Author

For the first time in 28 years, Qatar Airways has entered into a QR4.5bn local-currency funding deal with a consortium of seven domestic banks, led by QNB.The financing will be provided by domestic banks in Qatar. The syndication was fully underwritten and led by QNB Group as the sole and exclusive book runner, global coordinator; initial mandated lead arranger and structuring bank; while the lending banks include Ahlibank, Commercial Bank, Doha Bank, Dukhan Bank, Qatar Islamic Bank and QIIB.This new agreement will see an innovative approach taken whereby local banks lend in Qatari Riyals in both conventional and Islamic tranches and commercial terms in line with international benchmarks for a strategic financing transaction of this nature.Qatar Airways Group chief executive officer, Badr Mohammed al-Meer, said its Qatar latest purpose-driven partnership demonstrates its trust in the operational excellence of the Qatari banking sector."We are honoured to collaborate with the leading banks of Qatar as we continue to further our commitment to fulfilling the Qatar National Vision 2030. We thank the financial institutions that have played a vital role in shaping our journey, offering support that has helped us reach new millstones. We believe such strong and resilient partnerships remain essential for driving industry innovation and expanding global connectivity,” he added.With this agreement, the national carrier aims to stimulate greater collaboration between the aviation and the banking sector, paving the way for innovative financial structures tailored to the airline’s evolving needs while promoting national economic resilience.“This transaction is not just a testament to the strength and resilience of Qatar's banking industry; but it is also a powerful demonstration of central reliance and national collaboration," said QNB Group chief executive officer Abdulla Mubarak al-Khalifa.Highlighting that the deal was structured, arranged and executed entirely by Qatari banks speaks volumes about the sophistication and capability of the local financial institutions; he said it underscores the domestic ability to support large-scale strategic investments without relying on the external markets.The deal reflects the deep-rooted partnership between the country's aviation and financial sectors, a partnership that continues to drive the nation's economic growth and global competitiveness, according to him."Qatar Airways is more than an airline. It is a symbol of ambitions, excellence and national pride," al-Khalifa said, adding by securing this financing domestically, the banks are not only supporting the continued expansion, but also reinforcing the stability and maturity of Qatar's financial ecosystem."This deal shows the local banks have the expertise, ability and vision to support such transactions of this magnitude, further positioning Qatar as the hub for world-class financial services," he said.The country's national carrier had last month placed a landmark order of up to 210 Boeing widebody jets – 160 firm and 50 option – which is the largest widebody order and the largest 787 Dreamliner order in the US aerospace company’s history, during the visit of the US President Donald Trump to Doha.Qatar Airways had also signed a pact with GE Aerospace for more than 400 engines, including 60 GE9X and 260 GEnx engines, with additional options and spares, to power its next-generation Boeing 777-9 and Boeing 787 aircraft – the largest widebody engine purchase in the history of GE Aerospace.

Market EyeThe Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) on Tuesday saw more than 82% of the traded constituents extend gains, leading to 134 points surge in the main index, which settled above 10,600 levels.An across the board buying lifted the 20-stock Qatar Index 1.28% to 10,618.02 points, recovering from an intraday low of 10,493 points.The foreign institutions turned net buyers in the main market, which returned 0.44% gains year-to-date.The Gulf funds were increasingly bullish in the main bourse, whose capitalisation added QR5.69bn or 0.92% to QR626.29bn mainly on account of midcap segments.The transport, telecom and industrials counters experienced higher than average demand in the main market, which saw as many as 0.03mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank) valued at QR0.07mn trade across 18 deals.The foreign retail investors turned net buyers in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the rise.The Islamic index was seen outperforming the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The Arab institutions were seen net buyers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index gained 1.28%, the All Islamic Index (1.43%) and the All Share Index (1%) in the main market.The transport sector index shot up 2.72%, telecom (1.98%), industrials (1.83%), real estate (0.78%), consumer goods and services (0.57%), banks and financial services (0.47%) and insurance (0.03%).Major gainers in the main market included Dlala, Nakilat, Widam Food, Gulf International Services, Vodafone Qatar, Commercial Bank, Qatar Islamic Bank, AlRayan Bank, Inma Holding, Qatar German Medical Devices, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Industries Qatar, Qamco, Ooredoo and Milaha.Nevertheless, QNB, Qatar Islamic Insurance, Qatari Investors Group, Meeza and Ahlibank Qatar 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 QR12.61mn compared with net sellers of QR30.39mn on June 2.The Gulf institutions’ net buying strengthened significantly to QR6.83mn against QR1.42mn the previous day.The foreign retail investors were net buyers to the extent of QR1.64mn compared with net sellers of QR0.2mn on Monday.The Arab institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR0.32mn against no major net exposure on June 2.The Arab individual investors’ net selling declined noticeably to QR4.16mn compared to QR7.75mn the previous day.However, the local retail investors were net sellers to the extent of QR33.75mn against net buyers of QR13.65mn on Monday.The domestic institutions’ net buying weakened noticeably to QR15.53mn compared to QR21.7mn on June 2.The Gulf retail investors’ net buying eased perceptibly to QR0.99mn against QR1.56mn the previous day.The main market saw 27% jump in trade volumes to 184.24mn shares and 16% in value to QR439.35mn but on 20% decline in deals to 22,265.In the venture market, a total of 36,780 equities valued at QR0.1mn changed hands across nine transactions.

The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC)-based EnergyX is contemplating merger with Silicon Valley-headquartered Senseta, co-founded by Dr Khalid M al-Ali, a Qatari scientist and former Nasa engineer, as the Gulf country race ahead towards net-zero goals.This planned merger will not only accelerate expansion of EnergyX, a global leader in end-to-end energy optimisation for buildings and infrastructure, in both the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) and the US but also reinforce its mission to deliver intelligent, autonomous, and sustainable energy systems.By integrating Senseta’s AI (artificial intelligence) expertise, EnergyX plans to offer advanced features such as real-time monitoring, predictive diagnostics, and climate-adaptive analytics — capabilities essential for managing the region’s high temperatures, heavy energy loads, and complex utility grids.EnergyX announced this landmark strategic merger with Senseta, a Delaware-based AI and autonomous systems company spun out of Carnegie Mellon University, at the recently concluded Fifth Qatar Economic Forum, Powered by Bloomberg.By integrating AI expertise of Senseta, headquartered in Silicon Valley, EnergyX plans to offer advanced features such as real-time monitoring, predictive diagnostics, and climate-adaptive analytics essential for managing region’s high temperatures, heavy energy loads, and complex utility gridsThe agreement was signed by Dr Khalid, the co-founder and executive chairman of Senseta, the world leader in mission-critical data fusion, analytics and drone-powered solutions, with Jean Jacques Dandrieux, Global chief strategy officer at EnergyX, and Sean Park, co-founder and chief executive officer of EnergyX.The multi-hundred-million-dollar planned merger, subject to the regulatory approvals, board consent, and voting by the shareholders of both companies – was announced in the presence of key Qatari leadership. EnergyX plans to invest more than $100mn in the GCC in next five years.The proposed merger also marks a significant step in the Gulf region’s ambition to become a global leader in sustainable, tech-enabled infrastructure.Senseta’s cutting-edge AI expertise, based on R&D (research and development) for deep-space missions, is planned to be integrated into EnergyX Zero, amplifying the intelligence layer of EnergyX’s platform for optimised energy performance across the GCC’s built environment.“This planned merger represents a fusion of scientific excellence and large-scale execution. We aim to bring interplanetary-grade AI expertise to earth-based infrastructure — delivering the kind of resilience and autonomy once reserved for space exploration directly into the Gulf’s energy systems,” said Dandrieux.The announcement comes as the GCC strengthens its position as a hub for climate technology. EnergyX’s growth in the Gulf builds on its global leadership, including the company’s own HQ — the world’s first certified Plus-Energy Building, operating at 129.5% energy self-sufficiency.By uniting deep AI research with hardware innovation, the planned merger is set to redefine how infrastructure is monitored, analysed, and optimised. The company will empower governments, developers, and construction firms with scalable tools aligned to net-zero goals.“This is more than a merger — it’s a commitment... The most powerful AI technologies on Earth should be focused on saving it. And the Gulf is the best place to launch that mission — where innovation meets urgency,” according to Sean Park.

Market EyeConcerns on the US President’s proposal to double tariff on steel and aluminium had its reflection on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE), which on Monday fell more than 17 points.The foreign funds were seen increasingly net sellers as the 20-stock Qatar Index shed 0.16% to 10,484.06 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,505 points.The real estate, industrials and transport counters witnessed higher than average selling pressure in the main market, whose year-to-date losses widened to 0.82%.More than 54% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose capitalisation melted QR1.33bn or 0.21% to QR620.6bn mainly on account of microcap segments.The foreign individuals turned net profit takers in the main market, which saw as many as 0.03mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.07mn trade across four deals.The local retail investors’ 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 on par with the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.However, the domestic funds were increasingly net buyers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index, the All Islamic Index and the All Share Index were all down 0.16% in the main market.The realty sector index tanked 1.05%, industrials (0.66%) and transport (0.61%); while telecom gained 0.37%, banks and financial services (0.07%), consumer goods and services (0.02%) and insurance (0.02%).Major losers in the main market included Dlala, Qatar Islamic Insurance, Aamal Company, Commercial Bank, Alijarah Holding, Inma Holding, Salam International Investment, Industries Qatar, Gulf International Services, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Ezdan, Mazaya Qatar, Nakilat and United Development Company.Nevertheless, Mannai Corporation, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Meeza, Qatar Islamic Bank, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance and Qamco were among the movers in the main bourse.The foreign institutions’ net selling increased considerably to QR30.39mn compared to QR19.25mn the previous day.The Arab individual investors’ net profit booking expanded noticeably to QR7.75mn against QR2.11mn on June 1.The foreign retail investors turned net sellers to the tune of QR0.2mn compared with net buyers of QR2.06mn on Sunday.The local individual investors’ net buying decreased marginally to QR13.65mn against QR14.38mn the previous day.However, the domestic institutions’ net buying strengthened drastically to QR21.7mn compared to QR5.98mn on June 1.The Gulf retail investors were net buyers to the extent of QR1.56mn against net profit takers of QR0.91mn on Sunday.The Gulf funds turned net buyers to the tune of QR1.42mn compared with net sellers of QR0.16mn the previous day.The Arab institutions had no major exposure against net buyers to the extent of QR0.01mn on June 1.The main market saw 1% jump in trade volumes to 144.6mn shares, 20% in value to QR380.1mn and 76% in deals to 27,706.There was no trading in the venture market.

Qatar witnessed a double-digit year-on-year growth in ships arrival in May 2025, reflecting in brisk growth, notably in the volumes of containers, general and bulk cargo, building materials and livestock through Mesaieed, Doha and Al Ruwais ports; indicating the country's growing prominence in the international trade, according to the official data.As many as 294 ships arrived in three ports, which reported 21.49% and 25.11% surge year-on-year and month-on-month respectively, said the figures released by Mwani Qatar.A total of 1,255 vessels call were reported through the three ports in January-May 2025.Hamad Port is Qatar's main seaport, located south of Doha in the Umm Al Houl area and whose strategic geographical location offers opportunities to create cargo movement towards the upper Gulf.The container movement through three ports amounted to 142,843 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), shooting up 15.63% and 10.22% on annualised and monthly basis respectively in the review period. The three ports together handled as many as 609,328 TEUs in the first five months of this year.The container terminals have been designed to address the increasing trade volume, enhancing ease of doing business as well as supporting the achievement of economic diversification, which is one of the most important goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030.The general and bulk cargo handled through the three ports amounted to 170,515 freight tonnes in May 2025, which sunk 18.31% year-on-year but was up 2.28% on and monthly basis.The container and cargo trends through the ports reflect the positive outlook for the country's non-oil private sector, which has been projected to grow faster than the hydrocarbons, as per various estimates.In line with the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030, Mwani Qatar continues to implement its ambitious strategy to enhance the maritime sector's contribution to diversifying the national economy and strengthening the county's position as a vibrant regional trade hub.The three ports together handled 667,119 freight tonnes of general and bulk cargo in the first five months of this year.The three ports were seen handling 80,396 livestock this May, which showed 109.51% and 215.46% surge on yearly and monthly basis respectively. The ports had cumulatively handled as many as 336,506 heads in the first five months of this year.The building materials traffic through the three ports stood at 82,745 tonnes in May 2025, which zoomed 106.38% and 43.22% year-on-year and month-on-month respectively. The three ports had reported a total of 300,236 tonnes of building materials handled in the first five months of this year.The three ports handled as many as 6,783 RORO in May 2025, which registered 36.2% and 27.38% plunge year-on-year and month-on-month respectively. The ports had cumulatively handled a total of 46,934 units in January-May 2025.Qatar's automobile sector has been witnessing stronger sales, notably in heavy equipment, private motorcycles and private vehicles, according to the data of the National Planning Council.

The Qatar Stock Exchange on Sunday opened the week on a stronger note with its key index gaining more than 38 points in index and capitalisation adding about QR2bn.The banks, telecom and industrials counters witnessed higher than average demand as the 20-stock Qatar Index rose 0.37% to 10,501.25 points, recovering from an intraday low of 10,490 points.The local retail investors were seen increasingly bullish in the main market, whose year-to-date losses narrowed to 0.66%.The foreign institutions’ weakened net selling had its influence on the main bourse, whose capitalisation added QR1.9bn or 0.31% to QR621.93bn mainly on account of midcap segments.The domestic funds continued to be net buyers but with lesser intensity in the main market, which saw as many as 0.01mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.04mn trade across eight deals.The Arab individuals turned net profit takers 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 institutions turned net sellers, albeit at lower levels, in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index rose 0.37%, the All Islamic Index by 0.3% and the All Share Index by 0.33% in the main market.The banks and financial services sector index gained 0.71%, telecom (0.4%), industrials (0.39%) and transport (0.26%); while real estate declined 2.08%, consumer goods and services (0.97%) and insurance (0.91%).Major movers in the main market included Qatar Islamic Insurance, Milaha, QNB, Vodafone Qatar, Dukhan Bank, QNB and Industries Qatar.Nevertheless, about 59% of the traded constituents were in the red with major losers in the main bourse being Barwa, Qatar German Medical Devices, Lesha Bank, Dlala, Widam Food, Alijarah Holding, Salam International Investment, Woqod, Baladna, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Al Mahhar Holding, Qatari Investors Group, Qatar National Cement, Gulf International Services, Qatar Insurance and Ezdan.In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value.The local individual investors’ net buying increased substantially to QR14.38mn compared to QR1.8mn last Thursday.The foreign institutions’ net selling decreased considerably to QR19.25mn against QR215.72mn the previous trading day.The Gulf retail investors’ net profit booking shrank noticeably to QR0.91mn compared to QR3.32mn on May 29.However, the Arab individuals turned net sellers to the tune of QR2.11mn against net buyers of QR11.08mn last Thursday.The Gulf funds were net sellers to the extent of QR0.16mn compared with net buyers of QR0.23mn the previous trading day.The domestic institutions’ net buying weakened drastically to QR5.98mn against QR201.69mn on May 29.The foreign individual investors’ net buying decreased notably to QR2.06mn compared to QR4.2mn last Thursday.The Arab institutions’ net buying eased marginally to QR0.01mn against QR0.03mn the previous trading day.The main market saw a 54% plunge in trade volumes to 142.5mn shares, 78% in value to QR316.13mn and 48% in deals to 15,745.In the venture market, as many as 4,735 equities valued at mere QR0.01mn changed hands across four transactions.

Qatari banks registered the biggest increase in revenues with a quarter-on-quarter (q-o-q) gain of 2.1% during the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, according to Kamco Invest, a regional economic think-tank.Saudi Arabia and the UAE-listed banks had distinctly smaller growths of 1.6% and 0.6%, respectively, during the review period, Kamco Invest said in a report.In terms of topline performance, aggregate banking sector revenues (in the Gulf Co-operation Council) reached a new record high during the quarter at $34.6bn, although the growth was the smallest in four quarters at 0.04%.The flattish growth was led by a decline in revenues reported by banks in Kuwait and Oman that almost fully offset the increase in revenues registered in other GCC countries, said the report.Kamco Invest said after showing a marginal decline in the previous quarter, the first decline in seven quarters, banking credit facilities in Qatar bounced back and showed the biggest quarterly growth in nine quarters during Q1-2025 at 3%.The increase was led by a strong growth in lending to public sector at 7.9% followed by a similar increase in lending to contractors. Lending to general trade and real estate increased by 1.5%; followed by 0.8% increase in lending to services. On the other hand, lending to industry, consumption and other sectors showed q-o-q declines.Aggregate lending by listed banks in the GCC continued to show q-o-q growth during Q1-2025, backed by growth in all GCC markets, barring Kuwait that registered a marginal decline during the quarter.Aggregate gross loans at the GCC level reached a new record high of $2.25tn, recording the highest q-o-q growth in 15 quarters at 3.6% in Q1-2025 vs 2.4% during the previous quarter.Banks in Saudi Arabia reported the biggest q-o-q growth in gross loan in the GCC during Q1-2025 mainly led by healthy lending in almost all sectors. Gross loans growth for Saudi-listed banks came in at 5.5% or $41.9bn to $801.5nbn during Q1-2025.The UAE and Qatari banks were next with lending growth of $20.1bn (+3.2% q-o-q) and $14.4bn (+3.6% q-o-q), respectively; while lenders in Oman and Bahrain registered marginal increase.Total customer deposits reported by listed GCC banks reached a new record high level at the end of Q1-2025 at $2.65tn, registering a q-o-q growth of 5.1%.At the country level, the UAE-listed banks registered the strongest growth in deposits during the quarter that reached $903.8bn after a q-o-q growth of 6.7%.Qatari banks were next with a q-o-q growth of 6.1% to reach total customer deposits of $438.9bn followed by banks in Saudi Arabia with a growth of 4.8%. Banks in Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait, reported slightly smaller customer deposit growth during the quarter.The aggregate loan-to-deposit ratio for the GCC banking sector remained elevated above the 80% mark at the end of Q1-2025. However, the ratio declined sequentially to reach 81.6% when compared to 82.4% in Q4-2024.The ratio has remained consistently above the 80% mark over the last four quarters and reflects improving asset utilisation as well as better margins to offset pressure from lowering interest rates.At the country level, banks in Saudi Arabia reported one of the highest levels of the loan-to-deposit ratio that reached 95.5% during the quarter, registering a growth of 70 basis points compared to Q4-2024.Qatari banks registered a "sizeable" decline of 210 basis points with the ratio going below the 90% mark at 89.6%, it said.

International trade concerns over the US tariffs and unstable oil markets had played spoilsport on the regional bourses, reflecting in a steep 311 points decline and more than QR16bn erosion in capitalisation in the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) this week.The regional geopolitical tensions was also seen instrumental in a 2.89% plunge in 20-stock Qatar Index this week which saw Fitch, an international credit rating agency, view that Qatar's banking sector has less pressure for consolidation in the Gulf region, which otherwise is prone to stronger mergers and acquisitions momentum on lower oil revenues.The foreign funds were seen net profit takers this week which saw Nakilat commence construction of 17 liquefied natural gas vessels at Hyundai Heavy Industries Shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea.The telecom, banking and transport counters experienced higher than average selling pressure this week which saw Milaha sign a strategic pact with Fincantieri for cooperation in areas such as marine services, project management, and technology integration.The Gulf individuals were seen increasingly bearish in the main bourse this week which saw International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation say that Qatar’s Islamic liquidity management sector is slated to evolve rapidly in the near-to-medium term with demand for short-term, high-quality, liquid assets on the rise.The Gulf institutions’ substantially weakened net buying had its influence on the main bourse this week which saw a total of 0.05mn AlRayan Bank-sponsored exchange traded fund QATR worth QR0.1mn trade across 26 deals.About 76% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main market this week which saw as many as 0.01mn Doha Bank-sponsored exchange-traded fund QETF valued at QR0.1mn change hands across 12 transactions.The domestic institutions however turned net buyers in the main bourse this week which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Arab individuals were seen increasingly net buyers in the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The foreign individuals were also increasingly bullish in the main bourse this week which saw AlRayan Bank successfully issue $500mn five-year senior unsecured RegS sukuk at a final Price of five-year US Treasuries + 80 basis points.The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the other indices of the main market this week, which saw a global credit rating agency Standard and Poor's upgrade Doha Insurance Group's future outlook to "positive" from "stable", while affirming the group's credit rating at "A-".Market capitalisation eroded QR16.49bn or 2.59% to QR620.03bn on the back of large and midcap segments this week which saw the banks, industrials and consumer goods sectors together constitute about 74% of the total trade volumes.Trade turnover and volumes were on the decline in both the main and ventures markets this week which saw Al Mahhar Holding shareholders give approval to the subsidiary Qatar Welding and Fabrication Supplies for acquiring the remaining 49% stake in European Equipment Company or EEC.The Total Return Index plummeted 2.89%, the All Islamic Index by 3.23% and the All Share Index by 2.63% this week which saw Al Mahhar shareholders also give nod for the potential acquisition by its subsidiary Petrotec of a 90% stake in Gulf Automation System or GAS.The telecom sector index tanked 4.62%, banks and financial services (3.01%), transport (2.97%), industrials (2.81%) and consumer goods and services (0.33%); while real estate and insurance gained 1.41% and 0.31% respectively this week.Major shakers in the main market include Qatar Islamic Bank, QLM, Ooredoo, Vodafone Qatar, AlRayan Bank, QNB, QIIB, Lesha Bank, Qatar Oman Investment, Baladna, Industries Qatar, Qamco, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Medicare Group, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Mazaya Qatar, United Development Company, Milaha and Nakilat. In the junior bourse, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value.Nevertheless, Mannai Corporation, Estithmar Holding, Commercial Bank, Barwa and Qatar Islamic Insurance were among the movers in the main market this week.The foreign institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR357.99mn compared with net buyers of QR61.44mn the previous week.The Gulf individual investors’ net selling grew perceptibly to QR2.14mn against QR1.5mn the week ended May 22.The Gulf institutions’ net buying eased significantly to QR32.98mn compared to QR121.39mn a week ago.The Arab institutions’ net buying weakened markedly to QR0.03mn against QR1.3mn the previous week.However, the domestic funds were net buyers to the extent of QR262.9mn compared with net sellers of QR63.47mn the week ended May 22.The local retail investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR32.41mn against net profit takers of QR136.02mn a week ago.The Arab individuals’ net buying expanded markedly to QR19.58mn compared to QR13.32mn the previous week.The foreign retail investors’ net buying zoomed notably to QR12.25mn against QR3.54mn the week ended May 22.The main market saw 30% plunge in trade volumes to 1.04bn shares, 3% in value to QR3.09bn and 13% in deals to 115,643 this week.In the venture market, trade volumes plummeted 82% to 0.07mn equities, value by 83% to QR0.18mn and transactions by 63% to 22.

The total number of students in Qatar is expected to increase by over 48,000, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.2% to 0.48mn by 2029 from 0.43mn in 2024, according to Alpen Capital.Tertiary education is slated to expand at a faster pace, with a CAGR of 3.1% over the same period; while its GER (gross enrolment ratio) is anticipated to rise from 38.6% in 2024 to 41.1% in 2029, Alpen Capital said in its latest report.The pre-primary segment is projected to grow at a CAGR of 2.5%, with the GER reaching 51.3% by 2029; it said, adding the number of primary and secondary students is expected to increase at a CAGR of 2.0% each from 2024 to 2029.The GER for primary and secondary is projected to remain high and reach 95.6% and 107.6%, respectively, by 2029, according to the report.Highlighting that the total number of enrolments in K-12 schools is expected to grow at a CAGR of 2.1% from 2024 to 2029; it said enrolment in K-12 public schools is projected to increase at a CAGR of 1.9%, while private school enrolment is expected to grow at a slightly higher CAGR of 2.2% over the same period.Finding that the GDP (gross domestic product) per capita, based on PPP or purchasing power parity, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.5% from 2024 to 2029; it said the increase in per capita income is expected to drive a higher demand for quality education as families seek better educational opportunities for their children.The Qatari education sector is expected to benefit from the MoEHE (Ministry of Education and Higher Education) Strategy 2024-30, which is aligned with the goals of the Third National Development Strategy and Qatar National Vision 2030.This strategy aims to expand vocational, technical, and tertiary education options, while significantly increasing early childhood education enrolment by 2030.Additionally, the strategy aims to boost student enrolment in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programmes, with plans to establish four new STEM schools by 2026.As part of the Qatar School Development Programme, the country is constructing 14 new schools through a PPP (public-private-partnership). To Page 12These schools are scheduled to be operational from the 2025–26 academic year and aim to provide high-quality education to over 10,000 students, Alpen Capital said, adding these initiatives are likely to foster and drive enrolment rates across the segments, while boost the education infrastructure across the country.Stressing that Qatar has consistently demonstrated its commitment to promoting education through its budget allocations; Alpen Capital said in 2025, Qatar allocated $5.3bn to the education sector, equivalent to 9.2% of the total expenditure, reflecting the country’s focus on enhancing its educational infrastructure, which includes the construction of 11 new schools and the renovation of seven existing ones.Additionally, there are plans to construct new buildings for the College of Dentistry and the College of Nursing, along with maintaining and developing some facilities to support a modern and advanced educational environment.

Qatar’s banking sector has less pressure for consolidation in the Gulf region, which otherwise is prone to see stronger momentum for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) owing to lower oil revenues, according to Fitch, an international credit rating agency.“Qatar has many banks for its small population, but profitability is strong, so there is less pressure for M&A to diversify revenues,” Fitch said in its latest report.Consolidation among the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) banks may gain momentum if lower oil prices add to competitive pressure in the region, it however said.Sustained lower oil prices and weaker global demand may put pressure on the GCC bank operating environments, leading to weaker profitability and acting as a catalyst for M&A as banks seek to diversify their revenues and increase scale, the rating agency said.Smaller banks may become targets due to their weaker franchises, and often higher funding costs and thinner capital buffers, according to Fitch.Lower oil prices and weaker global demand are the main risks for the GCC bank operating environments. Government spending strongly affects bank operating conditions in most GCC countries, and a further drop in oil prices could weaken Fitch’s lending growth forecasts“Consolidation is likely to be less widespread in Qatar and Saudi Arabia,” it said, adding Saudi Arabia stands out as the one GCC market that does not appear overbanked given its much larger population; lower banking system assets/GDP (gross domestic product) ratio and strong growth prospects.Highlighting that bank sector M&A in the GCC has been focused on enhancing shareholder value through strengthened market positions and economies of scale; it said this has led to the creation of dominant entities, such as First Abu Dhabi Bank and Saudi National Bank.The recent merger between Kuwait Finance House and Bahrain’s Ahli United Bank, creating a regional Islamic banking powerhouse, exemplifies the trend.Nevertheless, smaller banks with weaker franchises, pricing power and capital buffers are increasingly likely to feature in M&A, it said.“We expect digital banking and new digital entrants to be an increasingly significant driver of consolidation in the region, with banks seeking technological partnerships to improve competitiveness. The expansion of open banking is also likely to influence M&A strategies, fostering joint ventures between tech companies, telecom firms and banks,” Fitch said.Islamic banks have increasingly been involved in M&A to consolidate their franchises, as with Dubai Islamic Bank’s acquisition of Noor. The UAE’s ambitious domestic Islamic finance strategy may lead to further M&A involving Islamic banks.Emirates NBD and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank have acquired domestic Islamic subsidiaries, which should support financing and deposit growth. In Oman, banks such as Oman Arab Bank and Sohar International Bank have completed or are pursuing Islamic bank acquisitions to cement their positions in the market.Most GCC bank M&A has been domestic, but “we expect a gradual shift towards regional transactions”, such as Kuwait Finance House’s takeover of Ahli United Bank, Fitch said.

Defying the general market trend in the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Qatar Stock Exchange on Wednesday lost as much as 109 points in key index and about QR5bn in capitalisation. The foreign institutions were increasingly net profit takers as the 20-stock Qatar Index tanked 1.02% to 10,539.41 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,671 points. The telecom and transport counters witnessed higher than average selling pressure in the main market, which reported 0.3% year-to-date losses. About 72% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose capitalisation eroded QR4.96bn or 0.79% to QR624.23bn mainly on account of large and midcap segments. The Gulf individual investors turned bearish in the main market, which saw as many as 0.02mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.11mn trade across 15 deals. The Gulf institutions’ weakened net buying had its influence on the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decline. The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills. The domestic institutions were however seen increasingly into net buying in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds. The Total Return Index tanked 1.02% and the All Islamic Index by 1.06% and the All Share Index by 0.87% in the main market. The telecom sector index plummeted 1.63%, transport (1.46%), banks and financial services (1%), industrials (0.47%), real estate (0.38%) and consumer goods and services (0.27%); while insurance was up 0.07%. Major shakers in the main market included Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Qatar Islamic Bank, Beema, Qatar Oman Investment, Ooredoo, Doha Bank, QIIB, Lesha Bank, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Industries Qatar, Mazaya Qatar, Milaha and Nakilat. Nevertheless, Widam Food, Qatar Insurance, Estithmar Holding, Inma Holding and Qatari Investors Group were among the gainers in the main bourse. The foreign institutions’ net profit booking increased substantially to QR79.61mn compared to QR44.47mn on Tuesday. The Gulf retail investors turned net sellers to the tune of QR0.35mn against net buyers of QR2.57mn the previous day. The Gulf institutions’ net buying weakened noticeably to QR3.56mn compared to QR9.84mn on May 27. However, the domestic institutions’ net buying strengthened significantly to QR38.8mn against QR6.6mn on Tuesday. The local retail investors’ net buying rose marginally to QR30.47mn compared to QR29.71mn the previous day. The Arab individual investors were net buyers to the extent of QR4.28mn against net sellers of QR7.06mn on May 27. The foreign individuals’ net buying edged up marginally to QR2.86mn compared to QR2.83mn on Tuesday. The main market witnessed a 16% contraction in trade volumes to 157.07mn shares and 1% in value to QR450.96mn but on 22% jump in deals to 27,794. In the venture market, as many as 161 equities valued at mere QR435 changed hands across one transaction.

Qatar’s Islamic liquidity management sector is slated to evolve rapidly in the near-to-medium term with demand for short-term, high-quality, liquid assets (HQLA) on the rise, according to Malaysia-based International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation (IILM). Reasoning for the optimism in Qatar’s Islamic liquidity management, IILM chief executive officer Mohamad Safri Shahul Hamid said it is driven by targeted financial reforms by the country and the Qatar Financial Centre’s initiatives to attract global financial players. “Demand for short-term, HQLA will continue to increase in line with the Basel III liquidity coverage requirements, and this will inevitably reinforce the importance of tailored instruments such as short-term sukuk,” he said in a report of the QFC. Expanding sukuk markets, including short-term and long-term sukuk, will provide Islamic banks with more avenues to manage liquidity effectively and present an opportunity for Islamic lenders and financial institutions to diversify their offerings in the treasury space to accommodate the growing interest in the IILM’s products, according to him. “This could be offered and complemented through alliances with strong regional and international entities that could provide local Islamic banks with access to, amongst others, established cross-border and even bespoke liquidity solutions,” he added. A key challenge is a relatively limited secondary market for Islamic instruments, as reflected by the global sukuk market in 2023, where outstanding sukuk issuance was valued at $650bn and secondary market trading of about $20-$30bn, with a turnover ratio of less than 5%, according to him. The lack of development in the secondary market globally limits price discovery and liquidity, Hamid said, adding strengthening secondary market frameworks, fostering active market-making, and deepening regulatory harmonisation would be essential to establishing a robust Islamic liquidity ecosystem in Qatar. To support the liquidity needs of Islamic banks in Qatar, he said the IILM is scaling up its sukuk issuance, with the programme’s size having increased from $4bn to $6bn in 2024, and on the back of that having successfully increased its outstanding assets from $3.5bn to $4.14bn by the end of 2023. “This expansion in its programme size allows for larger issuance volumes and a wider range of maturities, giving local Islamic banks greater flexibility in managing their liquidity requirements effectively and proactively,” he said. The IILM will continue to expand and grow its asset portfolio, and introduce a broader mix of asset classes, in line with its core mandate of providing and facilitating cross-border Islamic liquidity management solutions globally. The IILM believes that its ongoing efforts and commitment will enhance the overall quality and appeal of the IILM sukuk, for the benefit of Islamic banks and other financial entities globally. In addition, the IILM, in a successful collaboration with Qatar Central Bank (QCB), has over the last two years conducted capacity-building programmes tailored for Islamic banks and financial institutions in Qatar. This is aimed at providing a platform for knowledge sharing amongst industry professionals, regulators and experts, on bespoke topics such as the role of Islamic financial markets and instruments in the development of debt capital market in Qatar. On the back of the growing interest by the Qatari market in the its expertise in Islamic liquidity management, the IILM is fully committed and honoured to continue this collaboration with the QCB. “This is part of our effort to enhance the understanding of the role of Islamic financial markets and instruments and to share best practices that will help achieve Qatar’s strategic initiatives to develop its Islamic capital markets as outlined in the Third Financial Sector Strategy and the QCB’s Strategy 2024-30,” he added.

Uncertainties regarding the US’ tariff policies had its effect on the Qatar Stock Exchange, which on Tuesday closed 84 points lower at below 10,700 levels and capitalisation melt as much as QR5bn. The foreign institutions were increasingly net sellers as the 20-stock Qatar Index shed 0.78% to 10,648.36 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,731 points. The banks, industrials, consumer goods and real estate counters witnessed higher than average profit booking in the main market, whose year-to-date gains narrowed further to 0.73%. More than 71% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose capitalisation eroded QR4.74bn or 0.74% to QR629.19bn mainly on account of mid and small cap segments. Arab retail investors turned bearish in the main market, which saw as many as 5,104 exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.01mn trade across seven deals. The Gulf institutions’ weakened net buying had its influence on the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decline. The Islamic index was seen declining slower than the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills. The domestic institutions’ lower net buying had its effect on the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds. The Total Return Index shed 0.78% and the All Islamic Index by 0.71% and the All Share Index by 0.77% in the main market. The banks and financial services sector index shrank 0.97%, industrials (0.85%), consumer goods and services (0.83%), realty (0.83%), telecom (0.28%) and insurance (0.24%); while transport gained 0.2%. Major shakers in the main market included Qatari Investors Group, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Widam Food, Qatar Oman Investment, Al Meera, QNB, Qatar Islamic Bank, Commercial Bank, Qatar German Medical Devices, Baladna, Industries Qatar, Barwa and Mazaya Qatar. In the junior bourse, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value. Nevertheless, Beema, Qatar Islamic Insurance, Estithmar Holding, Meeza and Milaha were among the gainers in the main market. The foreign institutions’ net selling increased substantially to QR44.47mn compared to QR14.66mn the previous day. The Arab individual investors turned net sellers to the tune of QR7.06mn against net buyers of QR7.82mn on Monday. The domestic institutions’ net buying declined noticeably to QR6.6mn compared to QR10.35mn on May 26. The Gulf institutions’ net buying weakened perceptibly to QR9.84mn against QR11.02mn the previous day. However, the local retail investors were net buyers to the extent of QR29.71mn compared with net sellers of QR12.18mn on Monday. The foreign individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR2.83mn against net profit takers of QR1.46mn on May 26. The Gulf retail investors were net buyers to the extent of QR2.57bn compared with net sellers of QR0.88mn the previous day. The Arab institutions had no major net exposure. The main market witnessed a 17% contraction in trade volumes to 187.18mn shares and 3% in value to QR455.58mn but on 2% jump in deals to 22,705. In the venture market, as many as 34,473 equities valued at QR0.09mn changed hands across 12 transactions.

The Qatar Financial Centre-based EnergyX, the global leader in end-to-end energy optimisation solutions for buildings and infrastructure, has entered into a strategic pact with MBK Global, as part of its expansion into the Gulf region, where it plans to invest $100mn in the next five years.Through this partnership, EnergyX, backed by Hyundai and other strong entities in South Korea, prepare to launch joint projects (with MBK Global) that target both legacy infrastructure and future constructions.A memorandum of understanding was signed by Sean Park, founder and chief executive officer of EnergyX; Jean Jacques Dandrieux, chief executive officer of EnergyX (Qatar) and Sheikh Mansoor bin Khalifa al-Thani, chairman of MBK Global at the recently concluded Fifth Qatar Economic Forum, Powered by Bloomberg.The collaboration sets a high bar for future public-private partnerships in the climate tech sector, and underscores the Gulf’s determination to lead in the global energy transition.“We are not simply endorsing the vision — we are building it. This partnership is as much about long-term nation-building as it is about energy optimisation systems,” said Sheikh Mansoor.The deal marks a pivotal moment in the GCC’s sustainable development trajectory, and signals a new era of private-sector-led innovation in climate and energy technology.The agreement outlines a multi-faceted framework of collaboration wherein the companies will work jointly on deploying advanced technologies through rapid introduction and scaling of EnergyX’s solutions across the GCC.“This is not a ceremonial handshake. It’s the foundation for something far greater. With trusted partners like Sheikh Mansoor and MBK Global, we believe we can begin reshaping the region’s energy infrastructure — starting today,” said Diane Lee, Head of Global Operations at EnergyX. The partnership would also leveraging strategic synergies, aligning MBK’s expansive network to catalyse adoption; as well as launching joint projects by identifying and executing high-impact projects that align with long-term energy resilience goals.A joint steering committee will be formed to oversee the execution.Industry insiders suggest the partnership could expand into broader regional initiatives if early-stage deployments show promise.“This partnership represents not only innovation, but our shared belief in a sustainable, prosperous GCC,” Sheikh Mansoor said.Leveraging AI or artificial intelligence-powered, hardware-integrated solutions, EnergyX transforms both new builds and retrofits into energy self-sufficient, sustainable assets — exemplified by its headquarters, the world’s first certified Plus-Energy Building.“With Qatar and its neighbours investing heavily in smart cities and green building programmes, the timing and alignment of the collaboration is strategic,” said Park.EnergyX, a ‘sustainable architecture technology company, not only manufactures and installs Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPVs) but also offers AI-driven simulation, software, optimisation, and management of the entire process all the way from architectural design to architectural operations once the building is finished.

The US President's tariff proposal on the European Union and the geopolitical tension in the region had their impact on the Qatar Stock Exchange, which saw its key index lose as much as 38 points and capitalisation melt more than QR2bn on the first day of the week.An across the board profit booking led the 20-stock Qatar Index to decline 0.35% to 10,736.41 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,797 points.The local retail investors turned net profit takers in the main market, whose year-to-date gains narrowed to 1.56%.About 68% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose capitalisation lost QR2.62bn or 0.41% to QR633.9bn on the back of midcap segments.The Gulf individuals were seen bearish in the main market, which saw as many as 210 exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank) valued at QR484 trade across two deals.The Gulf institutions’ weakened net buying had its influence on the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decline.The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The foreign institutions continued to be net sellers but with lesser intensity in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index fell 0.35%, the All Islamic Index by 0.5% and the All Share Index by 0.4% in the main market.The insurance sector index declined 1.2%, transport (0.97%), real estate (0.61%), telecom (0.53%), consumer goods and services (0.5%), industrials (0.48%) and banks and financial services (0.2%).Major shakers in the main market include QLM, Vodafone Qatar, Beema, Nakilat, Baladna, Qatar Electricity and Water, Aamal Company, Qatar Insurance, Industries Qatar and Mazaya Qatar.Nevertheless, Commercial Bank, Mannai Corporation, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Qatar Oman Investment and Qatar German Medical Devices were among the movers in the main bourse.The Qatari individual investors turned net sellers to the tune of QR17.39mn compared with net buyers of QR7.08mn last Thursday.The Gulf retail investors were net sellers to the extent of QR0.15mn against net buyers of QR0.38mn on May 22.The Gulf institutions’ net buying decreased perceptibly to QR8.34mn compared to QR10.99mn on the previous trading day.However, the domestic institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR5.46mn against net sellers of QR3.37mn last Thursday.The foreign individual investors’ net buying strengthened noticeably to QR3.81mn compared to QR0.88mn on May 22.The Arab retail investors were net buyers to the extent of QR3.47mn against net sellers of QR0.51mn the previous trading day.The foreign institutions’ net buying decreased substantially to QR3.54mn compared to QR15.45mn last Thursday.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure.The main market witnessed a 24% plunge in trade volumes to 160mn shares, 46% in value to QR274.15mn and 49% in deals to 12,769.

The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) saw strong buying sentiments, as gauged by 200 points gain in main index and about QR12bn in capitalisation this week, which otherwise featured oil price volatility, rising geopolitical tensions and concerns on the US fiscal front.The Gulf institutions were increasingly net buyers as the 20-stock Qatar Index surged 1.89% this week which saw Qatar’s Prime Minister HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani tell Fifth Qatar Economic Forum (QEF), Powered by Bloomberg, that Qatar aspires to be a beacon of technological progress and a global centre for investment and business.The banks and industrials counters witnessed higher than average demand this week which saw Invest Qatar launch a $1bn incentives programme, aimed at strengthening Qatar’s position as a leading global business hub, as part of strategy to drive investment growth and accelerate economic diversification.The Arab individuals were seen net buyers in the main bourse this week which saw Qatar Tourism chairman HE Saad bin Ali al-Kharji tell QEF that tourism sector contributed QR55bn to the national gross domestic product in 2024, representing 8% of total economic output — a 14% increase over 2023.The foreign retail investors were also seen bullish in the main bourse this week which saw a total of 0.18mn AlRayan Bank-sponsored exchange traded fund QATR worth QR0.41mn trade across 47 deals.More than 77% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors in the main market this week which saw as many as 0.01mn Doha Bank-sponsored exchange-traded fund QETF valued at QR0.07mn change hands across 14 transactionsThe Arab institutions were seen net buyers, albeit at lower levels, in the main bourse this week which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The foreign funds continued to be net buyers but with lesser intensity in the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The Gulf individuals’ lower net profit booking had its marginal influence in the main bourse this week which saw HE the Minister of State for Energy Affairs Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi tell QEF that Qatar plans to significantly boost its liquefied natural gas (LNG) trading business to complement its expanding domestic production of LNG.The Islamic index was seen gaining slower than the other indices of the main market this week, which saw the Qatar’s Minister of Finance HE Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari tell QEF that the huge deals signed by Qatar recently at US President Donald Trump’s visit as “normal” and was a win-win for both the countries.Market capitalisation added QR11.9bn or 1.91% to QR636.52bn on the back of large and midcap segments this week which saw the industrials, banking and consumer goods sectors together constitute about 74% of the total trade volumes.Trade turnover and volumes were on the increase in both the main and ventures markets this week which saw the US tariff regime, according to Qatar Central Bank governor HE Sheikh Bandar bin Mohammed bin Saoud al-Thani tell the QEF that Doha is now in good stage despite weakening energy prices, which is a cause of “concern”.The Total Return Index rose 1.89%, the All Islamic Index by 1.58% and the All Share Index by 1.86% this week which saw Doha Bank partner with Blackstone to provide private capital strategies to Qatar investors.The banks and financial services sector index soared 2.48%, industrials (1.96%), consumer goods and services (0.86%), transport (0.77%), telecom (0.69%) and real estate (0.22%); while insurance fell 0.34% this week which saw the London Stock Exchange-listed Ashmore Group finds “exciting” growth opportunities in Qatar, which is fast becoming an important investment destination for global investors.Major movers in the main market included Industries Qatar, Ooredoo, QNB, Qatar Islamic Bank, Lesha Bank, Qatar German Medical Devices, Mannai Corporation, Medicare Group, Dlala, Doha Bank, QIIB, Qatar Oman Investment, Widam Food, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Aamal Company, Qatari Investors Group, Estithmar Holding, QLM, Ezdan and Mazaya Qatar this week which saw Aamal Company set eyes on industrial manufacturing, healthcare and other high-growth sectors.Nevertheless, Vodafone Qatar, Milaha, Qatar Cinema and Film Distribution, Gulf International Services and Qatar Insurance were among the shakers in the main bourse. In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value this week.The Gulf institutions’ net buying strengthened significantly to QR121.39mn compared to QR31.11mn the previous week.The Arab individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR13.32mn against net sellers of QR22.71mn the week ended May 15.The foreign retail investors were net buyers to the extent of QR3.54mn compared with net profit takers of QR11.68mn a week ago.The Arab institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR1.3mn against net profit takers of QR0.76mn the previous week.The Gulf individuals’ net selling weakened marginally to QR1.5mn compared with QR2.42mn the week ended May 15.However, the local retail investors’ net profit booking grew noticeably to QR136.02mn against QR109.43mn a week ago.The domestic funds’ net selling strengthened markedly to QR63.47mn compared to QR53.08mn the previous week.The foreign institutions’ net buying weakened substantially to QR61.44mn against QR168.97mn the week ended May 15.The main market saw 36% surge in trade volumes to 1.48bn shares, 36% in value to QR3.19bn and 38% in deals to 132,263 this week.In the venture market, trade volumes more than tripled to 0.38mn equities and value also more than tripled to QR1.04mn on 40% jump in transactions to 59.

Electric vehicles (EV)’s shares is projected to reach 24% of new vehicle sales in Qatar by 2035, with Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) making up 14% and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) 9.6%, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)."The shift is driven by national policies, expanding charging infrastructure, and rising demand for low-carbon transport options," PwC said in its latest report.There remains room for opportunity within Qatar’s EV space to reduce high upfront costs, enhance infrastructure scalability and strengthen resourcefulness for critical supply chain minerals, it said, adding there is also potential for integrating advanced thermal management systems.Addressing these opportunities for growth requires public-private-partnerships (PPPs), expansion of charging networks and the acceleration of clean energy initiatives, it suggested."Qatar is rapidly advancing its sustainable mobility agenda. With strategic public-private collaboration, forward-looking regulation, and targeted investment, the country is laying the groundwork for wide-scale EV adoption, building a cleaner, smarter, and more resilient transport future,” said Heiko Seitz, Global e-Mobility Leader and Partner at PwC Middle East.The report said the Ministry of Transport’s active role in reshaping mobility over 73% of Qatar’s public buses are already electric, and strategic collaborations with global leaders like Yutong, ABB E-mobility, and the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), are laying strong foundations, from vehicle assembly to EV training and service centres.According to Qatar National Vision 2030, the country aims for 35% of its vehicle fleet and all public transport buses to be electric by 2030."Significant progress has been made in integrating e-Mobility into Qatar’s public transport system. Currently, 73% of public buses in Qatar are electric, marking a substantial shift towards greener public transportation," the report said.As Qatar's economy and population grow, the number of vehicles on its roads is expected to rise from 1.7mn to 2.3mn (passenger and light commercial vehicles), increasing the challenge of automotive carbon dioxide or CO2 emissions."However, the expansion of renewable energy sources will significantly reduce emissions from electricity generation, cutting CO2 intensity from 0.49kg/kWh to 0.36kg/kWh by 2030, with further declines anticipated," PwC said.By shifting to e-Mobility and cleaner power generation, Qatar can curb the rise in CO2 emissions by nearly 5% compared to an entirely internal combustion engine (ICE) fleet, reinforcing the country’s commitment to sustainable, low-carbon transportation, it added.“Qatar continues to drive forward its sustainability agenda. The transition to electric mobility represents both a strategic imperative and a significant opportunity. With the right mix of innovation, policy support, and investment, Qatar is well positioned to lead the region in building a cleaner, smarter, and more efficient transport ecosystem”, Bassam Hajhamad, Qatar Country senior partner and consulting leader at PwC Middle East in Qatar, said.

Invest Qatar (The Investment Promotion Agency Qatar), Ardian, a world-leading private investment house, and Silian Partners, a unique strategic and operational value creation firm specialised in the global semiconductor industry, have entered into strategic partnership to attract companies in the AI (artificial intelligence) and semiconductor technology ecosystems to explore opportunities and establish operations in Qatar.A tripartite memorandum of understanding or MoU was signed by Sheikh Ali Alwaleed al-Thani, chief executive officer of Invest Qatar; Jan Philipp Schmitz, executive vice-president, Ardian; and Paul Boudre, chief executive officer and co-founder and partner, Silian Partners.This initiative will contribute to drive digital innovation and to develop strategic technologies in Qatar. In line with these efforts, Silian Partners will establish an office in Qatar to bring significant semiconductor industry capabilities to the country.As part of this partnership, Invest Qatar will facilitate connections between Ardian Semiconductor’s portfolio companies and local stakeholders, as well as provide aftercare services for current investors.The collaboration is poised to introduce various initiatives to support the long-term growth of the technology sector in Qatar such as joint seminars, workshops and conferences to facilitate knowledge sharing and networking.Invest Qatar will also work closely with Ardian and Silian Partners to organise exploratory fact-finding trips for related companies to learn more about Qatar’s welcoming and supportive business environment and to experience the country’s high quality of life."This partnership with Ardian and Silian Partners exemplifies our commitment to attracting investment in enabling clusters such as IT and Digital in line with Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy. By combining Qatar’s world-class digital infrastructure and significant investments in RDI with Ardian’s proven and successful private equity capabilities and Silian Partner’s deep semiconductor industry experience and expertise, we are paving the way to further enhance Qatar’s position as a global hub for innovation and piloting new technologies,” said Sheikh Ali.Schmitz said this collaboration marked a significant milestone in its shared commitment to fostering AI and semiconductor ecosystems in Qatar and the wider region."Ardian Semiconductor, our pioneering private equity platform, will serve as a catalyst for digital innovation and strategic technology development in the region. We are thrilled to see Silian Partners establish an office in Qatar, which will not only bring substantial semiconductor industry expertise to the country but also create new opportunities for growth and investment," he said.This initiative, according to him, aligns perfectly with its vision to drive forward cutting-edge technologies and solidify Qatar's position as a global hub for innovation. "We are eager to explore the new avenues this partnership will open and look forward to a prosperous future together," he added.Highlighting that Silian Partners will locate global strategy team in Qatar, Boudre and Thomas Pebay-Peyroula, co-founder and partner, said "our team in Doha will carry out high value-added semiconductor industry research and analysis, which is essential to underpin the investment strategy of the Ardian Semiconductor platform and support portfolio companies in their strategic positioning and growth."Having an on-the-ground presence would also accelerate its vision to participate in the emergence of a differentiated local semiconductor ecosystem, as well as further strengthening long-term partnership with Qatar, according to them.