S&P affirms Qatar ratings at ‘AA/A-1+’ with stable outlook

Doha, Qatar: Standard Poor s (S P) Global Ratings, a leading credit rating agency affirmed AA/A 1+ long and short term foreign and local currency...

Doha, Qatar: Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Global Ratings, a leading credit rating agency affirmed ‘AA/A-1+’ long- and short-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings on Qatar. The outlook is stable and the transfer and convertibility assessment remains at ‘AA+’.

According to the rating agency, “The stable outlook reflects our view that Qatar’s large financial buffers should enable sufficient fiscal and external space to offset the impacts of adverse geopolitical developments, including temporary disruptions to the production and export of LNG.”

Qatar’s strong fiscal, external, and economic flexibility will, “in our view, buffer the negative effects of the regional conflict. We estimate the government’s consolidated net asset position at 135% of GDP in 2026. The Qatar government’s liquid assets include funds held at a specific budget stabilisation fund, along with assets at Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), and Qatar Central Bank (QCB),” it noted.

These provide significant scope to counter volatility, support economic fundamentals, or aid recovery during a period of heightened geopolitical uncertainty with weaker growth and fiscal revenue, it added.

S & P ratings further stated, “We believe this flexibility will enable Qatar to withstand the temporary disruption of LNG production and export routes.”