QFMA Promotes Listing of SMEs

Analysis

With the regional struggle to revive equity capital markets, Qatar is taking yet another positive step forward. The Qatar Financial Market Authority (the “QFMA”) has recently completed the final draft of the Offering and Listing Rule Book in relation to Securities of Small and Medium Enterprises (the “Draft Regulations”).

The QFMA has circulated the Draft Regulations for consultation, and the Draft Regulations are expected to be endorsed and to come into force soon. 

The Draft Regulations reflect the awareness of the QFMA of the important and vital role that Small and Medium Enterprises (the “SMEs”) play in the national economy. The QFMA realises that giving the opportunity to SMEs to list their shares in the capital market will provide such SMEs with funding mechanisms to help them expand, and reach out, to new markets, and correspondingly support the national economy.