Qatar attracted $3.4 billion in foreign direct investment project capital expenditure across 373 initiatives in 2025, generating 15,051 jobs, according to the agency responsible for promoting opportunities in the country.
Greenfield and Technology Investments Dominate
More than half of the total FDI capital expenditure was directed toward greenfield projects, while nearly half of all projects were classified as medium- to high-technology investments, reflecting investor interest in the country’s innovation-led economy, said Invest Qatar’s annual report.
Qatar has stepped up efforts to attract foreign investment as part of its Third National Development Strategy, which seeks to diversify the economy beyond hydrocarbons by expanding high-value sectors such as advanced manufacturing, technology, logistics and financial services.
Supportive Ecosystem and Regulatory Environment
Invest Qatar said the results were supported by the country’s infrastructure, business-friendly regulatory environment and expanding talent and knowledge ecosystem.
Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of Invest Qatar’s Advisory Board Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al-Thani said the country remained focused on strengthening the resilience and competitiveness of its economy amid changes in the global investment environment.
“Against an evolving global backdrop, Qatar has remained focused on bolstering its resilient economy, one that offers clarity, opportunity and enduring value to investors,” he said, adding: “In 2025, we achieved key milestones that further solidified the country’s position as a premier investment destination, supported by strategic initiatives that enhance the attractiveness and competitiveness of our ecosystem.”
Al-Thani continued by saying that Qatar, together with its partners, remains committed to sustaining this momentum and ensuring the country remains a preferred global hub for investment and innovation.
Regional Competition and Comparative Data
Qatar’s performance comes as Gulf states compete to attract international capital. On a balance-of-payments basis, UN Trade and Development data show that the UAE led foreign direct investment inflows into the Gulf Cooperation Council in 2024, attracting $45.6 billion, followed by Saudi Arabia with $15.7 billion and Oman with $8.7 billion.
Those figures measure recorded investment flows and are not directly comparable with Invest Qatar’s 2025 project capital expenditure total. Separate project-announcement data compiled by Emirates NBD from the Financial Times’ FDI Markets database show that the UAE attracted $33.16 billion across 1,491 greenfield projects in 2025. Saudi Arabia attracted $9.34 billion across 203 greenfield projects during the first half of 2025. Differences in reporting periods and project coverage prevent a like-for-like ranking against Qatar’s figures.
Year-on-Year Growth and Sectoral Distribution
The 2025 Invest Qatar report said the number of new FDI projects increased by 52 percent to 373, from 245 in 2024. The agency added that investment activity was distributed across established industrial sectors and emerging growth industries, in line with the objectives of the Third National Development Strategy.
Consumer products, business services, food and beverages, software and information technology services, and textiles were the five leading sectors, collectively accounting for 69 percent of total projects.
National Incentives Program
Invest Qatar also launched a $1 billion national incentives program comprising four targeted packages for advanced industries, logistics, technology and financial services. The program is intended to support priority sectors and strengthen Qatar’s competitiveness as an investment destination.
Invest Qatar CEO Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al-Thani said the agency’s international expansion, incentives and digital services had strengthened Qatar’s position as a long-term investment partner. He said that 2025 “stands as a year of purposeful progress, deepened partnerships and growing confidence in the nation’s long-term economic vision.”
Global Rankings
Qatar ranked ninth in the 2025 IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, advancing two places from the previous year. The country also rose 21 places to rank 12th globally in fDi Intelligence’s 2025 Greenfield FDI Performance Index.
