GROW YOUR BUSINESS IN QATAR

CONTENTS

Welcome to Qatar

Intro to QFC

Reasons to set up in Qatar with QFC

Four steps to simple set up

#1Financial Centre in the Middle East

Grow your profits

A secure market

A world of opportunity

Primary projects

Qatar: an overview

Qatar: a new way forward

Safety in numbers

Qatari lifestyle

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Perfectly positioned between East and West, Qatar is an ambitious, thriving country that welcomes companies from around the globe to set up or expand their business. Unsaturated markets like this small Middle Eastern sovereign country are appealing and it’s no wonder why. Amongst the wealthiest nations on the planet, Qatar boasts one of the most stable economies in the world.

In 2017, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) ranked Qatar as the world’s richest country per capita, placing it above neighbouring markets. Qatar was also in Forbes’ Top 40 Best Countries for Business list in 2017.

In terms of growth and profitability, Qatar is set to go from strength to strength with the government’s US$200 billion investment programme underlining their commitment to developing infrastructure, which is in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030 objectives for economic, human, social and environmental development.

Part of Qatar’s 30-year vision is to attract foreign investment and an international talent pool, and businesses can take advantage of a compelling tax environment. Plus, they maintain 100% ownership of their business.

Top all this off with a high standard of living in a multicultural environment with recognised academic opportunities, including full sponsorship for free study and an infrastructure that supports businesses to succeed. It’s easy to see why Qatar businesses has firmly put itself on the map as a leading financial centre where business go to grow within a diverse nation that is home to over 85 different nationalities.

Welcome to Qatar

Introducing the Qatar Financial Centre

Since 2005, the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) has helped over 500 companies from around the world to set up their business in one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, capitalising on all that the MENA region has to offer.

As an onshore business and financial centre, our model is unique in the region. We promote Qatar’s openness to foreign investment, give bespoke advice to help companies make informed decisions and establish their operation in Qatar.

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Reasons to set up in Qatar with the QFC

07 TRADE IN ANY CURRENCY

Conduct business from anywhere in Qatar with no restrictions on the currency used or trading.

03 ENGLISH COMMON LAW

A legal and judicial framework based on English common law, with an independent court, regulatory tribunal and dispute-resolution centre.

04 COMPETITIVE TAX SYSTEM

Businesses benefit from the Double Taxation Agreement Qatar has with 60+ countries,10% corporate tax on locally sourced profit and no personal income tax or wealth tax.

01 ONSHORE BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL CENTRE

QFC Authority manages the legal and tax environment and develops relationships with the global financial community and other key institutions, within and outside Qatar.

05 100% REPATRIATION OF PROFITS

Payments of dividends, interest, royalties and management fees out of Qatar are free from withholding tax, enabling tax-free returns and profit repatriation for shareholders.

06 100% FOREIGN OWNERSHIP

Companies under QFC maintain 100% ownership of their business in Qatar.

02 A ONE-STOP SHOP

A quick and easy set up process that licenses, establishes, and supports businesses in and from Qatar.

08 WORLD-LEADING BUSINESS DISTRICT

Offices in the new state-of-the-art Msheireb Downtown Doha business district with high-end shops, first-class dining, an international school, luxury residential quarter and green spaces.

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Four steps to a simple set up

Our team of experts offer free and confidential advice to potential investors, helping them to explore how Qatar can play a role in their global business and provide them with all the information they need at every step.

One of our dedicated relationship managers is assigned to every business, to guide them through the process of registering, obtaining a license and setting up their operations.

The pace of globalisation means the business world is changing and emerging markets are increasingly driving the global economy. Trade between emerging markets has risen steeply from 25 per cent in 1995 to 40 per cent in 2017.

A decline in growth in Europe and the US means there’s a lot of uncertainty around globalisation and the road ahead may well be a bumpy one. However, this makes emerging markets, such as Qatar, extremely appealing.

Forward-thinking, entrepreneurial and with a diverse range of cultures, this business-friendly country caters for all business sectors and is fast becoming one of the best places for investors to set up or expand their organisation.

#1 FINANCIAL CENTRE IN THE MIDDLE EASTGET IN TOUCH

WITH THE QFCSUBMIT

BUSINESS CASESUBMIT LICENSE

APPLICATIONRECEIVE LICENSE

& BEGIN OPERATION

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Grow your profits

The key motivation for expansion in most businesses is to increase profits and Qatar provides an unmatched platform to grow revenue. Companies working with the QFC benefit from a compelling tax environment that is aligned with international standards.

DOUBLE TAXATION AGREEMENT, WHICH QATAR HAS WITH 60+ COUNTRIES

10% CORPORATE TAX ON LOCALLY SOURCED PROFIT

NO PERSONAL INCOME TAX OR WEALTH TAX

100% REPATRIATION OF PROFITS A secure market

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Qatar’s real gross domestic product (GDP) will accelerate from 2.6 per cent in 2018 to 2.7 per cent in 2019. This is the highest IMF forecast for real GDP in the Gulf.

Oil and gas are the country’s main economic engine, driving the high financial growth and per capita levels, and this is likely to persist for the foreseeable future. Oil reserves will continue at current levels for the next 56 years and gas reserves for over 100 years.

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A world of opportunity

As part of the Qatar National Vision 2030,

Qatar’s goal is to create a diverse knowledge economy that lasts beyond oil and gas reserves. The government’s US$200 billion investment programme underlines this commitment to attract foreign investment and an international talent pool.

Qatar’s already reaping the benefits of their long-term plan to diversify and have made significant gains in strengthening non-oil sectors, such as manufacturing, construction, and financial services. Over 60 per cent of its GDP is now from non-hydrocarbon industries.

In addition, Qatar will be the first Arab country to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™ and US $200 billion is estimated to be spent on infrastructure ahead of the event. This has created a boom in the construction industry, as well as financial services and the transport, tourism and leisure sectors.

Consumer and retail markets are also transforming. Retail space has expanded by 60% since 2016 and in 2017, 6,625 housing units were built, with the value of real estate reaching US$8.98 billion – an increase of 20% from the previous year.

High-end hospitality is on the rise too, with over 10,000 hotel rooms and 2,000 serviced apartments in planning or construction during 2017 – 85 per cent of which are rated 4-star or above.

The Qatar Tourism Authority’s ‘National Tourism Strategy’, has a target to double tourist arrivals to 5.6 million by 2023 and recently announced major investments in developing new attractions and initiatives. Qatar has initiated a number of visa facilitation measures, making visiting the country a quick and smooth procedure. Notably, this includes visas upon arrival to nationals of more than 80 countries.

Primary projects

Qatar National Vision 2030 - Lusail City A 38 sq km city of the future Target investment: US$45 billion

Doha Metro 354Km of track with 93 stations Target investment: 12.8 Billion USD

Hamad Port One of the world’s largest port developments Target investment: US$7.4 billion

Qatar Science & Technology Park 110 companies and 2,100 jobs Target investment: US$2 billion

Hamad International Airport (HIA) Expansion of Qatar’s luxury airport in preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™. To facilitate more than 96,000 passengers per day.

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QATAR: AN OVERVIEW

DOHA IS THE CAPITAL

GMT+3 LOCAL TIME

6H 45M FLIGHT TIME LHR TO DOH

ENGLISH AND FRENCH WIDELY SPOKEN

MORE THAN 85 DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES ARE RESIDENT IN QATAR

CURRENCY QATARI RIYAL (QR) 1 QR = 0.27USD

11,627 KM PENINSULA

550 KM COASTLINE

18°C AVERAGE WINTER TEMPERATURE

37°C AVERAGE SUMMER TEMPERATURE

10 HOURS AVERAGE DAYLIGHT IN WINTER

13 HOURS AVERAGE DAYLIGHT IN SUMMER

COUNTRY FACTS

GDP US $124,930

PER PERSON IN 2017 GDP US $166

BILLION IN 2017

GDP US $216 BILLION FORECAST BY 2022

2.96 MILLION POPULATION

#1 IN THE MIDDLE EAST GLOBAL PEACE INDEX

RANKED IN FORBES’ TOP 40 BEST COUNTRIES FOR BUSINESS

2.57% GDP FORECAST GROWTH FOR 2018

PETROLEUM GASES & OTHER GASEOUS HYDROCARBONS 61%

PETROLEUM OILS AND OILS FROM BITUMINOUS MINERALS ETC. (CRUDE) 15%

PETROLEUM OILS AND OILS FROM BITUMINOUS MINERALS ETC. (NOT CRUDE) 5%

OTHER 19%

PETROLEUM GASES & OTHER GASEOUS HYDROCARBONS 61%

CHEMICALS & RELATED PRODUCTS N.E.S. 8%

FOOD & LIVE ANIMALS 9%

MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES 16%

MANUFACTURED GOODS CLASSIFIED CHIEFLY BY MATERIAL 16%

IMPORTED GOODS EXPORTED GOODS

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Qatar: a new way forward

Qatar is a forward-thinking country with a grand plan. The population of Qatar is estimated at around 3 million residents, more interestingly however is that 2.3 million of those are expat citizens – a true testament to Qatar’s willingness to work with non-nationals.

The thriving expat community makes up around 88 per cent of the population and they enjoy tax-free benefits with a high standard of living, along with a modern way of life. Plus, English and French are widely spoken.

Qatar is one of the safest countries in the world. It ranked as the 13th most peaceful country on the planet, out of a total of 163, in the 2017 Global Peace Index for the 10th year running. Plus, it was the only country in the Middle East and North Africa to be placed amongst the world’s 50 most peaceful countries.

Safety in numbers

The Qataris are warm people, with a welcoming embrace for visitors. Both nationals and expats enjoy comfortable lives here with the lowest crime rates in the region. With such a low crime rate and gracious hosts it is easy for expats to settle into life in Qatar.

Ranking amongst the world’s lowest for crime rates is in line with the Qatars National Vision 2030, which aims to create a society of security, justice and economic prosperity. They’ve also set their sights on being the leading Middle Eastern country for social development and change.

The quality of healthcare is very high and there are no major health risks or vaccinations required by visitors. This is reflected in Qatar’s 33rd position in the UN’s Human Development Index (HDI) – the highest amongst Arab countries.

With an impressive number of private and public clinics and hospitals, Qatar offers a quality, efficient and affordable healthcare service that now means that Qatar is ranked above the UK, US and France in The Legatum Prosperity Index 2017 for best Healthcare.

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Qatari lifestyle

An energetic, cosmopolitan country built on its cultural roots, Qatar is a rich tapestry of multicultural sophistication and traditional hospitality. In the last 20 years, its capital, Doha, has snowballed from a small Arab pearl into a modern metropolis.

As both a leading emerging market open to overseas investors and a luxury retreat for travellers, many major airlines provide flights to Qatar throughout the year, making business travel easy to and from the country. Qatar Airways alone offers direct routes to more than 150 destinations, departing from the luxurious Hamad International Airport – one of the top 5 airports in the world according to the SkyTrax World Airport Awards 2018, the globally recognised benchmark of airport excellence.

With no personal income tax on salaries and large disposable incomes, residents enjoy a high-end lifestyle. Doha has earned an enviable reputation as a premier shopping and entertainment destination, with 5 luxury malls in Doha, such as the Venetian-inspired Villagio, and more scheduled to appear in the next few years. Entertainment areas include the Katara Cultural Village, the Pearl-Qatar artificial island and a growing number of incredible theme-parks. The experience is complete with the extended accommodation options that Qatar has to offer.

The 106 hotels present in the area provide both international and more local experiences, but all can be counted on to provide culinary revelations.

The city also boasts an incredible mix of restaurants – from authentic Arabian eateries to fine dining in five-star hotels. So it’s no surprise it has attracted an impressive list of Michelin-starred chefs, including Gordon Ramsay, Alain Ducasse and Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, who have restaurants here.

Other timeout pursuits include state-of-the-art sporting venues, such as the Khalifa International Stadium, the boundary-breaking Arab Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of Islamic Art, Matafe; and Souq Waqif in Doha’s spiritual heart.

For the sports fanatic, Qatar also plays host to major sports tournaments such as the 2011 Asian Confederation Cup, the Tennis ATP and WTA, the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships, the 2018 FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships and the 2018 Moto Grand Prix of Qatar at the Lusail International Circuit. Then there’s 550 km of coastline, fringed with endless ribbons of unspoilt white-sand. And inland, the sands shift into giant dunes – perfect terrain for desert safaris, quad biking and stargazing tours.

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ARE YOU CONSIDERING SETTING UP OR EXPANDING YOUR BUSINESS IN QATAR?

Find out how you can grow your organisation in one of the most stable economies in the world by speaking to

one of QFC’s dedicated relat ionship managers today

+974 4496 7800 contact@qfc.qa qfc.qa