Qatar's real r gross domestic product (GDP) grew 6.2 per cent year on year in the first quarter on the back of strong non-oil and gas exports, data from the Gulf country's statistics body showed.

The world's top liquefied natural gas exporter was likely to see continued growth in 2013-14, thanks to the strong government capital spending increases, the Qatar Statistics Authority stated in its report.

Analysts polled by Reuters in April forecast real GDP growth of 5 per cent this year and in 2014 after a 6.2 per cent expansion in 2012, it added.-Reuters