Qatar Finance Minister Ali Sharif Al-Emadi was arrested for questioning over allegations of embezzlement, abuse of power and crimes related to the public sector, a statement carried by state news agency QNA said on Thursday.
An investigation is underway, the statement added.
Emadi has been minister of finance since 2013 and sits on the board of its powerful $300 billion sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority.
He is also chairman of the board of directors of Qatar National Bank.
Emadi steered Qatar's economic policies during the 2014-2015 oil price crash that prompted the country to accelerate plans to diversify the economy.
He was named as 2020’s best minister in the region by The Banker, an international financial magazine that organises an annual celebration of finance ministers.
Qatar, which next year will host the FIFA World Cup, has invested heavily in infrastructure over the past few years ahead of the event, which means spending on major projects is set to decrease this year, the finance ministry has said.
Britain working with allies to support shipping through Strait of Hormuz
Five Iranian women's soccer players granted humanitarian visas in Australia
Almost 700,000 displaced after Israeli strikes on Lebanon, UN agencies say
Iran fighting back but not stronger than U.S. thought, top U.S. general says
British warship HMS Dragon departs for Eastern Mediterranean
One dead, several injured in Iranian attack on Manama building
Russian drones injure 20 in Ukraine's Kharkiv, Dnipro
Trump says war could be over soon, as Iran rallies behind new leader
