Investing in property shouldn't just mean sticking to your home turf - although it's often comfortable to do so. At Clear Property Investment we're always keeping abreast of foreign markets.

One such market is the Middle East, and Qatar in particular. With a population of around 833,300, this popular - and rapidly expanding Gulf state - currently has a far more favourable press in property investing terms than its larger, more reckless, Middle Eastern neighbour Dubai.

As the world's largest exporter of liquified natural gas Qatar continues to grow its domestic market while at the same time, investing in key UK projects such as London's Shard skyscraper investment. Clear Property Investment has recently supervised the refurbishment of a 44 storey office block in Qatar.

Speaking to national news agency Reuters earlier this week Ziad Makhzoumi, the chief financial officer of Arabtec ARTC.DU - the United Arab Emirates' largest contractor - explained he was confident of an early market resurgence. "You didn't have the same amount of supply and projects completed at the same time in Qatar (as Dubai)," he said, "so I think the timing and phasing is to the advantage of the Qataris."

Meanwhile, analysts in the Middle East speculate that, due to the government's tight controls on new builds, Qatar's economy (up 16.1 per cent this year thanks to its natural gas resources) will be healthy again within the next 12 months. Its construction market is already viewed as lucrative while amendments to local laws mean it's far easier for foreign investors to get a foothold. Its ex-pat community has also hugely increased and rental yields for property owners are good.

"We are seeing a strong signal from the government-related entities with respect to increasing (occupational) demand in Qatar," said Blair Hagkull, managing director of Jones Lang LaSalle for the Middle East and North Africa.

"Ultimately, they are looking to create long-term jobs to diversify the economy beyond the extraction of resources."

Having said that, oil and gas currently account for more than 50 per cent of the country's GDP and have made Qatar, a former pearl-fishing centre, the second highest per-capita income country after Leichtenstein. It holds 14 per cent of the world's natural gas, making it the world's third biggest supplier.

Ruled by a monarchy, the country was a British protectorate until the early 1970's when it became independent and refused to join the United Arab Emirates.

For further information on property investing - at home or abroad - contact any of our Clear Property Investment team.

View other news from August 2010