This study examines access to financing for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Qatar, particularly during their startup phase. Through extensive research including a survey and interviews, the study finds a significant financing gap for entrepreneurs and SMEs due to risk-averse banking regulations and a lack of equity funding options. Additionally, businesses face bureaucratic registration processes and challenges complying with commercial laws. Major reforms are needed to ease access to financing and streamline business registration to facilitate the success of startups and SMEs in Qatar.

1. “Fostering Small and Medium Size Enterprise (SME) Development in Qatar”
The development of SMEs is a particular focus of recent economic policy reform and the larger sustainable development strategy in Qatar. This
study examines access to finance for SMEs in their startup phase and proposes alternative and more efficient frameworks to facilitate external financing
in Qatar. We begin with an extensive literature review to assess the larger business environment and offer a baseline diagnosis of the major financing
channels in Qatar. Through a collaborative survey with Silatech, we investigate and analyze the nature, constraints, and stakeholders involved in the
local entrepreneurship ecosystem. Finally, we undertake qualitative data gathering, primarily through interviews with various stakeholders including
entrepreneurs, financiers, business-owners, lawyers, and representatives of local support organizations. Ultimately, we find that there is a considerable
financing gap for entrepreneurs and SMEs largely due to risk averse banking regulations and the absence of equity funding options. Moreover,
businesses face considerable bureaucracy in the registration process and numerous challenges in complying with Qatari commercial laws. Major
reforms that promote ease of access to finance and streamline the incorporation process are needed to facilitate the success of startups and SMEs and
enable support organizations to cultivate entrepreneurship in Qatar.
‫عنصر‬ ‫المتوسطة‬‫و‬ ‫ة‬‫ر‬‫الصغي‬ ‫يع‬‫ر‬‫المشا‬ ‫تطوير‬ ‫يشكل‬‫ال‬ ‫إصالح‬ ‫من‬ ‫هام‬‫التطور‬ ‫اتيجية‬‫ر‬‫است‬‫و‬ ‫االقتصادية‬ ‫سياسات‬‫في‬ ‫المستدام‬‫على‬ ‫البحث‬ ‫هذا‬ ‫يركز‬ .‫قطر‬‫ا‬‫مكانية‬
‫ال‬ ‫الى‬ ‫الوصول‬‫تمويل‬‫ة‬‫ر‬‫الصغي‬ ‫يع‬‫ر‬‫للمشا‬ ‫االنشائبة‬ ‫احل‬‫ر‬‫الم‬ ‫خالل‬‫ح‬‫ويقتر‬ ،‫المتوسطة‬‫و‬‫وفعالة‬ ‫بديلة‬ ‫نماذج‬‫على‬ ‫الحصول‬ ‫لتسهيل‬‫نبدأ‬ .‫خارجي‬ ‫تمويل‬‫ب‬‫د‬‫االوضاع‬ ‫اسة‬‫ر‬
‫م‬ّ‫لنقي‬ ‫الحالية‬‫ال‬ ‫بيئة‬‫عمل‬‫ى‬‫الكبر‬‫في‬ ‫ئيسية‬‫ر‬‫ال‬ ‫التمويل‬ ‫ات‬‫و‬‫لقن‬ ‫أساسي‬ ‫تشخيص‬ ‫ونقدم‬‫قطر‬.‫و‬‫عن‬،‫األعمال‬ ‫يادة‬‫ر‬ ‫بيئة‬ ‫طبيعة‬ ‫ونحلل‬ ‫نبحث‬ ،‫صلتك‬ ‫مع‬ ‫تعاوني‬ ‫استبيان‬ ‫يق‬‫ر‬‫ط‬
‫لنجاحه‬ ‫ائق‬‫و‬‫الع‬‫ا‬.‫دعمها‬ ‫في‬ ‫المشاركة‬ ‫المنظمات‬‫و‬ ،‫و‬‫فيه‬ ‫بما‬ ‫المعنية‬ ‫اف‬‫ر‬‫باألط‬ ‫مقابالت‬ ‫يق‬‫ر‬‫ط‬ ‫عن‬ ‫نوعية‬ ‫بيانات‬ ‫بجمع‬ ‫نقوم‬ ،‫ا‬‫ر‬‫أخي‬‫ا‬‫اد‬‫و‬‫ر‬ :‫األ‬‫مح‬ ،‫ممولين‬ ،‫عمال‬،‫امين‬
‫المحل‬ ‫المنظمات‬ ‫وممثلين‬،‫باختصار‬ .‫األعمال‬ ‫يادة‬‫ر‬ ‫لدعم‬ ‫ية‬‫ائح‬‫و‬‫الل‬ ‫إلى‬ ‫أساسا‬ ‫ذلك‬ ‫ويرجع‬ ‫تمويلية‬ ‫فجوة‬ ‫اجهان‬‫و‬‫ي‬ ‫المتوسطة‬‫و‬ ‫ة‬‫ر‬‫الصغي‬ ‫يع‬‫ر‬‫المشا‬‫و‬ ‫األعمال‬ ‫اد‬‫و‬‫ر‬ ‫أن‬ ‫نجد‬
،‫باإلضافة‬ .‫األسهم‬ ‫تمويل‬ ‫ات‬‫ر‬‫خيا‬ ‫وغياب‬ ‫المخاطر‬ ‫تجنب‬ ‫تشجع‬ ‫التي‬ ‫فية‬‫ر‬‫المص‬‫ت‬‫يع‬‫ر‬‫المشا‬ ‫اجه‬‫و‬‫المحلي‬‫ه‬‫وعدد‬ ‫التأسيس‬ ‫اءات‬‫ر‬‫ج‬‫ا‬‫و‬ ‫التسجيل‬ ‫في‬ ‫اطية‬‫ر‬‫بيروق‬‫م‬‫ن‬‫ال‬‫في‬ ‫ائق‬‫و‬‫ع‬
‫ام‬‫ز‬‫االلت‬‫با‬‫الد‬ ‫المنظمات‬ ‫وتأييد‬ ‫المتوسطة‬‫و‬ ‫ة‬‫ر‬‫الصغي‬‫و‬ ‫الناشئة‬ ‫يع‬‫ر‬‫المشا‬ ‫نجاح‬ ‫لتمكين‬ .‫ية‬‫ر‬‫القط‬ ‫ية‬‫ر‬‫التجا‬ ‫انين‬‫و‬‫لق‬‫ا‬‫عمة‬‫في‬‫ف‬ ‫األعمال‬ ‫يادة‬‫ر‬‫و‬ ‫ة‬‫ر‬‫المباد‬ ‫ح‬‫رو‬ ‫تنشئة‬‫يجب‬ ‫قطر‬ ‫ي‬
‫اء‬‫ر‬‫اج‬‫إصالحات‬‫الحصول‬ ‫تمكين‬ ‫بهدف‬‫اءات‬‫ر‬‫اإلج‬ ‫وتسهيل‬ ‫التمويل‬ ‫على‬‫يع‬‫ر‬‫المشا‬ ‫إلنشاء‬‫ة‬‫ر‬‫الصغي‬.‫المتوسطة‬‫و‬