The QFC Authority is focusing on the creation of a global business hub for three core markets – Asset Management, Reinsurance and Captive Insurance.    With the fastest growing economy in one of the world’s fastest emerging markets, this targeted three hub strategy seeks to leverage Qatar’s unique strengths and development opportunities providing access to emerging market returns at developed market risk.  The QFC Authority is now acting as an effective enabler of these three hubs in addition to supporting the broader development of the financial services sector, including banking and capital markets, in Qatar.  Since its inception in 2005, the QFC Authority has issued over 130 licences to firms looking to base themselves in Qatar whilst providing on-going industry support and representation.

The insurance sector in Qatar is one of the fastest growing in the world.  The QFC Authority is seeking to position Qatar as the pre-eminent Captive Insurance centre between Europe and South Asia with the future goal to be one of the top 20 financial hubs worldwide.  We are also actively striving to position the QFC as a major hub for reinsurance in the region where current low insurance premium penetration rates, coupled with high cession rates to international reinsurers, suggest the potential of the industry to grow significantly over the next few years.  With the ability to write all forms of insurance, QFC not only offers companies access to new business in Qatar but also across the region as a whole.
The potential of Qatar’s growing Asset Management hub is also huge.  The GCC market is benefiting from strong liquidity as a result of high oil and gas revenues, a growing maturity among investors, increasing government investment and the development of a world class regulatory regime. 

Our three hub strategy and long term vision continues to cement Qatar’s position as a conduit for financial services in the region.  All three hub sectors share scope for huge growth potential not only in the domestic market but also through the use of Qatar as a powerful regional base for expansion into the GCC and beyond into the wider Middle East, North and Sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian sub-continent. The QFC Authority’s goal is to build a world class financial services marketplace in Qatar benefiting all participants, both domestic and international.