Qatar Creates New Investment Division to Boost Domestic Economy

TDT | Agencies

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Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani announced on Sunday the creation of Doha Investment, a new Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) division focused on developing domestic investments.

The announcement was made during a special edition of the Qatar Economic Forum in New York. Sheikh Mohammed said the initiative aims to expand the private sector’s role in Qatar’s economic growth by supporting leading companies, helping emerging businesses expand, deepening capital markets and attracting international capital and expertise.

The division will manage QIA’s local portfolio, initially overseeing 45 state-owned enterprises representing roughly one-third of the sovereign wealth fund’s total assets, according to Qatar’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Sheikh Faisal bin Thani Al-Thani. He will serve as Doha Investment’s managing director and vice-chairman.

Sheikh Faisal said the division represents a consolidation of existing efforts rather than an entirely new initiative, with the concept under consideration for more than a decade.

QIA, estimated by Global SWF to manage $580 billion in assets, has expanded its domestic investments in recent years, including Qatar Airways, QNB, Ooredoo, Qatari Diar and Katara Hospitality.

The new division will focus on building national champions, supporting privatization, increasing private-sector participation and diversifying Qatar’s economy.