The Qatar Financial Center (QFC), a leading onshore financial and business hub, recorded a 64 percent year-on-year increase in company registrations during the first half of 2025, signaling strong investor confidence in Qatar’s economic landscape.
Between January and June 2025, 828 new firms registered with QFC, nearly surpassing its total registrations for the year 2024. This brings the total number of firms operating under the QFC platform to 3,300 as of June 2025.
QFC’s regulated entities also delivered notable results, with corporate and investment banks driving a 19 percent year-on-year growth in Assets Under Management (AUM), highlighting the strength and appeal of Qatar’s financial ecosystem.
Read: More than 4,000 benefit from Qatar’s tax exemptions worth $247 million, says tax authority
Strategic reforms drive growth
The strong H1 performance follows a series of market-friendly reforms introduced by QFC to streamline market entry and attract global business.
Key initiatives included:
- A 90 percent reduction in application fees for business licensing
- Instant legal entity formation and licensing for non-regulated activities
- Simplified incorporation processes to lower barriers for new market entrants
These steps have significantly enhanced QFC’s value proposition for global entrepreneurs and investors looking to establish a presence in the region.
Robust event participation and investor outreach
In the first half of 2025, QFC hosted and participated in over 15 major events, positioning itself as a key player in regional and global economic discourse. Highlights included:
- Third Annual Qatar Financial Market Forum (powered by Bloomberg Intelligence)
- Qatar Family Office Showcase
- QFC & Morgan Stanley Economic Workshop
- Digital Assets Policy Roundtable (held alongside the Qatar Economic Forum)
- Qatar Islamic Finance Forum
QFC also made a strong impression on the international stage through its presence at global events such as the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos and the Qatar Web Summit, where it saw a particularly sharp uptick in registrations.
Between February and June 2025, 566 firms registered with QFC through the Web Summit, up from 358 during the previous year’s edition.
Expanding global partnerships
To support its focus sectors and promote cross-border investment, QFC signed several strategic agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with prominent global organizations, including:
- Qatar National Bank (QNB)
- German Mittelstand GCC
- Gulf Capital Market Association (GCMA)
- Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB)
- Rwanda Development Board (RDB)
- Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI)
- Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC)
- Financial Services Development Council (FSDC)
- Ashmore Group
Additional agreements included a Head of Terms with Hang Seng Indexes Company Limited (HSIL) and a service agreement with The View Hospital, enhancing QFC’s service capabilities and regional collaboration.
Innovation and digital transformation
Furthering its commitment to innovation, QFC continued to advance initiatives under its Innovation Dome. In the first half of 2025:
Thirty three new firms joined the Digital Assets Lab, collaborating on projects in Islamic finance, tokenized deposits, real estate tokenization, and blockchain-based rewards systems.
The QFC Metaverse was officially launched — an immersive digital platform designed for business engagement, collaboration, and innovation. It now serves as a virtual hub for networking, showcasing emerging technologies, and hosting expert-led sessions and workshops.
Commenting on QFC’s impressive growth, Yousuf Mohamed Al-Jaida, CEO of QFC, stated: “We are pleased to see positive results from our ongoing efforts to enhance Qatar’s business ecosystem and drive progress across sectors.
“Our focus remains on fostering an environment that attracts diverse businesses and supports sustainable growth. With this growth momentum, we continue to reinforce Qatar’s position as a leading hub for innovation and investment in the region.”
The QFC’s strong H1 performance, combined with structural reforms, international partnerships, and digital innovation, continues to reinforce the business hub’s position as a preferred gateway for organizations looking to access the Qatari market and the wider region.
