Qatar’s International Reserves Rise 0.46% to QR262.3 Billion in September

Qatar’s international reserves and foreign currency liquidity rose 0.46 percent year-on-year to QR262.279 billion at the end of September 2026, compared with QR261.061 billion in the corresponding month of 2025, according to the latest data released by the Qatar Central Bank (QCB).

The increase reflects a strengthening in several components of Qatar’s reserve position, particularly gold holdings and balances with foreign banks, which more than offset a substantial decline in the central bank’s holdings of foreign bonds and treasury bills.

QCB data showed that the country’s official reserves increased by QR21.888 billion, or 10.85 percent, year-on-year to QR223.447 billion at the end of September 2026, compared with QR201.559 billion in September 2025.

The rise in official reserves came despite a decline in foreign securities holdings. QCB’s balances of foreign bonds and treasury bills fell by about QR44.599 billion year-on-year to QR88.280 billion at the end of September, compared with QR132.879 billion a yearearlier. The decline in foreign securities was more than offset by significant increases in other reserve components.

Gold holdings recorded a strong increase of QR4.378 billion, reaching QR56.408 billion at the end of September 2026, compared with QR52.030 billion in the same month last year.

Balances with foreign banks registered the largest increase among the major components, rising by QR62.153 billion year-on-year to QR73.554 billion at the end of September, compared with QR11.401 billion a year earlier.

The substantial increase in foreign-bank balances, together with the rise in gold holdings, helped strengthen the official reserve position despite the reduction in foreign bonds and treasury bills.

Qatar’s official reserves consist of several key components, including foreign bonds and treasury bills, balances held with foreign banks, gold holdings, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), and Qatar’s reserve position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

In addition to official reserves, the broader measure of international reserves and foreign currency liquidity includes other liquid foreign-currency assets, primarily foreign-currency deposits. The two categories together make up Qatar’s total international reserves and foreign currency liquidity.

The QCB figures showed that SDR holdings and Qatar’s reserve position with the IMF declined by QR45 million year-on-year to QR5.203 billion at the end of September 2026.

Overall, the data point to a continued solid external reserve position for Qatar, with the rise in official reserves supported by stronger gold holdings and substantially higher balances with foreign banks.

The increase in total international reserves and foreign currency liquidity also provides a broad indication of the country’s available external liquidity and its capacity to meet international financial obligations and support confidence in the national economy.

The latest figures come as Qatar continues to maintain a strong external financial position, backed by its hydrocarbon revenues, diversified economic activity and prudent management of its financial assets.