Qatar Exchange (Doha Securities market previously) was established by virtue of law (14) of 1995 and commenced work on 26 May, 1997. On Sept 14, 2005, law no (33) of 2005, modified by law decree no. (14) of 2007, was issued pertaining to establishing the authority and the market whereby legislative and monitoring tasks were assigned to the authority and the executive role to the market regarding trading and assigning stocks and making financial settlements between brokers.
The market entered a new stage with the issuance of law no. (33) of 2009 converting Doha Securities Market to an incorporation under the name "Qatar Exchange" with view of introducing a qualitative improvement in its structure to make it an international exchange market operating according to the best international practices. To this end, Qatar Exchange entered a partnership with NYCE EuroNext with a share of 20%. Qatar Exchange started operations under the new name on June 21, 2009.
The goals of QE can be summed up as follows:
1- To provide opportunities for the investment of citizens' savings in financial securities with a view to serving national economy.
2- To develop the financial market so as to serve the efforts of economic development and help implement the targets of the State's economic policy.
3- To encourage setting up new companies as well as organization of the issue of stocks in the primary market and define the requirements in the issue bulletin.
4- To issue bulletins and reports containing all the information on the daily, weekly, monthly and yearly values of shares as well as all other data setting out the companies' financial status for investors.

Listed Companies:
43 companies were listed in Qatar Exchange by December 2008 compared to 17 companies at the time of launching the market.
Qatar Exchange index reflected a decline of 2.694.33 points ( 28.12%) to close by the end of the year at 6.886.12 points.

Trading movement in Qatar Exchange:
The total value of the circulated shares increase by the rate of 61.16% to stand at QR175.351.734.80 compared to QR108.929.466.178.75 in 2007. The number of traded shares increased by the rate of 14.14% to reach 3.893.519.719 compared to 3.411.256.739 shares; and the number of implemented contracts increased by the rate of 20.32% to reach 2.179.861 compared to 1.811.779 contracts in 2007.

Market Value:
The market value of the listed companies listed in Qatar Exchange at the end of 2008 declined by the rate of 19.75% to reach QR279.038.216.441.60 at the end of 2008 against QR347.695.032.467.90 at the end of 2007.
The share prices of 7 listed companies increased while the share prices of 36 listed companies decreased.

QE Investment Systems:
- GCC nationals have been allowed to invest in the industry and services sectors not more than 25%.
- The Council of Ministers approved on 29 May 2002 the Law of Investment Funds draft allowing non-Qataris to invest in all listed companies. Some of these funds are being established.
-The market opened the door for non-Qatari investments in the listed shares in line with the law No (2) for 2005, which amends some provisions of law No (13) for 2000 on the organization of foreign capital investments.

QE Committee:
In accordance with Resolution No. 11 for 2002 of the Council of Ministers, the QE Committee nominates members of the committee for the next three years as proposed by H.E. Minister of Economy and Trade and the Committee is composed of a chairman, vice-chairman and nine members.

Committee's Functions:
Membership of the committee is for three years and is renewable. He who succeeds a member will complete the term of his predecessor. The committee exercises all the functions required to manage QE. Following are the main functions:
1- To draw up the general policy.
2- To propose the statutes, organizational structure, personnel system, procurement rules, financial rules, registration rules, membership, circulation and annual subscriptions.
3- To lay down the organizational rules as well as rules of dealing in financial securities in QE, monitoring their application and supervision of circulation of such securities.
4- To take the necessary measures as regards questionable transactions in the light of the provisions of QE statutes.
5- To consider applications by brokers.
6- To temporarily suspend transactions at QE or the shares of a company / companies in the event of exceptional circumstances jeopardizing smooth and regular operation.
7- To approve the annual budgetary estimates, final accounts, and appointment of auditors.