Gerd Bommer, Advantage Austria Doha, 16.11.2014

QATAR

Recent Developments

1.0

GDP comes in higher than forecasted (~ 6 – 7 %)

Exports stagnate since 2012 (forecasted to fall)

Inflation statistical 3 - 4 %, sensed inflation by population? (Housing + 10 %)

LNG prices from high of USD 21,73 USD 13 (- 40 %)

EIU estimates fiscal budget balance 2019/20 at - 0,9 %

Population

2,215.500 October 2014 (250.000 Qataris) 200.000 increase over October 2013 (+ 9,93 %) 29.000 increase in October 2014 alone (+ 1,33 %)

Market Cap Qatar Stock Exchange QAR 736 bio., doubled within 4 years

World Bank Doing Business Report (Qatar down 5 spots to 50, when 100

countries improved their ease of doing business, UAE ranks 22nd)

Statistics & Figures

1.0

Mesaieed Deep Sea Harbor in time and in budget (to be operational 2016)

Hamad International Airport opened on May 27 2014, major expansion planned

Malls (Alateeda Mall, Doha Festival City, Doha Mall, Mall of Qatar, North Gate

Mall, Barzan Mall, Doha Marina Mall, 5 Shopping Centers, 4 Hypermarkets)

IDRIS (Inner Doha Re-Sewerage Implementation Strategy)

Transport Infrastr. (New Orbital Highway, E-Ring, Lusail Expressway, C-Ring)

Msheireb

Lusail

Hotel Rooms: 60.000, 18.000 existant, realistic? How many to be sustainable?)

Barzan Gas Project (2014/2015), Enhanced Oil Recovery Methods

Projects

1.0

Changes and draft law in assessment, Ministry of Labour & Social

Affairs drafted, Qatar Chamber approved, Shura Council yet has to

approve.

Non-Objection Certificates:

possible work change without NOC after end of temporary contract (new? existing?)

possible work change after 5 years of open-end contract

Exit Permit to be applied for with Immigration Deptartment, possibility

to object by employer within 72 hours, lack of objection => approval

Salary payments to be transferred onto bank accounts

Fines for violations of laws to be raised (regularity of checks?)

Sponsor shall not be liable for financial obligation of sponsored person

Labor Law Changes

1.0

Al Wakrah Stadium: 45.000 seats (20 - 25.000 to be dismantled

after World Cup), Zaha Hadid Design, designer Aecom and project

manager KEO, enabling works finished, construction started by

HBK Contracting

Al Khor Stadium construction works to begin

Khalifa Stadium refurbishment started

Al Rayyan Stadium: 40.000 seats, modular design, designer

Ramboll and project manager Aecom

Lusail Iconic Stadium (86.250 seats), Doha Port Stadium, Qatar

University Stadium, Precinct 5 Stadium

FIFA World Cup 2022

1.0

Contractors completed digging on six metro stations

Ground broken on all stations

First TBM to switch to regular boring

Performance by Austrian companies sets benchmark

Design of Metro stations revealed by Dutch company UNStudio - first phase

39 Metro stations

Systems Tender recommendation to Qatar Rail Executive Committee

submitted by QR CEO/Deputy CEO on October 23rd, award still pending

Metro Doha to be completed in 2019

Eduction City Tram in construction (Siemens, rail cars SGP Werke Vienna)

Lusail Light Rail Transit in construction (QDVC)

Metro Doha

Any questions?

Gerd Bommer, Advantage Austria Doha