Qatar saw a 24.5% rise in inbound visitors in August, reaching 328,000, according to new data from the National Planning Council. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) accounted for the largest share, with 41% of total visitors, while air travel was the preferred mode of transit at 64%.
This growth aligns with Qatar’s National Tourism Sector Strategy 2030, which aims to attract over 6 million visitors annually, positioning Qatar as the Middle East’s fastest-growing tourist destination.
The report also noted a 0.6% monthly increase in new driving licenses and an 11.3% rise in newly registered vehicles in August, totaling 8,605. In the banking sector, broad money supply reached 731 billion Qatari riyals ($200 billion), a 6.7% increase year on year, while commercial bank deposits hit 1.035 trillion riyals, reflecting an 11.6% annual growth.
In the construction sector, 721 building permits were issued, marking an 8.3% annual increase. Qatar’s tourism sector also achieved a significant milestone by welcoming over 4 million visitors in 2023, its highest in five years. This success is attributed to the momentum from the FIFA World Cup 2022 and the implementation of the Hayya platform, which streamlined entry procedures.
Saudi visitors led international arrivals, making up 25.3%, followed by India (10.4%), Germany (4.1%), the UK (3.9%), and Kuwait (3.5%).
