HH the Amir inaugurates Qatar Economic Forum
HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, officially opened the 5th Qatar Economic Forum, Powered by Bloomberg. Held in collaboration with Media City Qatar, this year’s edition carries the theme “The Road to 2030: Transforming the Global Economy.”
In his opening remarks, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the forum’s significance, noting its timely importance as a platform for decision-makers, entrepreneurs, innovators and thought leaders to come together. He stressed the need to map out future investment opportunities and address shared challenges, such as international stability and sustainable growth.
HE the Prime Minister outlined that political stability and economic prosperity are deeply interconnected, with peace being the bedrock of sustainable development. “Every diplomatic initiative we undertake represents an investment in a more prosperous and secure future,” he stated. “Seeing a young person in Gaza complete their education or a Syrian family return home after displacement reveals the profound impact stability has on people’s lives and livelihoods.”
Turning to Qatar’s economic aspirations, HE the Prime Minister said that Qatar aims to become a beacon of technological progress and a global hub for investment and business. He also reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment to being a trusted partner, not only in energy and investment but also in diplomacy.
HE Sheikh Mohammed emphasised that this vision is coming to fruition through strategic foreign investment diversification. From there, HE the Prime Minister highlighted the importance of the Qatar Investment Authority’s long-term strategic partnerships, with significant investments this year spanning from the United States to Africa and China.
On the domestic front, Qatar’s economy continues to show impressive growth. HE the Prime Minister shared that in 2024, the country achieved 2.4% real growth, with GDP reaching QAR 713 billion. He highlighted growth in non-oil sectors, which grew by 3.4% annually, showing steady progress towards the Third National Development Strategy. Foreign direct investments reached QAR 9.9 billion by the end of 2024, signalling strong international confidence in Qatar’s economy.
HE the Prime Minister unveiled the launch of Qatar’s first comprehensive incentive package for investors, targeting key sectors such as advanced manufacturing, modern technology and logistics services. He also highlighted the significance of the Simaisma Project, one of the largest recreational developments in the region, which serves as a major catalyst for growth in both the real estate and tourism sectors.
Shifting to innovation and digital transformation, HE the Prime Minister pointed to Qatar’s growing role as a tech hub, following a successful second edition of Web Summit earlier this year. The event attracted over 25,000 participants from 124 countries, fostering critical connections between emerging technology centres in Asia and Africa and major global companies and sovereign funds
In a testament to Qatar’s commitment to digital leadership, HE the Prime Minister announced that Qatar had secured the rights to host the Mobile World Congress for the next five years, with the first edition set for November.
Concluding his remarks, HE the Prime Minister reiterated Qatar’s role in fostering a more balanced global economy, one that prioritises partnership and places people’s wellbeing at the core of development. He called for an integrated approach that blends security, development, diplomacy and growth, with human dignity central to the prosperity equation.
Running from 20-22 May, the Qatar Economic Forum is set to bring together world leaders and top CEOs to discuss the key issues reshaping the global economy. This year, the forum focuses on shifting patterns in global capital flows, with the Gulf region increasingly recognised as a major centre for financial power and foreign direct investment.
