Israel launched an airstrike on Hamas’ political leadership headquarters in Qatar on Tuesday, September 9, as top officials convened to discuss a U.S. ceasefire proposal for Gaza. The strike on the soil of a U.S. ally marked a major escalation, angering Qatar, which condemned the attack as a “flagrant violation of all international laws and norms.” Hamas claimed its senior leaders survived but confirmed the death of five members, including the son of Gaza chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya. The United States said it was notified before the strike but distanced itself, with President Donald Trump calling the incident “unfortunate” and unhelpful to peace efforts.

U.S. think tank warns on Qatar LNG reliance

The Foundation for Defence of Democracies has urged Taiwan to reduce reliance on Qatar for liquefied natural gas (LNG), warning of Beijing’s potential influence over energy supplies. In a tabletop exercise, the group highlighted Taiwan’s dependence on LNG imports, with nearly 30% coming from Qatar under a 27-year supply deal. The report cautioned that China could exploit this reliance through economic pressure, cyberattacks, or maritime blockades, putting Taiwan’s energy security and semiconductor industry at risk. The think tank advised diversification, increased U.S. energy cooperation, and renewable investments.

Qatar firms recognised among Asia’s best workplaces

Great Place to Work named its 2025 Best Workplaces in Asia, with multiple Qatar-based companies making the list. The rankings, drawn from surveys of nearly 7.5 million employees, recognised firms such as Hilton, DHL Express, Marriott International, Cisco, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and Chalhoub Group. Jules Youssef, Managing Director for Qatar and the Gulf, said the recognition reflected strong workplace cultures, employee well-being initiatives, and innovative management practices that highlight Qatar’s expanding business ecosystem.

Qatar denounces Israeli ‘crimes’ at UN rights council

At the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Qatar’s Permanent Representative Dr. Hend bint Abdulrahman Al Muftah accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. She condemned the targeting of Hamas political bureau residences in Doha, the destruction of civilian infrastructure, and the killing of journalists and aid workers. Dr. Al Muftah called for urgent international action to hold Israel accountable and to support the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Banking sector posts steady growth in July

Qatar’s banking sector recorded a 4.5% year-to-date rise in public sector loans to QR1,406.9bn in July 2025, according to QNB Financial Services. While private sector loans remained flat, the loan-to-deposit ratio rose to 134.3% from 132 in June, as loan growth outpaced deposits. Total banking assets stood at QR2.117 trillion, up 3.4% compared to year-end 2024. Analysts noted that public sector deposits rose modestly, led by increases in government and semi-government segments, while liquid assets represented a healthy 31% of total assets.

Mozambique, which discovered vast gas reserves in the deepwater Rovuma Basin in 2010, began exporting LNG last year. The country has attracted significant foreign investment in its energy sector, despite disruptions caused by militant attacks.

Another stalled LNG project in the country is expected to resume soon, following the Trump administration’s approval of a $4.7 billion loan from the US Export-Import Bank.

Khaled Salmeen, XRG’s Chief Operating Officer, highlighted the strategic importance of the deal. “We are proud and excited to be part of the responsible development of Mozambique’s world-class Rovuma Basin. Together with the Government of Mozambique and our partners, we look forward to sharing our expertise, adding value, and accelerating these developments towards their full potential LNG capacity,” he said.

XRG’s acquisition in Mozambique marks its first investment in the country, reinforcing its strategy of building a world-scale, integrated gas portfolio to meet growing global energy demand. The company already has LNG assets in Azerbaijan, Egypt, and the United States.

The country's vast reserves of natural gas, estimated at approximately 896 trillion cubic feet, position it as a global leader in the industry, holding 14% of the world's known reserves, according to Tavakoli.

"While Qatar remains a notable oil producer, it has strategically prioritised the development of natural gas, especially for liquefied natural gas (LNG) export," Tavakoli said.

He emphasized LNG's crucial role in Qatar's energy strategy, leveraging lower production costs and a strategic location to become a preferred supplier.

Tavakoli pointed out Qatar's advantage over the United States in accessing higher growth markets, particularly in Asia. He noted challenges for the U.S. in competing with Qatar due to higher production and transportation costs, exacerbated by delays in LNG terminal licensing.

“Qatar's strategic location is closer to a higher growth market compared to the United States. The United States has faced a significant backlash by delaying the issuance of new licenses for a new LNG terminal for environmental review. However, the United States seems to be focusing only on the European market. This shift may prove challenging for the United States to compete with Qatar in the Asian market, primarily due to the higher prime cost and transportation cost attributed to the distance factor,” he said.

The competitive edge extends to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) production. At $66.9 billion, Qatar's top-ranked export in 2022 was petroleum gas. The Persian Gulf state also ranked as the fifth-largest exporter of petroleum in the world that same year with the top five countries to receive petroleum gas exports from Qatar being India ($12.6B), China ($12.3B), South Korea ($7.39B), United Kingdom ($7.31B), and Belgium ($5.37B).

Amid the growing emphasis on renewable energy sources, experts underscore the enduring importance of natural gas due to its reliability and cost-effectiveness, according to Tavakoli’s insights.

He claims Qatar's strategic foresight and efficient utilisation of financial resources have catapulted it to the forefront of the global energy landscape. He adds that Qatar could take over a substantial market share of 24-25% by 2030.

In February, Qatar announced plans to ramp up capacity to 142 million tonnes per annum by 2030 from the offshore North Field, the world's largest natural gas production site.

The expansion, known as North Field West, will add 16 million tonnes of LNG annually, as reported by Qatar’s Energy Minister Saad Sherida al-Kaabi, who also heads the state-owned company QatarEnergy.

Al-Kaabi highlighted recent studies indicating significant additional gas quantities in the North Field, raising Qatar's gas reserves to over 2,000 trillion cubic feet, and solidifying its global natural gas powerhouse position.