Qatar records over $2.7bln in FDI in 2024

Qatar attracted $2.74 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2024 through 241 projects, which created 9,348 jobs, according to the Investment Promotion Agency Qatar's (Invest Qatar) 2024 Annual Report.
These results reflect Qatar's accelerated momentum in transforming its economy in line with the Third National Development Strategy (NDS3), with 95% of total FDI capex directed toward greenfield projects, affirming the country's commitment to diversification, a statement said.
Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of the Advisory Council, said: 'Guided by the Third National Development Strategy (NDS3), Qatar is paving the way for a sustainable, innovative and secure future. The results in this year's report reaffirm our efforts to attract high-quality investments, strengthen economic resilience and enable private sector growth. Qatar remains committed to building a diversified, knowledge-based economy that offers exceptional opportunities to both Qataris and the global community.'
Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al-Thani, CEO, Invest Qatar, said: '2024 has been another successful year for Invest Qatar, marked by significant milestones that reinforce our commitment to positioning Qatar as a premier global business hub. Through over 1,200 investor and stakeholder meetings, 120 fact-finding trips, the successful attraction of more than 30 companies, and the introduction of innovative digital tools like Ai.SHA, we have made strides in fostering investment, innovation and sustainable growth. As we present this annual report, we celebrate these achievements and look forward to building on this foundation to drive further economic opportunities and advancements in the years ahead."
Key investment activity spanned a range of priority sectors, including electric power generation, which accounted for the largest share of capital expenditure at 40.1% ($1.1 billion), followed by retail and wholesale trade, data processing and hosting, and scientific research and development.
This growth was driven by Qatar's continued efforts to improve the business environment, launch new digital services and streamline licensing procedures across multiple sectors. The year also saw a rise in Qatar's international competitiveness, with the country climbing to 11th in the IMD World Competitiveness Index 2024, improving to 28th in the Global Economic Freedom Index and advancing to 24th in the DHL Connectedness Index. Notable improvements were also seen in logistics and infrastructure, with Qatar ranking 14th in the Logistics Competence sub-index and 19th in the Logistics Infrastructure sub-index of the World Bank's Logistics Performance Index.
A partnership with fDi markets
In a strategic move to enhance the transparency and efficiency of foreign direct investment (FDI) monitoring, Invest Qatar has launched the FDI Projects Monitor in collaboration with fDi Markets. The monitor tracks FDI projects that have been publicly announced since 2017, presenting over 1,000 FDI projects, that have generated over 73,000 jobs and more than $50 billion in capital expenditure.
This innovative tool is designed to provide accurate, real-time FDI data, essential for informed decision-making and fostering economic growth. The monitor also provides an interactive investment map that tracks the locations of FDI projects, providing key insights about the involved companies, job creation statistics and capital expenditure figures, along with sector and source country breakdowns. Additional resources include updates on business environment developments and access to the latest FDI reports with an option to generate custom reports. – TradeArabia News Service
Copyright 2024 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Khaleej Times

8 hours ago

• Khaleej Times

Ajman Department of Land and Real Estate Regulation and Ajman Bank sign strategic MoU

The Ajman Department of Land and Real Estate Regulation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ajman Bank, marking a new chapter of collaboration aimed at advancing financial integration and enhancing banking services through innovative and digital-first solutions. The agreement was signed by Eng. Omar bin Omair Al Muhairi, Director General of the Department of Land and Real Estate Regulation, and Mustafa Al Khalfawi, Chief Executive Officer of Ajman Bank. Commenting on the signing, Eng. Omar bin Omair Al Muhairi stated: 'This strategic partnership with Ajman Bank reflects our commitment to advancing the department's digital capabilities and streamlining financial performance. Ajman Bank plays a vital role in supporting our ongoing efforts to build an agile, tech-enabled regulatory environment that responds effectively to the needs of real estate developers and investors.' He further added that through this collaboration, the department will gain access to comprehensive, periodic reports on escrow accounts, enabling greater oversight of real estate development performance. The partnership also paves the way for more seamless financial transactions across stakeholder groups, reducing procedural complexity and delivering future-ready services grounded in speed, privacy, and operational excellence. Mustafa Al Khalfawi, CEO of Ajman Bank, commented: 'At Ajman Bank, we believe in the power of institutional collaboration to elevate the quality of financial services. This agreement reflects our shared vision of trust, integration, and efficiency, and supports Ajman's positioning as a competitive and investment-friendly emirate.' This partnership serves as a model for effective synergy between regulatory bodies and the financial sector, setting the stage for a more stable, transparent, and investor-centric real estate ecosystem in Ajman.

The National

8 hours ago

• The National

Israel-Iran war could slow Gulf investment inflow in 2025, warns World Bank regional chief

Foreign direct investment in the Gulf could slow in the second half of this year as the war between Iran and Israel dents investor sentiment, the World Bank 's director for the region has said. Investors will probably adopt a wait-and-see approach as the conflict that started with Israel's attacks on Iran's nuclear sites on June 12 worsens, Safaa El-Kogali told The National in Riyadh. 'Even if they've started [investing beforehand], they [foreign investors] might hold off until they see things settling down a bit,' she said on the sidelines of a World Bank seminar on Sunday. De-escalation does not seem likely after President Donald Trump ordered the first-ever direct US military attack on Iranian soil earlier that day. The US attacked three Iran nuclear facilities with six bunker-buster bombs and launched Tomahawk missiles. GCC countries had varied in their ability to attract FDI in 2024. The UAE received Dh167 billion ($45.5 billion) in foreign direct investment last year, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said in a post on X on Thursday. This represented a 48 per cent increase, he added. The UAE accounted for 37 per cent of the total foreign investment flows in the region, he said. Saudi Arabia's net FDI inflows in 2024 decreased as a share of GDP, amounting to 1.1 per cent compared to 2.1 per cent in 2023, according to a recent report by the World Bank. Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar saw FDI fall by 7.3 per cent, 2.3 per cent and 0.5 per cent of GDP respectively from 2023 to 2024, it added. Oman saw FDI increase by 2.4 per cent of GDP. This was due to 'prudent fiscal management and diversification efforts' the report said. What is the impact? No one can accurately measure the impact of the escalation on the regional economies, but peace is necessary for economic security and the implications will be broad, Ms El-Kogali said. 'Increasing costs of commodities, of shipments – this will impact a number of industries that import raw material', she said. The conflict will add to inflation, which will affect investors and consumers alike, she added. 'Whenever there is uncertainty … in any region, tourists usually decide not to go,' she said. Travel and tourism made up about 11.4 per cent of the region's gross domestic product in 2024, according to the latest data from the Statistical Centre for the Co-operation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf. Oil prices, which have surged since the beginning of the war, will also have an impact on the fiscal balance of Gulf countries that still rely heavily on oil as their primary source of revenue and exports, she said. Brent and WTI surged by as much as 13 per cent in the first few hours of trading after Israel began its military campaign against Tehran. Oil prices posted a third weekly gain in a row despite falling on Friday as the war sparked supply fears. On Friday, Brent, the benchmark for two thirds of the world's oil, fell 2.33 per cent to settle at $77.01 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate, the gauge that tracks US crude, closed 0.28 per cent lower at $74.93 a barrel. Who will feel it more? Gulf countries that have diversified away from oil, such as the UAE, are more likely to resist hits caused by global economic uncertainty, Ms El-Kogali said. This was a key message of the World Bank report, Smart Spending, Stronger Outcomes: Fiscal Policy for a Thriving GCC, released last week, that measured the growth of Gulf economies until June 1. 'I think this report is really timely, because it focuses on what the GCC countries have been doing, and what impact, or the effect, those policies that have been put in place [have had],' said Ms El-Kogali. 'The UAE has started the diversification agenda a while back and currently, with 74 per cent of GDP being from the non-oil sector, puts them in a stronger position. 'The more you diversify, the more you have different opportunities to deal with crises that come your way. When you put all your eggs in one bag, and something happens to that bag, then you're in greater trouble.' Proper investment Ms El-Kogali said that higher oil prices can benefit Gulf countries, depending on how revenue is spent in the non-oil sector. 'We think that as the non-oil sector continues to be strong and growing, with the easing off of the oil production cuts, that the countries of the GCC have good gross prospects in the short and medium term,' she said. 'We really expect growth to reach 4.5 per cent by 2026 driven by the oil and the non-oil.' It takes time to see the returns of investments she added. This growth is particularly important during period of geoeconomic uncertainty. However, 'there may be the risk of spillovers' of the war which will impact the growth trajectory of Gulf nations, she said. Gulf countries have been prudent in the past during crises and 'we saw that implementing fiscal spending during downturns had a positive impact', she said. There is room to do more to further streamline spending and the Gulf countries must prioritise investments that have high returns, and can create jobs during difficult times, that will then sustain growth through economic cycles, she added.

Zawya

9 hours ago

• Zawya

Netaj launches Nawat: Iraq's first venture capital studio empowering the next generation of founders

Baghdad, Iraq – Netaj, Iraq's leading innovation and entrepreneurship platform, proudly announces the official launch of Nawat, the country's first-ever Venture Capital (VC) Studio, marking a milestone in Iraq's evolving startup ecosystem. Nawat, Netaj's VC Studio, is designed to identify, support, and invest in high-potential Iraqi startups through a tailored 6-month journey that combines mentorship, product development, market access, and funding readiness. 'Nawat is a movement to reimagine how startups are built and backed in Iraq,' said Wissam Mattout, CEO of Netaj. 'We are bridging the gap between raw talent and structured capital, offering founders a launchpad to scale both locally and globally.' 'For too long, Iraqi entrepreneurs have had to build in isolation,' added Mattout. 'Nawat will equip them with the expertise, tools, and capital they need, not just to survive, but to lead the next wave of innovation in the region.' A Studio Model Built Locally Unlike one-size-fits-all traditional accelerators, the VC studio model takes a hands-on, co-building approach, allowing Netaj to work closely with founders from idea validation to product-market fit, and ultimately, investment. The studio is open to 40 startups, segmented across three tracks: • Ideation stage • MVP/Prototype stage • Early-established startups Each startup receives customized support, including expert-led bootcamps, one-on-one consultations, mentorship from industry veterans, and direct access to investors through demo days and curated matchmaking. 'This is Iraq's moment,' said Mattout. 'If we want to build serious startups, we need serious infrastructure. Nawat is the missing puzzle piece — designed for founders, by founders.' Strategic Investment + In-Kind Support Nawat offers a hybrid investment model, combining: • In-kind investment (product development, branding, digital tools) valued between $10K–$25K. • Direct financial investment ranging from $25K–$250K using convertible notes or equity. Netaj aims to invest in the top 5–10 startups that demonstrate traction, scalability, and founder commitment to operational growth. A New Era for Iraqi Startups With its headquarters in Baghdad's Jadriyah district, Netaj has positioned itself as a central hub for entrepreneurship in Iraq. Through Nawat, it seeks to nurture and back founders who are problem-driven, market-ready, and positioned for regional and ultimately global expansion. The launch of Nawat arrives at a time when the Iraqi private sector is in urgent need of innovation-driven ventures, digital solutions, and youth-led economic activity. About Netaj Netaj is a Baghdad-based innovation firm that offers venture support, strategic consulting, and capability-building for entrepreneurs and institutions. Its mission is to build a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem across Iraq through hands-on programs, access to capital, and long-term partnerships. For press inquiries and interviews, contact: media@ | IG: @ | LinkedIn: Netaj