Doing business
Current business situation
With one of the world’s highest GDP per capita and growth forecasts in the world, Qatar is an attractive Middle Eastern commercial market. Qatar already has an increasing number of Australian companies developing business successfully, and Qataris are receptive to Australian products and services, which are perceived to be of high quality.
Opportunities lie mostly within the service industries. Information technology, education, health, construction and oil and gas all feature highly. As a smaller and lower-profile Gulf market, Qatar may be less competitive than the surrounding countries.
Austrade in Qatar can assist by helping you understand the market, complete market research, help you build business contacts and select potential partners, verify leads and help provide follow up business advice.
Opportunities lie in the construction sector, services (especially finance, IT, health and education), food and beverage, franchising, defence and security.
Australian companies find doing business in Qatar relatively less constrained than other markets of the Middle East. Business people are open, progressive and well educated. Relationships are important and care needs to be taken in establishing representation.
Qatar is a small Middle East market which may suit small companies or ones new to the region.
Business culture
Business tips
Greet Arab businessmen with a handshake. Do not shake women’s hands or touch women unless they indicate that it is alright to do so.
When passing items, eating or drinking, avoid using your left hand as this is considered unclean.
Do not sit with the soles of your feet facing other members of the group as this is considered offensive.
Building relationships and trust is extremely important. Do not rush meetings. Take time to answer your host’s questions in order to achieve this trust.
As part of this relationship building, be prepared to have several meetings and make more than one visit to Qatar before any business deals are negotiated.
Qatar is a little more conservative than Dubai. Men should wear a suit, shirt and tie to all business meetings. Ladies do not need to cover their hair, but it is preferable to wear tops with long sleeves, modest necklines and skirts falling below the knee.
The official language of Qatar is Arabic. English is however spoken widely in business.
Links and resources
Government, business and trade
Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry – www.austarab.com.au
Australia Gulf Council – http://australiagulfcouncil.com
Ministry of Foreign Affairs – www.mofa.gov.qa/index.cfm
News and media
The Peninsula – www.thepeninsulaqatar.com
Please note: this list of websites and resources is not definitive. Inclusion in this list does not imply endorsement by Austrade. The information provided is a guide only.