Finance & markets

American companies have the expertise to help Qatar construct world-class infrastructure," said US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. (Image US Department of Commerce)

US secretary of commerce visits Qatar as part of Middle East trade mission

by  — 13 March 2014

The Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, discussed her Middle East trade mission, and highlighted growing commercial ties between Qatar and the US, and American efforts to boost exports to the region. read more ›

The first phase of City Center D.C. comprises six buildings containing 458 rental apartments and 216 condominiums, in addition to 48,000 sqm of office space and more than 17,000 sqm of retail space.

Qatari Diar to open office in Washington to manage expansions in the West

by  — 13 March 2014

The Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company, valued at an estimated USD35 billion, is to open a regional office in Washington D.C. to pursue new strategic investments throughout the western hemisphere. read more ›

The economic growth, increase in population and insurance regulation is further expected to grow the non-life sector in Qatar.

Expanding Qatar’s insurance sector

by  — 11 March 2014

The insurance industry in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 18 percent in the five years leading up to 2017. The Edge takes a look at how Qatar’s insurance sector will benefit from these regional trends. read more ›

MENA-reinsurance-barometer-2014

Confidence remains strong in MENA insurance markets

by  — 11 March 2014

The 2nd MENA Insurance Barometer, published yesterday by the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority at the opening of the 8th MultaQa Qatar Conference in Doha, reveals a strengthening of confidence in the region’s insurance sector. According to the survey, compulsory insurance requirements and continued investments into infrastructure projects will drive demand. Furthermore, the region’s fundamentals continue to be attractive. With insurance penetration on the rise, demographics are favourable and the economy remains on a steady growth trajectory. read more ›

Renewed optimism due to strength of economy

by  — 9 March 2014

In the Q1 2014 Business Optimism Index (BOI), with the composite index at 49, the business sentiment in Qatar’s non-hydrocarbon sector stands at the second highest level in three years. read more ›

For both QIB and QInvest, a tie-up looks highly advantageous from every perspective. For QIB, through such funds, it will be able to offer the sort of asset management structure that has been favoured in the developed markets.

Are multi-manager funds on the rise in Qatar?

by  — 8 March 2014

There is increasing evidence that multi-manager funds are becoming an increasingly popular model in the retail investment climate of the Middle East. A case in point is the recently launched open-ended shiraa funds that will be distributed to private and wholesale clients of QIB and QInvest, writes Simon Watkins, examining how such trends match global offerings. read more ›

In a financial sector dominated by Southeast Asian states such as Malaysia, Arab and particularly Gulf states such as Qatar are rapidly rising to prominence in global Islamic banking and finance. (Image Corbis)

Savings and shari’ah in Qatar

by  — 3 March 2014

Globally, Islamic financial institutions are managing far more assets compared to the mid-1970s, yet in traditional Islamic markets, the growth of shari’ah-complaint banks is less spectacular. Against increasing global opportunities and competition in the sector, Simon Watkins and The Edge’s Aparajita Mukherjee analyse the international status quo of Islamic banking and investigate why Qatar, which has ambitions to be a centre of Islamic banking and hosts a large Muslim population, seems to have relatively better penetration in conventional banking. read more ›

Often little or no attention is paid to the issue of investment protection and the risks, which investors may face in a host state, writes Minas Katchadourian.

Protecting Qatari investments abroad

by  — 19 February 2014

Planning any foreign investment requires one to identify and assess risk factors involved. These commercial and legal risks are managed by Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs). Dr. Minas Khatchadourian of the Qatar International Center for Conciliation and Arbitration, explores the types of protection that these treaties offer Qatari investments and what recourse the private investor has in cases of breach. read more ›

With the Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding Company IPO complete, Qatar Exchange is likely to see further increased activity in 2014, sector pundits have projected. (Image Reuters/Arabian Eye)

Encouraging Qataris to build equity through IPOs

by  — 12 February 2014

Amid reports that the regional Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) market in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is likely to remain strong, with a total of seven deals, raising USD726 million (QAR2.6 billion) in Q4 of 2013, Qatar launched the Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding Company QSC (MPHC) IPO on December 31, 2013. Three banks have given 100 percent finance to Qatari applicants and in conversation with The Edge, bankers reveal that this pattern is likely to be repeated. read more ›

Could rising land prices restart rent inflation?

by  — 9 February 2014

According to recent QNB Group projections, inflation in rent prices had slowed in recent months due to a drop in prices in land. However, a recovery in land prices in December and January could reverse the slowdown in rent inflation by mid-2014, states a new QNB Group. read more ›

Barwa Real Estate Group selling its stake in Barwa Bank to Qatari Diar

by  — 21 January 2014

Barwa Real Estate Group has announced the selling of its entire 37.34 percent of shares from Barwa Bank worth around QAR2.4 billion, in a statement released to the Qatar Exchange. read more ›

"Banks must become more relevant, and stand for a higher purpose that is more about ‘us’ and less about ‘them’," writes Anthony Ryman.

What banks in Qatar are doing wrong when it comes to branding

by  — 26 December 2013

Anthony Ryman the managing director of a brand consultancy in Qatar writes that banks in Qatar need a better brand story, one that is about honest and authentic values that they believe in. read more ›

National Bonds Corporation survey reveals many in Qatar worry about inadequate savings

by  — 22 December 2013

In Qatar, 47 percent of the respondents claimed their savings were not at all adequate for the future, and while 12 percent believed their savings would see them through in the future, only one percent thought their savings were more than adequate for the future. read more ›

Consequent to the MSCI upgrade to Emerging Market status, which becomes effective from May 2014, there is an expectation in the investor community that IPO investment will become more lucrative. (Image Reuters/Arabian Eye)

Investment and IPO climate positive in GCC and Qatar

by  — 16 December 2013

According to Deloitte Middle East’s first Equity Capital Markets Confidence Survey, several factors such as rising volumes, recovering valuations and increasing foreign institutional investments are expected to drive initial public offerings (IPOs) in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in 2014. read more ›

Islamic finance will sustain economic growth in MENA region, say experts

by  — 11 December 2013

Rapidly-growing Islamic-based finance will drive the next phase of economic growth across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), said leaders in the financial industry at the Euromoney Qatar Conference today. read more ›

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