RIYADH: Qatar Central Bank’s foreign currency reserves and liquidity climbed 1.24 percent year on year in June, reaching 262.1 billion Qatari riyals ($71.7 billion), according to official data.
Figures published by the institution showed that official international reserves rose 1.48 percent year on year, up 2.9 billion riyals to 202.6 billion riyals, the Qatar News Agency reported.
The bank’s holdings of foreign bonds and treasury bills declined sharply, falling by around 34.9 billion riyals year on year to 97.1 billion riyals in June.
The reserve growth comes as Gulf economies continue to navigate this year’s conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran, which disrupted regional shipping and energy markets. Qatar’s strong external buffers have helped reinforce financial stability and investor confidence despite heightened geopolitical uncertainty.
Qatar’s foreign currency reserves and liquidity have followed a broadly upward trend in 2026. They stood at 261.8 billion riyals in January, up 2.63 percent year on year, before reaching 202.3 billion riyals in April, a 2.23 percent annual increase.
“International reserves and foreign currency liquidity at Qatar Central Bank rose by 1.24 percent year on year in June, reaching 262.1 billion riyals, compared with 258.8 billion riyals in the same period of 2025,” the QNA report stated.
Official reserves are made up of several core components: foreign bonds and treasury bills, cash balances held with foreign banks, gold holdings, special drawing rights, tied to Qatar’s quota at the International Monetary Fund, and other liquid foreign-currency assets. Together, these elements make up the country’s total official international reserves.
The data also showed gold holdings rising by 10 billion riyals year on year to 54.5 billion riyals by the end of June, up from 44.4 billion riyals a year earlier. Balances held with foreign banks increased by 27.9 billion riyals to 45.6 billion riyals over the same period.
By contrast, the balance of SDRs linked to Qatar’s IMF quota slipped slightly, down 75 million riyals year on year to 5.1 billion riyals by the end of June.
The reserve figures come weeks after the International Monetary Fund concluded its 2026 Article IV consultation with Qatar on May 6, in which IMF staff reviewed the country’s external position and macroeconomic policies.
