Doha: S&P Global Ratings has affirmed Qatar’s long- and short-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings at AA-/A-1+, with a stable outlook.
“The stable outlook reflects our view that Qatar’s fiscal and external buffers should continue to benefit from the country’s status as one of the world’s largest exporters of liquefied natural gas (LNG) over the next two years, against a backdrop of high global energy demand,” S&P Global Ratings said in a report.
It added: “Our ratings on Qatar are supported by our estimates of its strong external and fiscal net asset positions, underpinned by funds accumulated within the sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA)”.
The report reiterated that Qatar remains one of the largest exporters of LNG globally. Between 2025 and 2027, the government plans to increase LNG production by about 64% to 126 million tonnes annually, equivalent to approximately 3.1 million barrels of oil per day.
S&P Global Ratings also expects that “Qatar will run surpluses in its budgetary accounts at the general government level, with investment income from external assets offsetting moderate central government fiscal deficits.
