After a World Cup made unforgettable by construction worker controversy and the glory of Messi, tourism in Qatar has set a high‑water mark: more than five million arrivals in 2024 and hotel occupancy near 70%. Locals, meanwhile, are at work: Doha is #1 in both Labor Force Participation and Unemployment Rate, meaning there’s lots of the former and little of the latter. Hamad International’s new D and E concourses lift capacity past 65 million, with new contact gates and luxury retail around the biophilic Orchard. Retail follows suit: Doha Mall soft‑opened in Abu Hamour in late 2024, with Najma’s Avenue Mall ready soon. Up in Lusail, the City of the Future, Meryal Waterpark attracts families to Qetaifan Island’s beaches, marina and the Icon Tower, the world’s tallest waterslide.
Investors are diving in. Qatar drew about $2.74 billion in FDI across 241 greenfield projects in 2024, creating more than 9,000 jobs, while Free Zones added distribution hubs serving ecommerce and light manufacturing. Hospitality-wise, Andaz Doha brought a 306‑key tower of rooms and residences to West Bay in February 2025, and Rosewood Doha opened on Lusail Marina in July. The cultural flywheel spins faster in 2026 with the debut of Art Basel Qatar at M7 in Msheireb’s Design District – a signal to creatives and brands in the MENA region.