Qatar greenlights foreign investments in new real estate projects

Open house

Qatar has widened the door to foreign real estate investment, adding the Simaisma Resort and Beach Project to the list of zones where non-Qataris are allowed to own property. The change, which Qatar’s cabinet approved this week, amends the country’s 2020 framework governing foreign ownership and usufruct rights in designated areas in a move that’s being framed as part of a broader push to attract international capital and diversify the economy beyond hydrocarbons.

Simaisma now joins a roster of approved zones that includes West Bay Lagoon, Al Dafna, Lusail, Al Khor resort, and Jabal Thaileb, among others. In choosing Simaisma — which is being developed by Qatari Diar into one of the country’s largest tourism and leisure destinations — Doha is looking to offer up an attractive option for private-sector participation and non-oil FDI.

Easing the squeeze

Saudi Arabia slashed its official selling price for crude oil to Asia for July, bringing the price down by USD 6 / bbl to a premium of USD 9.50 / bbl above average quotes for Oman and Dubai. The pricing change matched up with industry expectations and comes as demand is waning in Asia, with consumers struggling to keep pace with higher prices, which in turn brought refining margins under pressure.

Building backup

Kuwait tapped India’s engineering contractor major Larsen & Toubro (L&T) to upgrade the country’s existing oil storage and export network. The USD 992 mn upgrade would reportedly see L&T build new storage and integrate systems that allow Kuwait to handle more than one crude stream across the export system.

As one of the most vulnerable GCC exporters, Kuwait has been scrambling to build hedges against disruptions, but none offer immediate solutions. It is reportedly in discussions with Pakistan over crude storage buildout and it awarded around USD 1.5 bn in crude pipeline contracts earlier this year.

Farm to table

Saudi Arabia is turning to Russia to help shore up its food security and boost localization, with the two countries signing 13 agreements worth a combined SAR 4.8 bn (USD 1.28 bn), the Saudi Press Agency reports. The agreements cover the localization of veterinary vaccines, securing livestock feed, and the export of Saudi fish, camel milk, and coffee. The agreements come after Saudi Arabia and Russia set a target of USD 1.46 bn in Russian investments over the next five years.

Two for Damascus

Saudi real estate firm Abyat is launching two new developments in Damascus worth more than USD 2 bn combined, according to state news agency Sana. The developments include Abyat Hills in Damascus’ Qudsaya E3 suburb, with a four-year completion timeline, and the larger Modern Urban Cluster in Al Bajaa, which is expected to be developed over eight years.

The developments extend Riyadh’s post-war Syria playbook — leading Saudi businesses into strategic sectors to secure an early commercial foothold, rather than writing aid checks. This builds on SAR 24 bn of agreements signed at the July 2025 Saudi-Syrian Investment Forum.