Qatar Economic Outlook Issue Number 13

Figure 2-22: Quarterly real GDP and its 
components
 
3.9
2.9
4.0
2.6
-8
-6
-4
-2
0
2
4
6
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4 2020 Q1
Q2
Q3
2020
2021
%
a
nd
p
oint
s 
Oil GDP
Non-Oil GDP
Real GDP (%)
Source: Planning and Statistics Authority
Figure 2-21: Quarterly nominal GDP and its 
components
 
24
26
12
14
36
41
-40
-30
-20
-10
0
10
20
30
40
50
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4 2020 Q1
Q2
Q3
2020
2021
%
a
nd
p
oint
s
Oil GDP
Non-Oil GDP
Nominal GDP (%)
Source: Planning and Statistics Authority

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Qatar Economic Outlook 2021 - 2023 
76 
the downturn that occurred during the same 
period in 2020. 
As for the contribution of non-oil sector sub-
activities, it is evident from Figure (2-23) that 
all activities - except for those related to 
government services - witnessed a gradual 
recovery during Q1 and Q2 of 2021, but in 
varying proportions that reflect the extent to 
which activities benefited from: (1) raising 
Covid-related restrictions, and (2) supportive 
financial incentives provided by the 
government in the amount of an estimated 
QR 75 billion, together with tax exemptions, 
reductions in fees, and other administrative 
measures. 
In regard to government services, these 
witnessed good growth in 2020, which 
reflected the effects of coordinated policies 
supporting government actions to meet the 
challenges of the Covid pandemic, but once 
the health situation stabilized and most 
restrictions were eased, government support 
of the economy was also eased, especially in 
the field of employment.
The effect of government support can be 
inferred by looking at the development of 
activities of the financial and insurance 
sector, whose growth rate was not affected 
during the year 2020 due to the support it 
received, both financial and administrative. 
Concomitantly, the wholesale and retail trade 
sectors, as well as the industrial sector, which 
consists of manufacturing, electricity, and 
water, achieved a positive growth rate since 
the beginning of the first quarter of 2021, due 
to the support measures provided, in the form 
of financial support as well as exemptions 
from customs and rents in the industrial and 
logistical areas and Al Furjan markets. 
Similarly, in the sub-activities of the services 
sector, the most important of which are 
transport and storage activities, and those 
activities related to tourism, such as 
restaurants and hotels, together with arts and 
culture, their contribution showed recovery 
during the Q2 and Q3 of 2021, having been 
among the activities most affected by the 
Covid-19 containment measures.