Doha, January 27 (QNA) - The second day of Doha Legal Forum focused the role of the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) as a strategic gateway for companies seeking to enter or expand in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), in the framework of efforts to strengthen the State of Qatar’s position as a regional and global hub for business and investment.

The first panel discussion highlighted the legal and regulatory advantages offered by QFC to foreign investors, including tax incentives, dispute resolution mechanisms, and investment protection frameworks, in addition to the role of the common law framework in providing legal certainty for investors and international companies. Speakers noted that the role of Qatar Financial Centre extends to supporting regional market integration and strengthening connectivity with global markets, thereby creating economic and investment opportunities that contribute to sustainable development and the diversification of the national economy.

In this context, Senior Legal Counsel for Litigation at Qatar Financial Centre Authority Catriona Nicol said that the Centre offers several reasons for companies to establish within it, most notably full foreign ownership, a relatively low tax rate of 10 percent on local profits, and an advanced legal framework based on common law, in addition to an independent judicial and regulatory authority comprising internationally renowned judges.

She noted that the Centre provides a safe and stable business environment, benefiting from political and economic stability and global connectivity, making it an attractive investment platform and fertile ground for ambitious businesses.

For his part, General Council at Ooredoo Group Dr. Georges Abi Saab said the Qatar Financial Centre was not merely a place to establish companies, but a key platform for international business, where companies manage their intellectual property rights, supply agreements, and all operational activities from Qatar, benefiting from advanced infrastructure, support, global connectivity, and legal and regulatory stability.

He said that QFC contributes to achieving Qatar National Vision 2030 by supporting economic diversification, innovation, growth, and market connectivity, while attracting leadership talent and establishing local executive teams.

Meanwhile, Head of Economic Research and Policy Advocacy at Invest Qatar Al Anoud Marwan Al Mosleh highlighted that QFC provides a world class platform and serves as a gateway for investors to enter the Qatari economy and regional markets, enabling companies to easily serve the markets of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain, benefiting from advanced infrastructure and global transport links.

In turn, Registrar at Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre Umar Al Azmeh said that Qatar Financial Centre has become a key platform for managing international business and contributes to supporting innovation and economic diversification, while providing a legal and regulatory framework that gives investors confidence and enables the management of operational activities and intellectual property agreements from Qatar, with continued operations across the Middle East and North Africa region. (QNA)