Qatar Unveils $1B Push to Attract Global Investors

Doha, Qatar - Invest Qatar has launched a five-year, US $1 billion incentive programme designed to accelerate foreign and domestic investment and deepen economic diversification. Announced during the 5th Qatar Economic Forum in Doha, the scheme reimburses up to 40 percent of approved local costs—including company formation, construction, office rentals, equipment purchases and payroll—helping position the country as a premier global business.

Four Ready-Made Packages

• Advanced Industries Package
  • Targets pharmaceuticals, chemicals, automotive and electronics
  • Supports high-value manufacturing and advanced R&D investments
• Logistics Package
  • Focuses on warehousing, re-export and distribution activities
  • Encourages automation, cold-chain solutions and smart-port upgrades
• Technology Package
  • Geared toward cyber-security, cloud services, artificial intelligence and data innovation
  • Enables data-centre build-outs and software engineering hubs
• Lusail Financial Services Package
  • Aims at asset and wealth management, insurance and fintech activity
  • Incentivises regional headquarters within Lusail’s financial district

All four offerings align with the clusters prioritised in Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy (NDS3) and cover capital expenditure, digital upgrades and workforce development.

Eligibility & Digital Application

Projects must invest at least QAR 25 million (≈ US \$6.9 million) over five years, generate skilled jobs and demonstrate relevant sector expertise. Applications and post-award reporting are handled through the Invest Qatar Gateway, the country’s one-stop digital portal for licensing and incentives, creating a streamlined review process.

Strategic Alignment with NDS3

Qatar’s NDS3 (2024-2030) seeks to build globally competitive clusters in manufacturing, logistics, IT & digital services and financial services. The new incentives directly underpin those objectives by lowering entry barriers, accelerating technology transfer and encouraging companies to base regional operations in Qatar.

Economic Context

In 2024, Qatar attracted US $2.74 billion in foreign direct investment across 241 projects, creating 9,348 jobs. The country also advanced to 11th in the IMD World Competitiveness Index, 28th in the Global Economic Freedom Index and 24th in the DHL Global Connectedness Index. Logistics capabilities improved to 14th for competence and 19th for infrastructure in the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index, highlighting the importance of the new Logistics Package.

Next Steps

Invest Qatar will introduce additional, customised incentives in later phases and update criteria as sector needs evolve. Companies can begin submitting proposals immediately via Invest Qatar Gateway, with approvals issued on a rolling basis.