Doha [Qatar], September 9: Qatar's state general budget recorded a deficit of QR21.2 billion in the second quarter of 2026, with total government expenditure significantly exceeding revenues, according to data released by the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday.
In a statement posted on its official account on the "X" platform, the ministry said total revenues during the April-June quarter stood at approximately QR25.6 billion, while total expenditures reached about QR46.8 billion.
The latest deficit marks a significant increase from the QR10.3 billion deficit recorded in the first quarter of 2026. The cumulative deficit for the first half of the year therefore stood at approximately QR31.5 billion, based on the ministry's quarterly figures.
The Ministry of Finance said government spending during the second quarter was distributed across salaries and wages, current expenditures and capital expenditure.
Salaries and wages accounted for QR17.611 billion of total spending, while current expenditures amounted to QR19.662 billion.
Major capital expenditures stood at QR8.748 billion, reflecting spending on large-scale government projects and infrastructure, while minor capital expenditures reached QR858 million.
Together, capital expenditure amounted to around QR9.6 billion during the quarter. The expenditure figures highlight the continued government spending on public-sector salaries and operational requirements, alongside investment in major development projects and infrastructure.
Separately, the Ministry of Finance announced that the total value of government tenders and auctions reached QR4.4 billion during the second quarter of 2026.
Of the total, tenders worth QR4.1 billion were awarded to local companies, while contracts valued at QR300 million went to foreign companies.
The ministry said the value of tenders awarded to local companies registered a 52 percent decrease compared with the same period in 2025.
The data underscore the significant role of local businesses in government procurement, with domestic companies accounting for the vast majority of the total value of tenders and auctions awarded during the quarter.
The Ministry of Finance said the Municipality and Environment, Health, Energy, and Culture and Sports sectors led the sectoral performance index during the second quarter of 2026.
Government tenders and auctions had reached QR8.6 billion in the first quarter of 2026. The second-quarter figure therefore represents a substantial quarter-on-quarter decline of around 49 percent.
The widening budget deficit in the second quarter came despite government revenues of QR25.6 billion, as expenditure of QR46.8 billion was nearly 83 percent higher than revenue during the period.
Source: Qatar Tribune
