The London-based firm, which has been operating in Qatar for years, now has an office on the ground to work with local investors.

Ashmore Group, an emerging markets specialist firm, has secured regulatory authorisation for a Qatar-based business.

The new entity – Ashmore Qatar – operates under the regulatory framework of the Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority.

The firm’s Qatar office will contribute to the advice and input on the way Ashmore Qatar Equity Fund is managed. AQEF was launched in January 2024. Since inception to end April 2025, AQEF has delivered a cumulative gross dollar return of 18.5 per cent and has beaten its benchmark index by 345 basis points.

The office will also support the development of relationships with local investors, providing access to Ashmore’s strategies across equities, fixed income and alternatives asset classes.

Ashmore manages about $10 billion on behalf of clients based in the Middle East.

The new business complements Ashmore’s offices in Colombia, India, Indonesia, Peru, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which together manage $7.5 billion of assets, representing 16 per cent of total group AuM.

“The country provides exciting growth opportunities as its domestic capital markets broaden and deepen, and its National Vision 2030 raises Qatar’s profile as an important investment destination for international investors,” Mark Coombs, CEO, Ashmore Group, said. 

Ashmore, which was founded as part of ANZ in 1992, became independent in 1999 and was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2006. Headquartered in London, it has a network of 11 international offices in Colombia, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Peru, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the UAE and the US. 
As of 31 March 2025, it manages $46.2 billion which is diversified by investment theme and by client.  

The Qatar Financial Centre offers its own legal, regulatory, tax and business environment, which allows up to 100 per cent foreign ownership, complete repatriation of profits, and it levies a 10 per cent corporate tax on locally-sourced profits.