Gulf Times Business
CEO of Qatar Free Zones Authority meets ambassador of Panama
Signs of Iran war coming to an end had its reflection on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE), which yesterday saw its key index surge as much as 145 points and capitalisation add in excess of QR9bn. A higher than average demand in the banking counter led...
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QSE sees domestic funds extend strong buying support
The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) yesterday saw strong buying interests of domestic institutions but overall it closed in the negative, snapping two consecutive days of bullish spell. Opening the market strong, reaching an intraday high of 10,564 points,...
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Qatar takes part in Arab financial institutions’ annual meetings
The State of Qatar participated at the joint annual meetings of Arab financial institutions for 2026, held virtually on Monday, reports QNA. Ministry of Finance’s Deputy Undersecretary for Economic Affairs Dr Saud bin Abdullah al-Attiyah, led the...
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ICAI Doha Chapter hosts session on ‘Transforming Profession in Digital Era’
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) Doha Chapter conducted an online session on ‘Transforming Profession in Digital Era’ with the participation of around 100 members. Chairperson Arun Somanath opened the session and highlighted the...
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QCB issues Ijara sukuk on behalf of Ministry Finance
The Qatar Central Bank (QCB) issued on Thursday government Ijara Sukuk on behalf of the Ministry of Finance, with a total value of QR2.5bn, reports QNA. The QCB explained that the sukuk maturities vary as QR1.25bn (tap issuance) with a maturity date of...
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Mannai Corporation revenues jump 29% to QR1.3bn in Q1
Mannai Corporation has reported revenues ofQR1.3bn in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026, representing a year-on-year 29% increase. Gross profit rose by 8.1% to QR188mn in the review period. The group earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and...
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Al Mahhar Holding Q1 net profit jumps 17.7% to QR15.1mn
Al Mahhar Holding Company, one of the leading services and specialised products providers to the energy and infrastructure sectors in Qatar, has reported net profit of QR15.1mn in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026, a 17.7% increase on an annualised...
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Milaha reports Q1 net profit of QR297mn
Qatar Navigation (Milaha) has announced a net profit of QR297mn for the first three months of 2026. In the same period last year, Milaha’s net profit stood at QR374mn. The company also reported earnings per share of QR0.26 in Q1 2026, compared to...
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Estithmar subsidiary to pick 49% stake in Syria’s Shahba Bank
The Qatar Stock Exchange-listed Estithmar Holding has signed an agreement to invest in Shahba Bank through its subsidiary Estithmar Capital. Under the deal concluded in Damascus, Masaref Holding, a subsidiary of Estithmar Capital, will take a 49%...
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Meta to cut 10% of jobs in push for efficiency
President Donald Trump unveiled a sweeping program of tariffs early last year. “We see a broader trend toward diversification rather than outright de-dollarization, and the data fail to demonstrate broadbased de-dollarization,” JPMorgan’s Chang and...
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QAMCO posts Q1 profit of QR209mn
Qatar Aluminium Manufacturing Company (QAMCO), a 50% joint venture (JV) partner in Qatar Aluminium Company (Qatalum), reported a net profit of QR209mn for the first three months of 2026, with earnings per share (EPS) of QR0.037. QAMCO’s Q1 net profit...
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Nakilat records Q1 net profit of QR439mn
Nakilat achieved a net profit of QR439mn in the first quarter (Q1) compared to QR433mn the previous year. “Despite the geopolitical challenges faced by Nakilat during Q1 2026, the company was able to maintain its operational performance and take...
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Doha could see revival of IPOs, listings in energy sector, post war: KPMG in Qatar
Doha, which has been relatively “more resilient and stable”, could see the revival of initial public offerings or IPOs/listing in the energy sectors in the medium-tolong term in the post Iran-war scenario, according to KPMG in Qatar. The country could...
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Qatar industry leaders invited to global halal expo in Malaysia
Driven by a shared commitment to economic prosperity and sustainable development, bilateral trade between Malaysia and Qatar continues to demonstrate enduring resilience and dynamic growth, Badrul Hisham Hilal, Trade commissioner, Malaysia External...
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WEEKLY REVIEW
Brighter prospects of another round of talks between the US and Iran to diffuse war had positively reflected on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE), which closed this week on a positive note. The telecom, industrials, banking and real estate counters...
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Real estate trading exceeds QR777mn in one week
has included vacant land, residences, residential buildings, commercial shops, administrative offices, a commercial building, and residential units. Sales were concentrated in the municipalities of Doha, Al Rayyan, Al Wakrah, Al Daayen, Umm Salal, Al...
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What to know about the US blockade of Strait of Hormuz
Frustrated by Iran’s unwillingness to give up its stranglehold over the Strait of Hormuz, US President Donald Trump is trying to force the issue. The US military announced that it had imposed a full blockage of Iran’s southern coastline, including...
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QSE sees 70% stocks extend gains as index edges up
Investors factored in “an openness to dialogue” in the Iran war as the Qatar Stock Exchange yesterday gained more than 66 points to settle near 10,700 levels and capitalisation add in excess of QR5bn. The transport, consumer goods, industrials, real...
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Opec lowers Q2 global oil demand forecast on Iran war
Opec on Monday lowered its forecast for world oil demand in the second quarter by 500,000 barrels per day, the producer group’s monthly oil report showed in its first public assessment of the Iran war’s impact on the market. Opec sees a smaller hit to...
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Oil-rich Latin America lures traders navigating war jitters
Latin American assets have emerged as a haven for emerging-market investors trying to navigate an increasingly volatile global backdrop, buoyed by a roster of oil exporters and greater insulation from tensions in the Middle East. Currencies across the...
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Russia seen to offer sanctioned LNG to energy-hungry Asia at a discount
Russia is seeking to leverage a global natural gas supply crunch to lure energy-starved South Asia into purchasing shipments from its US-sanctioned facilities, according to people familiar with the matter. The shipments were being offered at a 40%...
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Wars impose deep and prolonged economic costs on countries, says IMF research
Wars cause large and persistent economic losses in countries where fighting takes place, with output declining by roughly 7% over five years on average, and economic scars lasting for more than a decade, the International Monetary Fund said in research...
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EM assets climb as traders hunt for winners
Emerging market (EM) stocks climbed on Tuesday, cruising towards their third consecutive session of gains as investors weary of the relentless headlines from the Middle East picked winners selectively. Repeated false dawns and harsh rhetoric from both...
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QFCRA launches refreshed brand identity
combined ratios signals that insurers are likely to sustain underwriting profitability in the medium term,” the analyst said. Qatar Insurance reported 100% net combined ratio, QLM 99%, Doha Insurance 89%, Al Koot 86%, Al Khaleej Takaful 86%, Beema...
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QSE mirrors regional sentiments as index loses 67 points
The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) yesterday saw about 40% of the stocks extend gains but overall it settled in the negative. The market, which touched an intraday low of 10,148 points, managed to regain some lost grounds to finally settle at 10,160.38...
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FIATA seminar via Qatar Chamber initiative examines global shipping risks
The International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA), at the invitation of Qatar Chamber, recently organised a webinar on ‘Middle East Security Situation: Managing Legal, Insurance, and Operational Risks in Times of Disruption’. The...
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Al-Kaabi meets UK secretary of state for energy security
HE the Minister of State for Energy Affairs Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi met yesterday with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero of the United Kingdom, Ed Miliband, reports QNA. Discussions during the meeting, which was held virtually,...
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‘Qatar becoming a strategic tech hub’
Qatar is becoming a strategic hub as it combines political stability, financial strength with a clear vision for the future, says Licorne Gulf founder Irina Duisimbekova. Excerpts from the interview: How do you see Qatar’s position in the global...
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Premiums surge, runs cut as war disrupts naphtha supply to Asia
Cut off from Middle East naphtha due to the Iran war, Asian producers of plastics and packaging face surging premiums that are already hitting output at petrochemical plants. Benchmark prices for first-half May cargoes soared to around $1,300 a ton on...
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GTA issues clarifications on capital gains tax exemption for corporate restructuring
The General Tax Authority (GTA) has announced official clarifications on capital gains tax in the State of Qatar, introducing an exemption for gains arising from intra-group restructuring, in a move aimed at supporting the investment environment. In a...
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Japan allows more coal-fired power to cope with energy shock
Japan will allow more use of coal-fired power plants in an effort to boost security of supply to cope with the energy shock from the war in the Middle East. The country will let less-efficient coal facilities take part in capacity market auctions in...
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Qatar industrial sector PPI falls 14.90% in January
flat. On a year-on-year basis, the Mining and Quarrying PPI for January 2026 decreased by 18.23% compared to January 2025. This decline was mainly due to a 18.25% decrease in Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas, and a 0.10% decrease in Other Mining and...
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War knocks global economy with shock to growth, prices
The world economy’s first signs of a synchronized shock emerged in business surveys revealing how the Iran war’s fallout is crippling growth momentum and stoking prices. Multiple purchasing manager indexes compiled by S&P Global for March showed...
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JPMorgan shifts EA buyout debt mix, boosts loan to $5bn
Wall Street banks led by JPMorgan Chase & Co have amended the debt package for the buyout of video game maker Electronic Arts Inc, increasing the size of a US dollar loan offering to $5bn. The lender group boosted the loan by $1bn, while reducing the...
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Shockwave of war is rippling through the global economy
The global economy’s first collective health check since war broke out in the Middle East will arrive in the form of business surveys from the US to the euro zone. Every purchasing manager index for which Bloomberg collects estimates is anticipated to...
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Iran war rattles the global aluminium supply chain
The US-Israeli war on Iran is now in its third week and its impact on Gulf aluminium production and exports is accelerating disruption across an already fragmented physical supply chain. Two Gulf smelters are curtailing capacity, and the continued...
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Qatar’s Consumer Price Index rises 2.51% year-on-year in February
Qatar’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose to 110.60 points in February 2026, marking an increase of 0.64% compared to January 2026 and a year-on-year rise of 2.51% compared with February 2025. The index, which measures inflation, comprises 12 main groups...
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Emergency stockpile oil coming soon to markets: IEA
More than 400mn barrels of oil from International Energy Agency emergency reserves will begin flowing soon, the agency said in its most detailed account of the rollout of the plan to combat a spike in crude prices since the start of the Iran...
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India asks China for urea cargoes as gas crunch hits plants
Al Mirqab Capital Co; Ali Hussain Ibrahim Alfardan, Alfardan Investment Co; Ali Yousef Hussein Kamal; and Khalifa Hussein al Naama. The following were appointed as reserve members: Abdulaziz Mohammed Hamad Abdullah al-Mana, on behalf of Al Mana...
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Iraq to keep crude output at 1.4mn bpd amid war disruption, says minister
Iraq will keep crude oil production at around 1.4mn barrels per day, Oil Minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani was quoted as saying on Thursday, less than a third of the level before the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. According to the state news agency, the...
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Barwa Real Estate developing comprehensive strategic plan for 2026 in next phase of growth
Barwa Real Estate Group has developed a comprehensive strategic plan for 2026, structured around three fundamental pillars, outlining next phase of growth. “The plan seeks to secure sustainable returns, optimise shareholder value, and support the...
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Why New Zealanders are moving to Australia in droves
For decades, moving “across the ditch” to Australia has been an easy option for New Zealanders seeking higher pay and broader prospects. There’s no visa required and it’s just a quick, three-hour flight separating the two countries. The steady flow —...
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Airports demonstrate strong operational adaptability
Gulf airports have repeatedly demonstrated strong resilience and operational adaptability during periods of disruption, Stefano Baronci, director general, ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East, has said. Baronci explained, “During the Covid-19 crisis, for...
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UDC shareholders approve 5.5% cash dividend
United Development Company (UDC), a leading Qatari public shareholding company and the master developer of The Pearl and Gewan Islands, held its annual general assembly where shareholders approved 5.5% cash dividend equivalent to QR194.7mn. The...
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Russia seen prepared to divert oil to India as conflict disrupts flows
Russia is ready to divert oil to India to offset Middle East supply disruptions, with about 9.5mn barrels of Russian crude in vessels near Indian waters and able to arrive within weeks, an industry source with direct knowledge told Reuters. The source...
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IEA ready to stabilise oil market hit by Iran war, says document
The International Energy Agency is ready to help stabilize the global oil market in the wake of the Iran conflict, noting that member countries hold over 1bn barrels in emergency stockpiles, according to a document prepared by the agency and seen by...
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Hopes for Suez Canal revival dashed by new Middle East conflict
Shippers are once again avoiding the Suez Canal as the US and Israel are locked in a war with Iran, dashing hopes of an imminent revival for the key global trade conduit that’s a pillar of the Egyptian economy. AP Moller-Maersk A/S, Hapag-Lloyd AG and...
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Hedge funds hike bullish oil bets to 22-month high on Iran risks
Hedge funds turned the most bullish on Brent crude since April 2024 as investors grew more concerned that US military action in the Middle East could be imminent and disrupt oil supplies flowing out of the region. Money managers increased their...
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Aramco revs up gas boom as $100bn Jafurah field starts
Saudi Aramco started production from the largest single shale gas field outside of North America in December, as it looks for alternative supplies to meet growing local electricity demand and free up crude oil for exports. The Saudi government-run...
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QNB Group earns 5 accolades at 2026 Sustainable Finance Awards
QNB Group has secured five awards, including Overall Best Bank for Sustainable Finance in the Middle East, at the annual Global Finance Sustainable Finance Awards, reinforcing its leadership in advancing responsible banking and sustainable growth...
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MPHC plans QR770mn investment over next five years
Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding Company (MPHC) is planning to invest QR770mn in capital expenditures over the next five years, it was announced during MPHC’s Annual General Assembly, presided over by its chairman, Ahmad Saif al-Sulaiti. During the...
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QSE sees 59% of stocks end in red
Reflecting the growing US-Iran tensions, the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) yesterday opened the week weak with its key index losing as much as 68 points and capitalisation erode in excess of QR4bn. The Gulf institutions were seen net profit takers as the...
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Qatar Chamber holds course on entrepreneurship, legal protection
Qatar Chamber recently organised a two-day specialised training course on ‘Entrepreneurship and Legal Protection of Emerging Establishments from Idea to Liquidation’. The course, which gathered several entrepreneurs, project owners, and individuals...
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Dell Technologies and Ooredoo in pact to advance AI innovation, deepen cooperation
SMEs, contributing to more efficient business processes and strengthening the digital maturity of participating SMEs. The programme also offered a wide range of innovative digital solutions and exclusive offers, through the implementation of 94...
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TotalEnergies appoints Antoine Delafargue as country chair and managing director for exploration and production in Qatar
support of achieving long-term corporate sustainability objectives and reinforcing the responsibility towards the environment and society, he said. Within an increasingly dynamic and rapidly evolving business environment, Milaha has demonstrated a...
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Qatar Chamber invited to visit Iowa to explore opportunities
Qatar Chamber first vice-chairman Mohamed bin Towar al-Kuwari held a meeting with David Hamod, president and CEO of the National American Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC), at the chamber’s Lusail headquarters yesterday. They discussed economic...
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