ع
Qatar Central Bank data released on September 7 showed international reserves and foreign currency liquidity rising 0.75 percent from a year earlier to QR 262.24 billion in August 2026. The increase from QR 260.282 billion in August 2025 reflects continued strength in the Gulf state’s external position. Official reserves, a key subset, posted even stronger growth during the period.
Official international reserves expanded 9.7 percent to QR 220.515 billion, adding QR 19.663 billion over the year, the Qatar Central Bank reported. This component forms the core of the country’s buffer against economic volatility. The central bank attributed the overall position to a combination of asset classes managed for liquidity and safety.
Within the official reserves, gold holdings jumped by QR 13.604 billion to QR 60.087 billion by the end of August, according to the QCB breakdown. Balances held with foreign banks also increased significantly, gaining QR 48.831 billion to reach QR 62.763 billion. Foreign bonds and treasury bills, however, declined by QR 42.761 billion to QR 92.433 billion over the same timeframe.
The Qatar Central Bank noted that official reserves comprise foreign bonds and treasury bills, cash balances with foreign banks, gold, Special Drawing Rights with the IMF and the country’s quota at the Fund. When combined with additional foreign currency deposits these assets make up the total international reserves and liquidity. Such composition helps maintain stability in Qatar’s monetary framework.
An International Monetary Fund assessment of Qatar’s economy found that reserves equivalent to more than seven months of imports provide a solid safeguard for the pegged exchange rate. The IMF staff report projected non-hydrocarbon growth to support overall expansion of 1.7 percent in 2026 amid LNG project spillovers. Central bank reserves have trended higher in recent years as fiscal surpluses persisted.
World Bank figures placed Qatar’s reserves at USD 53.8 billion in 2024 before climbing further in subsequent periods. The accumulation aligns with the country’s strategy to diversify revenue streams while bolstering external buffers. Data from the Qatar Central Bank has shown consistent year-on-year gains across multiple reporting periods.
