CEO Today Middle East Awards

www.ceotodaymagazine.com 42 CEO Today Middle East Awards 2019 qatar YOUSUF MOHAMED AL-JAIDA CEO of Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority FIRM PROFILE Qatar boasts one of the strongest and fastest growing economies in the MENA region. Qatar has been ranked as the second-most competitive economy in the region for the second time in a row, and 30th globally, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report 2018. Its GDP is also projected to grow by 2.4% in 2018, and with double tax agreements with over 70 countries, Qatar remains an attractive hub for international investment. Qatar is strategically located in the centre of the Gulf with flights to over 150 destinations, and as such is well-positioned to act as a regional hub to markets worth over USD $2.1 trillion including Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Turkey, and India. Qatar has also been ranked as the most open country in the Middle East and the eighth most open in the world in terms of visa facilitation according to The World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) updated visa openness rankings. The high ranking reflects a string of visa facilitation measures introduced by Qatar, including allowing nationals of 88 countries to enter Qatar visa-free and free-of- charge. The government’s multi-billion dollar investment programme has put the country on a sure footing to further develop its infrastructure and cater to its growing population, in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030 objectives. This comes in addition to a recently announced multi-billion dollar fund which has been allocated as part of an incentives programme to attract multi-national companies. The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), one of the world’s leading and fastest growing onshore business and financial centres, endeavours to promote Qatar as an attractive business destination and lies in the crossroad–– between East and West. The QFC offers its own legal, regulatory, tax and business infrastructure, including: • Up to 100% foreign ownership • 100% repatriation of profits • 10% corporate tax on locally-sourced profits • World-class regulator • Trade in any currency • Legal environment based on English common law • Attractive tax and business environment • A streamlined and transparent company registration and licensing process • A unique Administrative Employment Dispute Resolution Centre accredited by the International Labour Organization (ILO) Companies set up under the QFC also benefit from Qatar’s extensive DTA network with over 70 countries. QFC’s unique platform has allowed it to attract a business community of over 612 firms from all over the world across a variety of financial and non-financial sectors. This has created a community of over 3500 people, with a combined total assets under management of over US$20 billion. ABOUT YOUSUF MOHAMED AL-JAIDA Yousuf Mohamed Al-Jaida was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority in June 2015. He previously held the role of Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Strategic and Business Development Officer at the QFC where he was responsible for the overall strategic development. Yousuf has a strong financial background with experience across a variety of roles. Prior to joining the QFC, he was Head of Indirect Investment at the Qatar General Retirement and Pension Authority, which included overseeing the management of hedge fund, private equity, real estate, fixed income andequityportfolio investments. His previous experiences include engineering project work for Qatar Petroleum and Dolphin Energy and managing various real- estate projects in Qatar. He represents the QFC Authority on the boards of the Qatar Exchange, the Qatar Finance and Business Academy, the Financial Markets Development Committee and the Free ZonesAuthority. He also sits on the Advisory Council of Qatar University’s College of Business & Economics. He has previously sat on the boards of Nakilat QSC and the US$1 billion strategic investment fund of Unicorn Investment Bank, as well as serving as Vice Chairman of Mayadeen Real Estate Company KSCC. He graduated from the University of Arizona, USA.