Qatar warns of cost overruns, delays in infrastructure works

2022 football World Cup

AFP, DOHA: A $200 billion infrastructure programme launched by Qatar could see higher costs and delays because of the slump in oil prices, the government of the 2022 football World Cup host warned yesterday.
A study from the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics (MDPS) said that “continued volatility” on the oil market was likely to have consequences for the vast construction projects underway in the Gulf emirate. The MDPS predicted that Doha will run budget deficits for at least three years as it adjusts its energy-reliant economy to the fall in oil prices, which have dropped by more half since 2014.
It also confirmed that Qatar will for the first time introduce a value-added tax in 2018, in the form of a five per cent levy on certain goods that was agreed by Gulf Cooperation Council finance ministers this month.
“Most risks to the outlook are grounded in international oil price movements,” the MDPS said in its “Qatar Economic Outlook” study.
“If they (oil prices) remain low for an extended period, the fiscal and external accounts deficit will be more pronounced requiring funding efforts.”
It added that risks included “delays or cost overruns (or both) in the delivery of key infrastructure reforms.”
Qatar is a member of OPEC and the world’s biggest exporter of liquified natural gas.
Among the major infrastructure projects being built are Doha New Port, a Metro system and regeneration of parts of the capital.
The World Cup is expected to cost about $30 billion, with stadiums accounting for $10 billion of that, organisers have said.
The MDPS said Doha will run a budget deficit of 7.8 per cent this year, Qatar’s first in 15 years.
This will increase to 7.9 per cent in 2017 and fall to 4.2 per cent the next year, it predicted. Qatar’s economy is expected to continue to expand, but growth will slow—from 3.9 per cent this year to 3.2 in 2018, the MDPS predicted.

Qatar warns of cost overruns, delays in infrastructure works

2022 football World Cup

AFP, DOHA: A $200 billion infrastructure programme launched by Qatar could see higher costs and delays because of the slump in oil prices, the government of the 2022 football World Cup host warned yesterday. A study from the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics (MDPS) said that continued volatility on the oil market was likely to have consequences for the vast construction projects underway in the Gulf emirate. The MDPS predicted that Doha will run budget deficits for at least three years as it adjusts its energy-reliant economy to the fall in oil prices, which have dropped by more half since 2014. It also confirmed that Qatar will for the first time introduce a value-added tax in 2018, in the form of a five per cent levy on certain goods that was agreed by Gulf Cooperation Council finance ministers this month. Most risks to the outlook are grounded in international oil price movements, the MDPS said in its Qatar Economic Outlook study. If they (oil prices) remain low for an extended period, the fiscal and external accounts deficit will be more pronounced requiring funding efforts. It added that risks included delays or cost overruns (or both) in the delivery of key infrastructure reforms. Qatar is a member of OPEC and the worlds biggest exporter of liquified natural gas. Among the major infrastructure projects being built are Doha New Port, a Metro system and regeneration of parts of the capital. The World Cup is expected to cost about $30 billion, with stadiums accounting for $10 billion of that, organisers have said. The MDPS said Doha will run a budget deficit of 7.8 per cent this year, Qatars first in 15 years. This will increase to 7.9 per cent in 2017 and fall to 4.2 per cent the next year, it predicted. Qatars economy is expected to continue to expand, but growth will slowfrom 3.9 per cent this year to 3.2 in 2018, the MDPS predicted.