It will soon become easier for businesses in Qatar to obtain work visas to hire the staff they need, the nation’s prime minister has said.

Currently, many companies find that getting approvals to hire employees can be time-consuming and complicated.

It can also be difficult to get visas for staff depending on the countries they hail from and the positions they’re expected to fill.

Speaking to the chairmen of publicly listed companies in Qatar yesterday, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani said a new emphasis on bolstering the private sector is coming up.

More IPOs

He added that the Cabinet is applying “finishing touches” to Qatar’s new five-year national development strategy.

The 2017-2022 document takes effect next year.

It will emphasize private sector development at a time when diversification from oil and gas has become crucial to Qatar’s economic sustainability.

Al Thani also said that more family businesses must step up and join the stock exchange, and that several IPOs are currently in the works.

There have only been two new listings on the exchange since 2010.

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