Qatar foreign reserves rise to QAR 262bn as gold holdings climb

Qatar’s international reserves and foreign currency liquidity reached QAR 262.279 billion in September 2026, marking a 0.46% increase compared to the QAR 261.061 billion recorded during the same period in 2025. Data released by the Qatar Central Bank (QCB) on Thursday, 8 October, indicates that the state’s official reserves rose by 10.85% year-on-year to hit QAR 223.447 billion. Shifts in reserve composition The latest figures reveal a significant reallocation within the QCB portfolio. Holdings of foreign bonds and treasury bills experienced a sharp decline, falling by approximately QAR 44.599 billion to settle at QAR 88.280 billion. Conversely, cash balances held with foreign banks surged by QAR 62.153 billion, reaching a total of QAR 73.554 billion at the end of September 2026. Gold remains a core component of the growth strategy, with reserves in the precious metal increasing by QAR 4.378 billion over the last 12 months. Total gold holdings were valued at QAR 56.408 billion at the end of the reporting period, up from QAR 52.030 billion in September 2025. Liquidity and IMF allocations The official reserve figures comprise foreign bonds, cash balances, gold, Special Drawing Rights (SDR) deposits, and Qatar’s share in the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The QCB reported that SDR deposits saw a marginal year-on-year decline of QAR 45 million, ending the month at QAR 5.203 billion. The data release is part of the QCB’s monthly transparency mandate, providing the financial…