The fifth Qatar Economic Forum, held under the theme “The Path to 2030: Profound Transformations in the Global Economy,” saw robust international engagement. Organized in partnership between Qatar Media City and Bloomberg Media, the forum brought together global leaders, CEOs, and economic experts, with events running until May 22.
The opening ceremony was attended by His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, while the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, delivered the keynote address. He emphasized the forum’s critical role in fostering dialogue among policymakers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and thought leaders to address global economic challenges, explore investment opportunities, and tackle pressing issues like international stability and sustainable growth.
“Peace is the foundation of any sustainable development,” the Prime Minister stated, adding that Qatar views diplomatic efforts as investments in a safer and more prosperous future. He highlighted stability’s direct impact on livelihoods and economies, citing humanitarian crises in conflict zones such as Gaza and Syria.
Regarding Qatar’s economic vision, the Prime Minister affirmed the nation’s ambition to become a global hub for investment, commerce, and technology while maintaining its role as a reliable partner in energy, diplomacy, and capital. He noted that Qatar is diversifying its international investments through the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), which has secured multiple long-term strategic partnerships in 2024 across regions including the U.S., Africa, and China.
Qatar’s economy achieved 2.4% real growth in 2024, driven by a 3.4% expansion in non-oil sectors—aligning with its Third National Development Strategy. By late 2024, new foreign direct investments (FDI) reached 9.9 billion Qatari Riyals, underscoring global investor confidence in Qatar’s economy.
To enhance investment appeal, the Prime Minister unveiled the first package of an investor incentive program targeting strategic sectors such as advanced manufacturing, modern technology, and logistics. He also introduced Simaisma, a mega tourism project set to revitalize real estate and tourism sectors while fostering integrated economic development.
On innovation and digital transformation, the Prime Minister highlighted Qatar’s strengthened position as an emerging tech hub, citing the successful hosting of the 2024 Web Summit. The event attracted over 25,000 participants from 124 countries, connecting Asian and African tech ecosystems with global corporations and investment funds. Qatar further solidified its role as a digital exchange hub by securing hosting rights for the Mobile World Congress (MWC) for the next five years, with the first edition scheduled for November.
Concluding his speech, the Prime Minister reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment to building a balanced, inclusive global economy centered on partnerships and human dignity. He called for an integrated approach uniting security, development, diplomacy, and growth, with human dignity as the cornerstone of global prosperity.
This year’s forum spotlighted shifts in global capital flows and the Gulf region’s rising prominence as a financial and investment powerhouse. Amid evolving liquidity and strategic investment trends, the discussions underscored how these factors will shape the global economic landscape through 2030.
