Qatar Business

Doha: Qatar’s ports play a pivotal role in strengthening the country’s position on the global trade map, serving as the main maritime gateway for the entry and exit of goods and commodities. Under the supervision of the Ministry of Transport, these ports have witnessed strategic development, making them among the most advanced port networks in the region, thanks to their modern infrastructure and integration with the country’s free zones and logistics. These ports serve as an effective link between markets in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and America, contributing to reducing cargo transit time and improving the efficiency of supply chains. Hamad Port is Qatar’s main gateway to global trade, the country’s main and most important port, and the backbone of maritime trade. Officially inaugurated by the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in September 2017, it now ranks among the largest and most modern ports in the Gulf and Middle East. Hamad Port will have a capacity of more than 7.5 million TEUs annually upon completion of all phases. It will handle more than 95 percent of the country’s maritime imports, making it a vital hub for importing and exporting all types of goods. It boasts a smart infrastructure that includes, in addition to container terminals, a general and bulk cargo terminal with a capacity of up to 7 million tons annually, a multi-purpose terminal for handling livestock, vehicles, and equipment with a capacity of 500,000 vehicles annually, and other facilities. In his remarks to Qatar News Agency, ExecutiveVice President of Operations at Mwani Qatar, Captain Abdulaziz Nasser Al Yafei said that Mwani Qatar’s environmental role has begun to emerge remarkably through the application of environmentally friendly technologies and the expansion of sustainability projects such as the care and resettlement of hundreds of thousands of mangrove trees to protect marine life, preserve the ecosystem, and reduce carbon emissions, making it part of the global sustainable economic system. Al Yafei added that Hamad Port is the main driver of economic activity related to maritime trade, and goes beyond the needs of the local market to play a pivotal role in stimulating various economic activities, especially industry, warehousing and logistics services, while adhering to the highest environmental and development standards.

Qatar Business

Doha, Qatar: QNB Group announced the successful completion of an inaugural benchmark greenbond issuance in euro currency under its Medium Term Note Programme (“Programme”) in the international capital markets. Under this Programme, a five-year, EUR 750m tranche was launched on 23 September 2025. This is the largest ever Euro denominated green bond issuance from a GCC bank. QNB Group is the leader of sustainability initiatives in the region, and it has embedded the topic of sustainability throughout the organization to deliver positive impact to the societies we serve. This landmark transaction reflects QNB’s steadfast commitment towards further development of green and sustainable finance products in Qatar and its core markets as per its Sustainable Finance and Product Framework. The issuance attracted overwhelming interest from a wide range of global investors leading to the issuance being heavily oversubscribed, with peak orders at 2.5 times the issue size. The pricing on the bonds tightened significantly with the final pricing at 75 bps over mid swaps compared to the initial pricing of 100-105 basis points over mid swaps. The fixed coupon on the bond is 3.00% p.a. The order book reflected significant interest across various geographies with key interest from European and Asian investors, reflecting QNB Group’s strategy of diversifying its funding sources in terms of geography and currency mix. Green investors which include dedicated funds that invest in assets with rigorous sustainability criteria represented 56% of the allocation. The proceeds of this green bond will be utilised for financing or refinancing portfolio of projects that qualify under the eligible green project categories as set out in the QNB Group’s Sustainable Finance and Product Framework. The transaction was arranged and offered through a syndicate of Joint Lead Managers and Joint Bookrunners that included Barclays, Crédit Agricole CIB, HSBC, QNB Capital and Santander. QNB Group is one of the leading financial institutions in the Middle East and Africa and is ranked as the most valuable banking brand in the MEA region. Present in over 28 countries across Asia, Europe, and Africa, it offers tailored products and services supported by innovation and backed by a team of over 31,000 professionals dedicated to driving banking excellence, worldwide.

Qatar Business

Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s economy continues to achieve rapid growth and attract investment under a clear strategy for diversification, with the private sector positioned to drive the next phase of growth in line with the Third National Development Strategy, the final stage of Qatar National Vision 2030, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), H E Mohammed bin Hassan Al-Malki has said. MoCI hosted the first Public–Private Sector Dialogue Forum, yesterday which gathered senior government officials and private sector representatives. The inaugural event provided a platform to tackle key challenges, develop practical solutions and initiatives, and strengthen cooperation between both sectors in support of Qatar’s economic development. Delivering the opening speech, Al-Malki affirmed that convening the forum reflects the Ministry’s commitment to establishing direct and regular communication with the private sector. The forum fosters transparency and trust, while enabling the exchange of perspectives and the development of recommendations aligned with national economic priorities, he noted. He also highlighted recent achievements and major reforms that have improved the business environment through legislative updates, regulatory changes, and digital solutions. These measures have significantly enhanced Qatar’s global standing: the country now ranks ninth in the 2025 IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, entered the top ten for the first time, and rose to fifth place worldwide in the Business Efficiency pillar. Al-Malki confirmed that the Ministry, to strengthen the legal framework, is preparing new legislations, including an updated Public–Private Partnership Law, a Foreign Investment Law, and a Bankruptcy Law, all aligned with international best practices. Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, H E Mohammed bin Hassan Al-Malki with other officials during the panel discussion at the forum, yesterday. MoCI Undersecretary stressed that the private sector is a key partner in Qatar’s development journey. Constructive cooperation and the integration of efforts between government and business are essential to transforming challenges into opportunities, he noted. Al-Malki said, business procedures have been streamlined. Investors now automatically receive a tax number upon issuance of a commercial registration, alongside approvals for labour recruitment. Ninety-five percent of services are available online via the single-window platform, and a new multilingual portal has been launched to serve both local and international investors. Foreign investors can now participate in more than 1,400 business activities. Further reforms include the removal of requirements to match commercial activities for imports and the adoption of a unified GCC customs tariff, reducing costs, broadening sourcing options, and eliminating shipment rejections due to licensing. Industrial incentives—such as reduced leasing rates for industrial, logistics, and commercial land—are saving the private sector more than QR100m annually. In addition, environmental permit processes have been simplified for 90% of industrial activities, lowering costs, enhancing project feasibility, and supporting entrepreneurship in value-added sectors. During the forum, Assistant Undersecretary for Industry and Business Development, H E Saleh Majid Al-Khulaifi delivered a presentation outlining the Ministry’s main initiatives to strengthen partnership with the private sector. These include the creation of sectoral committees covering industry, trade, logistics, health, and technology, tasked with monitoring sector-specific challenges and proposing practical solutions. He noted that the Ministry’s ‘roundtable’ initiative has already produced several solutions that have been implemented, while others remain under study or in progress. The forum featured a panel discussion with H E Mohammed bin Hassan Al-Malki, H E Saeed bin Abdullah Al-Suwaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Justice, and H E Sheikha Najwa bint Abdulrahman Al Thani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour. The panelists reviewed achievements and recent regulatory reforms that have enhanced the business environment and supported private sector growth. The forum concluded with working sessions led by the Business Environment Development Committees, with the participation of sectoral committees and private sector representatives across industry, trade, logistics, health, and technology.