Approval for draft law to permit full foreign ownership of listed Qatari companies

The most recent announcement to permit full foreign ownership of Qatari companies listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) is a push to attract more foreign direct investment and to underline Qatar’s strong position.

The move may translate into foreign direct investments of QAR 5.5 billion (USD 1.5 billion) into listed Qatari companies according to EFG-Hermes, an international investment bank. Further, EFG-Hermes expects that the proposed law will improve Qatar’s trade relations with third countries.

The removal of limitations on foreign ownership will attract the attention of large international individual and institutional investors. The new market entrants are expected to contribute the economic development in the country and to have a long-term effect on the economy of the State of Qatar.

The move will strengthen the position of Qatari companies listed on the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) and Standard and Poor’s (S&P) emerging markets indices as well as the Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) Russell emerging market index.

Apart from that, several equities on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) will be selected to join mutual funds and Electronic Traded Funds (ETFs). It will have a substantial impact on the Qatari capital markets in general.

Qatar already has one of the most open business environments in the region and the recent game changing reforms in relation to public-private-partnerships and real estate will only improve the competitiveness.

Please click on the link and reach out to learn more about the draft law and the opportunities and possibilities in the State of Qatar as well as Business Start Up Qatar.