Qatari private sector exports fall 28% to $5bn in first 9 months

Private sector exports for the third quarter slumped 47 percent to 3.25 billion riyals compared to 6.1 billion riyals accrued between May and June. Shutterstock
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Updated 11 December 2023
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Qatari private sector exports fall 28% to $5bn in first 9 months

RIYADH: Qatar’s private sector exports declined 28 percent to 18.5 billion Qatari riyals ($5.08 billion) in the first nine months, the official data showed.

According to the Qatar Chamber, the private sector exports for the first nine months of 2022 were 26 billion riyals.

The organization’s recent trade report found that private sector exports for the third quarter slumped 47 percent to 3.25 billion riyals compared to 6.1 billion riyals accrued between May and June. 

It also nosedived 65 percent compared to 9.3 billion riyals earned in the corresponding period of 2022.

In terms of certificates of origin, 65 percent of the exports in the third quarter were done through general model certification.

While the Gulf Cooperation Council model constituted 19 percent of the exports, the Arab region framework and the united certificate for Singapore comprised 12 percent and 5 percent, respectively.

Notably, there were no recorded exports through the agricultural or animal certificate model, and exports were suspended through the preferences model.

The report highlighted iron products experienced a 158 percent surge in export value in the third quarter, followed by a 5 percent increase in aluminum products.

Chemical fertilizers had a modest increase of 0.6 percent, the report added.

However, essential and industrial oils experienced a 69 percent slump in export value. Fuel products saw a 54 percent fall. While paraffin dropped by 40 percent, low-density polyethylene recorded a 15 percent decline. 

Qatari private sector exports also reached 100 nations during the third quarter compared to 99 countries in the same period last year. 

Among economic regions, Asian countries, excluding the GCC and Arab countries, emerged as the top destination, accounting for 34.6 percent of the total export value.

The EU followed with 27.3 percent, trailed by the GCC countries at 22.6 percent. Arab countries secured the fourth position with 12.7 percent, and the US claimed the fifth spot with 1.7 percent.


Industry leaders highlight Riyadh’s Metro, infrastructure as investment catalysts

Updated 29 December 2025
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Industry leaders highlight Riyadh’s Metro, infrastructure as investment catalysts

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, is experiencing a transformative phase in its real estate sector, with the construction market projected to reach approximately $100 billion in 2025, accompanied by an anticipated annual growth rate of 5.4 percent through 2029.

The Kingdom is simultaneously advancing its data center capacity at an accelerated pace, with an impressive 2.7 GW currently in the pipeline. This expansion underscores the critical role of strategic land and power planning in establishing national infrastructure as a cornerstone of economic growth.

These insights were shared by leading industry experts during JLL’s recent client event in Riyadh, which focused on the city’s macroeconomic landscape and emerging trends across office, residential, retail, hospitality, and pioneering sectors, including AI infrastructure and Transit-Oriented Development.

Saud Al-Sulaimani, Country Lead and Head of Capital Markets at JLL Saudi Arabia, commented: “Riyadh is positioned at the forefront of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, offering unparalleled opportunities for both investors and developers. National priorities are continuously recalibrated to ensure strategic alignment of projects and foster deeper collaboration with the private sector.”

He added: “Recent regulatory developments, including the introduction of the White Land Tax and the rent freeze, are designed to stabilize the market and are expected to drive renewed focus on delivering premium-quality assets. This dynamic environment, coupled with evolving construction cost considerations in select segments, is fundamentally reshaping the market landscape while accelerating progress toward our national objectives.”

The event further underscored the transformative impact of infrastructure initiatives. Mireille Azzam Vidjen, Head of Consulting for the Middle East and Africa at JLL, highlighted Riyadh’s transit revolution. She detailed the Riyadh Metro, a $22.5 billion investment encompassing 176 kilometers, six lines, and 84 stations, providing extensive geographic coverage, with a depth of 9.8 km per 100 sq. km. This strategic development generates significant TOD opportunities, with properties in proximity potentially commanding a 20-30 percent premium. JLL emphasized the importance of implementing climate-responsive last-mile solutions to enhance mobility and accessibility, particularly given Riyadh’s extreme temperatures.

Gaurav Mathur, Head of Data Centers at JLL, emphasized the rapid expansion of the Kingdom’s AI infrastructure, signaling a critical area for technological investment and innovation.

Focusing on the construction sector, Maroun Deeb, Head of Projects and Development Services, KSA at JLL, explained that the industry is actively navigating complexities such as skilled labor availability, material costs, and supply chain dynamics.

He highlighted the adoption of Building Information Modeling as a key driver for enhancing operational efficiency and project delivery.