Qatar: Qatar’s real gross domestic product is projected to grow by 2 percent in 2024-25, supported by public investment, liquefied natural gas spillovers, and a strong tourism sector, the International Monetary Fund said. 

The IMF expects the Gulf nation’s medium-term growth to average 4.75 percent, driven by a substantial increase in LNG production and early benefits from reforms under the Third National Development Strategy. 

The fund also said that Qatar’s inflation is expected to ease to an average annual rate of 1 percent in 2024 before stabilizing at around 2 percent over the medium term, reflecting broader economic trends rather than short-term price fluctuations. 

The country’s annual inflation rate slowed to 0.24 percent in December from 0.95 percent in November, according to Consumer Price Index data released in early February. The IMF’s outlook suggests that inflation will remain at a moderate level in the coming years.  

“With lower hydrocarbon prices, both the current account and fiscal surpluses narrowed in 2023, to 17 percent of GDP and 5.5 percent of GDP, respectively. The twin surpluses moderated further in 2024,” the statement said. 

“Over the medium, as Qatar’s LNG production expands massively, both the current and fiscal accounts will likely remain in surpluses, albeit declining as a share of GDP, as hydrocarbon prices are projected to fall,” it added. 

Qatar’s banking sector remains strong, with banks well-capitalized, liquid, and profitable. The capital adequacy ratio stood near 20 percent, while the return on equity reached 14.5 percent in the third quarter of 2024, said the IMF. 

Non-resident deposits have declined significantly following measures by the Qatar Central Bank to reduce banks’ net short-term foreign liabilities, with lenders also extending the average maturity and diversifying their foreign funding sources. 

“Qatar has started to implement the ambitious Third National Development Strategy to build a more diversified, knowledge-based, and private sector-driven economy. Guided by NDS3, reform momentum has strengthened significantly, including to attract and retain high-skilled expatriate workers, foster innovation, promote public-private partnerships, and further improve the business efficiency,” the statement said. 

“Qatar is well positioned to leverage digitalization and AI (artificial intelligence) for productivity gains, and the nation’s climate agenda is advancing,” it added.