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(Last updated: 05 Jun 2009)
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) provides advice for business travellers and tourists going to Qatar. This is regularly updated, and should be checked before planning travel.
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.
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| Capital city: |
Doha |
| Surface area: |
11,000 sq km |
| Population: |
1.1 million |
| Official language(s): |
Arabic |
| Head of State: |
Emir of the State of Qatar HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani |
| Head of Government: |
Prime Minister HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr Al-Thani |
| Australian exports to Qatar: |
A$183 million |
| Australian imports from Qatar: |
A$402 million |
| Qatar's principal export destinations: |
Japan, Republic of Korea, Singapore |
| Qatar's principal import sources: |
USA, Italy, Japan | (Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Country economic fact sheet) |
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There is a need for Qatar to diversify the economy along the lines of Dubai or Bahrain, in order to provide a more stable environment for economic growth in the future. In order to help achieve this, the government has committed itself to an investment program amounting to US$130 billion in projects across all major sectors over the next five years. Examples of these include the Qatar Financial Centre, Hamad Medical City, Education City and The Qatar Science and Technology Park.
To support these and many other projects, Qatar is also investing heavily in construction and infrastructure projects. New roads, water and sewerage systems are being built along with education facilities, hospitals, housing, business and tourist infrastructure. Major projects also include the Pearl, Lusail City, the New Doha International Airport, the Qatar-Bahrain Causeway and the proposed 65km bridge that would link Doha with Abu Dhabi at a cost of $13 billion.
Key economic indicators and statistics for 2008:
- GDP – US$99.7 billion
- GDP per capita – US$81,861
- Real GDP growth – 18 per cent
- Inflation rate – 9 per cent
(Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Country economic fact sheet) |
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Trade relations and statistics
Major Australian exports to Qatar (2007-08):
- Passenger motor vehicles – A$50 million
- Live animals (excluding seafood) – A$27 million
- Meat (excluding beef) – A$20 million
- Beef – A$11 million
Major Australian imports from Qatar (2007-08):
- Liquified propane and butane – A$116 million
- Fertilisers (excluding crude) – A$111 million
- Inorganic chemical elements – A$14 million
- Primary ethylene polymers – A$10 million
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Country economic fact sheet) |
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