Middle East and North Africa

Qatar
Last reviewed: 02 November 2009

Country information

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TRADE AND INVESTMENT WITH THE UK

Trade exports between the UK and Qatar are rapidly increasing. In 2008 UK exports of goods reached £691 million, up from £624 million in 2007. The value of the UK’s invisible exports such as legal, financial and consultancy services was estimated at £355 million in 2007 (up from £248 million in 2006). Imports of goods from Qatar in the first six months of 2009 totalled £244 million, in comparison with £60 million in the first six months of 2008 (a rise due mainly to the UK’s imports of LNG from Qatar).

The UK has a number of major investors in the market, notably Shell, which is constructing a major Gas to Liquids (GtL) plant in Qatar, creating some 50,000 jobs during the construction period. Vodafone also launched its services in July 2009, having won the second mobile operator licence. The UK’s major competitors in the market are the US, Japan and France. Although Qatar is willing to pay for quality, the strengthening of the pound and the weakening value of the US dollar does affect the price competitiveness of UK firms.

Qatar is pressing ahead with ambitious infrastructure development plans (together with the expansion of LNG production), funded predominantly by revenue from gas and associated products.. The next few years will see the completion of new oil and gas facilities, ports, New Doha International Airport, many new roads, hotels, and residential compounds. The Qatar National Vision 2030 http://www.gsdp.gov.qa, published in 2008 sets out Qatar’s strategy and priorities in terms of change and development.

UK Trade & Investment Country Profile: Qatar