Press Release          Date: 12/5/2007

The Preeminent Economic and Investment Event in Doha
The Qatar Economic Forum to be Held Under the Patronage of
HH The Emir of Qatar with the Prime Minster of Qatar
as Main Speaker at the Opening Ceremony

1000 Businessmen and Investors
from 28 Countries to Attend the Forum

The city of Doha in Qatar will host one of the largest economic-investment gatherings in the Gulf with the convening of the Qatar Economic Forum on May 21 and 22 under the patronage of HH The Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani.

The forum will be inaugurated on behalf of HH The Emir by the Prime Minister of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Jasim Al-Thani. The opening ceremony will also be attended by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Industry, HE Abdallah Al-Attiyah, the Minister of Finance and Acting Minister of Economy and Commerce HE Yusef Hussein Kamal, and a number of other ministers and senior government officials. More than 1000 high-profile delegates will attend, including business leaders and the heads and senior management of leading financial, investment and banking institutions.

The Forum is organized by the Ministry of Economy and Commerce in Qatar and Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal Group with the cooperation of the Qatar Businessmen’s Association, the strategic partner of the Forum, the Qatar Financial Center.

Main speakers will be headed by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Industry, HE Abdallah Al-Attiyah, the Minister of Finance and Acting Minister of Economy and Commerce, HE Yusef Hussein Kamal and the President of the Qatar Businessmen’s Association Sheikh Faisal bin Qassem bin Faisal Al-Thani. Around 35 officials, business leaders and experts from Qatar and other Gulf and Arab countries will also address the forum and participate in its panel discussions.

Forum participants come from 28 countries including all 18 Arab countries. The largest number, however, are from the other Gulf countries, namely Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and the UAE, as well as from Lebanon and Jordan.

The Topics of the Forum includes: § Future vision of the Qatari Economy: The future reforms; Investments choices of oil and gas surpluses; Facing the inflation resulting from the rapid growth: and The development choices: What are the targeted sectors for development and what are the best means to develop them and transform them into competitive sectors? § Investment Climate and Future Role of the Private Sector: Investment incentives in Qatar; Requirements for investment legal and legislative climate development; Obstacles to investments; and Role of the private sector in promoting investment and enhancing foreign investment § Oil and Gas and Future Choices: Development of oil fields, oil production and related sectors; Future of the gas sector; and Development of basic industries that use gas as raw material § Banking Sector and Financing Opportunities: Performance of the banking sector: strong and weak points; Benefiting from Project finance market: local banks versus foreign banks; and Openness of the banking market and Qatari banks expansion § Future of Qatar as a Regional Financial Center: Prospects and potentials of Qatar as a Financial center in a regional saturated market; Reviewing the control framework in Qatar Financial Center and its achievements; and Opportunities in private banking services and wealth management § Real Estate Development: Orientations and Opportunities: Reality and potentials of the real estate market in Qatar; Mega projects in real estate and urban planning; and Contracting market and expected projects § Infrastructure vision: Development plans for electricity, water and waste water systems; Development plans for the road network and transportation means; and Different stages of the airport and port project

The Forum is sponsored by 40 institutions, authorities and companies in the Gulf and the region. These are:
Qatari Businessmen Association (Strategic Partner); Amwal company (Official Investment Banking Firm); Qatar National Bank, United Development Co. – UDC, Qatari Diar and Energy City (Diamond Sponsors), Barwa Real Estate, Ali Bin Ali Group, Microsoft, Qatar Building Company, Tatweer Infrastructure Company, Al Fardan Group, Gulf Investment Corporation-GIC, Kahra Maa, Aref Investment Group, Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) and Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros. Co. (Platinum Sponsors); Ansbacher, JordInvest, International Bank of Qatar, Qatar Petroleum, Dlala Brokerage Investment Holding Co., Kuwait Financial Center-Markaz, Ahli Bank, Qatar Chamber of Commerce, Al Madar Group, Qatar Development Bank, MZ & Partners, Global Investment House and Gulf Holding Company (Diamond Sponsors); Exxon Mobile and Bank Audi LLC-Qatar (Silver Sponsors); Qatar Airways (Official Carrier), CNN (Media Partner) and Arrayah (Official Newspaper).

On this occasion, the President of the Qatar Businessmen’s Association Sheikh Faisal bin Qassem bin Faisal Al-Thani expressed his conviction that the heavy participation at the Forum reflects an intense interest on the part of the Arab and international business and financial community in the fast paced development of the Qatari economy, the wide range of investment opportunities that it offers, and the welcoming investment environment. It is well known that Qatar has posted record economic growth in recent years on the strength of a well-studied use of its substantial oil and natural gas resources.