Qatar emerges as one of the world’s most resilient economies in 2026 IMD report

Qatar ranked first in the region and among the world’s top five economies for economic resilience in the 2026 IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook, reflecting strong performance across economic, business, infrastructure and governance indicators.

The ranking highlights the country’s progress under Qatar National Vision 2030 and its broader efforts to strengthen competitiveness through long-term economic planning and structural reforms.

According to the National Planning Council (NPC), Qatar ranked first globally for balance of trade performance and recorded some of the world’s lowest unemployment rates, including youth and long-term unemployment. The country also maintains one of the highest national savings rates globally, supporting its position as one of the most resilient economies worldwide.

The report also identified Qatar as one of the most competitive environments for business and investment. The country ranked first globally for the absence of personal income tax, consumption tax, capital and property taxes, and social security contributions, while placing fourth globally in entrepreneurship.

Regionally, Qatar led in labor productivity, disposable income, banking sector assets, sovereign credit ratings and the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises, reflecting what the NPC described as a diversified and strengthening economic base.

The report also highlighted Qatar’s infrastructure and quality-of-life performance. The country ranked second globally for energy infrastructure, third for health infrastructure and sixth for overall quality of life.

Qatar also performed strongly in governance and security indicators, ranking fifth globally for the effectiveness of its justice system and recording one of the world’s lowest homicide rates.

The NPC said the results reflect the cumulative impact of long-term development strategies aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy, reinforcing the country’s position as a destination for investment, business activity and high living standards.

Dr. Abdulaziz bin Nasser bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, Secretary General of the NPC, said the rankings demonstrate the strength of Qatar’s economic foundations and the effectiveness of its long-term planning approach, enabling the country to navigate regional challenges while continuing to enhance competitiveness and create opportunities for businesses and citizens.

Published annually by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), the World Competitiveness Yearbook assesses economies across four pillars: economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency and infrastructure.