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Qatar

Country focus

Contact

Sabrina Kraaijenbrink-Doetjes

Project Manager International

+31 70 304 3763

s.doetjes@nwp.nl

Improving self-sufficiency in food production is a priority for the Government of Qatar. This country has achieved rapid gains in dairy production and has ambitious targets over the next few years to increase domestic vegetable production, which includes setting up new 1,400 new farms in the next five years. Qatar’s climate and water scarcity are the major constraints in crop production in Qatar, which offers opportunities for Dutch companies with innovative solutions aimed at saving water.

Opportunities for the sector in Qatar

With the current spike in Qatar’s food demand, coupled with a need to maintain energy and water consumption levels, there exists a significant scope for collaborations with Dutch companies as the Government of Qatar is seeking global best practices, solutions and expertise. The main objective of Qatar’s water policy is to improve water security and to establish Doha’s profile as a knowledge base for how best to recycle and reuse produced water in a cost-efficient manner. This is especially important against the backdrop of low oil prices that have reduced public revenues.

The use of treated sewage effluent (TSE) for non-potable water purposes is another growing area of interest. In addition, cost-effective desalination technologies are important for Qatar too. The country is driving the move towards ensuring resource security, improving efficiency, conservation and diversification in relation to the Water-Energy-Food Nexus. Therefore, it is an opportunity for Dutch companies to fill the market gap by extending their support through active engagement with the local entities, and cultivating close relationships with them in the long term.

Source: Market Report Gulf region water sector – 2018, commissioned by Netherlands and You. Netherlands and You is initiated by the Dutch economic network in the GCC to connect business needs in the region with Dutch solutions.

Water & the Gulf countries

The Gulf, in which Qatar is located, is among the most water-stressed areas in the world. At the same time, it is also one of the highest water-consuming areas. The agricultural sector is by far the largest consumer of water in the Gulf countries, accounting for around 85 percent of fresh water, nearly all of which comes from non-renewable underground sources.

Opportunities for the sector in the Gulf

In light of the UAE’s ambition to ensure its food security and its need for potable water, many opportunities for cooperation in the water, energy and food sectors are arising. The Dutch water sector is becoming increasingly present in the region, especially in the domains of water technology.

It is expected that the coming years will offer more opportunities for the Dutch water sector to expand its activities in the region, mostly through the EXPO2020 Dubai and the strategy of the Government of the Netherlands to focus on water-energy-food in the Gulf.

Collaboration

Together with the Regional Business Development Team of the Dutch Embassies in the Gulf countries, NWP is actively involved in various initiatives that lead to collaborative projects between the Dutch water sector and counterparts in the Gulf countries. NWP’s activities include providing market information about the Gulf countries to the Dutch water sector, organising (virtual) trade missions and tailor made events; and the facilitation of partnership building.

Interested to know more about Qatar and other countries in the Gulf? Contact our Project Manager MENA, Sabrina Kraaijenbrink-Doetjes.