Qatar takes part in 2nd Asir Investment Forum
Riyadh
Qatar participated in the second Asir Investment Forum, held in the Asir region of the Saudi Arabia on May 26 and 27 under the theme 'Asir Flourishes'. The event convened a substantial number of high-ranking officials, decision-makers, and investors from within the Kingdom and abroad.
Qatar was represented by a delegation headed by Minister of Municipality Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiyah, alongside representatives from the Ministry of Municipality, Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company, and Barwa Real Estate Group.
The participation underlines the State of Qatar's steadfast commitment to bolstering bilateral cooperation with Saudi Arabia and sharing expertise in urban planning, sustainable development, and investment attraction. The forum is one of the foremost development and tourism platforms in Saudi Arabia. It has focused on exploring the economic, cultural, and tourism potential of Asir, which embraces over 4,000 heritage villages as outlined in the Saudi Vision 2030 goals, a vision that intends to draw 10 million visitors to the region annually.
On the margins of this forum, Al Attiyah met with HRH Governor of Asir Region Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed bin Aqeel Al Khateeb, and Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng Abdullah bin Amer Al Swaha.
The meeting addressed avenues for boosting cooperation between Qatar and Saudi Arabia in the areas of urban development, as well as investment and municipal integration.
Additionally, Al Attiyah took part in the forum's opening ministerial session, which highlighted the role of urban planning and the integration of municipal entities in creating enduring viewpoints. He discussed Qatar's experience in organising the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 as a quintessential model of sustainable urban planning and integrated infrastructure.
The Qatari economy has remarkably flourished over the past years, especially in the real estate sector, driven by strategic projects and attractive investment legislation within a holistic vision that is based on quality of life and infrastructure sustainability, he noted.
Al Attiyah highlighted flagship projects such as Msheireb Downtown Doha and Lusail City, which encapsulate the notion of a human-centered city where the individual and cultural identity are placed at the core of urban planning.
This Qatari participation further reaffirms the State's steadfast commitment to reinforcing Gulf integration and facilitating the exchange of expertise in the domains of investment, urban development, and tourism, thereby advancing shared regional objectives and contributing to the realization of sustainable development across the region.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
2 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
QFC records 64% growth in firm registration in first half of 2025
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), a leading onshore financial and business centre in the region, recorded a remarkable 64 percent increase in firm registrations in the first half (H1) of 2025 compared to the same period of 2024. This growth reflects increased investor confidence in the Qatari market and reaffirms QFC's position as a trusted platform for doing business in the region. With 828 new firms registered, QFC has almost surpassed its 2024 record, bringing the total number of registered firms to 3,300 by June 2025. Notably, QFC's regulated firms delivered strong performance, with Corporate & Investment Banks driving a 19 percent year-on-year increase in Assets Under Management (AUM). QFC's H1 performance was supported by strategic reforms to facilitate market entry, targeted business development and stakeholder engagement efforts. Measures such as simplifying the incorporation process, allowing applicants to instantly establish a legal entity and obtain a licence for non-regulated activities, and reducing the application fee for licensing a business by 90 percent have significantly lowered entry barriers, encouraging more entrepreneurs to launch their businesses through the QFC platform. During the first half of the year, QFC hosted and participated in over 15 events. Notable hosted and co-hosted events include the 3rd Annual Qatar Financial Market Forum powered by Bloomberg Intelligence, the Qatar Family Office Showcase, the QFC & Morgan Stanley Economic Workshop, the Digital Assets Policy Roundtable held on the sidelines of the Qatar Economic Forum, and the Qatar Islamic Finance Forum. QFC also participated in major international events such as the Qatar Web Summit, and the World Economic Forum in Davos. These platforms were used to promote QFC's value proposition and highlight Qatar's competitive business environment to investors and relevant stakeholders. QFC's presence at the 2025 Web Summit was particularly impactful. Between February and June 2025, 566 firms registered with the QFC through the Web Summit, a sharp rise from the 358 firms recorded during the previous edition. QFC also expanded its network through strategic partnerships aimed at advancing its focus sectors, supporting economic development, facilitating cross-border investment, and enhancing its value proposition. Memoranda of Understanding were signed with Qatar National Bank (QNB), German Mittelstand GCC, Gulf Capital Market Association (GCMA), Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Financial Services Development Council (FSDC), and Ashmore Group. In addition, QFC signed a Head of Terms with Hang Seng Indexes Company Limited (HSIL) and a service agreement with The View Hospital. Further progress was made under the Innovation Dome, QFC's flagship initiative. During H1, 33 firms joined the Digital Assets Lab, which is spearheading collaborative projects in areas including Islamic finance, tokenised deposits, real estate tokenisation, and blockchain-based rewards systems. In addition, the QFC Metaverse was launched, an immersive digital platform designed to facilitate business engagement, collaboration, and innovation. It serves as a central hub for networking, showcasing new technologies, and hosting workshops, training sessions, and expert-led discussions. Commenting on QFC's compounding growth, QFC Chief Executive Officer Yousuf Mohamed Al Jaida said, 'We are pleased to see positive results from our ongoing efforts to enhance Qatar's business ecosystem and drive progress across sectors. Our focus remains on fostering an environment that attracts diverse businesses and supports sustainable growth. With this growth momentum, we continue to reinforce Qatar's position as a leading hub for innovation and investment in the region.'
Qatar Tribune
2 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
PM, Uzbek FM to co-chair joint coordination council meet today
Tribune News Network Doha Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan HE Bakhtiyor Saidov will co-chair the inaugural meeting of the Joint Coordination Council between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Uzbekistan. The meeting will be held on Thursday in Doha. The Joint Coordinating Councilwas established under the Strategic and Bilateral Partnership Agreement between the two countries. Around 40 agreements have been signed between the two countries across multiple sectors, most notably in economic, political, cultural, investment, educational, legal, and environmental cooperation. Qatari citizens are exempt from entry visas to Uzbekistan, while Uzbek citizens may enter Qatar without a visa for up to 30 days.
Qatar Tribune
2 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
QFC registers 828 new firms in H1
QNA Doha Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) recorded a remarkable 64% increase in firm registrations in the first half (H1) of 2025 compared to the same period of 2024. This growth reflects increased investor confidence in the Qatari market and reaffirms QFC's position as a trusted platform for doing business in the region. With 828 new firms registered, QFC has almost surpassed its 2024 record, bringing the total number of registered firms to 3,300 by June 2025. Notably, QFC's regulated firms delivered strong performance, with Corporate & Investment Banks driving a 19% year-on-year increase in Assets Under Management (AUM). QFC's H1 performance was supported by strategic reforms to facilitate market entry, targeted business development and stakeholder engagement efforts. Measures such as simplifying the incorporation process, allowing applicants to instantly establish a legal entity and obtain a license for non-regulated activities, and reducing the application fee for licensing a business by 90% have significantly lowered entry barriers, encouraging more entrepreneurs to launch their businesses through the QFC platform. page 8
