in January-September 2025.The Arab individuals were increasingly net buyers in the main market this week which saw Mazaya Real Estate Development, in partnership with Al Jassasya Holding Company, launch a new project “Via D’oro” on Qetaifan Island in Lusail City.The Arab institutions turned bullish, albeit at lower levels, in the main bourse this week which saw QNB Group receive licence for a digital-first banking entity, ezbank, from the Central Bank of Egypt.The foreign funds’ substantially weakened net selling had its influence on the main bourse this week which saw QNB Group's successful refinancing of $1.5bn unsecured syndicated term loan facility.However, the local retail investors were increasingly net profit takers in the main market this week which saw a total of 0.77mn AlRayan Bank-sponsored exchange traded fund QATR worth QR1.88mn trade across 267 deals.The domestic funds were also increasingly net sellers in the main bourse this week which saw a total of 7,307 AlRayan Bank-sponsored exchange traded fund QATR worth QR0.08mn trade across nine deals.The Islamic index was seen gaining slower than the other indices of the main market this week, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.Market capitalisation expanded QR3.63bn or 0.56% to QR654.22bn on the back of mid cap segments this week which saw no trading of treasury bills.Trade turnover and volumes were on the decrease in the main and junior markets this week which saw the consumer goods, industrials and realty sectors together constitute more than 77% of the total trade volumes.The Total Return Index rose 0.65%, the All Share Index by 0.71% and the All Islamic Index by 0.25%.The banks and financial services sector index shot up 1.56% and telecom 0.63%; while transport declined 0.74%, insurance (0.7%), real estate (0.65%), consumer goods and services (0.61%) and industrials (0.19%) this week.The market was otherwise skewed towards shakers with as many as 31 constituents reporting declines, while 20 gained and two were unchanged this week.Major gainers in the main market included Qamco, QNB, Al Mahhar Holding, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Qatar Islamic Bank, QIIB, Dukhan Bank, Aamal Company and Ooredoo.Nevertheless, about 59% of the traded constituents were in the red with major losers being Widam Food, Inma Holding, Ezdan, Qatar National Cement, Gulf Warehousing, Qatar German Medical Devices, Medicare Group, United Development Company, Mazaya Qatar and Nakilat in the main bourse.In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value this week.The Gulf institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR43.96mn compared with net sellers of QR50.01mn the previous week.The Arab individual investors’ net buying increased perceptibly to QR7.68mn against QR2.25mn the week ended October 2.The Arab institutions were net buyers to the extent of QR0.15mn compared with no major net exposure a week ago.The foreign institutions’ net selling weakened significantly to QR0.97mn against QR90.53mn the previous week.However, the Qatari individuals turned net sellers to the tune of QR38.51mn compared with net buyers of QR124.11mn the week ended October 2.The domestic institutions’ net profit booking expanded marginally to QR13.16mn against QR12.59mn a week ago.The Gulf individuals were net sellers to the extent of QR0.73mn compared with net buyers of QR8.85mn the previous week.The foreign retail investors’ net buying shrank noticeably to QR1.57mn against QR17.92mn the week ended October 2.The main market saw a 9% contraction in trade volumes to 573.88mn shares, 24% in value to QR1.42bn and 22% in deals to 83,240 this week.In the venture market, trade volumes plummeted 90% to 0.06mn equities, value by 91% to QR0.15mn and transactions by 80% to 38.

The US rate cut hopes and Gaza ceasefire positively influenced the Qatar Stock Exchange, which yesterday gained about 36 points and capitalisation add about QR2bn.The foreign institutions turned bullish as the 20-stock Qatar Index rose 0.33% to 10,938.22 points, recovering from an intraday low of 10,885 points.The telecom, transport and real estate counters witnessed higher than average demand in the main market, whose year-to-date gains improved to 3.43%.About 53% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors in the main bourse, whose capitalisation added QR1.72bn or 0.26% to QR654.22bn; mainly on microcap segments.The Arab institutions were seen net buyers, albeit at lower levels, in the main market, which saw as many as 0.11mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.28mn trade across 34 deals.The Gulf funds continued to be net buyers but with lesser intensity in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decline.The Islamic index was seen gaining on par with the main barometer of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The local retail investors were increasingly net sellers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds. The Total Return Index rose 0.33%, the All Share Index by 0.26% and the All Islamic Index 0.33% in the main market.The telecom sector index shot up 1.2%, transport (0.48%), realty (0.4%), industrials (0.27%) and banks and financial services (0.19%); while consumer goods and services declined 0.12% and insurance 0.03%.As many as 27 stocks gained, while only 18 declined and six were unchanged.Major gainers in the main market included Qamco, Ooredoo, Qatar Electricity and Water, Mazaya Qatar and Nakilat.Nevertheless, Estithmar Holding, Beema, Meeza, Qatar Industrial Manufacturing and Qatar National Cement were among the shakers in the main bourse.In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value.The foreign institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR22.61mn compared with net sellers of QR7.65mn on October 8.The Arab institutions were net buyers to the extent of QR0.15mn against no major net exposure the previous nine consecutive sessions.However, the local individual investors’ net selling expanded substantially to QR14.28mn compared to QR0.33mn on Wednesday.The domestic institutions’ net profit booking strengthened noticeably to QR7.77mn against QR4.46mn on October 8.The Gulf retail investors were net sellers to the extent of QR2.29mn compared with net buyers of QR0.46mn the previous day.The Arab individual investors turned net sellers to the tune of QR1.4mn against net buyers of QR0.09mn on Wednesday. The foreign retail investors’ net profit booking expanded perceptibly to QR1.14mn compared to QR0.5mn on October 8.The Gulf institutions’ net buying weakened markedly to QR4.13mn against QR12.38mn the previous day.The main market saw a 16% contraction in trade volumes to 107.63mn shares and 22% in value to QR261.66mn but on 12% jump in deals to 18,518.In the venture market, a total of 9,700 equities valued at QR0.02mn changed hands across seven transactions.

Qatar, whose Islamic finance assets have grown rapidly over past two decades, yesterday called for unified efforts at the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC) level to standardise norms for enhancing negotiating power and establish Islamic finance as pillar of international economic stability.“It is crucial to unify efforts and co-ordination within the OIC to standardise norms, financial regulations, and shared platforms,” Qatar Central Bank (QCB) Deputy Governor Sheikh Ahmed bin Khalid bin Ahmed bin Sultan al-Thani told the 8th International Conference on Islamic Finance, organised by Hamad bin Khalifa University, in association with the Qatar Financial Centre.This, according to him, enables cross-border Islamic finance to support trade, investment, and infrastructure development.“Adopting a co-ordinated financial strategy enhances negotiating power in international forums, helps face external shocks and establishes Islamic finance as a pillar of global economic stability,” he said.A study in 82 countries showed Islamic banking reduces volatility, supports long-term growth, and expands financial inclusion, especially in areas lacking access to traditional banking services, Sheikh Ahmed said, highlighting the benefits of various mechanisms like Zakat, Waqf, and microfinance, designed to meet local needs and values, offering different growth advantages.Despite this growth, the sector faces structural and operational challenges, he said, adding these include differing Shariah rulings limiting expansion and cross-border coordination, liquidity constraints in some markets due to limited products, and regulatory “gaps”."These factors impact integration and limit the sector's potential," Sheikh Ahmed said.Islamic finance in Qatar has grown rapidly over the past two decades with assets reaching QR683bn by the end of 2024, registering an annual growth of 4.1%, he said, adding Islamic banking alone accounted for QR585bn, with 6.8% growth annually since 2020.Highlighting that legislation and infrastructure have supported this growth and that the third strategic plan for the financial sector prioritises Islamic finance; he said this, alongside the fintech strategy, highlights opportunities offered by the state's leadership in Islamic banking and insurance, allowing digital innovation to be a key enabler for Islamic finance.He said Islamic finance promotes sustainability by incorporating it into Shariah-compliant products, linking finance to real economic activity, making it an ideal tool for investments in social governance, environmental practices, and green sukuk.Sheikh Ahmed said the assets of Islamic banks globally reached $3.88tn, recording an annual growth of 14.9%. Islamic banking assets rose by 17%, Islamic takaful assets by 16.9% and sukuk issuance by 25.6% in 2024."This serves as a vital alternative to capital, especially with increasing competition for access to international capital. Islamic finance in OIC countries has helped build strong financial relationships within the organisation," he said.Finding that today, the global economy faces a period of disruption and fragmentation, as economic blocs and countries move towards isolationism; he said amidst such challenges, Islamic finance emerges as a flexible tool in a fragmented economic landscape, based on principles of promoting financial stability, financial inclusion, and real economic value.

Qatar, which has built one of the strongest Islamic finance ecosystems in the world, has tokenised sukuk and digital takaful platforms, enhancing transparency and global access as well as improving settlement speed and risk-sharing, according to a top official of the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC).Addressing the 8th International Conference on Islamic Finance, organised by Hamad bin Khalifa University, QFC Authority chief executive officer Yousef Mohamed al-Jaida said digital investment platforms are providing automated, Shariah-compliant portfolios; while crowdfunding platforms are enabling ethical investments in real estate and social impact projects."We have tokenised sukuk and digital takaful platforms that are not only enhancing transparency but improving settlement speed and risk-sharing in real time," he said, adding the extent of how emerging technologies, like blockchain, can expand Islamic finance is "limitless".Smart contracts and AI (artificial intelligence)-driven Shariah advisory tools can automate compliance and auditing, while cross-border digital settlement corridors and tokenised real-economy assets can enhance efficiency and global access.Stressing that innovation in the industry will only accelerate; he said what’s important now is to ensure that technological advancements are integrated without compromising the core principles of Islamic finance, to preserve its integrity."At the QFC, we are actively shaping this future. Through initiatives such as our Digital Assets Lab and the QFC Digital Assets Framework, we are building an enabling ecosystem for digital assets — from tokenisation and smart contracts to custody solutions. These efforts create a space where Islamic finance can harness innovation while remaining firmly aligned with Shariah principles," according to him.In this regard, he said a recent development on the platform is the launch of a proof of concept for a blockchain-based digital receipt system, designed to enhance efficiency and regulatory compliance in Shariah-compliant asset-backed finance.This development was enabled through the collaboration of a consortium of partners — AlRayan Bank, Blade Labs, and Hashgraph — each contributing unique expertise to a shared vision of financial innovation.Highlighting that the global Islamic finance assets are projected to reach $7.5tn by 2028, al-Jaida said to broaden access to Islamic finance, there is a need to strengthen international cooperation and harmonise standards.Finding that Shariah governance models vary across jurisdictions, which create uncertainty and compliance burdens for businesses and investors, holding back cross-border investments; he said regulations “do not need to be identical; they only need to be in harmony” to establish clarity and promote confidence.Highlighting that Qatar and the QFC are committed to achieving this locally; he said the QFC has established a comprehensive framework aligned with the AAOIFI (Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions) standards, covering risk management, corporate governance, and the prohibition of non-compliant activities.Al-Jaida said the ethical principles of Islamic finance are particularly relevant today because addressing economic instability and social inequality requires equity and shared responsibility.These values are embedded in Shariah-compliant instruments, which, when applied effectively, can enhance institutional resilience, enable more inclusive wealth distribution, and align economic growth with sustainability, according to him."The country has built one of the strongest Islamic finance ecosystems in the world, with two of its fully pledged Islamic banks among the largest in the region by asset size, alongside a growing network of Islamic finance companies, Shariah-focused investment firms, takaful providers, and Shariah-compliant investment funds," he said, adding Islamic finance is also a priority within the Qatar Third Financial Sector Strategic Plan.A central component of this strategy is to integrate Islamic finance more deeply across banking, insurance, capital markets and digital finance, while raising awareness and expanding its visibility both locally and internationally, according to him.

Middle East sees "notable" jump in imports of servers and telecom hardware in H1-2025; reflects sovereign-led digital transformation: WTOThe Middle East registered a "notable" increase in imports of servers and telecom hardware in the first half (H1) of 2025, reflecting sovereign-led digital transformation, according to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).In its Global Trade Outlook and Statistics Update: October 2025, the WTO made this observation as it said the (Middle East) region is also playing a bigger role in AI (artificial intelligence)-related trade, albeit from smaller bases.All major components of AI-related trade flows, such as final goods, equipment, and intermediate inputs, have seen an increase in their share of world trade value over the past two years.The second quarter (Q2) of 2025 witnessed that the uptick in the share of AI-related goods in total trade was in large part related to increased imports and exports of equipment, such as machines and tools used for semiconductor manufacturing and testing. This category alone was responsible for almost 2% of global trade value, gaining 0.5% in Q2-2025.The Middle East region's export volume of merchandise trade grew at 3.7% year-on-year in H1-2025, it said, adding the annualised growth in merchandise export volume for H1-2025 was "positive" in most WTO regions, with Asia leading growth at 10.4%.On the import side, all regions experienced positive year-on-year growth for H1-2025; the Middle East had more moderate import volume growth of 5.1% compared to South America's 14.7% and Africa's 13.7%.In 2026, trade growth forecasts for most regions and the world have been revised downward. The largest downgrade on the export side is for the Middle East, while the biggest reduction on the import side is for North America.In the new forecast, Asia should record the fastest export volume growth of any region in 2025, at 5.3%, followed closely by Africa, also at 5.3%. These regions should be followed by South and Central America and the Caribbean (2.4%), the Middle East (2%) and Europe (0.7%).Africa should see the fastest import growth of any region this year, at 11.8%, followed by South and Central America and the Caribbean (8.8%), Asia (5.7%), the Middle East (3.7%), the CIS (2.7%) and Europe (2.4%).In commercial services, the WTO report said the Middle East will expand by 4.4% in 2025, with growth easing to 3.9% in 2026.The WTO report found that global merchandise trade grew faster than expected in H1-2025 as the US imports surged ahead of expected tariff hikes and as spending on AI-related products accelerated, particularly in Asia and North America.

Market EyeThe Federal Reserve rate cut hopes Tuesday helped the Qatar Stock Exchange gain as much as 23 points and its key index surpassed 10,900 levels.The Gulf institutions were seen increasingly net buyers as the 20-stock Qatar Index rose 0.21% to 10,911.53 points, recovering from an intraday low of 10,851 points.The banking, transport and insurance counters witnessed higher than average demand in the main market, whose year-to-date gains improved to 3.22%.About 56% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors in the main bourse, whose capitalisation added QR0.89bn or 0.14% to QR654.4bn; mainly on small and microcap segments.The foreign institutions’ weakened net profit booking had its influence on the main market, which saw as many as 0.06mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank) valued at QR0.14mn trade across 27 deals.The Arab individuals continued to be net buyers but with lesser intensity in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decline.The Islamic index was seen gaining slower than the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The Gulf retail investors continued to be bullish but with lesser vigour in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index rose 0.21%, the All Share Index by 0.23% and the All Islamic Index 0.13% in the main market.The banks and financial services sector index gained 0.42%, transport (0.41%) and insurance (0.28%); while telecom fell 0.17%, industrials (0.15%), real estate (0.1%) and consumer goods and services (0.02%).As many as 29 stocks gained, while only 18 declined and five were unchanged.Major gainers in the main market included Qamco, Lesha Bank, Mekdam Holding, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Inma Holding, Gulf International Services, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding and Milaha.Nevertheless, Mazaya Qatar, Widam Food, Ezdan, Medicare Group, Doha Bank, Mannai Corporation, Estithmar Holding and Vodafone Qatar were among the shakers in the main bourse. In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value.The Gulf institutions’ net buying strengthened noticeably to QR15.22mn compared to QR8.82mn the previous day.The foreign institutions’ net profit booking weakened significantly to QR3.03mn against QR16.26mn on October 6.However, the local individual investors’ net selling expanded perceptibly to QR10.66mn compared to QR6.7mn on Monday.The domestic institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR4.04mn against net buyers of QR7.96mn the previous day.The foreign retail investors were net sellers to the extent of QR0.34mn compared with net buyers of QR0.4mn on October 6.The Arab individual investors’ net buying decreased markedly to QR2.54mn against QR4.73mn on Monday.The Gulf retail investors’ net buying declined notably to QR0.31mn compared to QR1.04mn the previous day.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the eighth consecutive session.The main market saw 9% contraction in trade volumes to 108.75mn shares, 12% in value to QR277.76mn and 31% in deals to 14,894.In the venture market, a total of 7,934 equities valued at QR0.02mn changed hands across 10 transactions.

Qatar, along with other Gulf countries, is scaling up renewable energy and advancing decarbonisation agenda as battery storage is becoming critical to the Middle East’s energy transition, according to Standard and Poor's (&P).In its latest report, S&P said battery storage is becoming critical to the Middle East’s energy transition, bridging the gap between abundant but intermittent solar and wind generation and sharply rising demand.The GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries are hosting some of the world’s largest battery tenders, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE spearheading giga-scale deployments, it said.Highlighting that battery storage is fast becoming a central pillar of the GCC energy strategies, it said the Gulf countries are accelerating their energy-transition strategies in line with their long-term goals to reduce emissions, diversify their economies, and strengthen their energy resilience.Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 clearly illustrates this shift as its government aims to generate 50% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, with the rest to come from highly efficient gas-fired plants, it said, adding the UAE has committed to net-zero emissions by 2050, supported by large-scale solar projects, competitive tenders, and a robust clean-energy roadmap."Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain are also scaling up renewable energy, advancing their own decarbonisation agendas through utility-scale procurement and public-private partnerships," S&P said.Finding that the growing share of intermittent renewables in the generation mix also raises system-level challenges, it said peak electricity demand in the region typically occurs in the evening, when solar production drops.This mismatch between the timing of generation and demand means that without flexible resources, renewables can't deliver reliable power, thus addressing this challenge has now become a priority for both policy and investment, it said."In this context, we are seeing a strong push for battery energy storage systems (BESS), not just as optional add-ons, but as enablers of energy security and grid flexibility in a low-carbon system," the credit rating agency said, adding "momentum is building across the region, projects are scaling up, and procurement pipelines are expanding. In our view, battery storage is becoming critical to delivering reliable, round-the-clock, clean power."Highlighting that falling battery prices are reinforcing the economic case for storage across the GCC; it said decade, lithium-ion battery prices have declined by more than 80%, driven by global electric-vehicle demand, scaled manufacturing, and steady advances in battery design, performance, and durability."This cost trajectory is especially critical for the GCC, where the cost of solar photovoltaic (PV) power is already among the lowest in the world--often below $0.02 per kilowatt hour (/KWh)," it said.Stressing that the case for battery storage is particularly strong in the Middle East due to the region’s unique combination of high levels of sunshine and sharply defined load curves; it said other GCC countries, including Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain, are beginning to explore grid- connected storage solutions, although these efforts remain nascent."Nonetheless, the growing number of large-scale procurements across multiple jurisdictions show that battery storage is moving from theoretical to practical applications," the report said, expecting project finance to remain the dominant funding model for battery storage projects in the GCC region.(Ends)

The US government shutdown and the appurtenant uncertainties had an overarching influence on the Qatar Stock Exchange, which yesterday saw its index lose more than 27 points to settle below 10,900 levels.The transport and consumer goods counters witnessed higher than average selling pressure as the 20-stock Qatar Index shed 0.25% to 10,888.55 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,921 points.The foreign institutions turned net profit takers in the main market, whose year-to-date gains truncated to 3%.More than 67% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose capitalisation melted QR0.69bn or 0.11% to QR653.57bn; mainly on microcap segments.The local retail investors were seen increasingly net sellers in the main market, which saw as many as 0.22mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.56mn trade across 85 deals.The foreign individuals’ weakened net buying had its influence on the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the rise.The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.However, the Gulf funds were increasingly net buyers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index shed 0.25%, the All Share Index by 0.16% and the All Islamic Index 0.27% in the main market.The transport sector index declined 0.92%, consumer goods and services (0.71%), industrials (0.14%), telecom (0.13%) and banks and financial services (0.03%); while insurance gained 0.24%. The real estate index was unchanged.As many as 35 stocks declined, while only 10 declined and seven were unchanged.Major shakers in the main market included Inma Holding, Nakilat, Qatar Electricity and Water, Widam Food, Medicare Group, Alijarah Holding, Aamal Company, Gulf International Services, Mazaya Qatar, Ezdan, United Development Company and Ooredoo.Nevertheless, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Qamco, Vodafone Qatar, Barwa and QNB were among the movers in the main bourse. In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares appreciate in value.The foreign institutions were net sellers to the extent of QR16.26mn compared with net buyers of QR3.36mn the previous day.The Qatari individual investors’ net profit booking increased marginally to QR6.7mn against QR6.54mn on October 5.The foreign retail investors’ net buying weakened notably to QR0.4mn compared to QR3.14mn on Sunday.However, the Gulf institutions’ net buying strengthened significantly to QR8.82mn against QR3.41mn the previous day.The domestic institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR7.96mn compared with net profit takers of QR4.84mn on October 5.The Arab individual investors’ net buying increased perceptibly to QR4.73mn against QR1.73mn on Sunday.The Gulf retail investors were net buyers to the extent of QR1.04mn compared with net sellers of QR0.26mn the previous day.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the seventh consecutive session.The main market saw 10% jump in trade volumes to 119.85mn shares, 38% in value to QR316.69mn and 81% in deals to 21,500.In the venture market, a total of 0.01mn equities valued at QR0.04mn changed hands across eight transactions.(Ends)