His Highness the Amir approves 2026 general budget
QAR 199 billion total projected revenue and expenditures total QAR 220.8 billion
His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, has issued Law No. (26) of 2025, approving the general budget for the 2026 fiscal year. The law will take effect from 1 January 2026 and be published in the official gazette.
During a press conference, HE Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, Minister of Finance, outlined details of the budget, which projects total revenue of QAR 199 billion.
He emphasised that the new budget reflects the state’s balanced financial approach that aims to ensure financial sustainability, promote economic growth, improve spending efficiency and attract investments, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.
He explained that the 2026 budget expenditure of QAR 220.8 billion includes QAR 69.5 billion for salaries and wages, QAR 81.5 billion for current expenditures, QAR 7 billion for minor capital expenditures and QAR 62.8 billion for major capital expenditures.
In his review of the main sector allocations in the new budget, he noted that the education sector is allocated QAR 21.8 billion, while the health sector receives QAR 25.4 billion, up from QAR 22 billion in 2025. This reflects the state’s continued commitment to developing human capital and improving the quality of public services.
He explained that the municipality and environment sector is allocated QAR 22.2 billion, the sports sector QAR 7.6 billion, commercial affairs QAR 4.1 billion, transportation QAR 4.1 billion, communications QAR 3.8 billion and social services QAR 2.8 billion, reflecting a balanced distribution of spending across vital sectors.
HE the Minister of Finance pointed out that the total expected revenues for the 2026 fiscal year amount to QAR 199 billion (QAR 155 billion from oil and gas revenues and QAR 44 billion from non-oil revenues), compared to total revenues of QAR 197 billion in 2025 (QAR 154 billion from oil revenues and QAR 43 billion from non-oil revenues).
He added that this reflects an improvement in oil revenues and continued growth in non-oil revenues, attributed to the state’s continued conservative approach in estimating oil and gas revenues, based on an average oil price of USD 55 per barrel, to enhance financial flexibility and ensure spending stability.
HE Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari confirmed that Qatar’s credit rating is among the best in the region and the world, reflecting confidence in the Qatari economy. He highlighted that fiscal discipline is essential to strengthening the state’s credit rating, supported by enhanced human capital, stronger reserves, controlled spending and robust crisis-management strategies.
