03 February 2010 | By: Mohamed Hairul Borhan

Non-Qatari investors can now fully own businesses in the areas of consulting services; technical and information technology; cultural; sports and entertainment services; and distribution services.

This comes after the state’s Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, enacted amendments to law 13 of 2000 regulating the investment of non-Qatari capital in the economy.

The amendment, which was first announced in October 2009, allows non-Qatari investors to go beyond the limit of 49 per cent up to 100 per cent of the project’s capital.

Qatar News Agency, which broke the news, said that the Qatar government could also add other sectors to the law. It added that the amendment would also empower ministers to relax the law on foreign investment in nine other key sectors including agriculture, industry, health, education, tourism, and natural resources.