PwC’s 29th Global CEO Survey, released on Wednesday, reported that almost all chief executives in Qatar are optimistic that the domestic economic growth will be better in the coming 12 months, and the confidence levels in the country are higher than the global average.
The survey stated that 97 percent of CEOs in Qatar expect domestic economic growth to improve over the coming year, while 84 percent indicated they are confident in their company’s revenue growth over the next three years.
The deal activity is projected to continue being high, with 90 percent of the CEOs in Qatar intending to make at least one major acquisition in the next three years, which is more than the global average of 41 percent.
Over half of the respondents, 55 percent, indicated that their organizations are competing in new sectors as they seek diversification beyond traditional industries.
Bassam Hajhamad, Qatar country senior partner and consulting lead at PwC Middle East, said, “CEOs in Qatar are entering the next phase of growth with exceptional confidence, clarity of direction, and long-term purpose. As new investment opportunities emerge, business leaders are scaling AI, pursuing strategic acquisitions, and aligning closely with national priorities to drive efficiency and build a more innovative, resilient, and competitive economy.”
The survey discovered that artificial intelligence is leaving the experiment stage and taking on large-scale deployment. The survey in Qatar found that 84 per cent of CEOs had clear roadmaps of AI initiatives, 81 percent cited a strong organizational culture that encourages AI adoption, and 77 per cent indicated that they had the availability of the appropriate technology environment to roll out AI at scale.
PwC said that it noted that AI is being integrated throughout fundamental business operations, including demand generation, fulfilment, support services, and directly into products, services, and customer experiences.
Although geopolitical and economic risks persist, the majority of Qatari CEOs said that their investment strategies have not been impacted significantly.
Approximately 61 percent indicated that geopolitical instability would have minimal or no effect on their probability of making large new investments, and this indicates confidence in the domestic operating environment.
PwC added that perceived cyber risk exposure among business leaders in Qatar has decreased compared to the prior year, which it said was due to greater investment in digital resilience and risk management as companies extend technology adoption.
In the future, the survey indicated that the growth in Qatar will be fueled by firms capable of producing quantifiable results in fields like artificial intelligence, innovation, and future-ready projects, and a closer partnership between business leaders and the government in relation to national transformation programmes.
