Doha: Qatar’s banking growth has been remarkable, with total assets rising by 1% month-on-month (MoM) in November 2025, reaching QR2.148 trillion. This growth reflects the strong performance of Qatar’s banking sector over the past year.
In comparison to November 2024, total assets grew by 5%, surpassing the 3.9% growth seen in 2023/2024. Over the past five years (2020-2024), assets grew by an average of 5.7%. As of November 2025, the liquid assets-to-total assets ratio stood at a healthy 30%, according to a report by QNB Financial Services (QNBFS).
Qatar Banking Growth: Loans and Deposits
The report highlights positive growth across loans and deposits. Loans climbed by 0.5% MoM to reach QR1,435 billion in November 2025. This increase was driven by flat performance in the private sector and growth in international loans, while public sector loans saw a decline of 0.6%.
Compared to FY2024, loans expanded by 6.6%, up from the 4.6% growth seen in 2024. Over the last five years, loan growth averaged 5.4%. Despite these gains, deposits by commercial banks decreased by 1.6% to QR1,058 billion in November 2025.
Public and Private Sector Deposits
Public sector deposits saw an increase of 3.7% MoM, while private sector deposits grew by 4.1% in 2024. Over the past five years, total deposits have increased by an average of 3.9%. As of November 2025, the public sector accounted for 35.7% of total deposits, private sector deposits contributed 46.1%, and non-resident deposits made up 18.2%.
Qatar Banking Growth: Loan-to-Deposit Ratio and Provisions
The loan-to-deposit ratio decreased slightly from 137% in October 2025 to 136% in November 2025. Loan provisions remained stable at 4.2% of gross loans during the review period. Provisions have increased from 2.4% in 2020 to 4% in 2023, reflecting banks’ preparedness for Stage 2 and Stage 3 loans, particularly in contracting and real estate sectors.
Strong Credit Ratings Reflect Financial Stability
Capital Intelligence Ratings (CI), a global credit rating agency, recently affirmed Qatar’s long-term foreign currency and local currency ratings at ‘AA’. The outlook remains stable, reflecting Qatar’s strong external and public finances, and its ability to absorb financial shocks. These ratings are supported by substantial hydrocarbon reserves, expanding LNG production, and a high GDP per capita.
