Economy:

• The economy of Qatar is expected to witness moderate growth in 2020, with real GDP recording 2.2% increase in 2020, post a rise of 0.9% in 2019 underpinned by healthy government consumption and the operation of the Barzan gas facility. Additionally, the investment into the expansion of the North Field gas project is projected to boost growth.
• The real value of private consumption witnessed an increase of 3.0% in 2019, with similar growth forecast for 2020. Consumer spending is supported by rising wages and the government’s sizeable fiscal injection into the economy.
• Real GDP growth in 2021 is expected to be at 2.5%, then dipping to about 1.6% per year by 2027. While the aim to increase Liquified Natural Gas production by 30.0% over the next four years will boost growth, lower hydrocarbon prices, delayed implementation of key fiscal measures, tighter global conditions, and an escalation of the diplomatic rift are factors for the slowdown.
   

Population demographics:

• The population of Qatar stood at 2.8 million in 2019, representing an astonishing increase as the number was only at 301,000 in 1980. Furthermore, by 2030, that number is expected to reach 3.4 million.
• Population growth is mainly driven by a high level of immigration, with over 80.0% of residents and 90.0% of the labour force from a foreign background.
• The median age in 2019 stood higher than the regional average at 33.5 years. Additionally, the fertility rate has also declined by more than half since 1980 to 1.8 births per female in 2019. This indicator is expected to decrease further to 1.6 births per female by 2030.
   

Income & expenditure:

• The savings ratio in Qatar is almost twice the regional average, representing 11.7% of disposable income, with an increase of 11.2% expected in 2020.
• Consumer expenditure per capita in 2019 was recorded at US$17,483 and is expected to grow by 2.0% in real terms by 2020. For the period 2020-2030, total consumer expenditure is expected to grow at an annual rate of 2.2%, increasing by a cumulative value of 23.9%.
• In 2019, disposable income per capita amounted to US$17,459, with a growth of 1.5% expected in 2020. During the period 2020-2030, total disposable income is expected to increase by a cumulative value of 23.7%, averaging 2.2% annually.

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Top 5 Export Commodities To Qatar

Authorized Government Agency(s):

Qatar is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) that includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia. Gulf Standards Organization (GSO) is responsible for developing food and non food standards in the GCC. Once a new standard is approved by the GSO food standards committee, each member country officially adopts the standard, thus making it a national standard as well as a GSO standard. 

Ministry of Public Health monitors imported foods.

Agency(s) Contact Information:

GCC Standardization Organization (GSO)
Riyadh - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
AlGadeer - Olaya Street
P.O.Box 85245 Riyadh 11691
Phone: (+96611) 2746655
Fax: (+96611) 2105391
Email: csc@gso.org.sa
Website

Ministry of Public Health
Port Health and Food Control
PO Box 42
Doha
Qatar
Phone: 44070226
Fax: 44070820
Email: port.health@sch.gov.qa
Website 

Name(s) of Regulation and/or Standard:

GSO 2374:2014 Guidelines for the Production, Processing, Labelling and Marketing of Organically Produced Foods

Regulation and/or Standard Scope:

The standard applies to unprocessed plants and plant products, livestock and livestock products, and processed agricultural crop and livestock products intended for human consumption. A product will be regarded as bearing indications referring to organic production methods where, in the labelling or claims, including advertising material or commercial documents, the product, or its ingredients, is described by the terms “organic”, “biodynamic”, “biological”, “ecological”, or words of similar intent including diminutives which, in the country where the product is placed on the market, suggests to the purchaser that the product or its ingredients were obtained according to organic production methods.

GCC Guide for Control on Imported Foods is useful for all food imports.

Nutritional facts must appear in the Arabic language on product packaging. See Qatar Implementation of GSO Regulation on Nutritional Labeling (2017).

USDA GAIN Report Exporter Guide Annual Report for the United Arab Emirates (2015)

USDA GAIN Report United Arab Emirates Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards - Narrative (2014)

USDA GAIN Report Qatar Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards - Certification (2013)

USDA GAIN Report Qatar Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards - Narrative (2012)