FAHAD RASHID AL KAABI
Manateq is driven to create a world-class business environment to enable domestic and foreign investors to deliver value-added products and services to local, regional, and international markets.
BIOGRAPHY
Fahad Rashid Al Kaabi joined Manateq from his role as the CEO of Qatar Project Management (QPM), bringing with him over 17 years of wide-ranging work experience in the areas of engineering, project management, and top-level administration. Prior to being appointed CEO of QPM, he was part in formulating public policy as manager of the Conservation and Energy Efficiency Department of Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (KAHRAMAA). He received his bachelor's degree in industrial engineering and another bachelor's degree in business management, both from the University of Miami. He then received his master's degree in project management from the University of Houston in 2007.
Manateq is one of the main drivers to incentivize the private sector to diversify the Qatari economy. What have been the main areas of focus for Manateq during the last year?
Our work over the past year has been focused on putting in place solid foundations for the creation of logistics parks and industrial zones to ensure that the investors we attract are able to leverage favorable business incentives. We have paid attention to fostering the non-oil private sector—particularly the SME segment—and I am pleased to report that more than 2,300 plots have been allocated to investors looking to establish projects in our logistics parks and industrial zones. We have formed, and continue to nurture, strong bonds with the private sector, encouraging it to contribute to economic diversification and the country's development. This is vital to securing long-term, sustainable growth and the establishment of an economic bedrock capable of competing globally and providing the country with future jobs and prosperity, long after major infrastructure projects are completed. In designing our parks, we have drilled down into the current and future needs of the entire assembly, retail, and logistics sector to ensure we meet their requirements and help foster their success. The public sector working in close partnership with the private sector can create transformative opportunities for the country.
How will you work together with other institutions like Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZA) and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOIC) in order to attract FDI to Qatar?
We work closely with all organizations that, like Manateq, are keenly focused on achieving the Qatar National Vision 2030 and its economic diversification aiming at fostering the development of a vibrant private sector and a diversified knowledge-based economy. For example, we have cooperated with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on the drafting of a manufacturing strategy to stimulate FDI into the country. The strategy is developed to create conditions that enable a vibrant industrial development across various sectors, remove the constraints that may emerge, create compelling sources of competitive advantage, and create a unique investment proposition for Qatar. Manateq and QFZA work hand in hand to identify potential international investors willing to invest in Qatar. When identified, the potential investors will be directed to QFZA as they continue their process under the free zones regulations to benefit from the incentives offered.
What benefits does Manateq offer investors?
The benefits are numerous, though they amount to an overall solution to ease business setup in a strategically located, well-serviced, and modern destination. Manateq's total land bank is about 29 million sqm, across our logistics, industrial, and warehousing parks, and from this we can offer investors land plots of various sizes so they can develop their own industrial facilities in the industrial zones, while they can also build their own warehouse or workshop along with a showroom, workers' accommodation, and office space all in the same plot at the logistics parks. Alternatively, we offer ready-built warehouses in the warehousing parks that have been developed in partnership with the private sector. In addition, we help facilitate business setup. When businesses invest through a Manateq project, they are serviced via a dedicated point of contact who takes care of the business setup processes in Qatar and enables a smooth transition into the state's business landscape. All associated costs are taken into consideration depending on the project. We act as a full-service agent for investors easing the strain of business set up and massively reducing start-up times. Another incentive for investors to locate in our logistics parks is that they can benefit from a range of client services, unparalleled interconnectivity, integrated infrastructure, an easy set-up process, and financing. Moreover, by facilitating the easy start-up of businesses in these parks, we hope to attract a wider range of sectors, indigenous enterprises, and local investment.
FAHAD RASHID AL KAABI
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Interview
Yousuf Mohamed Al-Jaida, CEO, Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority
Given its successful performance in the last few years, QFC is optimistic it will be able to capitalize on Qatar's ongoing efforts to create a world-class business environment and attract more global companies.
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Lolwah R M Al-Khater, Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is focused on pushing forward Qatar's foreign policy, sharing information and perspectives that could be useful for regional security and advancing the Qatari narratives on many issues facing the world today.
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Richard O’Kennedy, Vice President, Research, Development, and Innovation, Qatar Foundation
The first country in the world to track its citizens' genomes, Qatar is on track to make one of modern science's biggest breakthroughs by personalizing medical treatment and precision care.
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Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti, Minister, Transport and Communications (MoTC)
With plans for a fully electric bus system and an impressive set of interconnected transportation options including metro, rail, and tram, the Ministry of Transport and Communication is shifting mobility into the next gear in Qatar.
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Sheikh Abdulla Bin Saoud Al Thani, Governor, Qatar Central Bank (QCB)
Encouraging local manufacturing, initiating self-sufficiency in dairy and farm products, expanding into new air and sea routes, offering select visa-free entry, and enacting fiscal reforms are but several of the successful reforms undertaken since 2017.
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Sean Kelly, Project Director, Place Vendôme
Place Vendôme is no ordinary mall: with 650 hotel rooms, a 6,000-sqm cinema with 18 screens, six slides, three toboggan runs, and an ice river opening in September 2020, it is looking to slide into Qatar's tourism infrastructure in time for the World Cup.
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Mehmed Zingal, General Manager, Turkish Airlines - Qatar
With its 30th year celebration of its Miles&Smiles club launch in Qatar, Turkish Airlines is acknowledging its continued diligence to provide the best customer service, with targets to increase customer happiness through innovative technologies and increasing tourism to Qatar for the future.
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Hassan Rashid Al-Derham, President, Qatar University (QU)
Ranked in the top-500 universities by the Times Higher Education, Qatar University improves students' academic success by supporting students throughout their academic lifecycle, from the pre-university stage to beyond graduation.
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A lesson learned
The international attention set to fall on Qatar over the coming years is significant only to the extent that it generates advances in human capital required by Qatar's blueprint, National Vision 2020, where local know-how and innovation advance the nation and promote wellbeing.
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Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, Minister of Public Health & Managing Director,, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC)
The health minister is committed to continuing the growth of Qatar's healthcare system, with plans for more than 20 new facilities specializing in pediatrics, geriatrics, and mental health.
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