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Qatar’s Finance Ministry has reported a full-year budget surplus of QR43.1bn ($11.84bn), a figure in excess of the $7.6bn latest fiscal surplus projection by the Washington-based IMF.

The final tally for 2023 followed the reporting of a budget surplus of QR1.4bn for the fourth quarter, based on total revenues of QR55.6bn and an expenditure of QR54.2bn.

The revenues total represented a 10% decrease on the previous quarter while the expenditure represented a 8.9% increase compared to the previous quarter.

Doha plans to split the use of the surplus between reducing public debt, enhancing Qatar Central Bank’s reserves and adding to sovereign wealth investments through the Qatar Investment Authority.

MEED's February 2024 special report on Qatar includes: 

> GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY: Qatar’s return to economic normality
> BANKING: Qatar’s banks adjust to new circumstances
> OIL & GAS: Qatar enters period of oil and gas consolidation
> POWER & WATER: Qatar power and water projects to take off
> CONSTRUCTION: Qatar construction enters reboot mode
> SPORTS: Qatar’s sporting vision transcends World Cup