Qatar to emerge as Islamic finance hub

Qatar Financial Centre Authority in its first ‘Mena Asset Management Barometer‘ has predicted that Qatar will soon become a “key international distribution hub” for Shariah-compliant products. It suggests that Qatar’s position in the Islamic finance market will be boosted with the development of new infrastructure projects that will help in the growth of alternative fund structures and encourage public-private partnerships. However, the report also highlights that the asset management sector in Qatar is still in its infancy and the alternative sector will need time to develop. Besides, Qatar was also chosen by hedge fund management firms as the most favored location to establish a presence in the GCC.