QBA, Egyptian Minister Discuss Opportunities in Industry, Tourism, Real Estate and Logistics

The Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) and Egypt’s Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Dr Mohamed Farid Saleh have discussed ways to expand bilateral investment, develop joint projects and strengthen private sector cooperation, with Egypt announcing plans to establish a dedicated department to support Qatari investors.

During a meeting hosted by QBA in the presence of Egypt’s Ambassador to Qatar HE Walid Fahmy Al Faqi, the two sides explored opportunities to deepen economic integration, facilitate investment procedures and address challenges facing businesses in bothmarkets.

The discussions also covered Egypt’s interest in exploring investment opportunities in Qatar through The Sovereign Fund of Egypt, as well as plans to open an office for the fund in Doha to strengthen engagement with Qatari institutions and companies.

Welcoming the Egyptian delegation, QBA Chairman Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani highlighted the potential to expand economic and investment relations between the two countries through long-term partnerships involving theprivate sector.

He said Egypt offered significant investment opportunities, supported by its large domestic market, diversified economic sectors and strategic geographic location. Opportunities exist in productive industries, tourism, services and other sectors,he added.

Sheikh Faisal said Qatari businessmen were keen to expand their investments in Egypt, stressing the importance of providing reliable information on investment opportunities, simplifying procedures and addressing obstacles that could delay project implementation.

He reaffirmed QBA’s commitment to maintaining direct engagement with Egyptian investment authorities and translating the opportunities discussed into concrete projects that benefit both economies.

Dr Saleh highlighted the contribution of Qatari investments to the Egyptian economy and said the country was working to attract further investment by improving its business environment and streamlining procedures.

He announced the establishment of a dedicated department within Egypt’s Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade to handle the affairs of Qatari investors, follow up on their projects and help resolve any challenges they encounter.

The department will provide detailed information on investment opportunities, available land and projects, as well as applicable conditions and requirements. The initiative is intended to help Qatari companies make informed investment decisions and reduce the time and effort required to complete administrative procedures.

The minister also outlined Egypt’s efforts to improve its investment incentives and facilitation framework, identifying industry, tourism, real estate and logistics as areas offering scope for greater cooperation with Qatar’s private sector.

He stressed that bilateral investment relations should develop into a two-way partnership rather than remain limited to the flow of Qatari capital into Egypt. Greater engagement between institutions and businesses in both countries, he said, could unlock opportunities in their domestic markets and across the wider region.

QBA member Sheikh Mansoor bin Jassim Al Thani called for stronger institutional support for Qatari small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking to enter the Egyptian market.

He proposed establishing a specialised office to help SMEs navigate administrative and procedural requirements, obtain information on licensing and land allocation, and understand the relevant legal and regulatory framework.

Such support would enable smaller businesses to assess opportunities more effectively and improve their prospects of establishing sustainable operations in Egypt, he said.

Sheikh Mansoor also welcomed efforts by Egypt’s Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade to develop a clearer investment framework, noting that greater transparency on regulations, procedures and incentives would help facilitate market entry for Qatari companies.

QBA member Sheikh Nayef bin Eid Al Thani highlighted the investment experience of Retaj Investment Group in Egypt, where the group operates six projects in hotel management and commercial centres.

He said the group was looking to expand its presence in Egypt, including through tourism-related real estate development, as demand for hotels, tourism facilities and associated services creates opportunities for further investment.

Sheikh Nayef said integrated tourism and real estate projects could strengthen cooperation between Qatari and Egyptian investors while contributing to the development of Egypt’s tourism infrastructure.

Dr Saleh identified tourism as a priority sector in Egypt’s investment strategy, referring to a study conducted in cooperation with the World Bank on investment opportunities and the sector’s futurerequirements.

He said Egypt aimed to attract 30 million tourists, a target that would require substantial expansion in hotel capacity. The minister cited a need for around 3,000 additional hotel rooms annually, creating opportunities for Qatari investors to develop hotels, resorts and tourism-related real estate projects.

The meeting concluded with QBA reaffirming its commitment to coordination with Egypt’s Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade and the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI).

The association will also coordinate a visit to Egypt at the minister’s invitation to follow up on the proposals discussed and encourage Qatari businesses to explore investment opportunities.

The meeting was attended by QBA members Sheikh Mansoor bin Jassim Al Thani, Sheikh Nayef bin Eid Al Thani, Salah Jaidah, Faisal Abdulla Khalid Al Mana, Maqbool Habeeb Khalfan, Dr Jaafar Ali Al Sarraf and Mohammed Altaf, as well as QBA GeneralManager Sarah Abdallah.