The difference is that in the case of China, the people who will benefit are Chinese. If you were to implement this idea in Qatar, do you think that Qataris will rent and run shops at the discount price, or expats?

So why would the government do something that will HELP expats and HURT nationals? No government of any country would do that.

If expats are having trouble making a living in Qatar, the government won't help them; the government would happily see them return to their home country.