Guide to the Qatar Stock Exchange

Your essential guide to the Qatar Stock Exchange

Posted on

9 February 2020

| Last updated on 12 February 2020

by Christine Sperr

Investing in the stock market while in Qatar can appear daunting to a beginner. Here's how the Qatar Stock Exchange gives investors a platform...

Established in 1995 in Doha, the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) officially started its operations in 1997 under the name Doha Securities Market. Being the principal stock market, QSE supports the country’s economy by providing a platform to the Qatari companies for raising capitals as well as the investors to carry out trading.

The stock exchange also provides the general public with access to market information and ensures complete disclosure of correct information.

Modern day trading floor in Qatar

The QSE is a diversified capital marketed founded on international best practice and whose role is to facilitate Qatar’s economic transformation.

From humble beginnings with manual trading processes and tracking progress on white boards, the QSE embraced first-generation automated trading in 2002.

In 2010 the QSE began trading on an advanced trading platform as it entered into a partnership with the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Starting with 17 companies and a market cap of QAR 6 billion, today the QSE hosts 47 Qatari companies with a market cap of QAR 600 billion, positioning Qatar as the second-largest exchange in the Middle East next to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Samer Zaghla Explaining Market Fluctations on the QSE Trading Floor

During a recent visit, Mr. Samer A. Abou Zaghla, Education Manager, facilitated an informative session on the history of the QSE, explanation of primary and secondary markets and introduction of a hands-on trading simulation.

Each group was provided QAR 1 Million to play the market in a competitive simulation to illustrate how the platform works and to reinforce the concepts of short and long term gains. It was an interesting exercise that allowed our group to become familiar with the 47 companies listed on the QSE.