DOHA: Qatar's Minister of Finance, Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, announced that the country's total expected revenues for the 2025 budget are projected at QAR 197 billion, marking a 2.5 percent decrease compared to the 2024 budget figures. The announcement underscores Qatar's continued conservative approach to managing its oil and gas revenue projections amid fluctuating global market conditions. According to Qatar News Agency, the Minister emphasized the use of a conservative oil price estimate of USD 60 per barrel to maintain financial flexibility and stability in government spending. The anticipated revenue from oil and gas is expected to be QAR 154 billion, a reduction from the QAR 159 billion forecasted in the 2024 budget, representing a 3.1 percent decrease. Non-oil revenues, however, remain steady at QAR 43 billion, unchanged from the previous year. On the expenditure front, Al Kuwari detailed that the total projected expenditures for 2025 will rise to QAR 210.2 billion, a 4.6 percent increase from 2024. The anticipated budget deficit of QAR 13.2 billion is slated to be managed through local and external debt instruments. Priority allocations include QAR 41.4 billion dedicated to health and education, reflecting Qatar's focus on human capital and public service quality. Moreover, significant investments are planned for sectors such as trade, industry, research, innovation, tourism, digital transformation, and information technology, aligning with the nation's economic diversification and sustainable development goals. The Minister also highlighted an increase in allocations for salaries and wages by 5.5 percent, totaling QAR 67.5 billion for 2025. Current expenditures are set to grow by 6.3 percent, with secondary capital expenditures projected to expand by 7.7 percent. Major capital expenditures will see a 1.4 percent increase, reinforcing Qatar's commitment to strategic and developmental projects. Further details on Qatar's 2025 fiscal year budget will be provided by Minister Al Kuwari during a press conf erence scheduled for Sunday.