Qatar Development Bank (QDB) “is hoping” to measure within the year the contribution of Qatar’s small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector to the country’s GDP using the ‘Qatar National SME Definition,’ an official has said.

QDB, according to chief executive officer Abdulaziz bin Nasser al-Khalifa, is “still in the process” of measuring SME contribution to Qatar’s gross domestic product, adding that a setting a timeframe for the task depends on several factors.
“We’re asking the same question. This is why QDB launched the definition of SMEs in 2015. Hopefully, this year we will be able to measure their contribution to Qatar's GDP based on the definition. Setting a timeframe also depends on the adoption of other institutions to the SME definition,” al-Khalifa told Gulf Times.
Launched in November last year, the Qatar National SME Definition ensures equal support for all SMEs from all stakeholders and aims to improve the policies and efforts of the SME sector development. It will also help develop licensed home-based businesses that match the definition criteria.
The definition, which is part of the government’s continuous support to the SME sector, will enable all parties to work together and achieve success under unified criteria. It also aims at facilitating financing procedures by providing privileges for investment entities that can finance SMEs.
The initiative defines an SME as a company with a workforce that does not exceed 250 employees (except for the creative sector where employees would not exceed 100), and annual revenue not exceeding QR100mn.
The definition identifies five main sectors, including agriculture, transformational industries, creative industries, constructions and trade, in addition to the sector of different services.
Al-Khalifa said the number of Qatari female entrepreneurs is growing: “I see a lot of Qatari female entrepreneurs who are starting their own businesses, and they are outsmarting their male counterparts.”
“I think women in the country are an underutilised force but I am glad that they’ve found a way to be productive in the field of entrepreneurship, which is a great vehicle for them and they receive all the support they require. I believe that they're doing great and I foresee that they will continue to do great in the future,” he pointed out.
He also observed growth in the number of tech-based start-ups and companies in the manufacturing sector.
“I don't believe that there is a gap between IT or tech-based entrepreneurs and those in manufacturing. Our portfolio of funding in the manufacturing sector is almost 65%. If you look at actual spending and funding, it’s going towards manufacturing,” he said.
“On the other hand, the added advantage of the services of technology-based companies is that they’re not capital intensive since they're part of the services of the economy. Because of this, it’s easy for them to start but at the same time, it is easy for them to fail. So, the role of QDB, through incubation and advisory, is to prevent them from failing.”