Doha, Feb 28, 2026, 11:14 AST — Market closed.
- Qatar’s QE Index fell about 1.55% for the week, ending Thursday down roughly 1.91% at 11,055 points.
- Real estate led weekly losses; insurance was the only sector to finish the week higher.
- QSE will be closed on Sunday, March 1, for a bank holiday; trading resumes Monday, March 2.
Qatar’s benchmark QE Index slipped about 1.55% last week, ending February down 2.26% but still up 2.72% since the start of the year. The index closed the week at around 11,055 points after MSCI-related rebalancing and ex-dividend trading in heavyweights added to pressure, with Barwa Real Estate accounting for about 37% of turnover in the final session, Qatar News Agency reported. 1
The Qatar Stock Exchange will also close on Sunday, March 1, for a bank holiday, pushing the next session to Monday. That pause matters this time: it gives traders two full days for the weekend’s headlines to settle in before the opening auction. 2
Oil has climbed on a geopolitical risk premium, hitting $73 a barrel on Friday, Reuters reported, as top exporters moved to step up supplies ahead of an OPEC+ meeting on Sunday. “The boost in exports will create a short-term buffer against Strait of Hormuz disruptions,” Scott Shelton, an analyst at TP ICAP, said. 3
Those tensions escalated again on Saturday after Israel launched a pre-emptive attack on Iran and the United States began strikes, Reuters said. Gulf investors are now bracing for the knock-on effects, from shipping risk to a wider hit to risk appetite. 4
On Thursday, the QE Index closed at 11,055.20, down 1.912%, on trading value of about 1.18 billion riyals, Dlala Brokerage data showed. Ezdan Holding slid 5.22% and Barwa fell 4.76%, while Beema climbed 3.30% and General Insurance rose 3.28%. 5
Banks drove the retreat, in step with a broader pullback across Gulf equities on Thursday as investors cut risk. Qatar National Bank fell 3% and Qatar Aluminium Manufacturing Co dropped 3.5%, helping drag Qatar’s index to its steepest one-day decline since mid-June, Reuters reported. 6
Index mechanics are also back in play. A QSE market notice said the quarterly review leaves constituents unchanged for the QE Index, the QE Al Rayan Islamic Index and the QE All Share Index, with updated weightings effective from the opening of March 2. 7
In company news, Qatar Islamic Bank said it issued a $750 million, five-year sukuk — an Islamic bond — at a profit rate of 4.402%, with orders peaking at about $1.7 billion. “The successful issuance of our USD 750 Million Sukuk underscores the depth of global investor confidence in Qatar’s strong and stable economy,” CEO Bassel Gamal said. 8
Aamal disclosed 2025 net profit of 443.3 million riyals and proposed a 5% annual cash dividend. Gulf International Services said its AGM approved a dividend of 0.10 riyal per share for 2025, or 10% of nominal value. 9
Nebras Energy said it agreed to buy ENGIE’s stakes that would lift its ownership to 95% in Qatar Power and to 65% in Ras Girtas Power, subject to regulatory approvals. The announcement lands in a market still digesting annual results and dividend decisions. 10
But the risks are clear. Before Saturday’s attacks, U.S.-Iran talks in Geneva ended without a deal, with mediator Oman saying there had been progress and follow-up discussions planned — a reminder that the backdrop has been unstable even on days when the tape looks calm. 11
With Sunday’s bank holiday keeping Doha shut, attention turns to Monday’s open, the index-weight reset and any swing in oil after the OPEC+ meeting. Traders will also be watching whether Thursday’s sell-off draws bargain buying — or whether the next leg down comes first.
