The International Chamber of Commerce Qatar has concluded a two-day high-level webinar titled ‘Navigating the Geopolitical Crisis: Legal, Governance, ESG Compliance and Risk Priorities for Qatar’s Private Sector’, bringing together more than 200 participants from across the business and professional community.
The ICC Qatar webinar focused on geopolitical risk, legal exposure, governance frameworks, ESG compliance, and operational resilience for Qatar’s private sector amid ongoing regional and global uncertainty.
Broad participation from key sectors
The event by ICC Qatar brought together representatives from banks, law firms, embassies, real estate and construction companies, consulting firms, as well as legal and governance experts. Senior executives, board members, and risk management professionals also participated in the discussions.
The webinar opened with remarks by HE Secretary-General of ICC Qatar Sheikha Tamader Al-Thani, who emphasized the urgency of addressing evolving geopolitical risks and their impact on business operations.
Sheikha Tamader Al-Thani HE Secretary-General – ICC Qatar
“We are pleased to convene this timely discussion as the region continues to experience significant geopolitical developments. These evolving dynamics present a range of challenges for the private sector, particularly in navigating legal complexities, regulatory expectations, ESG considerations, and operational risks. The evolving geopolitical environment requires businesses to review contracts, legal exposure, and cross-border obligations, while ensuring strong compliance, governance, and risk management frameworks. In times of uncertainty, ESG responsibilities and business continuity planning become even more critical to maintaining stability and resilience.”
Legal, governance and contractual risk in focus
Discussions throughout the webinar addressed key legal, regulatory, and operational challenges facing businesses in Qatar and the wider Gulf region.
Founder and Chairperson of Mashael Al Sulaiti Law Firm Mashael Al Sulaiti and Founder and CEO of ICELIS Global Elena Athwal underscored the importance of reviewing contractual clauses, particularly force majeure and material adverse change provisions, to clearly define legal positions and remedies.
The participants also highlighted the need for stronger board oversight, enhanced compliance mechanisms, and greater transparency in disclosure practices.
ESG and risk management priorities
Speakers emphasized proactive risk assessment, structured contractual review, ESG integration, and stronger internal governance systems as essential tools for resilience during periods of uncertainty. They also highlighted major disruptions affecting the regional business environment, including global trade and supply chain pressures, rising counterparty and sovereign risks, contractual uncertainties, and evolving regulatory requirements.
Regulatory monitoring and insurance coverage concerns
The webinar further stressed the importance of close monitoring of regulatory developments and maintaining transparent communication with supervisory authorities. Participants were also advised to reassess insurance coverage and address potential gaps, particularly in high-risk or conflict-affected jurisdictions, as part of broader enterprise risk management strategies.
The ICC Qatar webinar concluded with a call for strengthened governance frameworks and sustained private sector preparedness to navigate geopolitical uncertainty across the region.
