Advancing Qatar’s Global Competitiveness: Attracting and Retaining Top Talent in Healthcare, Higher Education, and Technology

The most important asset for any country is its human capital. Attracting and retaining top talent is essential for economic growth, innovation, and global competitiveness. This is evidently reflected in Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy (NDS3), where one of the main targets is to develop a “Future Ready Workforce” attracting “highly-skilled expatriates". This study provides a comprehensive analysis of Qatar’s ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals in three sectors critical to Qatar's economic diversification and resilience: healthcare, higher education and technology. It first establishes a strong theoretical foundation through a systematic review of literature on workforce talent. It then evaluates Qatar’s global competitiveness by comparing policies, laws, and incentives against international benchmarks. Empirical research will be conducted through quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews with highly skilled professionals who have stayed in Qatar and those who have left. Findings will offer evidence-based, sector-specific recommendations aligned with international best practices while tailored to Qatar’s unique context. By implementing these recommendations, Qatar can enhance its global position, improve talent retention, and drive long-term innovation, productivity, and efficiency across interconnected industries.

Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU)