05/08/2026 03:22 AST
Driven by sustained domestic demand, consumer products generated "3,671" new jobs in 2025, taking the lead in employment creation within Qatar's foreign direct investment (FDI) ecosystem.
Data from Invest Qatar's 2025 Annual Report show that employment generated by foreign investments hit "15,051" last year, up "59.1%" from "9,458" in 2024. Food and beverages (F&B) added "2,697" jobs, while software and IT services supplied "1,497" positions. Business services and textiles accounted for "1,056" and "930" jobs, respectively, as the top five sectors provided "9,851" positions overall.
The employment surge reflects broader momentum across Qatar's investment pipeline, which expanded total FDI capital expenditure to "$3.4bn" across "373" recorded projects in 2025, up from "$2.75bn" across "245" projects in 2024, according to the annual report.
Industrial growth remained anchored by the chemicals sector, which captured the largest share of capital deployment at "$956.6mn," or "28.1%" of total capital outlay. Software and IT services secured "$391.3mn," representing an "11.5%" share, while consumer products drew "$253.2mn."
The report stated that energy projects within coal, oil, and natural gas pulled in "$200.3mn," while F&B recorded "$171.8mn" in capital commitments.
In terms of project volumes, consumer products led with "73" projects, followed by business services at "58," F&B at "49," software and IT services at "47," and textiles at "30." Together, these five sectors generated "257" projects, representing "69%" of the total recorded investment count.
Direct greenfield investments remained the primary driver of market expansion, accounting for "$2.1bn" of total capital expenditure across "223" projects, according to the report. Reinvestments reached "$673.5mn" across "13" projects, new forms of investment totalled "$391.3mn" across "132" projects, and mergers and acquisitions registered "$245.8mn" across five deals.
Geographically, the top five source countries by project volume were the US with "53" projects, the UK with "37," the UAE with "36," China with "23," and France with "20," representing a combined "55.7%" share of all announcements.
By capital contribution, the UAE led all origin markets with "$814.8mn," or "24%" of the total expenditure. France generated "$617.6mn," followed by the US at "$587.2mn," Saudi Arabia at "$288.6mn," and the UK at "$221.9mn," the report stated.
Combined regional capital from the UAE and Saudi Arabia reached $1.103bn, accounting for 32.5% of total foreign direct investment, while broader international markets delivered the remaining $2.295bn, the report added.
Gulf Times
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