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Market EyeWeak global oil prices had its reflection on the Qatar Stock Exchange, which Thursday saw its key index settle 45 points lower and capitalisation melt about QR3bn as about 56% of the traded constituents ended in the red. The local retail investors were seen net sellers as the 20-stock Qatar Index shed 0.42% to 10,644.73 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,722 points. The foreign institutions turned net profit takers in the main market, whose year-to-date gains truncated to 0.7%. The banks and real estate sectors witnessed higher than average selling pressure in the main bourse, whose capitalisation melted QR2.66bn or 0.42% to QR636.73bn, mainly on small and microcap segments.The foreign individuals were seen net sellers, albeit at lower levels, in the main market, which saw as many as 140 exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank) valued at QR807 trade across three deals. However, the domestic funds were seen net buyers in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decline. The Islamic index was seen declining slower than the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills. The Arab individuals turned bullish in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds. The Total Return Index shed 0.42%, the All Share Index by 0.41% and the All Islamic Index by 0.28% in the main market. The banks and financial services sector index declined 0.78%, realty (0.62%), transport (0.32%), industrials (0.05%) and telecom (0.04%); while consumer goods and services gained 0.78% and insurance 0.71%. As many as 20 stocks gained, while 29 declined and three were unchanged. Major shakers in the main market included Qatar German Medical Devices, Mazaya Qatar, Salam International Investment, AlRayan Bank, Mekdam Holding, Qatar Islamic Bank, QNB, Meeza and Nakilat.In the junior bourse, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value. Nevertheless, Qatar General Insurance, Al Mahhar Holding, Widam Food, Qatar National Cement, Baladna, Woqod, Aamal Company, Estithmar Holding and Qamco were among the movers in the main market.The local retail investors turned net sellers to the tune of QR6.98mn compared with net buyers of QR9.04mn the previous day. The foreign funds were net sellers to the extent of QR6.16mn against net buyers of QR26.06bn on November 26. The foreign individuals turned net profit takers to the extent of QR0.06mn compared with net buyers of QR2.87mn a day ago. The Gulf institutions’ net buying weakened substantially to QR1.62mn against QR18.75mn on Wednesday. However, the domestic funds were net buyers to the tune of QR9.38mn compared with net sellers of QR54.78mn the previous day. The Arab individuals turned net buyers to the extent of QR2.12mn against net sellers of QR0.77mn on November 26. The Arab institutions’ net buying strengthened marginally to QR0.05mn against QR.02mn on Wednesday. The Gulf individuals were net buyers to the tune of QR0.04mn compared with net sellers of QR1.17mn the previous day. The main market saw a 13% contraction in trade volumes to 171.69mn shares, 15% in value to QR399.19mn and 21% in deals to 18,671. 

Doha is steadily cementing its position as a competitive player in the global AI and technology race, supported by strategic investments from the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), according to the Boston Consulting Group (BCG).These include the establishment of a $3bn global platform with Blue Owl Capital to accelerate international AI and cloud infrastructure expansion, as well as QIA’s participation in Anthropic’s $13bn funding round, BCG said in its report presented at the Mobile World Congress, which concluded Wednesday.These initiatives underscore Qatar’s commitment to advancing its digital capabilities and align closely with the ambitions of the Qatar Digital Vision 2030, it said in the report “AI Data Centers: An Opportunity in the Middle East”.“Qatar’s digital ambition is rapidly taking shape, driven by decisive leadership and a deep commitment to innovation. In line with Qatar National Vision 2030 and Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy, the country is harnessing AI and emerging technologies to cement its role as a competitive force in the global digital economy," said Harold Haddad, managing director and senior partner.The report revealed that the Middle East is rapidly positioning the region as a rising global nexus for AI data centre investment and innovation. As global demand for AI infrastructure accelerates, with data centre power needs projected to grow from 86GW (Gigawatt) in 2025 to 198GW by 2030, BCG finds that the Middle East has a uniquely competitive advantage in supplying scalable, cost-efficient AI compute capacity.Highlighting that the Middle East is not merely participating in the global AI infrastructure race; it is fast emerging as a critical new hub of AI data centre development; it said the region benefits from distinctive structural advantages.Its strategic geography places it within a 2,000-mile radius of over 3bn people, enabling it to serve Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Global South with non-latency-sensitive AI inferencing at scale.Competitive cost structures, including up to 50% lower leasing rates, low power tariffs, and advanced cooling systems adopted by regional operators, significantly reduce the total cost of ownership, BCG said, adding meanwhile, markets such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia continue to accelerate time-to-market for new data centres through fast-track development, dedicated investment teams, and special economic zone clusters such as Masdar City’s Stargate Campus."This momentum is reinforced by the region’s expansive land availability, scalable power ecosystems, and the planned ~720Tbps Fibre in the Gulf (FIG) submarine cable project," it said.Thibault Werlé, managing director and partner at BCG said the Middle East is undergoing a pivotal transformation as it positions itself to become a global hub for AI infrastructure."With strategic investments, progressive digital policies, and ambitious national visions across Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, the region is building the foundation for scalable, next-generation AI compute," he added.The report outlines major national initiatives shaping the Middle East’s AI infrastructure landscape. Saudi Arabia has launched HUMAIN with a targeted 1.9GW AI data centre capacity, along with partnerships with NVIDIA, AMD, AWS, DataVolt, and Groq to develop multi-hundred-megawatt AI campuses, including the world’s largest AI compute centre.The UAE is advancing a 5GW AI campus in Abu Dhabi under the US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership and is importing 500,000 GPUs for regional and US partners, supported by Microsoft’s $15.2bn AI and cloud infrastructure investment."Qatar’s strategic investments complement these national efforts and reinforce a GCC-wide push toward establishing a global AI compute corridor," the report said.With its strategic geography, favourable economics, and ambitious national digital agendas, the Middle East is uniquely poised to emerge as a global AI data centre powerhouse — particularly for regions requiring scalable and cost-efficient AI compute such as the Global South. 

DAS Intellitech, a global leader in smart solutions, is making Doha its Middle East and North Africa (Mena) headquarters, marking a key milestone in its global expansion.In this regard, it signed a new partnership with the Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (Invest Qatar) at the Mobile World Congress, which concluded Wednesday. Sheikh Ali Alwaleed al-Thani, chief executive officer, Invest Qatar and Claire Liu, Head of Global Business, DAS Intellitech, signed the agreement.The new headquarters will function as a central hub for the company's operations and serve as a base for research and development of advanced solutions tailored to the market. It will also foster collaboration with local SMEs (small and medium enterprises), academic institutions and research centres to drive innovation, digitalisation and sustainable growth in Qatar."Our Qatar office will operate as a strategic base to serve the broader Middle East region, an important milestone in our global growth strategy. The country’s dynamic economy, world-class infrastructure and forward-looking investment policies present the perfect environment for innovation and expansion," said DAS Intellitech founder and chairman, Liu Bang.Qatar’s commitment to fostering technological advancement and sustainable development aligns seamlessly with its vision, making it the ideal location for it to drive smart solutions tailored to the region's needs, according to him.Sheikh Ali Alwaleed al-Thani, chief executive officer of Invest Qatar, said it was pleased to welcome DAS Intellitech to Qatar, whose presence will strengthen the country’s thriving knowledge economy and bolster its position as a centre for technological innovation in the Mena region."Their entry underscores how Qatar’s strategic location, digital infrastructure and business-friendly ecosystem make it an ideal gateway for companies looking to enter the thriving Mena market. We are committed to continue attracting investment within the digital technology sector, in line with the Third National Development Strategy (NDS3),” Sheikh Ali said.Recently, Invest Qatar visited the DAS Intellitech’s headquarters to explore its cutting-edge technologies and gained deeper insights into its comprehensive capabilities. During discussions, Invest Qatar and DAS Intellitech identified strategic opportunities for collaboration and reaffirmed their shared commitment to supporting Qatar National Vision 2030.DAS Intellitech has already established itself as a strategic partner in Qatar's development, with a proven track record of delivering critical projects for key entities such as the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), the Supreme Judiciary Council, and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, all of which directly support the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030. These initiatives highlight the company’s long-standing alignment with the country’s priorities in innovation, sustainability, and economic diversification.DAS Intellitech offers a comprehensive suite of advanced capabilities, including DAS’ centralised AIoT Platform, energy-saving expertise especially applied in district cooling stations, the ability to build supercomputing centres at an accelerated pace, and a proven track record in delivering smart IoT systems for high-rise towers, hospitals, and subways. These integrated solutions significantly enhance operational efficiency, energy conservation, and property value across public infrastructures.Finding that DAS Intellitech’s most competitive edge lies in transforming the control of devices and machines into services for people, it said while sophisticated building systems were once managed only by a handful of dedicated operators, DAS Intellitech now enables every occupant inside the building to control facilities within their workspace via mobile application, creating a more convenient, comfortable, and low-carbon living and working environment for everyone. 

Sustainability is not a cost but a measurable, monetisable performance advantage, a strategy Qatar has steadfastly followed and a model worth emulating, according to a top official of EnergyX, South Korea's global leader in energy optimisation and now shifted its global command centre and international headquarters to Doha.The move behind the creation of EnergyX – where deep tech, architecture and sustainability converge – has come in view of accelerating global demand for decarbonised buildings, its chief executive officer Sean Park told Gulf Times on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress, which concluded Wednesday.Quoting the World Green Building Council, he said buildings account for about 39% of global carbon emissions, making the built environment the world’s most significant single source of emissions — and therefore one of its greatest opportunities.“That statistic hit us with clarity,” recalled Park, who had earlier served as a board director at Tapas, an entertainment-technology company acquired in Silicon Valley for $510mn.The Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) market was valued at approximately $23.6bn in 2023 and is projected to grow to between $80bn and $90bn by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 21%.EnergyX stands as a global leader, with more than 2,000 projects, more than 300 IP assets, and the groundbreaking EnergyX DY-Building — the world’s first certified Plus-Energy Building achieving 129.6% verified energy self-sufficiency.Highlighting Doha's central role in its global strategy; he said from its base in Qatar, EnergyX now directs a growing global network — integrating strategic acquisitions worldwide while co-ordinating its worldwide operations and R&D (research and development) from Qatar”.Park emphasised that Qatar is not simply a regional office — it is the anchor point for EnergyX’s global operations, advanced R&D vision, and its drive to reshape the future of building technologies.EnergyX, JMJ Group Holding and Hexa Tech have entered into a pact to establish a trio of industrial initiatives in the country, including an advanced production plant centred on free-form design-for-manufacturing-and-assembly (DFMA) and energy-optimisation technologies to boost the country’s high-value manufacturing.By putting Qatar at the centre of its worldwide operations, systems integrations, manufacturing, and R&D; he said it will expand local hiring, deepen collaborations with universities and research institutes, and broaden its intellectual-property portfolio from Doha — positioning Qatar as the origin point for technologies that enable energy-sovereign buildings and districts worldwide.Finding that buildings and construction account for over one-third of global final energy consumption (according to the International Energy Agency), he said "this places EnergyX at the front line of one of humanity’s most critical climate challenges — and positions Qatar as a global hub for the solutions needed to address it."EnergyX will build high-skill teams and collaborate with government, leading Qatari business groups, universities, and research institutes to accelerate technology transfer, specialised training, and workforce development tied directly to the factory and research centre, according to Park. 

Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are in the top seven among the 15 developed countries in digital transformation, according to Pablo Iacopino, Head of Research and Commercial Content, GSMA Intelligence. During June-August 2025, the GSMA Intelligence surveyed more than 850 enterprises across 10 vertical sectors in eight Middle East and North Africa (Mena) countries to gain insight into their digital transformation as part of a wider global survey covering 5,320 enterprises in 32 countries, including both developed and developing countries. "Looking at the overall digital transformation score of the 15 developed countries surveyed, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are in the top seven. This confirms the GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council) plays an important role as a leading (and benchmark) region in the digital transformation of enterprises and industries, offering a favourable environment for developing and scaling new technologies and innovations," Iacopino said in the research article presented at the World Mobile Congress (MWC) 2025, which began here Wednesday. Across Mena, the top three vertical sectors leading on digital transformation are financial services, retail, and the manufacturing and industrial sectors, he said, adding the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector is at the bottom of the ranking. In general, all vertical sectors show eagerness to accelerate digital transformation but investment budgets vary. Highlighting investing for growth initiative in the region, he said there is a solid consensus among enterprises in the GCC and wider Mena region that digital transformation brings multiple benefits, with enhanced security the top objective in five of the eight countries surveyed. Beyond security, revenue-related objectives are deemed slightly more important than cost-related objectives, according to him. To capture the benefits, the Mena enterprises will spend 10% of their revenues on digital transformation during 2025-30. As expected, the bigger the enterprise, the higher the spent. At the same time, Mena enterprises expect a 200% Rol (return on investment) on digital transformation spend (aligned to the global average), he said. "Globally, Qatar and the UAE are among the countries where enterprises make the highest advanced use of GenAI (Generative AI)," he said, adding Al and connectivity will be the leading areas of spend. "This comes as no surprise given the consensus among the GCC and Mena enterprises that Al will have a big impact across several business areas with enhanced security and productivity/efficiency gains leading," Iacopino said, highlighting that across Mena, most enterprises undertaking digital transformation already use GenAl, but only 39% are currently making advanced use of it, leaving room for growth. Finding that 5G is seen as important for digital transformation in all Mena countries and sectors; he said in 5G use cases (FWA, IoT, network APIs, private networks) and new network technologies such as edge and slicing, the GCC enterprises lead on expectations of impact. "This reflects recent progress made by operators and vendors on driving the deployment of standalone 5G networks and associated capabilities," according to him. Of the seven operators to have launched 5G-Advanced (5G-A) networks worldwide (as of September 2025), two are from the GCC. In addition to that, 11 operators from the GCC countries have announced plans to launch 5G-A, bringing the total to 13 and confirming the GCC's ambitions to lead on the network technology. 

The Qatar Central Bank (QCB) yesterday launched its mobile application, enabling users to access data, reports, and all updates instantly and efficiently.This initiative is aimed at enhancing the user experience and keeping pace with technological advancements and the requirements of digital transformation within the financial sector.This launch aligns with the Third Financial Sector Strategy and supports Qatar National Vision 2030, which seeks to build a knowledge-based digital economy.The mobile application has been designed according to the latest technical standards, with a user-friendly interface that allows for easy browsing and searching.The mobile application can be downloaded through the App Store.

 Receding hopes of rate cut in the US had its overarching influence on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE), which closed the week weak with its key index plunging as much as 350 points and capitalisation eroding in excess of QR22bn. An across the board selling resulted in the 20-stock Qatar Index plummet 3.19% this week which saw the QSE avers to facilitate "constructive dialogues" with the global institutional investors to better enhance investment appeal as it showcased listed companies in New York as part of measures to increase the visibility of the country's capital market in the international arena. The Gulf institutions were seen net profit takers in the main bourse this week which saw Baladna gets shareholders’ approval to hike its capital by 24% through a rights issue to accelerate international expansion and long-term growth The market was highly skewed towards shakers in the main market this week which saw Aamal Company sign a memorandum of understanding with Germany-headquartered Niedax Group to establish a joint venture for manufacturing cable management products. The foreign retail investors were seen net profit takers this week which saw Qatar Oman Investment Company plans to wipe off accumulated losses by reducing the capital base by as much as 43%. However, the foreign funds were increasingly net buyers in the main bourse this week which saw Qatar register a total of 59.95mn transactions valued at QR18.47bn through the country's payment system in October 2025. The local retail investors turned bullish in the main market this week which saw a major shareholder in Ooredoo successfully complete a fully marketed secondary public offering of 160.48mn shares — representing 5.01% of the company’s issued share capital — to a group of qualified investors. The domestic institutions were seen net buyers in the main bourse this week which saw a total of 0.16mn AlRayan Bank-sponsored exchange traded fund QATR worth QR0.37mn trade across 87 deals. The Arab individuals were increasingly net buyers in the main market this week which saw a total of 0.01mn Doha Bank-sponsored exchange traded fund QETF worth QR0.12mn trade across 21 transactions. The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the other indices of the main market this week, which saw a total of 0.35mn sovereign bonds valued at QR3.51bn trade across three deals. Market capitalisation plunged QR22.59bn or 3.44% to QR633.74bn on the back of large and midcap segments this week which saw no trading of treasury bills. Trade turnover and volumes were on the increase in both the main and juniour markets this week, which saw the telecom, banks, industrials and consumer goods sectors together constitute about 84% of the total trade volumes. The Total Return Index tanked 3.19%, the All Share Index by 2.97% and the All Islamic Index by 3.58% this week which saw the bonds issued by Ahli Bank will be listed on the QSE’s fixed income market effective Monday, 24 November 2025, following the completion of all technical, regulatory, and administrative requirements. The telecom sector index dipped 10.09%, industrials (3.97%), banks and financial services (2.42%), real estate (2.38%), transport (1.71%), consumer goods and services (1.44%) and insurance (0.13%) this week. About 85% of the traded constituents were in the red with major losers being Ooredoo, Industries Qatar, QNB, Qatar Islamic Bank, AlRayan Bank, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Gulf Warehousing, Qatar Electricity and Water, Qatar Oman Investment, Baladna, Qatar National Cement, Widam Food, Mannai Corporation, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Al Mahhar Holding, Gulf International Services, Estithmar Holding and Qamco. In the juniour bourse, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value. Nevertheless, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Medicare Group, Inma Holding, Commercial Bank and Qatar German Medical Devices were among the gainers in the main market this week. The Gulf institutions tuned net sellers to the tune of QR1.75bn compared with net buyers of QR61.02mn the previous week. The foreign individuals were net sellers to the extent of QR7.72mn against net buyers of QR0.67mn the week ended November 14. However, the foreign institutions’ net buying increased drastically to QR1.24bn compared to QR12.73mn a week ago. The Qatari individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR259.04mn against net sellers of QR31.29mn the previous week. The domestic funds were net buyers to the extent of QR225.33mn compared with net sellers of QR41.46mn the week ended November 14. The Arab individual investors’ net buying expanded significantly to QR22.96mn against QR10.06mn a week ago. The Gulf retail investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR8.33mn compared with net profit takers of QR11.72mn the previous week. The Arab institutions were net buyers to the extent of QR0.83mn against no major net exposure the week ended November 21. The main market saw 46% surge in trade volumes to 749.72mn shares to more than double value to QR4.02bn on 56% increase in deals to 154,665 this week. In the venture market, trade volumes more than doubled to 0.37mn equities and value also more than doubled to QR0.81mn on almost tripled transactions to 101. (Ends)

Qatar is doubling down on mega events to drive tourism, which is emerging as a key contributor to economic activity, representing 8% of total economic output, according to Knight Frank, a leading independent property consultancy.In support of Qatar's strategy to drive tourism growth, the consultancy said the country is using a year-round mix of sports, culture, and technology to smooth seasonality and sustain visitor inflows. Building on the momentum of FIFA 2022, the calendar now spans flagship tournaments (FIFA U-17 World Cup, FIFA Arab Cup, F1, MotoGP and FIBA 2027), marquee cultural festivals, and global business forums (Web Summit, MWC25 Doha), Knight Frank said in its latest report.Plans too are beginning in earnest for a submission to the International Olympic Committee for the country to host the 2036 Summer Olympic Games. "Together, these events reinforce Qatar’s positioning as a premier destination while deepening hotel demand, lengthening stays, and broadening the visitor economy," Knight Frank said. Hotel room supply continues to trickle into the market, with over 1,300 keys added in 2024. This followed an unparalleled increase in room numbers in 2022 when over 7,200 keys were delivered, equating to 18% of the existing supply at the time. At the end of August 2025, the total room supply stood at about 41,750 keys, 60% of which comprised globally branded rooms, the report said."By the end of 2027, the quality room supply in Qatar is expected to reach approximately 45,000 keys, 72% of which we believe will fall in the luxury, upper-upscale and upscale category (up from 70% today), leaving the door open for more mid-market hotel operators to cater to and attract travellers of all budgets," Knight Frank said. During the first eight months of 2025, international arrivals reached 3.3mn, marking a 3.4% increase year-on-year. The GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) remained the dominant source of inbound tourism, representing 36.8% of total arrivals between January and August 2025, underscoring the strength of intra-regional travel. Europe, at 24.6%, and Asia, at 21.8%, also continued to serve as key international feeder markets. As a result of the increased influx of tourists, the hotel performance indicators in Qatar have improved steadily over the past 12 months, it said, adding occupancy rates edged up to 69%, representing a 3.7% year-on-year increase. ADR (average daily rate) levels have, however, softened slightly by 0.5%, to QR429. Nevertheless, RevPAR (revenue per available room) rose by 3.1%, reaching QR300 over the same period."These figures suggest that the recent, albeit brief, escalation in regional hostilities has had a negligible impact on the country’s hospitality, tourism and leisure sector," the report said. Qatar’s tourism sector is emerging as a key contributor to economic activity, growing by 14% to QRl55bn in 2024, representing 8% of total economic output.Highlighting that inbound spending by tourists surged 38%, reaching QR40bn over the same period; it said these figures showcase steady progress towards Qatar’s Tourism Strategy 2030 target of raising the sector’s contribution to 10-12% of total GDP (gross domestic product) by the end of the decade. (Ends)

Weak oil and the US Fed rate uncertainty continued to have influence on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) with its key index losing as much as 46 points.The foreign funds were seen increasingly net profit takers as the 20-stock Qatar Index shed 0.43% to 10,800.54 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,867 points.The industrials, insurance, banks and real estate counters witnessed higher than average selling pressure in the main market, whose year-to-date gains truncated to 2.17%.About 59% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose capitalisation melted QR3.81bn or 0.59% to QR646.15bn, mainly on midcap segments.The foreign retail investors turned bearish in the main market, which saw as many as 0.04mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.11mn trade across 17 deals.Weakened net buying of domestic funds Gulf retail investors had its influence on the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the rise.The Islamic index was seen declining slower than the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.However, the local individuals were increasingly net buyers in the main bourse, which saw a total of 0.17mn sovereign bonds valued at QR1.74bn trade across one deal.The Total Return Index shed 0.43%, the All Share Index by 0.49% and the All Islamic Index by 0.29% in the main market.The industrials sector index shrank 0.94%, insurance (0.79%), banks and financial services (0.64%) and realty (0.63%); while telecom gained 0.84%, transport (0.32%) and consumer goods and services (0.18%).As many as 31 stocks declined, while 18 gained and four were unchanged.Major shakers in the main market include Widam Food, Ezdan, Qatar Insurance, Qatar Electricity and Water, Qatar Oman Investment, QNB, Qatar Islamic Bank, Industries Qatar, Gulf International Services, Qatar National Cement and Gulf Warehousing. Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value.Nevertheless, Vodafone Qatar, Doha Bank, Medicare Group, Qamco, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance and Nakilat were among the gainers in the main bourse.The foreign institutions’ net profit booking increased significantly to QR54.44mn compared to QR38.31mn on Sunday.The foreign retail investors turned net sellers to the tune of QR2.75mn against net buyers of QR1.36mn the previous day.The domestic institutions’ net buying declined noticeably to QR7.76mn compared to QR12.64mn on November 16.The Gulf individual investors’ net buying weakened markedly to QR2.29mn against QR4.39mn on Sunday.However, the local retail investors’ net buying expanded substantially to QR36.66mn compared to QR20.98mn the previous day.The Gulf institutions were net buyers to the extent of QR7.62mn against net sellers of QR4.25mn on November 16.The Arab individual investors’ net buying strengthened marginally to QR2.86mn compared to QR2.38mn on Sunday.The Arab funds had no major net exposure against net buyers to the tune of QR0.83mn the previous day.The main market saw 44% jump in trade volumes to 119.5mn shares and 71% in value to QR373.03mn on more than doubled deals to 33,531.In the venture market, a total of 0.03mn equities valued at QR0.07mn changed hands across 13 transactions.

Indicating the increased use of electronic means in the financial sector, Qatar saw a total of 59.95mn transactions valued at QR18.47bn through the country's payment system in October 2025 as the domestic real time payment service Fawran reported a robust double-digit growth in volumes and value, according to the Qatar Central Bank (QCB) data.The number of transactions and total value grew 8.84% and 10.73% month-on-month respectively in October 2025, the QCB said in its social media handle X.The Qatar Payment System (QPS) is designed on the concept of real-time gross settlement (RTGS) and electronic straight through processing (e-STP).The point-of-sales constituted 50% of the payment system transaction, followed by e-commerce 25%, Fawran or instant payment system at 24% and QMP at 1% in the review period.There were 46.03mn card transactions through point-of-sales – which enables merchants to process payments and log transactions – valued at QR9.19bn in October 2025. The card transactions increased 8.48% and 8.63% month-on-month in volume and value respectively.The e-commerce transactions witnessed as many as 10.82mn transactions valued at QR4.44bn in the review period. The number of transactions and their total value jumped 7.23% and 4.96% respectively compared with September 2025.The point-of-sales and e-commerce together amounted to QR13.63bn through 56.85mn transactions this October, which showed 8.24% and 7.41% surge in volume and value respectively on a monthly basis.Fawran – a real-time payment service in Qatar, allowing users to send and receive money instantly and securely within the country – registered as many as 2.68mn transactions valued at QR4.56bn in October 2025, shooting up 21.27% and 23.58% month-on-month respectively.The total number of Fawran accounts registered a 1.77% month-on-month growth to 3.45mn in the review period.Fawran was launched in 2024 and system members are QNB, Commercial Bank, Qatar Islamic Bank, Ahli Bank, Dukhan Bank, Doha Bank, QIIB and AlRayan Bank.QMP – which allows immediate transfer of funds between registered customers through any registered payment service providers – saw as many as 421,491 transactions valued at QR289.42mn in October 2025. While total number of transactions zoomed 17.26%, total value was down 1.77% against September 2025 levels.There has been a total of 1.22mn registered wallets in the review period, registering a marginal 0.83% increase on a monthly basis.The QMP is a centralised payment system that was launched in 2020, to enable individuals and corporates to perform instant fund transfers between e-wallets within payment service providers in Qatar.The system members are QNB, Commercial Bank, Doha Bank, Qatar Islamic Bank, Ahli Bank, QIIB, Arab Bank, HSBC Qatar, AlRayan Bank, Dukhan Bank, i-pay and Ooredoo Money.The QPS is based on the SWIFT network and messages standards and utilises the SWIFT messages to reconcile and settle the local payments and securities ownership transfers.Qatar's retail payment system comprise electronic cheque clearing system; national network system for ATMS and Points of Sales (NAPS); QMP; direct deposit and debit (QATCH); electronic payment gateway (QPay); wage protection system (WPS); and Fawran.

Market EyeReflecting the fading rate cut hopes in the US; the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) Sunday saw as much as 83% of the constituents end in the red, resulting in more than 111 points plunge in the key index and more than QR6bn erosion in capitalisation.The Gulf institutions were seen net profit takers as the 20-stock Qatar Index shed 1.01% to 10,846.84 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,955 points.The local individuals’ weakened net buying had its influence on the main market, whose year-to-date gains truncated to 2.61%.The foreign funds continued to be net sellers but with lesser intensity in the main bourse, whose capitalisation melted QR6.37bn or 0.97% to QR649.46n, mainly on large and midcap segments.The domestic institutions were seen net buyers in the main market, which saw as many as 0.03mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.08mn trade across 27 deals.The Gulf retail investors were increasingly bullish in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decline.The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The foreign individuals were increasingly net buyers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index shed 1.01%, the All Share Index by 0.87% and the All Islamic Index by 1.28% in the main market.The telecom sector index plummeted 2.91%, industrials (1.56%), transport (1.48%), real estate (0.98%), consumer goods and services (0.61%) and banks and financial services (0.43%); while insurance gained 0.64%.As many as 44 stocks declined, while only five gained and four were unchanged.Major shakers in the main market include Vodafone Qatar, Ooredoo, Qatar Oman Investment, Industries Qatar, Baladna, Qatar Islamic Insurance, Meeza, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Gulf International Services, Qamco, Barwa, Milaha, Gulf Warehousing and Nakilat.Nevertheless, Qatar Insurance, Commercial Bank, Ahlibank Qatar, Inma Holding and Al Khaleej Takaful were among the movers in the main bourse.The Gulf institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR4.25mn compared with net buyers of QR19.25mn the previous trading day.The local individual investors’ net buying declined substantially to QR20.98mn against QR40.82mn on November 13.However, the domestic institutions were net buyers to the extent of QR12.64mn compared with net sellers of QR16mn on Sunday.The Gulf retail investors’ net buying strengthened noticeably to QR4.39mn against QR2.4mn the previous trading day.The Arab individual investors’ net buying expanded perceptibly to QR2.38mn compared to QR1.77mn on November 13.The foreign retail investors’ net buying rose markedly to QR1.36mn against QR0.65mn on Sunday.The Arab funds were seen net buyers to the tune of QR0.83mn compared with no major net exposure the previous trading day.The foreign institutions’ net selling weakened significantly to QR38.31mn against QR48.99mn on November 13.The main market saw 33% contraction in trade volumes to 82.94mn shares, 42% in value to QR218.64mn and 33% in deals to 14,485.In the venture market, a total of 0.01mn equities valued at QR0.02mn changed hands across six transactions.

Redefining the pace of setting up of businesses, the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) has introduced a platinum onboarding service, aimed at fast-tracking incorporation of companies within the QFC in as little as one hour upon final application submission.Designed for entities seeking speed, precision, and premium experience, the platinum onboarding service represents the highest tier of QFC’s “elite services”. “The platinum onboarding service marks a major milestone in our commitment to making Qatar one of the easiest and most efficient places to do business.By offering a one-hour incorporation process, we’re setting a new regional benchmark for speed and service excellence," said Yousuf Mohamed al-Jaida, chief executive officer, QFC Authority. The newly enhanced onboarding framework also includes premium and executive service options.Each tier offers tailored support, ensuring every client receives personalised guidance throughout their setup journey. The platinum tier presents a new standard in ultra-accelerated business establishment: Highly efficient and meticulously coordinated.This paid service enables one-hour incorporation, activated upon submission of the final online application, with the computer card and tax card issued within the same hour for Qatar residents.Beyond fast-track establishment, it delivers a bespoke concierge experience that extends into life in Doha, offering meet-and-greet airport transfers, relocation coordination, school placement support, personalised settling-in guidance, and family integration services.Clients also benefit from medical coordination for residence permits and introductions to the QFC-aligned banking partners, ensuring an arrival and transition that are effortless and fully supported. With this launch, the QFC continues to strengthen its role as a preferred platform for international and local businesses looking to establish and expand in Qatar and the wider region.

Ahead of MSCI index review later this month, the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) closed the week on a slumber with its key index losing more than 100 points and capitalisation melting in excess of QR3bn.The banks, consumer goods and insurance counters witnessed higher than average selling pressure as the 20-stock Qatar Index shed 0.91% this week which saw Gulf Warehousing and QC+ plan the largest regional logistics hub specialised in fine art storage within a dedicated free zone in Doha.The local retail investors’ increased net selling had its influence on the main bourse this week which saw Dukhan Bank sign an exclusive agreement with Global Infrastructure Partners, a part of BlackRock, to provide the Qatari market with Shariah-compliant strategic products and solutions.The market was skewed towards shakers in the main market this week which saw Ahlibank Qatar complete the issuance of debt securities valued at QR500mn.The Gulf retail investors were seen bearish in the main bourse this week which saw Qatar award more than QR15bn worth projects through government tenders and auctions during the third quarter (Q3) of 2025.The Gulf funds’ weakened net buying had its impact on the main market this week which saw Qatar’s public budget record QR1.4bn deficit during Q3-2025.The domestic institutions continued to be net sellers but with lesser intensity in the main market this week which saw Baladna find place in Qatar Index, effective from December 1, 2025.The foreign funds were seen net buyers in the main bourse this week which saw a total of 0.09mn AlRayan Bank-sponsored exchange traded fund QATR worth QR0.21mn trade across 44 deals.The Arab individuals turned bullish in the main market this week which saw a total of 0.01mn Doha Bank-sponsored exchange traded fund QETF worth QR0.1mn trade across 18 transactions.The Islamic index was seen declining slower than the other indices of the main market this week, which saw a total of 1,000 sovereign bonds valued at QR10.14mn trade across one deal.Market capitalisation shed QR3.28bn or 0.5% to QR656.33bn on the back of mid and small cap segments this week which saw no trading of treasury bills.Trade turnover and volumes were on the decrease in both the main and junior markets this week, which saw the bank, industrials and consumer goods sectors together constitute more than 74% of the total trade volumes.The Total Return Index shed 0.91%, the All Share Index by 0.94% and the All Islamic Index by 0.63% this week.The banks and financial sector index declined 2.01%, consumer goods and services (1.54%) and insurance (1.14%); while telecom gained 3.18%, transport (1.16%), real estate (0.63%) and industrials (0.06%) this week.More than 60% of the traded constituents were in the red with major losers being Widam Food, Qatar Cinema and Film Distribution, Qatar German Medical Devices, Commercial Bank, Qatar Oman Investment, Qatar Islamic Bank, QIIB, Dukhan Bank, Mannai Corporation, Baladna, Qatar Insurance and Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding. In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value this week.Nevertheless, QLM, Vodafone Qatar, Ooredoo, Doha Insurance, Doha Bank, Salam International Investment, Industries Qatar, Ezdan, Barwa, Milaha and Nakilat were among the movers in the main bourse this week.The Qatari individuals’ net selling increased substantially to QR31.29mn compared to QR17.42mn the previous week.The Gulf retail investors turned net sellers to the tune of QR11.72mn against net buyers of QR1.12mn a week ago.The Gulf institutions’ net buying decreased drastically to QR61.02mn compared to QR97.94mn the week ended November 7.However, the foreign institutions were net buyers to the extent of QR12.73mn against net sellers of QR2.91mn the previous week.The Arab retail investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR10.06mn compared with net sellers of QR11.71mn a week ago.The foreign individuals were net buyers to the extent of QR0.67mn against net profit takers of QR10.75mn the week ended November 7.The domestic institutions’ net selling weakened significantly to 41.46mn compared to QR56.28mn the previous week.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the third straight week.The main market saw 13% contraction in trade volumes to 513.53mn shares, 5% in value to QR1.6bn and 16% in deals to 99,358 this week.In the venture market, trade volumes tanked 28% to 0.18mn equities, 30% in value to QR0.4mn and 20% in transactions to 37.

Baladna will replace Barwa Real Estate Company in the Qatar Stock Exchange's main 20-stock QSE index, effective from December 1. The other constituents of the main barometer will remain QNB, Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), Industries Qatar (IQ), Nakilat, Commercial Bank, AlRayan Bank, Ooredoo, QIIB, Dukhan Bank, Milaha, Woqod, Qatar Electricity and Water (QEWC), Doha Bank, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding (MPHC), Vodafone Qatar, Gulf International Services, Qamco, Estithmar Holding and Ezdan. Under the new index practices, a review is carried out twice a year to ensure that the selection and weighting of the constituents continues to reflect the purpose of the index. Aamal Company and Meeza QSTP will join the Al Rayan Islamic Index, whose other constituents are IQ, QIB, AlRayan Bank, Ooredoo, Dukhan Bank, Woqod, United Development Company, MPHC, Barwa, Vodafone Qatar, Milaha, QEWC, QIIB, Qamco, Estithmar Holding, Medicare Group, Al Meera, Ezdan, Baladna, Qatar National Cement and Qatar Islamic Insurance. Al Mahhar Holding will join QSE All Share Index and Consumer Goods and Services Index. All listed companies are ranked by giving free float market capitalisation with a 50% weight and average daily value traded also 50% weight. Companies with velocity less than 5% are excluded from the review, as are entities whereby a single shareholder can only own less than 1% of outstanding shares. Any qualifying component exceeding 15% weight in the index as of market close March 28, 2023 will have its weight capped at the 15% level and excess weight allocated to remaining stocks proportionately. The index free-float for a stock is total outstanding shares minus shares directly owned by government and its affiliates, those held by founders and board members and shareholdings above 10% or greater of the total outstanding (except those held by those held by pension funds in the country). The bourse has seven sectors – banks and financial services (with 13 constituents), insurance (seven), industrials (10), real estate (four), telecom (two), transportation (three) and consumer goods and services (14) in the ‘All Share Index’.

The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the country's sovereign wealth fund, has invested in d-Matrix, a pioneer in generative AI (artificial intelligence) inference for data centres.Valued at $2bn and bringing the total raised to date to $450mn, d-Matrix will use the new capital to advance their roadmap, accelerate global expansion and support multiple large-scale deployments of the world’s highest performing, most efficient data centre inference platform for hyperscalers, enterprise, and sovereign customers.The oversubscribed round attracted leading investment firms across Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East. The funding was co-led by a global consortium including BullhoundCapital, Triatomic Capital, and Temasek, and welcomed new investors including QIA and EDBI, alongside follow-on participation from M12, Microsoft’s Venture Fund, as well as Mirae Asset, Industry Ventures, and Nautilus Venture Partners.d-Matrix's full-stack inference platform combines breakthrough compute-memory integration, high-speed networking, and inference-optimised software to deliver 10× faster performance, 3× lower cost, and 3–5× better energy efficiency than GPU-based systems.This step-change in performance and efficiency directly addresses growing AI sustainability challenges. By enabling one data centre to handle the workload of ten, d-Matrix offers a clear path to reducing global data centre energy consumption while enabling enterprises to deliver cost-efficient, profitable AI services without compromise.“From day one, d-Matrix has been uniquely focused on inference. When we started d-Matrix six years ago, training was seen as AI’s biggest challenge, but we knew that a new set of challenges would be coming soon,” said Sid Sheth, chief executive officer and co-founder of d-Matrix.“We predicted that when trained models needed to run continuously at scale, the infrastructure wouldn't be ready. We've spent the last six years building the solution: a fundamentally new architecture that enables AI to operate everywhere, all the time. This funding validates that vision as the industry enters the Age of AI Inference,” he added.Investor confidence reflects d-Matrix’s differentiated technology, rapid customer growth, and expanding network of global partners — including the recently announced d-Matrix SquadRack open standards-based reference architecture with Arista, Broadcom, and Supermicro.A strong product roadmap featuring 3D memory-stacking innovations and a customer-centric go-to-market strategy further establishes d-Matrix as a cornerstone of the new AI infrastructure stack.

Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and ORIX Corporation (ORIX) have entered into a pact to a commitment-based private equity (PE) fund (OQCI Fund) with total size yen equivalent of $2.5bn. The fund will invest in Japanese companies, primarily targeting business succession, privatisation of listed companies, and carve-outs (the transfer of business divisions or subsidiaries from large corporations), with an enterprise value investment size of at least 30bn yen (about $200mn) per investment. This marks the first time that ORIX has launched a fund that welcomes capital from an international third-party investor for domestic private equity investment in Japan. It is also the first time QIA has invested in a domestic private equity fund focused solely on the Japanese market. Investment decisions for the fund will be made by OQCI GP, which will act as the general partner of the fund. ORIX and QIA will be the only two investors in the fund, committed to contributing 60% and 40% of the capital, respectively. ORIX will provide the GP with introductions to potential investment targets, post-investment monitoring, and advisory support for portfolio companies. "Japan represents a core component of QIA’s long-term private equity strategy. With disciplined valuations, a deep pipeline of governance-driven deals, and growing global investor interest, we see this as an exceptional opportunity to partner with best-in-class Japanese businesses to create value," said Mohammed Saif al-Sowaidi, chief executive officer of QIA. Highlighting that it is the first international partner in ORIX’s inaugural private equity fund in Japan in its 60-year history; he said this partnership will enable both parties to capitalise on market opportunities and support ORIX’s ambition to build a thriving asset management initiative. Makoto Inoue, Representative executive officer, chairman and chief executive officer of ORIX said QIA is a significant and influential sovereign wealth fund, and it is pleased to be able to help it increase its investments in the Japanese economy. "ORIX has built up considerable expertise in private equity investment in Japan. This partnership is the next logical step on the path to improving the corporate value of companies with high-growth potential," he said. Moreover, it will contribute to Japan’s broader industrial development. Increasing the portion of third-party funds in ORIX’s investment portfolio will enhance capital efficiency and help further grow asset management business, according to him. "This partnership is a key strategic move to help realize our long-term growth strategy," he said. QIA and ORIX will together aim to enhance the corporate value of companies with high-growth potential and contribute to the advancement of Japanese industry. "We will also explore opportunities for collaboration across other fields," it said. Following the guidelines published by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the request for management reforms by the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Japan’s M&A market has been seeing a surge in listed companies going private, corporate reorganizations, and carve-outs. As deal sizes become larger, and against the backdrop of Japan’s stable economy and society, an increasing amount of foreign capital has been flowing into the market. (Ends)

Foreign and Gulf funds lift sentiments in QSE as index rose 42 points; M-cap adds QR2.64bnThe Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) today gained more than 42 points on the back of strong buying interests from the foreign and Gulf institutions.The telecom, transport and industrials counters witnessed higher than average demand as the 20-stock Qatar Index rose 0.38% to 11,039.98 points, although it touched an intraday high of 11,113 points.The Gulf individuals were seen net buyers, albeit at lower levels, in the main market, whose year-to-date gains improved to 4.91%.About 59% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors in the main bourse, whose capitalisation added QR2.64bn or 0.4% to QR661.87bn, mainly on small and midcap segments.The local retail investors’ weakened net profit booking had its influence on the main market, which saw as many as 0.03mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.08mn trade across 17 deals.However, the domestic funds were seen increasingly bearish in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the rise.The Islamic index was seen outperforming the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The Arab retail investors were seen bearish in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index rose 0.38%, the All Share Index by 0.34% and the All Islamic Index by 0.42% in the main market.The telecom sector index shot up 1.35%, transport (0.59%), industrials (0.57%), insurance (0.29%), banks and financial services (0.18%) and real estate (0.13%); while consumer goods and services were down 0.02%.As many as 31 stocks gained, while 17 declined and five were unchanged.Major movers in the main market include QLM, Qamco, Doha Bank, Beema, Qatar Cinema and Film Distributions, Industries Qatar, Doha Insurance, United Development Company, Ezdan, Ooredoo, Vodafone Qatar, Milaha and Gulf Warehousing.Nevertheless, Baladna, Commercial Bank, Al Mahhar Holding, Qatar Industrial Manufacturing and Qatar Oman Investment were among the shakers in the main bourse. In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value.The foreign institutions’ net buying increased significantly to QR15.62mn compared to QR8.98mn the previous day.The Gulf institutions’ net buying strengthened considerably to QR12.28mn against QR4.7mn on November 9.The Gulf retail investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR0.55mn compared with net sellers of QR2.68mn on Sunday.The local individual investors’ net selling declined substantially to QR6.45mn against QR14.78mn the previous day.However, the domestic institutions’ net selling strengthened drastically to QR15.02mn compared to QR0.82mn on November 9.The Arab retail investors were net sellers to the extent of QR5.88mn against net buyers of QR3.84mn on Sunday.The foreign individuals turned net profit takers to the tune of QR1.09mn compared with net buyers of QR0.74mn the previous day.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure.The main market saw 6% jump in trade volumes to 84.49mn shares, 46% in value to QR306.8mn and 21% in deals to 17,780.In the venture market, a total of 0.03mn equities valued at QR0.06mn changed hands across seven transactions.

Qatar Sunday kicked off the 2025/26 cruise season at the Old Doha Port, welcoming MSC Euribia, operated by MSC Cruises, carrying 5,000 passengers and a crew of 1,676 members. One of the newest and largest vessels in the MSC fleet, MSC Euribia spans 331m in length and 43m in width, accommodating up to 6,327 guests and powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) for cleaner, more sustainable voyages, Mwani Qatar said in its social medial handle X. Throughout the season, which runs until May 2026, the ship will make 22 scheduled calls at The Terminal, managed by Mwani Qatar — reaffirming Qatar's growing prominence as a premier destination on the global cruise tourism map. Last week, a coordination meeting was held as part of the preparations for 2025/26 cruise season, bringing together stakeholders, agents, and tour operators to discuss operational plans and coordination efforts to ensure a successful season and an exceptional visitor experience. Qatar has proven to be one of the most sought after luxury cruise destinations in the Arabian Gulf’s winter cruise season. To support the tremendous growth of the industry, Mwani Qatar plays a key role in the redevelopment of the port and its facilities. Doha port provides a wide range of passenger facilities, including seamless immigration, customs, foreign exchange, taxi and bus stands, city bus tours as well as Qatar Duty Free, cafe, waiting areas for cruise passengers and staff. It also features various tourist information services offered by Qatar Tourism. Relevant Mwani Qatar marine services within the port are offered to the vessels calling at Doha Port, ensuring safe and efficient arrival and departure. Mwani Qatar works closely with Qatar Tourism and the Ministry of Interior to develop the cruise industry which has seen a remarkable increase in the passenger arrivals over the years. Qatar's 2024/25 cruise season had welcomed more than 396,000 visitors aboard 87 cruise ships, marking a 5% jump in visitors and a 19% rise in vessel calls against the previous season. Doha Port’s cruise terminal is strategically located minutes away from key attractions such as the National Museum of Qatar and Souq Waqif, optimising the visitor experience by allowing cruise passengers to make the most of their time in the city. Qatar Tourism plans to strengthen its collaborations with more international cruise lines, which is vital for driving further growth in Qatar’s tourism sector and contributing to Qatar’s economic diversification efforts. "Doha has become a prominent cruise destination with varied tourism experiences offered to visitors. From its debut in October 2023 to its grand finale in April 2024, this cruise season has exceeded all expectations breaking the records of visitors and cruise ships from previous seasons. The Grand Cruise Terminal symbolising Qatar's commitment to excellence” Saad bin Ali al-Kharji, chairman of Qatar Tourism had said. Qatar is gaining popularity as a world-class cruise destination in the region as it showcased exceptional tourism capabilities, especially after hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. In this regard, efforts are currently underway to attract more cruise lines and travelers in the upcoming seasons.