China-Qatar Cooperation
Qatar Free Zones Authority holds talks with BYD to explore future cooperation opportunities
The Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ) recently held talks with BYD, and the two sides exchanged views on potential cooperation in fields including advanced manufacturing, technological innovation and industrial implementation. During the meeting, QFZ introduced the industrial ecology, infrastructure and business operation advantages in the zones, emphasizing Qatar’s geographical position as a regional manufacturing and technology hub. The BYD delegation also visited the Business Innovation Park to inspect the park’s facilities and innovation environment. QFZ stated that it will continue to rely on industrial supporting resources and landing services to attract more Chinese enterprises to carry out high-value investment and cooperation.>>>Read the full article, click to view<<<
Chinese Ambassador to Qatar: China-Qatar strategic partnership continues to deepen, and practical cooperation yields fruitful results
Cao Xiaolin, Chinese Ambassador to Qatar, said that in recent years, the China-Qatar strategic partnership has been deepening continuously, and the two sides have achieved positive results in trade, investment, infrastructure, science and technology, finance and people-to-people and cultural exchanges. China has been Qatar’s largest trading partner and largest export destination for six consecutive years, and the scale of bilateral trade continues to expand. Chinese enterprises are deeply involved in Qatar’s infrastructure construction, and Chinese financial institutions and technology enterprises are also continuously expanding their local businesses.>>>Read the full article, click to view<<<
Industry Opportunities
Sidra Medicine: One-stop medical services for global patients
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Located in Education City, Doha, Sidra Medicine is affiliated with Qatar Foundation, and is a large medical institution focusing on medical care for women, children and adolescents. The center provides international patients with full-process services covering travel coordination, telemedicine, translation and other links. In addition to clinical diagnosis and treatment, Sidra Medicine also continues to strengthen preventive medicine and scientific research cooperation, and has accumulated experience in fields such as maternal and child health, pediatrics and autism research. With internationally certified medical facilities, professional teams and a patient-centered service system, Sidra Medicine is becoming an important choice for international patients seeking medical treatment in Qatar.>>>Read the full article, click to view<<<
Qatar’s total FDI reached 3.4 billion US dollars in 2025, with new projects increasing by 52% year on year
The Investment Promotion Agency of Qatar released its 2025 annual report, showing that the country attracted 373 foreign direct investment projects throughout the year, with capital expenditure reaching 3.4 billion US dollars and more than 15,000 new jobs created. More than half of the capital flowed to greenfield projects, and nearly half of the projects belonged to the medium and high-tech innovation fields. China ranked the fourth largest investor with 23 projects, covering new energy vehicles, biotechnology, consumer goods and software services. Qatar also launched a 1 billion US dollar investment incentive plan, and expanded its overseas representative offices and digital service platforms to improve investment convenience and global competitiveness.>>>Read the full article, click to view<<<
Qatar completes trial operation of electric self-driving taxis
The Ministry of Transport (MOT) of Qatar supervised Qatar’s national transport company Mowasalat/Karwa to complete the trial operation of electric self-driving taxis, with vehicles shuttling between the MOT headquarters and Doha Old Port. The first phase of the project, launched in August 2025, has completed 2500 trips with a trial operation success rate of 94%. In the second phase, remote-controlled taxis without safety operators will be gradually deployed on three approved routes. The Ministry of Transport stated that this project is in line with the autonomous vehicle strategy formulated by the Ministry, aiming to introduce advanced intelligent and environmentally friendly technologies into the public transport system.
Qatar’s residential mortgage transaction volume reached 3.56 billion US dollars in the first quarter
Data from the Ministry of Justice of Qatar shows that in the first quarter of this year, a total of 426 mortgage transactions were recorded in Qatar’s real estate industry, with a total value of 12.966 billion Qatari riyals (about 3.56 billion US dollars), showing strong economic resilience and sustained industry growth. It is worth noting that the top ten largest mortgage transactions accounted for 52% of the total amount in the quarter, reflecting the driving effect of large transactions on the market.
Qatar continues to expand its global layout with innovation-driven investment
The Qatar International Media Office stated that various Qatari institutions are continuously strengthening their influence in the global market through strategic investments, focusing on key fields that shape the future of the global economy, including healthcare, artificial intelligence, robotics, renewable energy, infrastructure, real estate and financial services. These investments reflect Qatar’s overall strategy of establishing partnerships with leading international enterprises and promoting the development of transformative technologies.
Qatar’s startup ecosystem enters a new growth stage
The “Qatar Startup Ecosystem Research Report” shows that Qatar’s startups have entered a new growth stage. Supported by huge national investment and scientific research capabilities, the startup sector in Qatar is stepping into a new growth phase. The report points out that Qatar has accelerated enterprise establishment through a variety of policy adjustments, with 22 public incubators and accelerators providing support, and the willingness to start a business has risen from 47.4% to 60.8%.
Qatar’s digital payment transaction volume in June increased by 40% year on year
Data from Qatar Central Bank shows that in June 2026, the national payment transaction volume reached 75.14 million, a year-on-year increase of 21%, and the total transaction value climbed to 99.1 billion riyals, an increase of 40%, indicating that digital financial services are being popularized at an accelerated pace. Card payment remains the mainstream, with nearly 67 million consumption transactions totaling 23 billion riyals. The data shows that Qatar is accelerating its transition to a cashless economy society, with continuous improvement in investment in digital payment infrastructure and public acceptance.
Qatar Free Zones Authority launches Qatar Diamond Exchange
The Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ) established the Qatar Diamond Exchange (QDE) in the Ras Bufontas Airport Free Zone, targeting the trade of rough diamonds, finished diamonds and gemstones. The platform integrates services including trading, vault custody, certification, customs clearance, valuation and insurance, and implements unified supervision. Members enjoy preferential policies of 100% foreign ownership and zero corporate tax for qualified entities. The exchange will also hold diamond tenders to connect producers in Africa and Asia with buyers in Europe and the Gulf region.
Qatar deploys biotechnology and precision medicine to drive economic diversification
The Investment Promotion Agency of Qatar (Invest Qatar) recently published an article pointing out that Qatar is accelerating the construction of a biotechnology ecosystem to advance the “National Vision 2030”. Qatar plans to raise the proportion of R&D expenditure in GDP from 0.5%–0.7% to 1.5% by 2030, and medical expenditure will also increase to 12.5 billion US dollars. Relying on institutions such as Qatar Precision Health Institute (QPHI), Qatar has completed genome sequencing of more than 40,000 local and Arab individuals, building one of the most complete gene datasets in the region. With its leading advantages in precision medicine and genomics, Qatar is striving to build a globally innovative biotechnology hub.
Market Policies
Qatar establishes a new mechanism for industrial resource allocation
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Qatar signed an agreement with Qatar Energy to establish a joint governance mechanism to coordinate the allocation of natural gas, electricity and oil and gas derived raw materials for downstream industrial projects, and support the construction of a new medium-sized industrial zone in Mesaieed Industrial City (MIC). According to the framework, the two sides will set up a joint working group, with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry taking the lead in investment docking and industrial ecology coordination, and Qatar Energy providing technical and commercial assessment support.
Qatar announces the establishment of the Global Artificial Intelligence Ethics Alliance
Qatar announced the launch of the “Global Artificial Intelligence Ethics Alliance” (GAAIE) at the first meeting of the United Nations Global Artificial Intelligence Governance Forum, aiming to strengthen international cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence ethics and promote the construction of a responsible global artificial intelligence governance framework. This initiative is one of the core outcomes of Qatar’s participation in this forum, reflecting Qatar’s commitment to promoting inclusive and responsible global AI governance and using AI to support sustainable development under the framework of the “National AI Strategy” and “National Vision 2030”.
Qatar’s amended labor law introduces new regulations on professional licensing, flexible working system and non-compete restrictions
The Ministry of Labor of Qatar interpreted the amendments to the “Labor Law No. 9 of 2026”, focusing on three major areas: specific occupations require certificates to practice and pass recognized training and competency tests, part-time and freelance modes are legally recognized, and non-compete clauses further balance the needs of the labor market and the rights and interests of workers. The new regulations aim to improve the quality of the workforce, enhance service quality and strengthen safety and productivity in all industries.
Qatar promulgates new regulations on drone management
Qatar recently promulgated the “Drone Management Law No. 10 of 2026”, which establishes a legal framework for the use of drones, aiming to balance technological innovation and aviation safety. According to the law, the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority is responsible for coordinating the supervision of drone operations, including issuing and renewing licenses, determining permitted models, delineating flight areas and altitudes, standardizing import and export, supervising compliance and formulating environmental protection measures.
Qatar’s Ministry of Transport signs a memorandum of cooperation on land transport with the Qatar Engineers Association
According to QNA, the Ministry of Transport of Qatar and the Qatar Engineers Association signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of land transport today, aiming to strengthen cooperation in R&D of intelligent transport, road safety and relevant laws and regulations. The memorandum will promote strategic collaboration between the two sides in the field of transport innovation, and improve the professional capabilities of local talents in road transport by organizing professional training, seminars and education courses.
Upcoming Events
Doha Shopping Season 2026
The 2026 Doha Shopping Season will gather commodities from more than 20 countries, displaying and selling various products on site, including perfumes, jewelry, home decoration supplies, footwear, carpets, food, abayas and various household daily necessities, providing consumers with a one-stop shopping experience.
Event Details
Date: July 23 to August 5, 2026
Organizer: Qatar Marketers Business Development
Email: ar@qatarmarketeers.com
Official Website: www.qatarmarketeers.com
Qatar Event Show
The 2026 Qatar Event Show will gather high-quality resources from the event planning and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) industry. The three-day event will include multiple sessions such as international exhibitions, industry forums, interactive seminars and business networking, providing a platform for industry insiders to showcase, learn and cooperate.
Event Details
Date: September 1 to September 3, 2026
Organizer: Mangusteen
Email: karim@mangusteen.com
Official Website: www.qatareventshow.com
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Recent Events
Dubai Business Forum · China, overseas guest lineup unveiled
On October 14, 2026, the 5th Dubai Business Forum will be held in Shenzhen, and the overseas guest lineup has been announced. This forum will bring together a number of important guests from Dubai’s government agencies, leading enterprises and investment sectors. They have long been involved in Dubai’s economic development, industrial planning, investment promotion and innovation ecosystem construction, and will share insights on Dubai’s economic strategy, key industry trends and future cooperation directions. Up to now, 58 Dubai-based enterprises and institutions have confirmed their attendance, covering key industries such as artificial intelligence, digital technology, advanced manufacturing, cross-border investment, consumer retail, logistics and supply chain. If you hope to gain in-depth understanding of Dubai’s industrial opportunities on site, or carry out business exchanges with senior executives of Dubai enterprises, investment institutions and government representatives, it is recommended to submit your attendance application as soon as possible. Seats are limited, please scan the QR code below orclick “here
