Qatar Projects

A presentation by MEED
 Qatar facts

• Cash-rich Qatar has a gross domestic product (GDP) of

some $130bn
• The population is small at 1.6 million; expatriates, mostly
male, far outnumber Qataris
• It has been ruled by the Al-Thani family since the mid-1800s.
In 1995 Crown Prince Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani deposed
his father to become emir
• Qatar has the third largest gas reserves in the world after
Iran and Russia, despite its 11,600 square kilometres; in
2008, proven gas reserves were 25.37 trillion cubic metres
• In 2006 Qatar became the world’s largest exporter and trans-
shipper of liquefied natural gas (LNG), overtaking Indonesia
Qatar gross domestic product
(QRm) 2009 2010e 2011f
Nominal oil and gas 165,325 235,500 318,650
GDP
% change -23.1 42.4 35.3
Nominal non-oil and 192,535 223,025 256,590
gas GDP
% change 2.4 15.8 15.0
Total nominal GDP 357,860 458,525 575,240
Nominal GDP % change -11.2 28.1 25.5
% real GDP growth 8.7 14.5 17.0

e=estimate; f=forecast
Source: Qatar National Bank
 Qatar economy
• The International Monetary Fund expects the economy to expand
by 18.6 per cent in 2011
• The official budget surplus in 2010-11 is estimated at QR58.3bn,
12.1 per cent of GDP
• Rising energy prices and production is expected to result in
surpluses reaching $130bn by 2015
• Sustaining gas export revenues will be essential if Doha is to avoid
an excessive debt burden from the World Cup
• There is a risk that high inflation, as seen in 2006-08, will return.
Planning and sensible scheduling is critical, as is an early start to
building transport projects
• The sovereign wealth fund Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) holds
assets that exceed $90bn
 Qatar infrastructure
• Even before the World Cup was confirmed, Doha had a major
infrastructure programme planned
• It included $35bn for a new rail network, $20bn on roads and
$25bn on real estate
• Some $10bn was earmarked in 2010-11, including the New Doha
International Airport and the New Doha Port
• Most projects formed part of the winning 2022 proposal, so are
likely to be implemented in the next five years
• The Qatar-Bahrain landbridge was put on hold in June 2010 but
will now get renewed attention
• Over the next five years, Qatar will invest more than $40bn on
centrepiece projects-a $25bn rail network, a $11bn new airport and
a $5.5bn new deepwater seaport
 Qatar World Cup 2022

• The bid’s unique selling point is marrying 21st-century

technology with financial largesse accrued from hydrocarbons
• The cost of building nine new World Cup 2022 stadiums and
refurbishing three is comparatively small, at $3-4bn
• But the associated transportation and social infrastructure will
put spending over $100bn in the next decade. More than
65,000 new hotel rooms are to be built
• There is still considerable work to be done in planning for
2017-2022
• A key milestone in the World Cup delivery programme is the
establishment of a permanent agency in Q2 2011. One of its
first tasks will be to appoint a project manager
Announced and unawarded projects,
February 2011

Source: MEED Projects

 Qatar oil, gas and industry
• Activity in the energy sector is likely to be subdued in
the medium term after unprecedented investment in
2002-07
• The moratorium on developing the North Field means
no new gas export projects are likely before 2015
• Following record investment in power, desalination
and wastewater, Doha will only require new capacity in
2014-15
• New ethane allocations mean Qatar will be one of the
few Gulf states to proceed with new petrochemical
schemes in the medium term
• The under-construction Barzan gas development is
expected to provide additional gas feedstock for steel
and aluminium capacity
 How MEED can help you

• Subscribe to MEED magazine and MEED.com for

dedicated Qatar and World Cup coverage
• Subscribe to
MEED Projects’ new Qatar Projects package to help
you to win contracts in Qatar
• Buy MEED Insight’s off-the-shelf
Qatar Projects Report 2011-22
• Attend MEED Events’ Qatar Transport event in Doha in
June or Infrastructure Projects event in London in July
• If you are interesting in advertising around MEED’s
Qatar coverage or sponsoring a MEED event, please
contact us – advertising@meed.com or
sponsorship@meed.com