Business in Qatar Doha

EENI- School of International Business

Subject: Foreign Trade and Doing Business in Qatar. Doha. Syllabus:

1. Introduction to the State of Qatar (the Middle East)
2. Doing Business in Doha
3. The Qatari Economy
4. The Foreign Trade of Qatar
5. Business Opportunities in Qatar:
   1. Hydrocarbons
   2. Construction
   3. Major projects
   4. Public sector
6. The Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Qatar
7. Case Study:
   1. Doctor Hanan Al Kuwari
   2. Al-Jazeera
8. Introduction to Arabic
9. Access to the Qatari market
10. Business Plan for Qatar

The objectives of the subject “Foreign Trade and Doing Business in the State of Qatar” are the following:

1. To analyse the Qatari economy and foreign trade
2. To evaluate the business opportunities in the State of Qatar
3. To explore Qatar's trade relations with the country of the student
4. To know Qatar's Trade Agreements (FTA)
5. To examine the profile of the Qatari companies
6. To develop a business plan for the Qatari market

Description of the Subject: International Trade and Doing Business in Qatar

The State of Qatar:

Qatar is the first country in the World by gross domestic product (GDP) per capita.

1. The population of Qatar amounts to 1.5 millions of people, of whom 83 % lives in Doha (Qatar's political capital) and its main suburb Al- Rayyan
2. Nearly all the Qataris are Muslim (98% Sunni)
3. Arabic is the official language
4. Qatar shares borders with Saudi Arabia
5. Abolition of the slavery in Qatar: 1952
6. Independence from the United Kingdom: 1971

Religion in Qatar: Islam Sunni is the principal religion of Qatar

1. The main school of Islamic Jurisprudence is Hanbali

Qatar belongs to the Arab Economic Area of the Islamic Civilisation.

The Qatari Economy

1. Qatar is the international financial centre in the Gulf
2. In 2001, Doha hosted the first ministerial-level meeting of the Doha Round of the World Trade Organisation (WTO)
3. Al- Jazeera the leading international Arab media communication, headquarters are in Doha
4. Qatar is a very open economy
5. Petroleum, natural gas, and related industries make up most of the Qatari economy
6. Qatar produces less than 1 % of the world petroleum production
7. Crude oil and liquefied natural gas account for 80 % of exports of Qatar
8. Qatar, like other countries in the Gulf region, is being affected by the international financial and economic crisis, including by the decline in international demand for hydrocarbons, both in quantity and value

The Foreign Trade of Qatar.

1. The total international trade (imports + exports) related to its GDP stands at 95 %.
2. The main imports of Qatar: The European Union (EU), Japan, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea
3. Qatar exports mainly to Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and the European Union (EU)
4. The largest Qatari export products are hydrocarbons (petrol and gas), fertilizers and chemicals, and steel products
5. The largest Qatari imports are machinery, primary metals, cars and other means of transport, food, chemicals, and building materials
6. In the States of Qatar is required to work with a Qatari import agent/distributor (natural or legal person) who has the exclusive distribution rights for Qatar

Qatar's Free Trade Agreements (FTA).

Qatar is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, and Bahrain.

1. Qatar has Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with China, Korea, Australia, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), New Zealand, Thailand, and the MERCOSUR.
2. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
3. European Union-Qatar
4. Australia-Gulf Cooperation Council (FTA)
5. India-Qatar (FTA)
6. Qatar has a Free Trade Agreement with Singapore
7. Trade Preferential System among the Member States of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (TPS-OIC)

Qatar is negotiating other Free Trade Agreements with the United States, Japan, and Australia. Qatar also has signed economic agreements with France, Germany, Romania, China, Senegal, the Republic of India, Cuba, Switzerland, Finland, and Turkey.

Qatar is a member of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf:

Regional Economic Institutions. Qatar is a member of:

1. Arab League
2. Summit of South American-Arab Countries (ASPA)
3. Asia-Middle East Dialogue (AMED)
4. Islamic Development Bank
5. Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organisations (AGFUND)
6. Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
7. Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
8. Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD)

The European Union-Qatar (Gulf Cooperation Council):

India-Qatar Trade Agreement: