QDB Istithmar — Equity Investment

QDB Istithmar — Equity Investment

Invests in innovative Qatari businesses by taking minority stakes and helping guide long-term strategic growth.

Eligibility · QA

QDB Istithmar is Qatar Development Bank's direct equity investment program targeting innovative Qatari small and medium enterprises across most sectors of the economy. The program operates from a QAR 365 million dedicated fund and takes minority stakes of up to 50 percent in qualifying businesses. Ticket sizes range from QAR 1.5–7 million for innovative small enterprises to QAR 3.5–18 million for growing medium enterprises. QDB takes board representation and veto rights but does not seek majority control. The investment horizon is 8–10 years, structured as a five-year deployment phase followed by a three-to-five-year holding period.

Eligibility requirements are specific: companies must be Qatari-owned, actively managed by Qatari leadership, in operation for at least two to three years, employ fewer than 250 people, generate annual turnover below QAR 100 million, and hold assets below QAR 50 million. The construction, contracting, and trading sectors are excluded. Companies must be registered and operating in Qatar, and founders must hold Qatari citizenship. No minimum TRL threshold is specified, but the program targets companies demonstrating innovation rather than early-concept ventures.

Companies seeking Istithmar investment apply directly through QDB's financing portal. Because QDB takes an active governance role — including board seats and veto rights — applicants should be prepared for substantive due diligence and ongoing investor engagement. Istithmar sits alongside QDB's other equity instruments, including the Ithmar seed funding program and the Partial Guarantee Investment Program launched in March 2025, and may be combined with QDB's direct financing or credit guarantee products for companies requiring complementary debt capital.