Qatar, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), adheres to global trade norms, emphasizing equitable trade practices and transparent policies (OBG, 2022). Qatar promotes regional unity and maintains connections with multiple Arab League nations. As a participant in the GCC, Qatar adheres to the GCC Common Customs Law enacted in 2002 and abides by the unified customs tariff of 5% established in 2003 (Al-Azzeh, 2022). GCC’s arrangement streamlines foreign goods flow, allowing citizens unrestricted travel, work, residence, investment, and engagement in retail and wholesale trade across all member countries, including Qatar. (Katzman, 2018). Qatar’s participation in these organizations reflects its commitment to transparent and equitable global trade.
Qatar boasted a total export and import amounting to $130 billion and $33 billion in 2022 (TR, 2022). Qatar’s key exports, including nitrogenous fertilizers and petroleum products, are primarily shipped to Singapore, China, India, Japan, and South Korea, while major imports such as Gold and Broadcasting Equipment are predominantly sourced from India, the United Kingdom, the United States, China, and the United Arab Emirates (WB, 2022). Qatar is bolstering trade initiatives by improving governance, digital transparency, and implementing plans for a unified electronic customs system, revised foreign investment laws, an investment promotion agency, refined free zone regulations, and enhanced intellectual property governance, all with an emphasis on limiting barriers (WTO, 2021). Qatar has a stable political environment which enables the interrelationship between Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to be of high context and this allows a mutual trust between the nations.
Figure 19: Qatar’s Imports and Exports from 1994-2021
