Made in Qatar, Sold Abroad: How QDB Helps SMEs Finance, Insure and Certify Exports

This month, Qatar took a national pavilion to Made in GCC 2026 at Exhibition World Bahrain (6–8 October), bringing together the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Qatar Development Bank (QDB), Manateq and more than 20 Qatari manufacturers. Exhibitions like this produce leads. Leads only become revenue once a manufacturer can fund production, give a foreign buyer competitive payment terms and still be sure of getting paid. Many Qatari SMEs don't realise that QDB already has tools for each of those steps under its QATAR EXPORTS programme. This guide sets out what is available, what it costs and how to use it.

Why export finance is the real bottleneck

A first export order usually arrives with a cash-flow problem. You have to buy raw materials and pay for production weeks or months before the buyer pays. Many buyers also expect credit terms. The US International Trade Administration's guide to methods of payment describes open account terms, where payment is typically due 30, 60 or 90 days after delivery, as one of the most advantageous options for importers and one of the highest-risk options for exporters. It also warns that exporters who are reluctant to extend credit may lose a sale to competitors. In the guide's descriptions, cash in advance carries the least risk for the exporter, followed by letters of credit and documentary collections, with open account and consignment the riskiest.

In practice, then, a small exporter needs three things: working capital before shipment, faster access to cash after shipment, and protection if the buyer defaults or cancels. QDB covers all three.

What QATAR EXPORTS is

Tasdeer, QDB's export development, finance and promotion agency, launched QATAR EXPORTS as a new trademark in November 2024 to boost Qatari exports and make it easier to reach global markets. According to the QDB export development page, the programme serves Qatar-based exporters "regardless of the size of their export contracts, the sector they represent or their turnover". More than 400 exporters are on board, and QDB says it has supported QAR 1.5 billion of Qatari exports and provided QAR 711 million in export financing and insurance.

Financing: before and after shipment

QDB's export trade financing page sets out two working-capital products:

• Pre-export financing covers up to 80% of a confirmed contract's value. It helps pay for raw materials and production against a purchase or supply order. The profit rate is 3–5% a year and the tenor is up to one year, renewable or as agreed.
• Post-export financing lets you discount an export invoice or letter of credit for up to 90% of its value. It turns a receivable into cash before the buyer pays. The profit rate is 3–5% a year and the tenor is one year, renewable or as agreed.

Used together, these two products can cover most of a typical order cycle. Pre-export financing pays for production. Once the goods ship, post-export discounting releases most of the invoice value early, so you don't have to wait out the credit period you gave the buyer.

Credit insurance: protecting the order and the receivable

QDB's Takaful-based credit insurance covers two separate risks:

• Pre-shipment cover protects Qatar-made products if an order is cancelled before shipment. Cover starts when the contract is signed or manufacturing begins and ends at shipment. It insures political and commercial risks at 90% of production cost. The premium depends on the buyer's risk category, the country risk, the production cost and the manufacturing period.
• Post-shipment cover protects you if the buyer doesn't pay for goods already delivered. It covers political and commercial risks up to 90% of the payment value, from delivery until the payment date. The premium is 0.2% to 1% of the goods' value or production cost, depending on buyer and country risk and the repayment term. The export development page says single-buyer or single-country policies support repayment terms of up to 12 months.

The exporter normally carries the uninsured portion, typically 10%. QDB reviews claims for two months once all documents have been submitted. With cover in place, you can offer the open-account terms buyers prefer while keeping your downside limited.

Eligibility is broad. QDB's page states that cover is available to all companies licensed to operate in Qatar, whether or not they are wholly Qatari-owned. Insurance applications require a signed and stamped QDB Know Your Customer form, a valid commercial registration, a copy of the facility register, the completed coverage application and, where relevant, the purchase order or export invoice.

Beyond money: readiness, certification and strategy

Finance won't help if a product can't legally enter the target market. The QATAR EXPORTS non-financial services deal with that:

• Export Readiness Checklist: a free, self-paced test that shows whether your business is ready to export.
• International Product Certification (grant): support for SMEs to obtain certifications showing a product meets international standards.
• Export Strategy (grant and advisory): a tailored export study, from choosing target markets to a go-to-market roadmap.
• Go Global Export Accelerator: advisory support on export strategy and business planning.
• Export Development Workshops on customs, e-commerce, packaging, logistics and payment mechanisms.
• GS1 Qatar: help obtaining the 630 barcode prefix for global product traceability.

Larger and more established exporters can also use the longer-term tools QDB announced at the QATAR EXPORTS launch. These include a Sharia-compliant buyer's credit programme with terms of up to 20 years, internationalisation financing, whole-turnover insurance and overseas contract financing for contractors.

The link to Qatar National Vision 2030 and NDS3

The Third National Development Strategy (2024–2030) targets average annual growth of 4% to 2030 through gas expansion and economic diversification, and aims to "enable the private sector to lead and drive economic growth". Domestic demand alone can't get Qatari manufacturers there, because the home market is small. Export earnings from Qatar-made goods are one of the most direct ways an SME can contribute to the economic diversification at the heart of Qatar National Vision 2030, and QATAR EXPORTS is the main public tool for lowering the cost and risk of doing that.

What to do next

The steps below are general guidance on sequencing. Confirm current terms with QDB before you commit to a buyer.

• Take the free readiness test first. It shows certification, labelling or capacity gaps before a buyer finds them.
• Register with QATAR EXPORTS and complete your company profile so QDB can recommend the services that fit.
• Price your credit terms properly. Include the insurance premium (0.2–1% post-shipment) and the 3–5% financing cost in your quote, so that offering 60- or 90-day terms doesn't eat your margin.
• Insure before you extend credit. Cover on the receivable limits your loss if a new buyer fails to pay.
• Follow up exhibition leads in writing. A confirmed purchase order is the document that unlocks pre-export financing.
• Talk to QDB about a live contract through the QDB contact page.

Sources

• Export Development (QATAR EXPORTS) – Qatar Development Bank – qdb.qa
• Export Trade Financing & Credit Insurance – Qatar Development Bank – qdb.qa
• "Qatar Exports" ushers in a new era of services for Qatari exporters – Qatar Development Bank (12 Nov 2024) – qdb.qa
• Qatar participates in GCC ministerial meetings, Made in GCC 2026 opening – Gulf Times (Oct 2026) – gulf-times.com
• Qatar launches Third National Development Strategy 2024–2030 – Gulf Times (Jan 2024) – gulf-times.com
• Methods of Payment – International Trade Administration, US Department of Commerce – trade.gov

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