Qatar’s inward foreign direct investment (FDI) rose 3.3% in the first quarter of 2026 to QR172.2bn, compared with the previous quarter, the National Planning Council (NPC) said yesterday.
Outward FDI increased 3.5% to QR221.7bn, according to the results of the FDI Survey, conducted in co-operation with the Qatar Central Bank.
The NPC said the rise in outward investment reflected the growing presence of Qatari companies in international markets and the development of economic and investment partnerships that support asset diversification and enhance long-term returns.
NPC secretary-general Dr Abdulaziz bin Nasser bin Mubarak al-Khalifa said the growth in inward FDI was “a positive indicator of Qatar’s investment trajectory”.
“At the National Planning Council, we look beyond investment volume to its quality and its impact on economic diversification, productivity gains, the transfer of knowledge and technology, and the growth of high-value-added sectors,” he said.
“Our priority for the coming period is to continue enhancing the attractiveness of the Qatari economy to quality investment and to accelerate investment growth in non-hydrocarbon sectors,” al-Khalifa added.
He said this would support the targets of the Third National Development Strategy and Qatar National Vision 2030.
Five economic activities accounted for more than 90% of inward FDI. Mining and quarrying led with 45.3%, followed by financial and insurance activities with 31.9%, manufacturing with 13%, information and communication activities with 2.8%, and professional, scientific and technical activities with 2%.