Qatar’s Foreign Currency Reserves Rise to $71.7 Billion in June

Qatar’s foreign currency reserves and liquidity increased during June, reflecting the country’s strong financial position despite continued geopolitical tensions across the Middle East, according to new data released by the Qatar Central Bank.

Official figures showed that the country’s foreign currency reserves and liquidity reached 262.1 billion Qatari riyals ($71.7 billion) at the end of June, marking a 1.24 percent increase from 258.8 billion riyals recorded in the same month last year.

The latest data also indicated that Qatar’s official international reserves climbed 1.48 percent year on year to 202.6 billion riyals, an increase of 2.9 billion riyals compared with June 2025.

The reserve growth comes as Gulf economies continue to face the effects of regional tensions, including this year’s conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which disrupted shipping routes and energy markets. Qatar has maintained strong external financial buffers, helping support economic stability and sustain investor confidence during a period of heightened uncertainty.

According to the Qatar News Agency, the country’s foreign reserves have generally followed an upward trend throughout 2026. Foreign currency reserves and liquidity stood at 261.8 billion riyals in January, representing a 2.63 percent annual increase, while official international reserves reached 202.3 billion riyals in April.

The Qatar Central Bank’s official reserves consist of several key assets, including foreign bonds and treasury bills, deposits held with foreign banks, gold reserves, Special Drawing Rights linked to Qatar’s quota at the International Monetary Fund, and other liquid foreign currency assets.

While overall reserves increased, some components recorded mixed performance.

Holdings of foreign bonds and treasury bills fell significantly during the year, declining by approximately 34.9 billion riyals to 97.1 billion riyals by the end of June.

At the same time, gold reserves posted strong growth. The value of the central bank’s gold holdings rose to 54.5 billion riyals, compared with 44.4 billion riyals a year earlier, representing an annual increase of 10 billion riyals.

Cash balances held with foreign banks also recorded substantial growth, rising by 27.9 billion riyals year on year to reach 45.6 billion riyals.

The only other notable decline was seen in Qatar’s Special Drawing Rights holdings with the International Monetary Fund. These slipped slightly by 75 million riyals from the previous year to 5.1 billion riyals at the end of June.

The latest reserve figures were released only weeks after the International Monetary Fund completed its 2026 Article IV consultation with Qatar on May 6. During the review, IMF staff assessed the country’s macroeconomic policies, fiscal position and external stability.

The continued rise in Qatar’s foreign reserves highlights the country’s ability to maintain solid financial buffers while managing external economic risks and supporting confidence in its financial system.