Qatar Freight and Logistics - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2026-2031)

The Qatar freight and logistics market is expected to grow from USD 10.14 billion in 2025 to USD 10.7 billion in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 13.98 billion by 2031 at 5.5% CAGR over 2026-2031.

Strong growth stems from capacity upgrades at Hamad Port and Hamad International Airport, free-zone incentives that reduce start-up costs, and sustained government investment under National Vision 2030. LNG carrier orders that accompany the North Field expansion are deepening maritime demand, while rising e-commerce volumes are lifting express and last-mile services. Technology adoption, especially the Al Nadeeb 2.0 single-window platform and AI-enabled route optimization, is lowering clearance times and operating costs, positioning Doha as a high-efficiency hub within the wider Gulf supply chain.

Qatar Freight and Logistics Market Trends and Insights

Qatar National Vision 2030 Infrastructure Pipeline Accelerates Logistics Demand

National Vision 2030 anchors a multi-year capital-investment cycle that elevates logistics throughput and diversifies freight mixes. A USD 1.2 billion cargo-terminal expansion lifts Hamad International Airport’s handling capacity to 5 million t per year by 2026. Qatar Airways Cargo added a 5,260 m² live-animal facility capable of processing 55,000 animals annually, positioning Doha as a niche center for equine and livestock transport. Free-zone build-outs at Ras Bufontas and Umm Alhoul integrate bonded warehousing with near-dock manufacturing, trimming dwell times and raising inventory-turn ratios. The Qatar Free Zones Authority’s AI partnership with Quantiphi targets double-digit cost gains through predictive maintenance and dynamic routing. Collectively, these projects re-route regional trade toward a technologically advanced, resilience-focused Qatar freight and logistics market.

Hamad Port Expansion Creates Regional Transshipment Advantage

Boosting capacity from 7.5 million TEU to 12 million TEU by 2025 enables Hamad Port to capture overflow diverted from congested or politically sensitive Gulf routes. Best-in-class berth productivity and automated gate systems place the port atop Middle-East efficiency league tables, offering shippers lower dwell times and assured schedule integrity. Proximity to free-zones supports light assembly, repackaging, and quality-control services that create margin-enhancing value-added logistics. Gulf Warehousing Company’s solar-rooftop deal with Yellow Door Energy exemplifies operators leveraging capacity additions to scale regional footprints while advancing sustainability targets. Rising LNG export volumes following the North Field expansion embed long-run maritime demand, shielding port volumes from cyclical container swings.

High Domestic Trucking Costs Constrain Land-Based Distribution

Back-haul imbalances lift per-kilometer costs 25-30% above regional averages. Gradual fuel-subsidy reforms indexed to global prices are eroding historic cost advantages. New multi-entry visa rules lengthen driver onboarding, pushing wages higher. Smaller fleets struggle to fund telematics and electronic-logging upgrades that would ease inefficiencies, while looming zero-emission mandates require expensive electric-truck outlays. Consequent margin pressure encourages modal shift toward sea-air pipelines for domestic replenishment and cross-border flows.

Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:

• E-commerce Surge Drives Last-Mile Innovation
• Free-Zone Incentives Attract Regional Headquarters
• Post-FIFA Warehousing Overcapacity Pressures Rental Markets

Segment Analysis

Manufacturing held a 25.40% revenue share of the 2025 turnover, reflecting an industrial base anchored in petrochemicals at Mesaieed and emerging downstream plastics in Al Karaana. Transport of over-dimensional reactors, cryogenic tanks, and catalyst drums requires escort coordination and specialized carriers, sustaining higher-margin project-logistics contracts.

Wholesale and retail trade, however, is set to expand fastest at 6.05% CAGR (2026-2031) as luxury fashion, grocery, and consumer electronics chains scale footprints to serve residents and a planned 6 million tourists annually. Resulting SKU proliferation intensifies demand for multi-temperature warehousing, omni-channel fulfillment, and returns processing - areas where 3PLs bundled inside the Qatar freight and logistics market can leverage automation and predictive analytics.

Freight Transport contributed 58.62% of 2025 revenue within the Qatar freight and logistics market share. Scale stems from bulk-cargo flows - petrochemicals, project equipment, and imported consumer goods - moved through Hamad Port and Doha’s modern highway grid. Digital slot-booking and crane automation have cut port dwell times, bolstering throughput.

Meanwhile, CEP grows at a 6.45% CAGR (2026-2031), lifted by e-commerce, high-income consumers, and on-demand food delivery. Start-ups partner with national retailers on AI-based route orchestration, unlocking service guarantees under four hours and commanding premium fees. Warehouse and storage functions remain pivotal as inventory buffers, though providers shift toward value-added kitting, postponement packaging, and reverse-logistics modules that differentiate offerings inside the Qatar freight and logistics market.

The Qatar Freight and Logistics Market Report is Segmented by End User Industry (Agriculture, Fishing, and Forestry, Construction, Manufacturing, Oil and Gas, Mining and Quarrying, Wholesale and Retail Trade, and Others), Logistics Function (Courier, Express and Parcel (CEP), Freight Forwarding, Freight Transport, Warehousing and Storage, and Other Services). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

List of companies covered in this report:

• A.P. Moller-Maersk
• Aero Group of Companies
• Agility Logistics
• Ali Bin Ali Holding
• Aramex
• BCC Logistics
• Bin Yousef Group (Including Bin Yousef Cargo)
• DHL Group
• DSV A/S (Including DB Schenker)
• E2E Global Lines
• FedEx
• Gettco Freight
• Gulf Agency Company (GAC)
• Gulf Warehousing Company (GWC)
• JAS Worldwide
• Kuehne + Nagel
• Mannai Corporation QPSC
• Nakilat
• Qatar Airways Group (Qatar Airways Cargo)
• Qatar Navigation QPSC (Milaha)
• Qatar Post
• Target Logistics Qatar
• Tokyo Freight Services

Additional benefits of purchasing this report:

• Access to the market estimate sheet (Excel format)
• 3 months of analyst support