Qatar’s industrial engine kept humming through the year, buoyed by a slate of initiatives aimed at widening the economy’s base, tightening quality standards, and pulling manufacturing further into the spotlight under the National Vision 2030.
A snapshot shared by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry pointed to a year of steady gains. The industrial sector’s contribution to the economy climbed to QR27 billion, while non-hydrocarbon industrial exports reached QR29.8 billion—clear signals of momentum beyond oil and gas.
One of the standout developments was the rollout of the National Product Platform, a digital showcase for locally made goods. By the third quarter of 2025, the number of nationally produced items listed had risen to 2,135, up from 2,015 a year earlier, reflecting both broader participation and growing output.
On the ground, the manufacturing landscape expanded as well. Factory numbers continued their upward march, rising from 929 in 2023 to 993 in 2024, reinforcing the picture of a sector steadily adding capacity.
Efforts to promote homegrown manufacturing were also carried into the marketplace through initiatives such as National Product Week, which spotlights Qatari-made goods and works to sharpen their competitiveness across local and regional markets.
Regulatory reform featured prominently too. New technical standards on food shelf life were adopted, anchoring expiry periods in scientific evidence and international best practice. The move is designed to strengthen food safety, boost consumer confidence, cut unnecessary waste, and give the market room to accommodate a wider range of products.
Beyond industry-specific measures, the ministry reported broader progress in the business environment. Qatar secured a place among the world’s top ten economies in the 2025 Global Competitiveness Report and ranked fifth globally for business efficiency. Foreign investor interest followed suit, with 2,911 foreign companies established in the first half of 2025—an increase of 163 percent compared to the previous year.
These advances are tied to longer-term planning. The ministry’s 2024–2030 strategy, aligned with the Third National Development Strategy, is being carried forward through the National Manufacturing Strategy 2024–2030. That framework includes 15 major initiatives and more than 60 development projects aimed at lifting industrial productivity, expanding non-hydrocarbon exports, and improving Qatar’s standing on global industrial competitiveness indices.
At its core, the manufacturing push places sustainability, diversification, and small and medium enterprise growth at the center of policy—positioning Qatar not just as a producer, but as an emerging hub for manufacturing excellence with an eye on the long game.
