Qatar's impressive economic growth over the past few years, driven by the energy sector, looks set to slow down in 2012. However, the country's central bank governor is unfazed by such forecasts, as he says the private sector will now come to the fore in areas such as infrastructure, education, services and healthcare.
Middle East
Latest articles from Qatar
Qatar plays in the banking big league
June 1, 2012Qatar's infrastructure development projects – set to be worth $255bn over the next decade – and its hosting of football's World Cup in 2022 are set to provide a boon for banks already operating in the world's richest country by GDP per capita.
Middle Eastern banks: a little local insight
May 1, 2012Local banks in the Middle East have continued to perform strongly despite the global financial downturn. The strategies of three such institutions – state-owned National Bank of Abu Dhabi, local-owned Qatar National Bank and retail franchise Emirates NBD – help to explain such a strong performance.
Middle Eastern banks look to move up a gear
May 1, 2012Armed with deep pools of liquidity, many Middle Eastern banks are exploring new avenues of growth, from expanding their regional presence to concentrating on innovation within the Islamic finance sphere.
Should Qatar consolidate while the going's good?
October 3, 2011Qatar is one of the world's richest countries, and its banks are enjoying profitable returns across the board. However, there are concerns that the tiny country's banking sector is overcrowded and has too many regulators, leading for calls for consolidation in both areas.
Qatari banks consolidate their gains after decade of rapid growth
June 1, 2011Qatar has gone from net borrower to being one of the fastest growing economies in the world, with a thriving banking sector. However, aware that such growth cannot go on for ever, the Qatari regulators and politicians are reassessing the country's financial systems.
Qatar enjoys energy boom but eyes US shale gas emergence warily
June 1, 2011Despite its small size, Qatar's energy resources are vast by global standards. However, its reliance on exporting its liquefied natural gas could face a threat in the shape of the emergence of shale gas in the US.
World Cup success gives Qatar infrastructure a boost
June 1, 2011Qatar's successful bid to host the 2022 football World Cup is a testimony to the country's global ambitions. Development projects are already under way to fulfil stadia, hotel capacity and infrastructure requirements, giving a further boost to the country's already burgeoning economy.
Conventional banks face sharia restrictions in Qatar
February 21, 2011Qatar's decision to ban conventional banks from operating sharia-based finance units within its financial jurisdiction has left observers concerned the central bank has set the wrong kind of precedent, one that is likely to create uncertainty in banking throughout the Middle East.
Firm foundations hold steady
May 28, 2010A swift government response to the international meltdown coupled with an economy based around strong fundamentals mean that Qatar's banking system is emerging from the financial crisis in better shape than most. Writer Stephen Timewell