UPDATE 1-Vodafone Qatar sees FY operating loss of $55 mln

* Sees profit next financial year

* Sees 700,000 customers in full-year 2012, 1.6 mln in 2018

* Operations focus on Qatar

(Adds details, background)

By Jason Benham

DOHA, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Vodafone's (VOD.L) Qatar unit VFQS.QA expectsto incur an operating loss of around 200 million riyals ($55 million) in the 2009-10 financial year on start-up costs, its chief financial officer said on Sunday.

The operator forecast earnings before tax, interest, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of 200 million riyals for the subsequent financial year ending March 2011.

"We believe that this year we will make a loss of around 200 million and next year we will start making profits," Chief Financial Officer John Tombleson said, adding profits would be driven by rapid growth in the company's customer base.