Qatar Focus

From the Asian Games, to the Olympics
Torrential rain, plunging temperatures, the tragic death of a competitor and empty stadiums - you could be forgiven for thinking that Qatar might have had enough of hosting major sporting events once the 15th Asian Games conclude shortly. Well, think again, because now the determined Gulf state is after the big one, the Olympic Games of 2016.
Qatar: Thursday, December 14 - 2006 at 09:08 |

Qatari Diar goes shopping in Chelsea
The state-owned Qatari Diar Real Estate and Investment Company hasn’t taken long to make its mark since its incorporation less than two years ago. The firm behind the $5 billion Lusail development in North Doha, and with several irons in the fire across the Middle East and Africa, is now reportedly looking further afield for opportunities.
Qatar: Tuesday, November 28 - 2006 at 17:23 |

QFC head analyses regional capital markets
CEO and Director General of the Qatar Financial Centre, Stuart Pearce gave a keynote speech to the MEED Capital Markets Conference this week. He reviewed the prospects for the development of these markets in a wide-ranging presentation which is condensed here.
Qatar: Wednesday, November 22 - 2006 at 09:03 |

Qtel remains bullish as competition looms
On November 6, the Emir of Qatar issued Law No. 34 of 2006 and, in so doing, changed the face of telecommunications in the country forever. The new legislation swept away Qatar Telecom’s stranglehold on the sector and ushered in the prospect of imminent competition in the form of rival telco operators.
Qatar: Wednesday, November 15 - 2006 at 10:47 |

The Pearl-Qatar begins to rise from the ocean
A massive undertaking which commenced in April 2004 finally came to a halt recently when the land reclamation phase of The Pearl-Qatar was completed. Now, with the emphasis turning to tower and infrastructure development and further contracts freshly signed by future occupiers of the $2.5 billion mixed use island, Qatar’s most ambitious real estate project is really beginning to take shape.
Qatar: Thursday, November 02 - 2006 at 09:45 |

The Al Rayan Bank gets down to business
Now that the dust has settled on the Al Rayan Bank’s hugely popular billion dollar IPO earlier this year and then its rather muted listing on the DSE in June, weighed down as it was by widespread profit booking, the Islamic financial institution is finally starting to show its hand as to its future intentions.
Qatar: Wednesday, October 18 - 2006 at 10:24 |

Confirmed orders and new planes reveal Qatar’s focus
September was a hectic month for Qatar Airways with the confirmation of new orders and ground-breaking new additions to its fleet. Despite the well documented problems besetting one of the airline’s key suppliers, Airbus, Qatar’s desire to fly to over 100 destinations and more than double its fleet by 2015 shows no sign of wavering.
Qatar: Wednesday, October 04 - 2006 at 12:04 |

Everything’s on the up in Qatar
A recent survey of 3,000 Middle East based professionals by the GulfTalent.com recruitment agency reveals that GCC private sector salaries rose by an average of 7.9 per cent over the past year. Perhaps unsurprisingly, rapidly booming Qatar came out on top of the poll, with salary increases of 11.1 per cent. Small wonder then that prospective employees just keep flocking to the tiny Gulf state.
Qatar: Wednesday, September 20 - 2006 at 12:43 |