04 | Qatar targets a 30% increase in agricultural productivity

As of 2026-10-17, Qatar’s agricultural investment points to a clear shift: demand is expanding beyond higher domestic output to climate-controlled greenhouses, water-efficient irrigation, bio-agriculture and digital supply-chain management.

Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality plans to develop 96 hectares of sustainable, climate-controlled greenhouses, with a target of raising agricultural productivity by 30%. The initiative supports the National Food Security Strategy 2030 and includes smart irrigation, aquaculture technologies, alternative energy, and stronger plant and animal biosecurity.

Agricultural technology projects in Qatar are placing greater weight on resource efficiency and climate resilience. Trials by the ministry’s Agricultural Research Department found that mycorrhizal fungi increased plant growth and crop productivity by up to 10% compared with conventional farming methods, while improving soil properties and reducing chemical inputs. Digital management of strategic reserves, supply-chain disruption alerts, cold-chain infrastructure and food-loss reduction programmes are also moving forward.

Source: The Peninsula, 2026-10-16

05 | Qatar reaches 99% self-sufficiency in fresh poultry and dairy products

With several food categories now close to full self-sufficiency, the next opportunities in Qatar are likely to centre on resource efficiency, irrigation, cold chains and production-facility upgrades rather than output expansion alone.

Figures for 2025 released by Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality show that self-sufficiency reached 99% for fresh poultry, milk and dairy products, 67% for fresh fish, and 47% for basic vegetables. Qatar is also developing 96 hectares of cooled greenhouses and plans to improve production efficiency through modern irrigation, aquaculture, alternative energy and bio-agriculture.

Equipment and technology proposals will need to address high temperatures, water scarcity and supply-chain resilience together. Qatar is advancing digital management of strategic reserves, refrigerated supply networks, a national programme to reduce food loss and waste, and digital platforms for project licensing and monitoring.

Source: The Peninsula, 2026-10-15

06 | QatarEnergy extends LNG force majeure arrangements through November

The recovery of Gulf crude oil exports does not mean liquefied natural gas supplies have recovered at the same pace. With the Northern Hemisphere winter approaching, importers still need to account for Strait of Hormuz transit risks, alternative supply options and spot-price volatility in procurement plans.

The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies’ quarterly gas market review found that Persian Gulf crude oil exports had largely returned to normal by the end of September 2026, while a substantial near-term recovery in LNG supplies from Qatar and the UAE remained unlikely. QatarEnergy has formally extended force majeure arrangements on contractual obligations to specific international customers through November.

LNG depends on cryogenic storage facilities and specialised carriers, and no viable transport route currently bypasses the Strait of Hormuz. Even if undamaged production lines are technically ready to restart, maritime security and insurers’ willingness to provide cover will continue to shape actual export flows. If constraints persist, buyers in Europe and Asia may face stronger competition for alternative cargoes from the United States, Australia and Africa.

Source: Streamline, 2026-10-16

Other updates

  • 07 | Reserve Bank of India approves merger of Emirates NBD’s Indian branches with RBL Bank: The merger will take effect on 2026-12-01. Emirates NBD opened its first Indian branch in Mumbai in 2017 and later expanded to Gurugram and Chennai. (Source: The Economic Times, 2026-10-16)
  • 08 | Aldar enters Sharjah’s Arada residential project with a $300 million investment: Aldar signed an AED 1.1 billion, approximately $300 million, forward-purchase agreement with Sharjah developer Arada. The transaction covers three residential blocks in the Aljada mixed-use development and marks Aldar’s first real estate investment in Sharjah. (Source: ZAWYA, 2026-10-16)
  • 09 | Burjeel establishes an affordable healthcare division in the UAE: Burjeel placed LLH, Lifecare and Medeor under unified management. The division includes 6 hospitals, 24 medical centres and clinics, more than 500 beds, and over 2,400 healthcare professionals, with a new 75-bed LLH Hospital planned for Jebel Ali, Dubai. (Source: Healthcare Asia Magazine, 2026-10-15)
  • 10 | IMF warns that post-war Gulf economic recovery may take years: The International Monetary Fund projects that the Middle East and Central Asia region, directly affected by the war, will contract by 0.3% in 2026, while Saudi Arabia’s economy is projected to shrink by 3.3%. Its regional director said infrastructure damage and additional resilience spending could keep Gulf economies below their pre-war growth trajectory over the medium term. (Source: Malay Mail, 2026-10-15)
  • 11 | DP World backs a $150 million expansion of Mozambique’s Port of Maputo: The port has launched a $150 million channel-dredging project backed by the Maputo Port Development Company and its partner DP World. The project will deepen and widen the access channel to accommodate larger vessels. (Source: Pan African Visions, 2026-10-16)
  • 12 | Microsoft expands artificial intelligence cooperation in Saudi Arabia: The head of the US mission in Saudi Arabia discussed cooperation on artificial intelligence, cloud computing and data centres with Microsoft and Saudi officials. Microsoft previously announced plans to invest more than $10 billion in capital and operating expenditure across the Middle East through 2030, as well as more than $400 million in subsea and terrestrial connectivity. (Source: TradingView, 2026-10-15)
  • 13 | PyroGenesis completes deployment of its aluminium dross treatment project at Ma’aden: PyroGenesis commissioned the final Drosrite system at Ma’aden’s Ras Al-Khair smelter. The 7 systems have combined annual dross-processing capacity of up to 45,000 tonnes, while the report notes that an outstanding contract receivable remains on an extended payment schedule. (Source: Discovery Alert, 2026-10-16)
  • 14 | Survey finds that 94% of UAE business leaders plan to deploy AI PCs: Dell’s 2026 Modern Enterprise Readiness Study found that 94% of surveyed UAE business leaders plan to deploy AI PCs, while 82% said macroeconomic conditions were making them more selective about technology investment. Conducted in June 2026, the study covered 1,500 business and IT decision-makers across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. (Source: PCMag Middle East, 2026-10-16)
  • 15 | DP World deploys 55 electric yard tractors at its Busan terminal: The vehicles replace LNG-powered tractors and represent approximately 36% of the terminal’s fleet of 154 yard tractors. DP World expects each electric tractor to reduce CO₂ emissions by approximately 70% compared with the vehicle it replaces. (Source: DP World, 2026-10-16)
  • 16 | Building at Saudi Aramco’s Dhahran compound targeted in attack, causing a limited fire: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy reported a limited fire in a building at the compound after an attack, amid overnight exchanges of attacks between the Houthis and the Saudi coalition. (Source: BusinessLine, 2026-10-14)
  • 20 | Burjeel to present an intelligent healthcare ecosystem in Abu Dhabi: Burjeel plans to showcase the ecosystem at the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit from 2026-10-20 to 2026-10-22. It covers emergency preparedness, specialised medical training, frontline response, deployable healthcare infrastructure, clinical services, pharmaceutical manufacturing and artificial intelligence. (Source: Gulf News, 2026-10-16)

Last updated: October 2026. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Gulf policies and market conditions may change; refer to the latest publications from the relevant authorities and organisations.