Author

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)

The inward FDI (foreign direct investment) has about three times the growth impact of domestic investment in the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) economies, according to an International Monetary Fund (IMF) working paper.In a working paper 'Gulf Cooperation Council Diversification: The Role of Foreign Investments and Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWF)', the authors Yevgeniya Korniyenko and Weining Xin said their empirical analysis reaffirms the positive contribution of both inward and domestic investments to the GCC non-hydrocarbon GDP (gross domestic product) growth and economic diversification."Notably, inward foreign investment demonstrates a three times larger impact on non-hydrocarbon GDP growth compared to domestic investment, while outward GCC investment does not significantly affect domestic GDP growth," it said, adding, as much as 1% of GDP increase in inward investment is associated with more than 1% increase in the sectoral GDP over four years.On the other hand, the paper highlighted that domestic investment, led by SWFs, was found to have a statistically significant positive impact, with 1% of GDP increase in SWFs’ domestic investment associated with about 0.4% growth in non-hydrocarbon sectors’ GDP over four years.These findings suggest that the GCC policymakers should continue pursuing policies that attract foreign investment, including by further improving their business environment and strengthening institutions, while also encouraging domestic investment in partnerships with international private investors to accelerate diversification and promote growth, it said.The Gulf countries are actively diversifying their economies across output, export, and revenue dimensions, in line with their national development strategies and global decarbonisation objectives. Despite this momentum, challenges remain in achieving deeper diversification and in attracting FDI to non-hydrocarbon sectors with strong growth potential, according to the paper.The working paper assessed the role of cross-border and SWFs’ investments in fostering economic growth and diversification in the GCC. It said although the GCC countries attracted a higher share of foreign investment (as percent of GDP) since the pandemic, which positions them more centrally within the global FDI network, the overall foreign investment to the GCC remains low.Results show that the GCC countries continue to attract investments with the Western hemisphere and Europe accounting for about 60% of the total inward investment. At the same time, the share of intra-GCC investment as a proportion of total investment into the GCC region remains "stable" at above 25%, underscoring the region’s commitment to continued regional cooperation and integration.Since the pandemic, investment activity has increasingly shifted toward services, especially in transportation, logistics, ICT (information, communication and technology), and business services. The share of inward investment in services (excluding financial services) rose from an average of 30% during 2000–19 to around 70% in 2020–23."This trend is mirrored in outward and SWF-led investment. Within the GCC, SWFs allocate a significant portion of their investments to manufacturing and marketable services. While this sectoral shift is positive for diversification, it also raises concerns about concentration risks," the paper said.

Market EyeWeak energy prices, uncertainty on future Federal Reserve rate cuts and growing concerns on the US shutdown led to 95 points decline in index and more than QR6bn erosion in capitalisation in the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE), which closed in the negative for the third consecutive week.The Gulf institutions were increasingly net sellers as the 20-stock Qatar Index shed 0.87% this week which saw the International Monetary Fund (IMF) project a 4% medium-term growth for Qatar, reflecting the North Field expansion.About 83% of the traded constituents were in the red this week which saw the IMF find Qatar's banks to be in the pink of their health with strong capitalisation, liquidity and profitability.The domestic institutions turned bearish in the main market this week which saw Aamal Company’s board approve selling 51% stake in ECCO Gulf to its foreign partner Majorel Group Luxembourg for about QR36.4mn.The foreign funds continued to be net sellers but with lesser intensity in the main bourse this week which saw Techno Q win new government contracts valued at QR62mn.However, the local retail investors were increasingly net buyers in the main market this week which saw Aamal Company decide to establish a new joint venture in Qatar, operating in the oil and energy services sector, with Aamal Readymix and Oman's Mohammed Al Barwani Oil Services as partners.The foreign individuals were increasingly bullish in the main bourse this week which saw a total of 0.67mn AlRayan Bank-sponsored exchange traded fund QATR worth QR1.66mn trade across 260 deals.The Gulf retail investors were increasingly net buyers in the main market this week which saw 3,611 Doha Bank-sponsored exchange-traded fund QETF valued at QR0.04mn change hands across nine transactions.The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the other indices of the main market this week, which saw as many as 0.33mn of sovereign bonds valued at QR3.3bn trade across seven deals.Market capitalisation eroded QR6.16bn or 0.94% to QR650.59bn on the back of mid and small cap segments this week which saw no trading of treasury bills.Trade turnover and volumes were on the decrease in the main market, while those were on the rise in the venture market this week which saw the consumer goods and realty sectors together constitute about 51% of the total trade volumes.The Total Return Index shed 0.87%, the All Share Index by 0.75% and the All Islamic Index by 1.07% this week which saw QNB Group, in cooperation with Ajlan and Bros Holding, receive license for a digital-first banking entity, ezbank, from the Saudi Central Bank.The realty index tanked 1.53%, consumer goods and services (1%), industrials (0.8%), banks and financial services (0.73%), transport (0.62%), telecom (0.58%) and insurance (0.01%) this week which saw Oxford Economics report that said Qatar's renewed commitment to the North Field gas expansion will provide a big medium-term boost to the country's economyThe market was skewed towards shakers with as many 43 constituents reporting declines, while only nine gained this week which saw Qatar report a robust year-on-year double-digit jump in ships arrival through Hamad, Doha and Al Ruwais ports in the first nine months of this year.Major losers in the main market included Ezdan, Mazaya Qatar, Qatar German Medical Devices, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Qatar Islamic Bank, Lesha Bank, Dukhan Bank, Salam International Investment, Baladna, Meeza, Aamal Company, Industries Qatar and Estithmar Holding this week which saw Ooredoo's fully owned fintech subsidiary's intention to form a strategic collaboration with PayPal.Nevertheless, Beema, QLM, Doha Bank, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Al Khaleej Takaful and Qamco were among the movers in the main market this week which saw Ashghal announce 13 new contracts worth QR12bn to enhance the infrastructure of road and drainage networks and public buildings and improve the quality of life in Qatar.The Gulf institutions’ net selling increased substantially to QR50.01mn compared to QR26.2mn the week ended September 25.The domestic funds turned net sellers to the tune of QR12.59mn against net buyers of QR83.9mn the previous week.However, the Qatari individuals’ net buying strengthened significantly to QR124.11mn compared to QR73.37mn a week ago.The foreign retail investors’ net buying expanded noticeably to QR8.85mn against QR11.38mn the week ended September 25.The Gulf individuals’ net buying rose perceptibly to QR8.85mn compared to QR5.26mn the previous week.The Arab individual investors turned net buyers to the extent of QR2.25mn against net sellers of QR9.25mn a week ago.The foreign funds’ net selling weakened considerably to QR90.53mn compared to QR138.69mn the week ended September 25.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure against net buyers to the tune of QR0.23mn the previous week.The main market saw 29% contraction in trade volumes to 628.31mn shares, 19% in value to QR1.88bn and 6% in deals to 106,186 this week.In the venture market, trade volumes jumped 40% to 0.63mn equities and value by 40% to QR1.61mn on more than doubled transactions to 192.

Qatar's saw a robust year-on-year double-digit jump in ships arrival through Hamad, Doha and Al Ruwais ports in the first nine months (9M) of this year, leading to higher movement of containers, cargoes, livestock, RORO (vehicles) and building materials, according to official data.The positive momentum in the maritime sector is expected to continue in the light of the 12-month optimistic outlook, especially for the country’s non-energy private sector, as indicated by the purchasing managers’ index of the Qatar Financial Centre and the forecasts of the International Monetary Fund.The number of ships calling on Qatar's three ports stood at 2,276 in January-September, which saw an 11.3% growth compared to the previous year period. May saw the maximum number of ships berthed at 294, of which 153 was at the Hamad Port, according data released by Mwani Qatar.The building materials traffic through the three ports amounted to 488,069 tonnes in the review period, which reported the maximum growth of 84.37% on a yearly basis. In March 2024, as much as 88,131 tonnes of building materials were handled by the ports.The general cargo through three ports amounted to 1.34mn tonnes in the first nine months of 2025, surging 4.69% on an annualised basis. The maximum cargo handled was in August this year at 254,528 tonnes.Hamad Port – whose multi-use terminal is designed to serve the supply chains for the RORO, grains and livestock – was seen handling 120,710 freight tonnes (F/T) of breakbulk and 108,026 F/T of bulk in August this year.The three ports handled as many as 91,266 RORO in January-September 2025, registering a 2.21% increase on an annualised basis. In January this year, RORO movements was to the tune of 12,841 units, of which 12,823 was through Hamad Port.The container handling through the three ports stood at 1.11mn TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in 9M-2025, rising 1.83% year-on-year. The containers handled was seen the maximum in May at 142,843 TEUs.Hamad Port - which features an intermodal transport network that offers direct and indirect shipping services to more than 100 destinations, facilitating efficient transportation and logistics services locally and abroad - saw a total of 143,168 TEUs in May 2025.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.With a stacking area of 176,000sq m, the container terminal 2 or CT2 is equipped with the latest advanced technology, including remote-operated ship-to-shore cranes, hybrid rubber-tyred gantries, and electric tractors.Hamad Port, which recently celebrated a huge milestone of exceeding 10mn TEUs since beginning operations in 2016, has rapidly evolved into a critical hub for international shipping, catering to the needs of all major global shipping lines.The three ports were seen handling 403,868 livestock heads in January-September this year, which however showed a 6.28% decline year-on-year. The heaviest movement of livestock through three ports was reported in May when it was 80,396 units. Hamad Port alone handled 18,000 livestock heads in May 2025.

Qatar is gearing up to establish an advanced production plant centred on free-form design-for-manufacturing-and-assembly (DFMA) and energy-optimisation technologies to boost the country’s high-value manufacturing.The building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) assembly facility — combining geometry-agnostic, model-to-module mass-customisation with smart-factory workflows and just-in-time delivery — is one among the three projects envisaged. In this regard, the Qatar Financial Centre-based EnergyX, JMJ Group Holding, and Hexa Tech have entered into a pact to establish a trio of industrial initiatives in the country.At a ceremony marking the signing of the memorandum of understanding, Korean ambassador to Qatar Hyunsoo Yun and KOTRA Director General Hyuna Kim joined Sheikh Jabor bin Mansour bin Jabor al-Thani, chairman and managing director of JMJ Group Holding; Anas C Maideen, managing director of Hexa Tech; and EnergyX’s chief executive officers, Sean Sunghyun Park and Jean-Jacques Dandrieux.While the MoU is a framework, the scope is ambitious and directly aligned with Qatar’s drive to localise production, diversify the economy, and export Gulf-made solutions across Middle East and North Africa (Mena).The pact would accelerate the deployment of energy-optimised, free-form DFMA building systems, and also mark Mena’s first commercial rollout of UHPC (ultra-high performance concrete) underground safety-cabinet systems—sharpening global focus on Qatar’s smart-city tech leadership.“Qatar can shorten supply chains, improve delivery certainty, and nurture skilled roles across engineering, fabrication, quality, and operations,” said EnergyX founder and chief executive officer Sean Park told Gulf Times.The 3D-printing and smart-node engineering will deploy cutting-edge 3D-printing machinery to fabricate complex cast components for exterior (and interior) applications, enabling distinctive architectural forms while compressing production timelines.EnergyX and its South Korean parent will lead the delivery and implementation of its free-form DFMA, building energy optimisation, BIPV, and UHPC technologies; lead capital planning and coordination for the production plant; oversee technical and operational management; and procure and implement 3D-printing machinery and the engineering systems required to utilise it.JMJ Group Holding and Hexa Tech (Qatar) will arrange the advanced manufacturing sites; secure required business licences, permits, and approvals; provide local logistics; and lead sales, marketing, and business development across the Middle East.JMJ Group Holding - a leading real estate development and investment company - continues to shape Qatar’s skyline through strategic partnerships with Qetaifan Projects, GORD, and Zaha Hadid Architects.“With JMJ Group and Hexa Tech driving regional sales and marketing, Qatar could emerge as a Middle East hub for advanced façades and energy-generating building systems,” Park said.

Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) has made enhancement to its flexible certificate of deposits (Flexi CD), aligning the offering with sustainable finance principles to support green and socially responsible projects.The enhanced Flexi CD continues to offer attractive returns and flexibility while contributing to a positive environmental and social impact.Funds invested in Flexi CD will now be directed towards financing sustainable initiatives – including clean energy, pollution control, green buildings, education and healthcare; thus, offering customers a way to grow their savings, while supporting a sustainable future.Flexi CD is a flexible investment ‘Mudaraba’ product, allowing retail customers to collect profits at the end of each quarter and make early and partial redemptions during the tenor of the deposit.In the event of early redemption, the remaining balance will continue to earn the same expected profit rate. These certificate of deposits can be booked instantly and securely through the QIB mobile app.Flexi CD holders can apply for financing up to 100% of the deposit value, with a financing tenor equivalent to the CD maturity. The minimum subscription is QR100,000 or $25,000.Flexi CD is designed to promote long-term savings and offer attractive annual returns based on currency and tenor. They are available in both Qatari riyal and US dollar, with 1, 2, or 3-year tenors."The enhanced Flexi CD allows customers to grow their savings while contributing to sustainable development, aligning with our long-term commitment to responsible banking. This move is a natural progression of our product strategy meeting the evolving expectations of our stakeholders. It reflects QIB’s role as a forward-thinking financial institution committed to driving positive change," said D. Anand, QIB’s General Manager – Personal Banking Group.

Qatar's economy continues to show resilience and the outlook remains favourable with medium-term growth projected to average 4%, reflecting the North Field expansion, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).Twin external and fiscal surpluses are expected to continue and inflation is slated to remain above 2.5% in 2026 before it stabilises around 2% over the medium term, the IMF said in its Article IV consultation with Qatar."Qatar’s economy continues to demonstrate resilience, supported by forward-looking policies and large hydrocarbon wealth," said the Bretton Woods institution.The planned expansion of liquefied natural gas (LNG) production in the North Field will further strengthen Qatar’s position as a key global energy supplier and support both fiscal and external balances, it added."Overall growth over the medium term is projected to average 4%, reflecting the North Field expansion, which will significantly increase LNG production, and implementation of NDS3" (Third National Development Strategy), it said.“The ongoing implementation of NDS3 is facilitating a transition towards a private sector-led, knowledge-based, more diversified, and environmentally sustainable economy," according to IMF report.Robust non-hydrocarbon growth of more than 4% is expected in 2025, consistent with sound growth in the first half or G1 of 2025 and strong PMI (purchasing managers index) readings.Stressing that the outlook remains favourable; it said growth recovered to 2.4% in 2024, driven by faster non-hydrocarbon expansion at 3.4%.Highlighting twin external and fiscal surpluses to continue, it said the current account remained strong in 2024, posting a surplus exceeding 17% of GDP (gross domestic product).This outcome reflected robust service sector performance and current transfers, which together offset a worsening trade balance.The surplus remained solid in the first quarter of 2025 at 15.6% of GDP and the Qatar Central Bank continues to build foreign reserves ($55bn, 8.1 months of imports, in August), it said, adding the anticipated direct impact of the US tariffs is limited due to the exemption of hydrocarbon exports.“With lower hydrocarbon revenues, the overall fiscal surplus declined to 0.7% of GDP in 2024, although the non-hydrocarbon primary balance improved by 2.4 percentage points," it said.The 2025 budget plans for spending levels comparable to 2024, it said, adding gradual consolidation over the medium term would support a non-hydrocarbon primary balance consistent with intergenerational equity."Provided fiscal prudence is maintained, twin current account and fiscal surpluses are expected to continue over the medium term," the IMF said.The report said continued sound macroeconomic and financial sector policies alongside accelerated structural reforms would further strengthen Qatar’s dynamism and cement its resilience.

Reflecting the optimism on further rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve, the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) Monday gained for the second straight session as its key index rose more than 24 points and capitalisation added in excess of QR1bn.The local retail investors were seen net buyers as the 20-stock Qatar Index rose 0.22% to 11,001.88 points, recovering from an intraday low of 10,951 points.The foreign retail investors turned bullish in the main market, whose year-to-date gains improved to 4.08%.The telecom and transport counters witnessed higher than average demand in the main bourse, whose capitalisation added QR1.41bn or 0.21% to QR659.05bn; mainly on microcap segments.The Gulf retail investors were increasingly net buyers in the main market, which saw as many as 0.15mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.38mn trade across 57 deals.The domestic institutions continued to be net buyers but with lesser intensity in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the rise.The Islamic index was seen gaining on par with the key barometer of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The Gulf institutions were increasingly net profit takers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index gained 0.22%, the All Share Index by 0.13% and the All Islamic Index 0.22% in the main market.The telecom sector index shot up 2.63% and transport 0.65%; while insurance declined 0.68%, consumer goods and services (0.36%), real estate (0.25%), industrials (0.03%) and banks and financial services (0.01%).As many as 16 stocks gained, while 26 declined and 10 were unchanged.Major gainers in the main market included Ooredoo, Nakilat, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Mekdam Holding, Dukhan bank, Estithmar Holding and Gulf Warehousing.Nevertheless, Qatar Insurance, Inma Holding, Mazaya Qatar, Mannai Corporation, Qatar Oman Investment, Qatar German Medical Devices, Baladna and Ezdan were among the shakers in the main bourse.In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value.The local retail investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR7.87mn compared with net sellers of QR13.97mn on September 28.The foreign individual investors were net buyers to the extent of QR3.71mn against net sellers of QR1.03mn the previous day.The Arab retail investors turned net buyers of QR1.53mn compared with net profit takers of QR1.03mn on Sunday.The Gulf individual investors’ net buying strengthened marginally to QR0.99mn against QR0.61mn on September 28.However, the Gulf funds’ net profit booking expanded perceptibly to QR14.68mn compared to QR13.42mn the previous day.The foreign institutions’ net selling increased noticeably to QR1.48mn against QR0.2mn on Sunday.The domestic institutions’ net buying weakened markedly to QR2.05mn compared to QR4.7mn on September 28.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the second consecutive session.The main market saw a 46% jump in trade volumes to 121.25mn shares and 49% in value to QR363.92mn on more than doubled deals to 25,597.In the venture market, a total of 0.35mn equities valued at QR0.92mn changed hands across 101 transactions.

QatarEnergy has signed a long-term sales and purchase agreement (SPA) with Messer for the supply of 100mn cubic feet per annum of high-purity helium from Qatar’s world-class facilities in Ras Laffan to global markets.This marks QatarEnergy’s first direct long-term SPA with Messer, the largest privately held industrial gases company, headquartered in Germany. The SPA signing was hosted by His Excellency Saad Sherida al-Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the president and chief executive officer of QatarEnergy, and attended by Bernd Eulitz, Global chief executive officer of Messer SE & Co., during a special ceremony held at QatarEnergy’s headquarters in Doha. The event was attended by senior executives from both companies."Messer is a leading global supplier of helium with a strong reputation and diverse assets. We are delighted to enter into our first direct agreement with Messer and to continue providing high-quality helium to the world through reliable partners," al-Kaabi said.This pact, according to him, underscores QatarEnergy’s commitment to delivering reliable resources from one of the world’s largest helium producers to support fast-growing industries worldwide.Helium plays a critical role in advanced technologies, including MRI scanners, semiconductor manufacturing, quantum computing, fiber optics, and space exploration.

Techno Q, a leader in technology and digital solutions, particularly in the sports sector, has won new government contracts valued at QR62mn.These contracts include the supply, installation, and maintenance of giant screen systems and broadcasting infrastructure in several sports facilities across the country.This achievement is further evidence of the trust that government entities place in Techno Q’s services and its high efficiency in executing vital projects that meet international standards, the company said in its regulatory filing with the Qatar Stock Exchange.It also reflects the country's commitment to developing sports infrastructure and providing an advanced environment that supports both athletes and fans."These projects are not just new contracts; they are a direct contribution to supporting the development of sports in our country and an affirmation of our strategic partners' trust in our capabilities," said Zeyad al-Jaidah, a board member and managing director at Techno Q.Through these projects, Techno Q continues to solidify its position as a key partner in the nation's sports renaissance by providing advanced technological solutions and utilising the latest global systems in display, broadcasting, and lighting.This ensures that it keeps pace with the rapid developments in the sports industry and enhances the experience of fans, the filing said."With increasing national investments in this vital sector, Techno Q looks forward to more future successes and to solidifying its role as a reliable national company that supports the state's efforts in building a comprehensive and sustainable sports system," it added.

Qatar's renewed commitment to the North Field gas expansion will provide a big medium-term boost to the country's economy, according to Oxford Economics.The country grew by 1.9% year-on-year in the second quarter or Q2 of 2025, reflecting the economy's resilience against the regional and global headwinds, although the energy sector and the less supportive base from last year dragged on activity, Oxford Economics said in its latest research note.The non-hydrocarbon economy grew by 3.4% year-on-year, lifting the headline GDP (gross domestic product) by 2.2 ppts, but the oil sector contracted by 0.9% year-on-year, shaving 0.3 ppts from headline GDP growth, it said.On an annualised basis, Q2's expansion reflected strong performances from construction, trade, accommodation services, and the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector, it said, adding the manufacturing made a second consecutive positive contribution to annual growth in Q2.Keeping its 2025 growth forecast at 2.7% year-on-year but expecting the rate to nearly double in 2026-27 as the energy and non-energy sectors should contribute positively this year and beyond; it said "the authorities’ renewed commitment to the North Field gas expansion will provide a big medium-term boost, with North Field East's first production increase due by mid-2026, followed by the North Field South phase."Qatar targets LNG (liquefied natural gas) capacity target of 142mn tonnes per annum (Mtpa) by end-2030; up nearly 85% from the current 77Mtpa, and up 13% on the intermediate target of 126Mtpa by 2027.The first production boost will come from the North Field East project by mid-2026, followed by the North Field South phase of the expansion. The North Field West phase is in its early stages, with construction likely to begin in 2027."We forecast non-energy sector growth of 3.6% this year and a similar number in 2026, up from 3.4% in 2024," Oxford Economics said.Accordingly, Qatar's fiscal surplus is expected to improve from 0.7% of GDP in 2024 to 1.7% this year and further to 5.4% by 2026.On consumer price index (CPI) inflation front, the research note said it is expected to be 0.3% this year but would jump to 2.6% in 2026.The research note also said Saudi equity market may revive as cap on foreign ownership eases. "The Saudi equity market has underperformed its GCC peers year-to-date, but a higher foreign ownership limit could be a positive catalyst, reigniting global investor interest. Combined with expectations of resilient consumption growth, we see Saudi equities offering compelling investment value and expect the strong upward momentum to continue," it said.Dubai consolidated its global leadership in Greenfield foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first half (H1), attracting a record 643 projects and $11bn in FDI inflows (up 62% year-on-year), highlighting the strong investor confidence in robust economic fundamentals amid the heightened global uncertainty."We believe the combination of lower rates, strong employment growth, contained inflation, and a robust fiscal position creates a favourable environment for sustained growth and economic transformation. We forecast UAE GDP growth of 4.9% in 2025, underpinned by recovering oil production and an expansion of non-oil business activity, where FDI continues to play a pivotal role," Oxford Economics said.

The availability of electric heavy-duty trucks remains "limited" in Qatar and the wider Gulf Co-operation Council or GCC, underscoring the urgent need to expand supply and attract manufacturers to the region, a PricewaterhouseCoopers or PwC study has said.Stressing that accelerating sustainable trucking offers significant, measurable climate benefits; PwC Middle East research shows that, under a government-led scenario, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar could avoid up to 2.6mn tonnes of carbon dioxide annually by 2035 – the equivalent of 2.6 years of Qatar’s current road freight emissions.PwC and TruKKer, the Middle East’s first and largest on-demand truck aggregator, in their joint research across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar found that electric heavy-duty truck availability in the GCC remains limited, especially in the crucial mid-weight segment (10–20 tonnes), hindering fleet diversification and slowing electrification.With only 15 zero-emission models available - 70% fewer than in Europe - and most internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles being second-hand imports, "the region needs to expand its EV model availability, attract OEMs, and tailor deployment strategies to accelerate sustainable road freight transformation."The report said ambitious commitments made by countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other GCC countries include nationwide electrification targets to public-private partnerships for clean transport.With GCC countries committing to net-zero targets, decarbonising heavy transport – one of the most emissions-intensive sectors – is essential, it said, adding without intervention, logistics emissions risk offsetting pervades into other areas.The shift to battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell trucks offers a chance to rethink mobility and reshape the region’s energy model, according to the report ‘Driving change – the future of sustainable heavy-duty trucks in the Middle East’.For economies built on hydrocarbons, road freight is both a challenge and an opportunity – a bridge between legacy systems and the cleaner, technology-led future outlined in Saudi Vision 2030, the UAE Net Zero by 2050, Qatar National Vision 2030 and vision programs of other GCC countries, it said.Scaling zero-emission trucks can cut emissions while driving industrial innovation and diversification, it added.“With smarter policy, investment and the right incentives, zero-emission trucks can soon outpace their combustion-engine counterparts not just environmentally but commercially. The GCC has everything it needs to lead this transition, including a fast-growing clean energy base, a strong logistics backbone, and the ambition to drive change," said Heiko Seitz, Global Transport and Logistics Leader, PwC Middle East.Calling for a confident and future-focused coordinated action plan; it said this is not only about reducing emissions, but on building a road freight system that is more efficient, more resilient, and ready for the next generation of growth.Clear regulations and subsidies can spark early demand, strong grid and charging networks will enable operations, cost optimisation through renewable integration will make fleets viable and localised solutions will ensure technology works in the Gulf region’s unique climate and logistics environment.