New business registrations in the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) increased by 37% in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period last year, despite ongoing regional conflicts.
The QFC onboarded a total of 1,135 companies from January to June, raising the cumulative total to over 4,700, as reported by the state-run Qatar News Agency.
Tech Leads Entrant Surge
The technology and innovation sector led the surge with 544 new registrations, while the media and entertainment sector followed with 173. Consulting and professional services accounted for 166 new companies, with the wealth sector adding 84 and fintech contributing 65 new registrations.
This growth was significantly driven by the Web Summit Qatar 2026, which generated approximately 2,300 business licensing applications, an increase of 44% from 2025.
REIT Fund Comes Online
The first half of 2026 witnessed the registration of Qatar’s inaugural real estate investment trust (REIT) collective investment fund. The QFC provides a unique legal and regulatory framework that supports up to 100% foreign ownership, full repatriation of profits, and a corporate tax rate of 10% on locally sourced profits.
This trend of robust business registration in Qatar aligns with broader developments across the region. In July, Dubai’s DIFC reported a 30% uptick in registered companies, surpassing 10,000 by the end of the first half of 2026.
ADGM noted that active licences exceeded 13,300 following the registration of 961 companies in H1 of FY26.
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