Research Challenge

The CFA Institute Research Challenge in Qatar

The CFA Institute Research Challenge is an annual global competition for university students. Each team researches a listed company, writes an equity research report, and presents a buy, hold, or sell recommendation to a panel of investment professionals. Students get hands-on mentoring and training in financial analysis and professional ethics.

CFA Society Doha runs the local competition in Qatar. The winning team represents Qatar in the sub-regional round for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Current season: 2025/26 (2026/27 dates to follow)

Season timeline

StageDate
Kick-off17 November 2025
Written report deadline31 January 2026
Local final15 February 2026

After the local final, CFA Institute runs the sub-regional round in March, regional semifinals and finals on 6–9 April 2027, and the Global Final in the week of 10 May 2027.

Participating universities

  • Qatar University
  • University of Doha for Science and Technology

How it works

  1. Each university forms a team of students with a faculty advisor.
  2. The society assigns an industry mentor and announces the subject company.
  3. Teams research the company and submit a written report.
  4. Teams present to a panel of judges at the local final.
  5. The winning team advances to the CFA Institute sub-regional round.

Universities and students

Want your university to take part next season? Contact the university relations committee.

Contact us

Mentors and graders

Members can mentor a team, grade written reports, or judge presentations. Volunteering can count toward your PL credits.

Volunteer

Global rules and schedule

Read the official rules, fact card, and global schedule on the CFA Institute website.

CFA Institute site

Past winners

2025/26: Qatar University

Winning team: Sama Ahmed Khatiry, Fawzia Al-Kubaisi, Haya AlKuwari, and Jana Eletreby. Subject company: Doha Bank. The team went on to win the MENA sub-regional round and reached the EMEA regional semifinals.

2024/25: Qatar University

An all-female team from Qatar University won the local final.

Earlier seasons: Qatar University, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, and AFG College with the University of Aberdeen

Qatar University also won the local final in 2019, 2020 (with research on Al Meera), 2022, and 2024. Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar and AFG College with the University of Aberdeen won the 2018 and 2021 local finals.