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In a strategic move that underscores Qatar’s growing role in the global superyacht industry, Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Feadship, the world-renowned Dutch builder of custom superyachts, to explore collaboration in marine infrastructure, design, and sector engagement.The MoU, signed during the 34th Monaco Yacht Show, reflects a shared vision to develop “Marsa” Port at Umm Alhoul Free Zone into a premier superyacht destination in the Gulf, fostering excellence across maintenance, refit, provisioning, and owner experiences. The MoU was formalized by Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Faisal al-Thani, CEO of QFZ, and Bas Nederpelt, Chief Commercial Officer of Feadship.Under the MoU, Feadship will provide advisory support to QFZ’s leadership on the development of world-class maintenance, repair, and refit (MRR) facilities, while also contributing to broader initiatives to enhance Qatar’s role in custom yacht design and luxury maritime innovation.Sheikh Mohammed stated: “Qatar is becoming a global hub for the superyacht community, driven by world-class infrastructure and a market forecast to grow 7.4% annually through 2030. With the highest ownership per capita in the region, our partnership with Feadship advances our ambition to make Marsa the Gulf’s leading superyacht destination - creating lasting value for investors, owners, and the maritime sector.”Beyond port infrastructure, the collaboration opens new avenues for global engagement through high-level events, knowledge sharing, and owner experiences that will draw international attention to Qatar’s evolving marine sector.Nederpelt said: “Feadship welcomes the opportunity to explore this collaboration with QFZ. We recognize Qatar’s ambition to develop Marsa Port as a destination for the superyacht community and are pleased to contribute in an advisory capacity as part of this exploratory partnership. This MoU reflects our shared commitment to knowledge exchange and dialogue, ensuring that any future steps are aligned with the highest standards of our industry.”This partnership is part of QFZ’s broader strategy to create a future-focused, sustainable marine cluster that attracts leading global players, enhances the Gulf region’s luxury offerings, and places Qatar firmly on the global superyacht map.

Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ) and Kingdee International Software Group Company have officially announced the inauguration of Kingdee’s regional headquarters at Ras Bufontas Free Zone in Qatar. The two parties also signed a strategic cooperation agreement to strengthen collaboration in developing digital solutions and supporting Qatar’s innovation ecosystem. This milestone marks the Chinese technology leader’s strategic entry into the Middle East market, further positioning Qatar as a strategic hub for investment in emerging technologies and innovation. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Abdulla Hamad Al-Binali, Acting Chief Operating Officer at QFZ; Jason Zhang, President of Kingdee Group; and senior representatives from key public- and private-sector stakeholders. Founded in 1993, Kingdee is a global leader in enterprise management cloud SaaS solutions. With over 7.4mn customers globally and operations in some 172 countries, Kingdee brings a wealth of domain expertise and deep technological capabilities. The launch of its regional headquarters in Qatar is in line with the company’s strategy to strengthen its international footprint. In December 2023, Kingdee signed an agreement with the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), under which QIA committed to invest approximately QR728mn ($200mn) in the company, establishing a strategic partnership that supports Kingdee’s expansion in the region. As part of this partnership, a strategic cooperation agreement was signed by Kingdee and QFZ during the ceremony to expand opportunities for developing advanced digital solutions in Qatar and the wider region. The agreement also, outlines plans to conduct a feasibility study for establishing an innovation ecosystem and a center of excellence in Qatar, encourage Kingdee’s partners and suppliers to establish a presence in the free zones, and collaborate with research and academic institutions to support national capacity building and engage Qatari talent. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Bin Faisal al-Thani, CEO of QFZ, stated: “We are pleased to welcome Kingdee to our free zones. Kingdee’s decision to establish its regional base here is a strong validation of Qatar’s ability to attract pioneering international companies at the forefront of modern technology. With access to cutting-edge infrastructure, unparalleled connectivity, and the investment opportunities that Qatar’s free zones provide to expand across regional markets, Kingdee is well-positioned for growth and success. “Their presence will further strengthen our technology sector and contribute to Qatar’s thriving innovation ecosystem.” Jason Zhang, President, Kingdee Group, said: “Qatar is an economic hub in the Middle East and a crucial node of the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’. The open policies of QFZ, the global perspective of QIA, and the strategic efforts of Invest Qatar have created tremendous opportunities for us to ‘base in Qatar, radiate across the Gulf region, and go global.’” Zhang added: “We will embrace an open and inclusive mindset that integrates global digital technologies with management wisdom to empower local enterprises as well as those going global with world-class products and services to achieve extraordinary results.” The establishment of Kingdee Qatar will strongly support the strategic goals of Qatar’s National Digital Agenda 2030 by delivering “AI-driven + cloud-native” digital transformation solutions, enabling local enterprises to accelerate their progress from “digitalization” to “intelligentization”. Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ) continues to attract global companies in the fields of technology and cloud computing, strengthening its position as an advanced, future-ready investment destination. This enables companies to expand locally, regionally, and globally from Qatar, benefiting from a flexible business environment and state of the art infrastructure. This is part of supporting the realization of Qatar National Vision 2030 and strengthening the pillars of the Third National Development Strategy.