Qatar: Doing business and staying in touch

Doing Business in Qatar

Politeness and patience are key ingredients for successful business interaction. A first meeting may well focus more on polite, personal questions – family, travel arrangements etc, before moving on to business matters in a second meeting. It is customary to exchange gifts when meeting a Qatari business associate for the first time. Traditional perfume is a popular choice but never give alcohol.

Office Hours

Sun to Thu 0700-1530. Government offices work between 0700-1400. Hours may be reduced during the holy month of Ramadan.

Economy

In a world of faltering economies, Qatar has continued to prosper, featuring as one of the top three countries with the highest GDP per capita regularly.

While agriculture is limited by climate and water resources, the Qatari government has bolstered its revenues from oil and natural gas and sought to diversify through industrialisation.

GDP

US$191.4 billion (2018).

Main exports

Oil and gas.

Main imports

Consumer goods, machinery and food.

Main trading partners

The USA, China, Germany, Japan.

Keeping in Touch in Qatar

Telephone

There are no area codes.

Mobile Phone

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone operators. Network coverage across the country is excellent.

Internet

Wi-Fi is widely available.

Media

The Qatari media industry is most famous for the TV News channel Al-Jazeera, which launched in 1996.

Post

Airmail to Europe takes up to one week.

Sun-Thu 0700-1900, Sat 0800-1100 and 1700-2000.