August 24, 2026
Türkiye and Qatar have significantly expanded their economic ties over the past two decades, with around 250 Qatari companies operating in Türkiye and holding a total investment volume of $7.8 billion, Trade Minister Ömer Bolat said.
Speaking after a meeting with Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sayed, Bolat said bilateral trade had increased 53-fold over the past 21 years, reaching $1.3 billion last year. Trade temporarily climbed to $2.5 billion during the period surrounding Qatar’s preparations to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, largely due to construction projects.
Bilateral Trade Target Set at $5 Billion
Bolat said Türkiye and Qatar are targeting $5 billion in annual bilateral trade and noted that the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement, which entered into force last year, is expected to contribute significantly to expanding commercial ties.
Turkish contractors have undertaken 206 projects worth $21 billion in Qatar, according to Bolat.
Qatari Investments Span Multiple Sectors
Bolat said approximately 250 Qatari companies have invested in Türkiye, with investments spanning sectors including finance, banking, energy, logistics, media and agriculture.
Meanwhile, around 1,116 Turkish companies of various sizes operate in Qatar, particularly in construction, services and selected manufacturing industries.
Tourism ties are also developing, with approximately 50,000 tourists traveling between Türkiye and Qatar in each direction annually, Bolat said.
Qatar Investment Authority Seeks More Opportunities
Bolat highlighted the need to strengthen alternative transportation and trade corridors as regional disruptions have created logistical bottlenecks, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz.
He said Türkiye is working to meet the consumer-goods needs of Qatar and other Gulf countries through alternative routes, including transit corridors via Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, as well as routes through Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
Bolat also said the Qatari delegation indicated that the Qatar Investment Authority is interested in increasing its investments in Türkiye and has begun initiatives in this direction.
The minister described Türkiye-Qatar relations as continuing at an almost “allied” level, with the High-Level Strategic Committee chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani serving as a key framework for bilateral cooperation.
Source: Patronlar Dünyası/ Prepared by: İlayda Gök