ع
The Qatar Investment Authority said in a statement that Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani unveiled Doha Investment at the Qatar Economic Forum in New York. The platform will serve as the dedicated manager for the sovereign wealth fund’s local holdings while seeking to build national champions in non-hydrocarbon sectors through active ownership and partnerships. It will also aim to widen private sector participation, support privatisation and deepen capital markets as part of broader diversification goals.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, who will chair the new entity, stated, “Through this platform, we aim to expand the role of the private sector in driving Qatar’s economic growth. It will support our strongest companies, help emerging businesses grow, deepen capital markets and attract international capital and expertise to contribute to this effort.” The structure operates with its own board, managing director and governance framework separate from the QIA’s international activities.
At launch the portfolio includes more than 40 companies that extend to more than 80 markets worldwide, according to the Qatar Investment Authority. Among them are Qatar Airways Group, QNB Group, Ooredoo Group, Qatari Diar, Katara Hospitality and Hassad Food, which together compete globally while generating domestic value. The holdings span financial services, transport and logistics, telecommunications and technology, real estate, hospitality as well as food and agriculture.
A Reuters report citing industry estimates placed the domestic portfolio at roughly one-third of the QIA’s total assets, with the fund’s overall size assessed by Global SWF at around $580 billion. Sheikh Faisal bin Thani Al Thani, the minister of commerce and industry, will serve as managing director and vice-chairman of Doha Investment. He told the forum the step represented a consolidation of existing efforts that had been under review for more than a decade.
The initiative aligns with the priorities outlined in Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy, both of which call for reduced reliance on hydrocarbons and greater private sector dynamism, the statement added. It will additionally target the creation of new champions in clusters such as advanced technologies, supply chains and healthcare while developing local talent and fostering innovation. The launch occurs as Qatar continues to navigate global energy market shifts, including recent pressures on LNG revenues.
The Qatar Investment Authority was established in 2005 with an initial focus on deploying capital abroad but has expanded its domestic role in recent years by scaling up leading local firms, according to a Reuters assessment. Doha Investment will now centralise oversight of those holdings to drive long-term performance and competitiveness. Its formation reflects ongoing adjustments in sovereign wealth management to match evolving national economic objectives.
