Doha--Prensa Latina. Qatar's economy is rated as high-income thanks to the energy sector, as the nation's natural gas and oil reserves are among the largest in the world.

 In fact, its progress took off at the beginning of the last century with the exploitation of these resources and position itself as the main exporter of liquefied natural gas globally, and the richest country, but this last qualification is not obtained only by its fortune, but also for its population density.

 The Planning and Statistics Authority registered 2.64 million inhabitants at the end of last June, which includes expatriates (around 70 percent). In other words, it is easy to divide wealth among such a small number of citizens.

 Hence, although in terms of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) the United States topped the last list published by the IMF, with 21 344 667 million dollars, Qatar is positioned as the richest nation in the world due to the parity of power purchasing (distribution of GDP among the estimated population). In 2018 the emirate closed with 128 thousand 702 dollars per capita. However, although important when analyzing the economic landscape of the country, these data are not the only reasons why it has managed to overcome the blockade established in 2017, it should be noted, in the same way, the national policies that have led Doha socioeconomic development is on track.

Local media have praised, on more than one occasion, the efforts of the State to maintain commercial alliances with several nations, their flexibility and openness. In tune with the 2030 National Vision, which seeks sustainable and crescendo development of Qatar in this period, the government launched initiatives and laws aimed at promoting both foreign and local investment. Proof of this are the free zones that offer modern infrastructure, skilled labor, one hundred percent foreign ownership, access to investment funds, tax exemptions and opportunities for association with Qatari entities.
The Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZA) revealed that in just the first six months of accepting investment applications, the value of those approved amounted to more than one billion Qatari rials (about 275 thousand millions of dollars).

In addition, the QFZA gave the green light to a series of partnerships between the private sector and global companies in different fields.

The entity created in 2018 to support national economic development through the establishment of free zones, has directed the funds towards economic, industrial and technological projects in those spaces.

Quoted by the press, the president of the QFZA, Ahmad bin Mohamed Al Sayed, said the investments will contribute directly to position Qatar as an attractive investment destination. "We encourage the private sector to take advantage of the facilities provided by our free zones to attract their international partners and create value for the country's economy through joint ventures," he said.

Outside this area, measures to support the country's industrial renaissance begin to bear fruit, such as the opening of new markets, points of sale, factories and industrial establishments. The Qatar Financial Center (QFC) reported an increase, from January to June 2019, of 21 percent in the number of new companies registered under this agency compared to the first half of 2018, almost 90 added, with more than 700 affiliated companies. Along with the premises, there are companies from India, the United States, Australia and some countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, which cover a wide range of sectors, including information technology services, consulting, marketing and brand management and engineering.
In statements published by the press, Raed Al Emadi, commercial director of the QFC Authority, expressed the commitment of the center to continuously work to support economic diversification by licensing the leading companies in their fields and allowing them to access the opportunities of the national market . Although the opening to foreign investment in the emirate focuses attention on the current context, it is not a secret that for years the Qataris have invested in different parts of the world, and accumulate billions in assets. Valentino, Harrods, Volkswagen Group, Tiffany, BlackBerry and several large banks are within this portfolio.


Other elements underpin the sustainable development for which the country is committed and it could be mentioned, in this sense, the increase in the economically active population, the boost that tourism has received and the resuscitation of the real estate sector with new and attractive laws.

 As for the leisure industry, many strategies have been implemented, such as a free visa for citizens of 80 countries, special packages for Qatar Airways users and the most recent campaign “Summer in Qatar”, with beneficial discounts in stores, including the most exclusive brands, and numerous activities.

Exactly, one of the areas that most felt the rupture of relations with Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt was the hotels sector, as a large part of the visitors came from these countires. However, there is a tendency to reverse negative figures; According to the Planning and Statistical Authority, the hotel occupancy rate in Doha increased from 62 percent in March 2018 to 68 in March this year. Previously, a rise had also been observed, since the January occupancy rate (64 percent) exceeded that of the previous year (58 percent).

It should not be missing from the list of strengths that the country has been able to protect and use Qatar Airways, voted in 2011, 2012 and 2015 as the airline of the year by Skytrax, and last April named among the top 10 in the world and the best in the Middle Orient for the TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards. The company, which reaches more than 100 destinations, along with the well-known Al Jazeera chain, are among the main reasons of pride of this nation. On the other hand, it is known to all that the fact of hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2022 has been a great encouragement for the Qatari economy due to the infinite number of projects and investments that it has promoted, and whose social benefit is not only already palpable, but it will also extend until after the event is over.

The Global Competitiveness Index - which takes into account the set of institutions, policies and factors that determine the level of productivity in a nation - placed Qatar in 30th out of 140 economies. This figure is not bad for a small state, also blocked, that either through usual routes, or new ones, to overcome the handicaps, refuses to lose the economic position that already won globally.