Doha, Qatar: The National Planning Council issued the results of the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Survey in the State of Qatar for the first quarter of 2026, conducted in cooperation with the Qatar Central Bank. The results showed continued growth in inward and outward FDI from January to March 2026.
The results showed that inward FDI rose by 3.3% by the end of Q1 2026 compared with Q4 2025, reaching QR 172.2 billion.
In this context, H.E. Dr. Abdulaziz bin Nasser bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, Secretary-General of the National Planning Council, said: "The rise in inward FDI in the first quarter of 2026 is 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. 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, thereby supporting the achievement of the targets of the Third National Development Strategy and Qatar National Vision 2030."
Inward Foreign Direct Investment
Five main economic activities accounted for more than 90% of inward FDI: mining and quarrying was first at 45.3%, followed by financial and insurance activities at 31.9%, manufacturing at 13%, information and communication activities at 2.8%, and professional, scientific, and technical activities at 2%.
This distribution reflects the importance of continuing to broaden the base of FDI in non-hydrocarbon sectors, thereby supporting the economic diversification path outlined in the Third National Development Strategy.
Outward Foreign Direct Investment
Regarding Qatari investments abroad, the survey results showed that outward FDI rose by 3.5% by the end of Q1 2026, compared with Q4 2025, to QR 221.7 billion.
This growth reflects the expanding presence of Qatari investments in international markets and the development of economic and investment partnerships that support asset diversification and enhance long-term returns.
Five main economic activities accounted for more than 90% of outward FDI: financial and insurance activities at 33.5%, mining and quarrying at 29.8%, information and communication activities at 10.8%, accommodation and food service activities at 9.1%, and transport and storage activities at 7%.
Developing Foreign Direct Investment Statistics
These results are part of the National Planning Council's efforts to improve the quality of national economic statistics, providing accurate, regular data to support decision-making and to measure progress towards national development targets.
The survey results provide preliminary estimates of inward and outward FDI and include data on privately owned companies and some government-owned companies, but exclude international financial transactions conducted by the state or individuals.
The results are also combined with Qatar Central Bank data on monetary financial institutions, including banks, insurance companies, and other financial institutions. The Q1 2026 data were based on a sample of approximately 210 establishments operating in the State of Qatar.
