Qatar emir warns against dependence on state

DOHA — Qatar's ruler said Tuesday he hoped the global fall in energy prices would help reduce dependency on the state in the oil-rich Gulf nation, official media reported.

Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, speaking at an opening session of Qatar's Advisory Council, said the drop in energy prices could help Qatar correct "negative phenomena" that have accompanied the country's astonishing accumulation of wealth over the past two decades.

He warned of "wasteful spending, overstaffing and a lack of accountability" in the country, and raised concerns about "dependency on the state to provide for everything".

This "reduces the motivation of individuals to take initiatives and be progressive", he said in remarks reported by the Qatar News Agency.

The emir said Qatar's 2016 budget would take into account the fall in oil prices by more than half since early last year to below $50 a barrel.

"This budget will focus on efficiency in government spending. It will also tend to promote growth and expansion in non-oil sectors to diversify the economy," he said.

Qatar has admitted it is facing a fiscal shortfall of 4.9 per cent of Gross Domestic Product in 2016 and of 3.7 per cent in 2017 due to falling oil prices.

The Advisory Council is the main consultative body in Qatar, where there is no independent legislature.