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In our research project — Assessing Employability Skills and Workforce Needs in Qatar’s Manufacturing Sector: A Skills Need Analysis (Qatar Research Development and Innovation grant PTP01-0714-240004) — we surveyed about 140 owners, directors, managers, and HR professionals across 17 subsectors. The survey covered 38 skills grouped into seven domains (basic skills, thinking skills, resource management skills, informational skills, interpersonal skills, system and technology skills, and personal qualities and values).As Qatar accelerates industrial diversification under the National Development Strategy, manufacturers are clear about the skills they will need in the future: higher-order cognitive skills and interpersonal competencies built on safety-first cultures.The most important personal values were “work safety” (99.3%) and “integrity” (97.2%). Closely followed by thinking and teamwork: “Problem solving” (90.9%) led cognitive skills, and teamwork (90.1%) topped interpersonal skills.Communication basics are also foundational. Respectively, 86.1% and 84.7% of the respondents rated sharing ideas clearly and effectively in conversations and presentations (speaking) and understanding and responding appropriately to spoken messages and body language (listening) as “very important”, with strong scores for understanding written information, like instructions or schedules, to complete tasks effectively (76.1%) and writing messages, reports, and instructions clearly and accurately (69.0%). The use of basic math to solve problems was more role-specific: only 39.2% called it “very important,” and nearly a quarter were neutral.When it comes to higher-order thinking, decision-making (63.2% “very important”) and learning (79.0%) were prioritised ahead of creativity. Creative thinking drew a split verdict — 22.2% “very important” and 61.1% “important” — while visualising data and diagrams reached 54.0% “very important.”Managing time and risk is essential. Risk management (93.0%) and time management (91.4%) were rated “very important,” with material management close behind (83.8%). By contrast, money management (23.2%) and human-resource management (26.1%) were far less frequently flagged as “very important,” reflecting that these skills are less critical.Digital fluency is now standard. Two-thirds (67.4%) rated “using computers for information” as “very important,” though fewer (37.1%) said the same about “acquiring and evaluating information.” On technology operations, respondents emphasised application over selection: applying technology (88.7%) and understanding systems (86.6%) outranked monitoring (71.1%), troubleshooting (67.6%), and selecting technology (68.3%).Finally, interpersonal expectations extend beyond teamwork. Cultural sensitivity registered an 85.3% “very important,” a nod to Qatar’s diverse workplaces, while negotiation (32.2%), leadership (29.6%), and “teaching others” (9.1%) are less essential.Why it matters: The pattern is an operations-first skill mix. Employers prize a safety-first culture and ethical conduct, underpinned by hands-on problem solving and disciplined time/risk management—supported by collaborative communication and digital fluency. In short, soft skills and higher-order thinking skills seem to be more important for future employment than basic technical or manual abilities. Higher-order cognitive and interpersonal competencies are essential for a modern, knowledge-based economy.What to do: Educational and training providers, as well as policymakers, should invest in safety standards, integrity and compliance training, real-world problem-solving drills, and applied technology modules to keep talent job-ready for Qatar’s evolving manufacturing sector and dynamic economy.Charbel Bassil is associate professor of Economics at Qatar University. Jalal Qanas is assistant professor of Economics at Qatar University.

The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) index rose by 0.40% at the beginning of trading Wednesday, increasing its balance by 44.12 points to reach 11,165 points, compared to the previous session's close, with support from most sectors.Figures from QSE showed a positive performance in most sectors, as the Banking and Financial Services sector rose by 0.58%, Industrial by 0.34%, Real Estate by 0.28%, Consumer Goods and Services by 0.19%, Telecoms by 0.11%, and Insurance by 0.01%, while Transportation recorded a negative performance of 0.12%.At 10:00 AM, QSE recorded 4,259 transactions worth QAR 92.856 million, and distributed over 40.217 million shares.

QNB Group, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor, organised the Open Recruitment Day which witnessed a large turnout of Qatari national graduates and talents seeking careers in the banking sector, supporting job nationalization plan within Qatar National Vision 2030 for sustainable economic growth. This initiative is part of QNB's ongoing programs, in cooperation with the Ministry of Labor, to implement this plan in line with the Third National Development Strategy 2024-2030 aimed at empowering citizens to increasingly participate in the labour market, providing them with unique job opportunities in the financial sector, QNB Group said in a press release. Senior Executive Vice President - Group Human Capital in QNB Group Abdullah Nasser Al Khalifa said: "The significant participation in the event clearly reflets Qatari youth's confidence in QNB as an employer of choice, on the one hand, and our commitment to engage more local talent across various roles, on the other hand. This initiative aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030 which places great emphasis on investing in our youth to support Qatar's sustainable development." "Our strong partnership with the Ministry of Labor demonstrates the success of the bank's nationalization strategy, strengthening the role of local talent in the sector and developing the next generation of leaders, while ensuring diversity and equal opportunity," he added. The event served as an active platform for participants to explore an array of career paths offered the bank and to apply for current openings. They also learned about current training opportunities, scholarships, and leadership development programs to support their career progression and prepare them for future leadership roles within the bank. This initiative underscores QNB's efforts in workforce nationalization which represents a major priority. The bank actively supports job localization, having more than 60% of its total workforce. The proportion of Qatari nationals holding leadership and senior positions increased to 76%, while women represent about 64% from the total Qatari workforce in the bank. At the branch level, the bank has achieved a 100% Qatarization rate for branch managers.

Qatar's non-energy sector rose for the seventh consecutive month, indicating the country's resilience amidst tariff uncertainties and elevated volatility in the global economy, particularly in the first half (H1) of 2025, according to the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC).Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows will remain strong and is expected to pick up towards the tail-end of 2025, QFC said in its latest update."Qatar’s non-oil private sector PMI (purchasing managers’ index) averaged 51.1 for H1-2025 despite tariff uncertainty and geo-political risks. Qatar’s non-energy sector maintained its growth into second half of 2025," QFC said.Qatar’s economy continues to do well with the Standard & Poor Global PMI showing that the non-oil sector remains in expansion territory, while FDI inflows continue to increase and banking assets grow by 9% on an annualised basis. The real estate sector remains robust after a strong H1-2025.Inward FDI into Qatar has been comparatively strong in 2025, with the country having attracted $2.4bn (more than 86% of 2024 total FDI inflows) in FDI capex so far this year, the report said, adding FDI inflows into Qatar for 2025 have also contributed to the creation of 8,262 jobs so far."With four months left until the end of 2025, Qatar is well placed to attract FDI inflows in line with those witnessed in 2024 of $2.8bn," QFC said.Data from 2020-24 indicated that on average the last four months of the year see FDI inflows of $342.8mn on average, it said.Highlighting that the UAE, France and the US are the top three markets contributing to Qatar’s FDI inflows; the report said together these three contributed a total of $1.52bn or 62.9% of all FDI inflows into Qatar so far in 2025."The strong flow of inward FDI highlights the positive sentiment investors continue to have towards Qatar. We remain positive that FDI inflows will remain strong for the remainder of the year, as historically FDI inflows tend to pick up towards the tail-end of the year," the report said.Real estate transactions amounted to QR6bn in the second quarter of 2025, an 88.9% increase on an annualised basis. This growth builds on the momentum gained in the first quarter of 2025 where real estate activity totalled QR4.1bn, putting real estate deals for 2025 in excess of QR10.1bn, which is QR2.5bn more than in H1-2024.As of August 31, 2025, real estate activity equated to QR804mn with residential property accounting for 17% (QR137.1mn) of Qatar’s total real estate activity.The Qatar Stock Exchange was largely flat in August with the index rising from 11,187.76 on the first trading day 11,222.33 on the last trading day.

Qatar’s PMI climbing to 51.9 in August indicates accelerating non-oil private sector activity in the country, according to Oxford Economics.Last month, the PMI climbed to 51.9, which Oxford Economics noted is “fuelled by the fastest job creation and employment growth in the region”.Business activity in the GCC’s non-oil private sector continued to strengthen in August, Oxford Economics said.The UAE’s PMI rose to 53.3 from July’s four-year low of 52.9, driven by faster output growth. Saudi Arabia’s PMI edged up slightly to 56.4, supported by stronger client demand and infrastructure projects.“Overall, the GCC's non-oil private sector has seen sustained expansion this year, and we expect 4% growth in the region's non-oil output this year,” Oxford Economics said.In Saudi Arabia, credit growth slowed to 15.2% y/y in August but remained well above deposit growth of 8.4%. A sharper drop in mortgage lending suggests softer real estate activity, although consumer credit stayed strong.“We expect early interest rate cuts to support credit demand, likely pushing the average loan-to-deposit ratio to a new high. This could raise liquidity concerns in the coming months, especially if deposit growth continues to lag,” Oxford Economics noted.In a recent report the researcher noted Qatar's fiscal balance is estimated to scale up to 5.4% (of country’s GDP) in 2026 from 1.8% this year.A growing fiscal balance signals improved macroeconomic stability and a stronger ability to manage government debt in the country, an analyst noted.In an indication of the country’s level of international competitiveness, Qatar’s current account will improve further reaching 18.3% of the country’s GDP in 2026, from 17.5% this year.Qatar’s real GDP growth has been forecast at 2.7% year-on-year (y-o-y) this year, rising to 4.8% in 2026.Inflation has been forecast at 0.4% this year and 2.8% in 2026.In its last country report, Oxford Economics noted Qatar’s GDP growth “will more than double” in 2026-2027, with both the energy and non-energy sectors contributing positively this year and beyond, according to Oxford Economics.

Qatar’s hospitality sector, the present supply of which stands at 41,463 rooms, is on track to reach a total of more than 44,500 keys by 2027 as the country’s tourism remains “buoyant”, according to Knight Frank, a London-based global property consultant.Qatar’s hospitality sector added 718 hotel rooms in the first half (H1) of 2025, taking total supply to 41,463 rooms. Approximately 60% of this supply consists of international branded hotels, Knight Frank said in its latest report.“Now recognised as a leading regional lifestyle and leisure destination, Qatar is on track to reach 44,562 hotel rooms by the end of 2027, in line with the government’s national tourism strategy,” it added.In terms of performance metrics, the hotel sector has remained broadly “stable” over the past 12 months, it said, adding occupancy rates edged up to 70.7%, a modest 0.3% year-on-year increase, indicating steady demand.The ADR (average daily rate), however, softened slightly by 0.2%, to QR454. Nevertheless, RevPAR (revenue per available room) increased by 2.9%, reaching QR321, “signalling moderate but sustained profitability” within the sector, according to Knight Frank.Finding that the supply of rooms continues to expand, though at a more measured pace than the pre-2022 FIFA World Cup years; it said after adding 718 rooms in the first half of 2025, following the 1,020 keys added in 2024, the total supply has now reached 41,463 rooms.Occupancy has continued to grow across all segments, despite a slight increase in supply, driven by demand from regional tourists and business travellers, said Oussama El Kadiri, Partner – Head of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure Advisory, Knight Frank. The report said the midscale and upscale segments of the hotel market remain the most active, driven by solid demand from regional tourists and business travellers.Meanwhile, upcoming mega events and enhanced air connectivity - courtesy of Qatar Airways - continue to boost international tourism sentiment.Additionally, the country’s commitment to diversifying tourism experiences through luxury shopping destinations, cultural hubs like Msheireb and Katara, and the active promotion of MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) is further solidifying its position as a competitive hospitality hub in the region, it said.The strong regional and international footfall underpins Qatar’s strategic goal to diversify its economy and expand its non-oil sectors, the report said.The hospitality sector continued to demonstrate resilience, although there has been a marginal 0.2% dip in international arrivals year-on-year as of June 2025.Total visitor numbers reached about 2.63mn, down slightly from 2.64mn the same period in 2024. Nevertheless, the broader tourism landscape “remains healthy”, following a significant 24.6% surge in visitors in 2024, reaching 5.05mn, up from 4mn in 2023, according to the report.“This surge can be attributed to Qatar’s expanding global air connectivity through Qatar Airways, increased regional promotional campaigns, and the continued development of cultural, retail, and sports tourism offerings,” Knight Frank said.

Driven by the public sector, loans disbursed by the local banks in Qatar increased by 1.1% MoM to QR1,406.9bn in July, according to QNB Financial Services (QNBFS).Total public sector loans expanded by 4.5% MoM (+9.5% on FY2024) in July.The government segment (represents 35% of public sector loans) was the main driver for the public sector gains with an expansion of 7.2% MoM (+32.7% on FY2024), while the government institutions segment (represents 61% of total public sector loans) increased by 3.3% MoM (+0.4% on FY2024).Further, the semi-government institutions segment contributed immaterially, moving up by 1.1% MoM (-0.9% compared to FY2024) during July.Total private sector loans were flat MoM (+2.6% vs. FY2024) during July with negligible contribution across all segments.Outside Qatar loans were flat MoM (and compared to year-end 2024) in July, QNBFS said in its ‘Qatar Monthly Key Banking Indicators’.Loan provisions to gross loans moved up to 4.2% MoM in July, compared to 3.9% (as of year-end 2024).Loan provisions have increased 11.8% compared to year-end 2024 as banks have been provisioning for Stage 2 and Stage 3 loans mainly emanating from contracting and real estate sectors.On a positive note, Stage 3 loans have remained stable.Loans grew by an average 5.4% over the past five years (2020-2024), QNBFS noted.Banking sector total assets remained flat MoM (+3.4% vs. year-end 2024) in July 2025 at QR2.117tn.With loans growth outpacing deposits during July 2025, the loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR) came in at 134% compared to 132% in June.Public sector deposits climbed up by 0.6% MoM (+3.4% compared to FY2024) in July.Looking at segment details, the government segment (represents 34% of public sector deposits) moved up by 1.6% MoM (+4% compared to FY2024).On the other hand, the government institutions’ (represents 54% of public sector deposits) was flat MoM (+4.1% vs. FY2024), while the semi-government institutions’ segment (represents 12% of public sector deposits) increased by 1.9% MoM (-1.6% vs. FY2024) during July 2025.Non-resident deposits contracted by 3.2% MoM (-2.2% vs. FY2024) during July 2025. Non-resident deposits as a percentage of declined from 19.2% in June 2025 to 18.7% in July 2025 (FY2025: 19.5%).Private sector deposits remained flat MoM (+2.9% compared to FY2024) in July.On the private sector front, companies and institutions was flat MoM (Flat compared to FY2024). Moreover, the consumer segment also remained flat MoM (+5.2% compared to FY2024).The overall loan book increased by 1.1% MoM in July 2025, aided by public sector loans.Qatar banking sector liquid assets to total assets stood at 31% in July compared to 32% in June, which remains in a strong position, QNBFS said.

Qatar saw a robust 114% year-on-year increase in residential transactions in the second quarter (Q2), indicating growing confidence among investors on resilient performance across the country’s real estate sector, according to Knight Frank, a global property consultancy.In its latest Qatar real estate market review, Knight Frank said both transaction volumes and values in the residential sector posted strong year-on-year growth.There were 1,844 residential sales in Q2-2025, totalling QR9.23bn, representing a 114% increase compared with the same period last year."Momentum in Qatar’s residential market is building again following a period of subdued activity after the 2022 FIFA World Cup," said Faisal Durrani, Partner – Head of Research, Middle East and North Africa, Knight Frank.Doha, Al Daayen and Al Wakra were among the best-performing municipalities: Doha alone recorded QR3.85bn of transactions, up 126% year-on-year, while Al Daayen and Al Wakra posted increases of 164% and 127%, respectively.In terms of property values, the apartment sector led the way, with average sales prices increasing by 3.5% year-on-year to QR13,270 per sq m, the report said.The most expensive apartments were located in Lusail’s Waterfront district (QR15,131 per sq m) and Viva Bahriya on The Pearl Island (QR14,987 per sq m).At the other end of the market, Porto Arabia registered the lowest average apartment price at QR11,696 per sq m, offering relatively accessible options in a prime waterfront setting.Villas saw a slight dip in values, with average prices down 4% year-on-year to QR6,745 per sq m. Among the key districts, Abu Hamour recorded the highest average villa price at QR8,434 per sq m, while Al Wukair remained the most affordable option at QR5,667 per sq m.The residential land segment also experienced robust growth during Q2-2015, Knight Frank said.Renewed investor interest in land plots, driven by good long-term development prospects and relative affordability in emerging areas, delivered sales totalling QR2.16bn across 598 deals, up 85% year-on-year.Significant gains were observed in Umm Salal, where volumes increased by 218%, followed by Doha (134%) and Al Wakra (102%)."The increase in transaction volumes, rising apartment values, and strong land sales activity suggest growing confidence among investors and end-users," it said.While challenges such as high interest rates and legacy oversupply remain, it said Q2 has seen a positive shift in Qatar’s residential market dynamics.As the flow of new stock slows and infrastructure investments continue, particularly in Lusail and surrounding zones, "we anticipate a gradual recovery in the medium term, notwithstanding any potential impact from the regional tensions in late June, which may yet materialise in the data over the summer months," it said.Longer term, with plans underway by the authorities to submit a bid for the 2036 Summer Olympic Games, there may yet be further national infrastructure investment, which will sustain economic growth over the medium to long term and inject additional positive momentum into the economy.

Qatar's maritime sector saw higher vessels traffic through its Hamad, Doha and Al Ruwais ports in August 2025, translating into robust expansion across containers, cargoes and building materials on both yearly and monthly basis, according to the official statistics.The increased maritime activities is indicative of the strong performance, especially of the non-hydrocarbons private sector and is in line with the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030, as Mwani Qatar continues to implement its ambitious strategy to enhance the sector's contribution to diversifying the economy and strengthening the county's position as a regional trade hub.As many as 290 ships had called on Qatar's three ports in August 2025, which was higher by 21.85% and 8.21% year-on-year and month-on-month respectively.Hamad Port, whose strategic geographical location offers opportunities to create cargo movement towards the upper Gulf, supporting countries such as Kuwait and Iraq and south towards Oman, saw as many as 165 vessels call (excluding military) on the port in the review period. The three ports had seen a total of 2,045 vessels in the first eight months of this year.The general and bulk cargo handled through the three ports amounted to 254,528 freight tonnes in August 2025, which zoomed 129.25% and 8.58% on yearly and monthly basis respectively.Hamad Port – whose multi-use terminal is designed to serve the supply chains for the RORO, grains and livestock – handled as much as 108,026 freight tonnes of bulk and 120,710 freight tonnes of breakbulk in August this year. The three ports together handled as much as 1.3mn cargoes in January-August 2025.The container movement through three ports amounted to 126,481 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), which surged 10.07% and 8.13% year-on-year and month-on-month respectively in the review period.Hamad Port, the largest eco-friendly project in the region and internationally recognised as one of the largest green ports in the world, alone handled 124,757 TEUs of containers handled this August. The three ports together handled a total of 986,240 TEUs of containers during January-August 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.The building materials traffic through the three ports stood at 72,535 tonnes in August 2025, which zoomed 453.7% and 37.7% on an annualised and monthly basis respectively. The three ports together handled as much as 451,190 tonnes of building materials during the first eight months of this year.The three ports were seen handling 20,002 livestock heads in August 2025, which however showed 16.68% and 29.2% plunge year-on-year and month-on-month respectively. The ports had handled as many as 399,987 livestock heads during January-August 2025.The three ports handled 9,254 RORO in August 2025, which registered 14.35% and 27.69% contraction year-on-year and month-on-month respectively. Hamad Port alone handled 9,224 units in the review period. The three ports together handled as many as 78,869 units in the first eight months of this year.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.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani issued on Monday Amiri Decision No. 27 of 2025 establishing the Qatar Award for Localisation in the Private Sector.The decision states that the award aims to foster healthy competition among private sector entities in the area of job localisation, by recognising establishments that have met nationalisation targets and contributed to realising Qatar's national vision. Additionally, it seeks to honor distinguished citizens working in the private sector, along with exceptional talents, visionary leaders, and innovative pioneers.Under the decision, a Board of Trustees will be formed within the Ministry of Labor to oversee the award's management, determine its criteria, define its categories and levels, and set the necessary procedures.The law is effective starting from its date of issue and is to be published in the official gazette.