DUBAI, March 14 (Reuters) - The Qatar Stock Exchange is awaiting the approval of its shareholders to conduct an initial public offer of its own shares, the exchange's chief executive Rashid Ali al-Mansoori told reporters on Tuesday.

He did not give a time frame for the IPO. The exchange is owned by Qatar Holding, the investment arm of the country's sovereign wealth fund Qatar Investment Authority; in 2013, Qatar Holding bought out NYSE Euronext's 12 percent stake.

Dubai Financial Market is currently the only listed Gulf stock exchange. Its shares are listed in Dubai.

"We are waiting for a shareholder decision," Mansoori said, adding that the IPO "is a strategic decision and there is no pressure".

Mansoori also said his exchange planned to list a family-owned business in the retail sector this April, but he did not name the company.

(Reporting by Hadeel Al Sayegh; Writing by Andrew Torchia) ((andrew.torchia@thomsonreuters.com; +9715 6681 7277; Reuters Messaging: andrew.torchia.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))