Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, addressed the challenges facing the country's exports in his annual speech to the Shura Council of Qatar and emphasized that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has had negative impacts on Qatar's liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. He stated that this situation is due to unprecedented events that the region is facing.
Damage to Qatar's gas exports
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani clarified that Qatar supplies about one-fifth of the world's liquefied natural gas trade, and any damage to this sector affects global markets and consumers. Currently, Qatar's LNG exports are severely impacted, and it is predicted that the country's export volume will fall to about 0.6 million tons by October 2026. This is while in September last year, Qatar's exports reached 1.6 million tons, the highest figure since the onset of the war, but still less than a quarter of the pre-war average.
Read more: Targeting of oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz by the UK Maritime Trade Operations
Causes of damage and economic consequences
The main cause of this situation was the Iranian missile strikes on the Ras Laffan complex on March 18, 2026, which damaged two LNG production lines and eliminated about 17% of Qatar's export capacity. This damage costs Qatar approximately $20 billion annually, equivalent to more than a third (about 35%) of the total annual revenues of the Qatari government. Complete repair of these facilities will take between three to five years.
Additionally, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and security threats against ships have severely restricted the passage of Qatar's LNG shipments through this strategic waterway. However, since late September and early October, some Qatari oil tankers have managed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, but the export volume still remains far from pre-war levels.
The Emir of Qatar also referred to the country's role in global energy security and economy, stating that Doha has participated in ceasefire efforts and the reopening of waterways. He emphasized that the security of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and their sovereignty is non-negotiable.
Read more: USA: Economic pressure on Iran may take years · Targeting of an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz by the UK Maritime Trade Operations
