Foreign Direct Investment in Qatar grew by 110% in 2024

Doha, Qatar: CEO of the Investment Promotion Agency HE Sheikh Ali bin Alwaleed Al Thani affirmed that the State of Qatar witnessed a significant rise...

Doha, Qatar: CEO of the Investment Promotion Agency HE Sheikh Ali bin Alwaleed Al-Thani affirmed that the State of Qatar witnessed a significant rise in FDI in 2024, recording 241 projects, more than double the 115 projects in 2023, marking a remarkable 109.6% year-on-year increase, adding that this growth reflects strong investor confidence in Qatar’s economic resilience and strategic direction.

In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), the CEO of the Investment Promotion Agency (Invest Qatar) said that most projects were largely concentrated in Qatar’s key sectors, led by retail and wholesale trade (77 projects) and administration and support services (41 projects). Notably, greenfield projects made up 74%, underscoring Qatar’s appeal for long-term, sustainable investments. This growth is attributed to targeted investment policies, a supportive business environment, and the state's commitment to economic diversification in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.

He explained that this momentum was driven by Qatar’s series of policy reforms, streamlined licensing procedures and enhanced digital services, aimed at improving the ease of doing business, in line with the economic diversification goals set out in the Third National Development Strategy (NDS3). Additionally, the introduction of forward-looking strategies, such as the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s Strategy 2024-2030, which targets 3.4% annual growth in non-oil sectors, further reinforced the investment landscape. The establishment of the National Statistics Centre also marked a major step in strengthening data-driven policymaking and transparency, which is a key enabler of a healthy investment climate.

He pointed out that Qatar’s international competitiveness continues to rise, with the country advancing to 11th in the IMD World Competitiveness Index 2024. Infrastructure and logistics also improved significantly, ranking 14th in Logistics Competence and 19th in Logistics Infrastructure in the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index, stressing that collectively, these developments reaffirm Qatar’s commitment to building a dynamic, investor-friendly ecosystem focused on innovation and sustainable growth.

In 2024, FDI projects generated 9,348 new jobs, marking a 122.7% increase compared to 4,197 jobs in 2023. Most of these roles emerged in retail and wholesale trade, administration and support services, accommodation and food services, as well as scientific research and development, the CEO of the Investment Promotion Agency said.