Business opportunities in Qatar - details of projects planned and under way in Qatar, including those planned for the World Cup 2022

1. Qatar Projects A presentation by MEED

2. Qatar facts Cash-rich Qatar has a gross domestic product (GDP) of some $130bn The population is small at 1.6 million; expatriates, mostly male, far outnumber Qataris It has been ruled by the Al-Thani family since the mid-1800s. In 1995 Crown Prince Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani deposed his father to become emir Qatar has the third largest gas reserves in the world after Iran and Russia, despite its 11,600 square kilometres; in 2008, proven gas reserves were 25.37 trillion cubic metres In 2006 Qatar became the world’s largest exporter and trans-shipper of liquefied natural gas (LNG), overtaking Indonesia

3. Qatar gross domestic product e=estimate; f=forecast Source: Qatar National Bank

4. Qatar economy The International Monetary Fund expects the economy to expand by 18.6 per cent in 2011 The official budget surplus in 2010-11 is estimated at QR58.3bn, 12.1 per cent of GDP Rising energy prices and production is expected to result in surpluses reaching $130bn by 2015 Sustaining gas export revenues will be essential if Doha is to avoid an excessive debt burden from the World Cup There is a risk that high inflation, as seen in 2006-08, will return. Planning and sensible scheduling is critical, as is an early start to building transport projects The sovereign wealth fund Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) holds assets that exceed $90bn

5. Qatar infrastructure Even before the World Cup was confirmed, Doha had a major infrastructure programme planned It included $35bn for a new rail network, $20bn on roads and $25bn on real estate Some $10bn was earmarked in 2010-11, including the New Doha International Airport and the New Doha Port Most projects formed part of the winning 2022 proposal, so are likely to be implemented in the next five years The Qatar-Bahrain landbridge was put on hold in June 2010 but will now get renewed attention Over the next five years, Qatar will invest more than $40bn on centrepiece projects-a $25bn rail network, a $11bn new airport and a $5.5bn new deepwater seaport

6. Qatar World Cup 2022 The bid’s unique selling point is marrying 21st-century technology with financial largesse accrued from hydrocarbons The cost of building nine new World Cup 2022 stadiums and refurbishing three is comparatively small, at $3-4bn But the associated transportation and social infrastructure will put spending over $100bn in the next decade. More than 65,000 new hotel rooms are to be built There is still considerable work to be done in planning for 2017-2022 A key milestone in the World Cup delivery programme is the establishment of a permanent agency in Q2 2011. One of its first tasks will be to appoint a project manager

7. Announced and unawarded projects, February 2011 Source: MEED Projects

8. Qatar oil, gas and industry Activity in the energy sector is likely to be subdued in the medium term after unprecedented investment in 2002-07 The moratorium on developing the North Field means no new gas export projects are likely before 2015 Following record investment in power, desalination and wastewater, Doha will only require new capacity in 2014-15 New ethane allocations mean Qatar will be one of the few Gulf states to proceed with new petrochemical schemes in the medium term The under-construction Barzan gas development is expected to provide additional gas feedstock for steel and aluminium capacity

9. How MEED can help you Subscribe to MEED magazine and MEED.com for dedicated Qatar and World Cupcoverage Subscribe to MEED Projects’ new Qatar Projects package to help you to win contracts in Qatar Buy MEED Insight’s off-the-shelf Qatar Projects Report 2011-22 Attend MEED Events’ Qatar Transport event in Doha in June or Infrastructure Projects event in London in July If you are interesting in advertising around MEED’s Qatar coverage or sponsoring a MEED event, please contact us – advertising@meed.com or sponsorship@meed.com