Qatar records QAR 21.2 billion budget deficit in Q2 2026

Qatar’s general state budget recorded a deficit of QAR 21.2 billion during the second quarter of 2026, according to figures released by the Ministry of Finance.

In simple terms, the deficit means that government expenditure was higher than the revenue collected during the quarter.

The Ministry said total revenues reached approximately QAR 25.6 billion, while total expenditure amounted to around QAR 46.8 billion.

How Qatar’s Q2 spending was distributed

Government expenditure during the second quarter was divided across several major categories.

Salaries and wages accounted for approximately QAR 17.611 billion, while current expenditure reached around QAR 19.662 billion.

Major capital spending stood at approximately QAR 8.748 billion, while secondary capital expenditure amounted to around QAR 858 million.

The figures show that current expenditure and salaries represented the largest areas of government spending during the quarter.

Deficit higher than in first quarter

The second-quarter deficit was also higher than the figure recorded during the first three months of 2026.

Qatar’s general budget posted a QAR 10.3 billion deficit in Q1 2026, compared with QAR 21.2 billion in Q2.

The latest data therefore shows a wider gap between government revenue and expenditure during the second quarter.

What does a budget deficit mean?

A budget deficit occurs when a government spends more during a given period than it receives in revenues.

The figure does not, on its own, indicate the overall health of the economy, as government revenues and spending can change considerably from one quarter to another depending on factors such as energy income, project expenditure and the timing of government payments.

The Ministry of Finance regularly publishes quarterly budget data to provide an overview of the state’s revenues, expenditure and fiscal position.

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