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 Qatar |  United Kingdom |
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Qatar – United Kingdom relations (Arabic:العلاقات البريطانية القطرية,romanized: al-ʻAlāqāt al-Barīṭānīyah al-Qaṭarīyah are thebilateral relations between theState of Qatar and theUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, covering a wide range of issues and activities of mutual interest.
In 1868, BritishLieutenant General andEast India Company officer SirLewis Pelly arrived inBahrain to protect British interests through the enforcement of the earlierPerpetual Maritime Truce of 1853 following a number of raids by members of tribes in the region. Pelly believed these raids had been orchestrated by the ruler of Bahrain and he resolved the situation by insisting that the rulers of Qatar, Bahrain andAbu Dhabi sign declarations to affirm their commitment to the truce. The Qatari declaration, which was signed byMohammed bin Thani, principal ruler of the Qatari tribes, was the first recognition of Qatar as independent from Bahrain. Ultimately this treaty became the starting point for theBritish government’s recognition of Qatar as an independentsovereign state.[1]
TheOttomans officially renouncedsovereignty over Qatar in 1913. The new rulerAbdullah bin Jassim Al Thani signed a treaty with Britain in 1916, thereby instating the area under thetrucial system. This meant that Qatar relinquished its autonomy in foreign affairs, such as the power to cede territory, and other affairs, in exchange for Britain's military protection from external threats.[2]
Initially, the British were reluctant to involve themselves in inland affairs. However, when oil was discovered in the area in the 1930s, the race for oil concessions intensified. In 1938, theAnglo-Persian Oil Company began drilling its first well inDukhan and a year later, the well-struck oil.[3]
In June 2023, the UK announced Qatari citizens will no longer have to apply for a visa to enter the UK, but will be able to obtain an online ETA permit for £10, starting in October 2023.[4][5]
In July 2023, the UK’s Foreign SecretaryJames Cleverly visitedDoha and held talks withPrime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.[6][7] They discussed regional issues and closer cooperation on security, defense and economy.[8]
Bilateral relations between the two countries have expanded since the opening of theBritish embassy inDoha in 1949, marked by the arrival ofBritish Political OfficerJohn Wilton.[9] The embassy’s mandate is to develop and maintain relations between the United Kingdom and Qatar, dealing with a range of political, commercial, security and economic questions of interest to both countries.[10] The currentUK ambassador to Qatar isNeerav Patel.
Qatar has had an embassy inLondon since 1970, based inMayfair. The current Qatari ambassador to the UK is Fahad Mohammed Al-Attiyah.[11]
On November 6, 2024, King Charles III of the United Kingdom received the credentials of Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud Al-Thani as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Qatar to the United Kingdom. The ambassador conveyed the greetings and well-wishes of the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. In return, King Charles III extended his greetings and best wishes to the Amir and expressed hopes for continued progress and prosperity for Qatar.[12]
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UK Prime MinisterDavid Cameron visited Qatar in 2011, and thethen Emir of Qatar made a 3-daystate visit in October 2010.[13]
The current Emir of Qatar made a state visit to the UK in October 2014.[14]
In March 2013,Prince Charles and his wifethe Duchess of Cornwall, arrived in Qatar for a state visit.[15]
On 20 September 2019, British Prime MinisterBoris Johnson hosted SheikhTamim bin Hamad Al Thani at theDowning Street.[16] Johnson pressed over the fact that the UK’s relation with Qatar is going from “strength to strength”.[17]
On 24 May 2022, Sheikh Tamim met with Prime Minister Boris Johnson to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the UK-Qatar bilateral relations inLondon.[18]
In early May 2023, Sheikh Tamim was invited to the coronation ofKing Charles III.[19] During the visit, Sheikh Tamim met withPrime Minister Rishi Sunak, discussing theRussian invasion of Ukraine, the2022 FIFA World Cup, and furthering the strategic relations between the countries.[20][21][22][23]
DuringOperation Herrick in Afghanistan andOperation Telic in Iraq, theRoyal Air Force stationed forces atAl Udeid Air Base in Qatar. After these forces withdrew, the airbase became home toNo. 83 Expeditionary Air Group, the RAF's headquarters for military operations in the Middle East.[24] Since 2014, the airbase has supportedOperation Shader, the UK's intervention againstISIS in Iraq and Syria.[25][26] It has also hosted RAFBoeing RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft in support of this operation.[27]
The UK and Qatar signed a Defence Cooperation Agreement in November 2014.[28]
In February 2014, theRoyal Navy warshipHMS Monmouth hostedNATO delegates in the port of Doha in Qatar.[29]
Qatari cadets attend theRoyal Military Academy Sandhurst each year, and the current Emir of Qatar,Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, is a Sandhurst graduate.[30]
British military also provide officer training to Qatari forces in Qatar.[31]
In 2018, the two countries' air forces formed a joint squadron ofEurofighter Typhoons, namedNo. 12 Squadron RAF, based atRAF Coningsby in England. It was the UK's first joint squadron sinceWorld War II.[32] It became operational in December 2020 and was followed by a second joint squadron consisting ofBAE Systems Hawk advanced training jets, in addition to RAFaerial refueling support.[33] The UK government announced in April 2021 that it has increased the number of flying hours for RAF pilots and has also invested in new training facilities and infrastructure at RAF Leeming. The success of the 12 Squadron served as an idol for their relationship, which improved Qatar's capacity to address Middle East security issues, promote regional stability, and safeguard UK security.[34] Defense SecretaryBen Wallace said in his statement, “In order to face off new and emerging threats, it is vital we collaborate with our international allies to tackle our shared security challenges and our long-standing relationship with Qatar exemplifies this. By working together, we continue to share skills and expertise whilst promoting global security and driving prosperity at home. I'm delightedRAF Leeming has been chosen to base the historic second UK-Qatari joint squadron, which recognizes the globally-held high regard of RAF flying training.”[35] Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah, Deputy Prime Minister andMinister of State for Defense Affairs in Qatar added that “An important step in the ever-growing military partnership that joinsQEAF and RAF, the joint Hawk training squadron is an integral component in increasing interoperability and coordination between both air forces, leading to closer cooperation and alignment in future military and peacekeeping efforts.”[36]
During the state visit of the Amir of Qatar to the United Kingdom in December 2024, the UK and Qatar signed agreements to enhance their defence cooperation. The agreements included expanding collaboration within the joint UK-Qatar Typhoon and Hawk squadrons and knowledge-sharing between the UK Royal Military Police and Qatar’s Amiri Guard Close Protection Unit. The visit took place at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where the Amir, a graduate of the academy, met Qatari cadets and witnessed a fly-past by RAF Typhoon and Hawk aircraft.[37]
UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) helps UK-based businesses expand in Qatar whilst also aiding Qatari businesses locate and expand in the UK.[38] For example, theLord Mayor of the City of LondonAldermanAlan Yarrow visited Qatar on 27 January 2015 to improve professional and financial services ties between the two counties, as well as to establish the newBritish Chamber of Commerce in Doha (housed in the headquarters ofHSBC). Trade and investment between UK and Qatar currently stands at £5 billion per year. The UK is the fourth largest exporter to Qatar.[39]
In March 2013, Qatar and the UK began talks to invest up to £10 billion from Qatar into keyinfrastructure projects inBritain. Among the specific schemes discussed were the new £14 billion nuclear reactor atHinkley Point inSomerset planned byEDF Energy. Qatar has also since invested inHeathrow Airport,Canary Wharf,Barclays,Sainsbury’s andHarrods.[40]
Additionally, the Qatar BritishBusiness Forum, established in 1992, is a membership organization with over 500 British companies based in Qatar.[41]
British-Dutch oil firmRoyal Dutch Shell is the second biggest investor in Qatar afterExxonMobil and has stakes in some of Qatar’sLNG production plants, known as trains.[42]
On 19 October 2021, during UK Global Investment Summit, Qatar Energy and Royal Dutch Shell signed an agreement to work together on UK's blue andgreen hydrogen projects in order to promotedecarbonization and help in achieving the UK's target of net-zero carbon emissions.[43]
The UK government has turned to Qatar to seek a long-term gas deal to ensure a stable supply ofliquefied natural gas (LNG) to the UK.[44] Prime MinisterBoris Johnson asked the current Emir of Qatar,Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, for help during a meeting at the UN General Assembly in September 2021.[45][46]
In May 2022, the UK and Qatar signed a Strategic Investment Partnership. Qatar pledged to invest up to £10 billion in the UK economy in order to create jobs and to further economic growth.[47][48]
In 2022, the UK and Qatar shared a trade volume of over £12.1 billion.[49]
On 20 February 2023, the Qatari DeputyPrime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and theBritish Foreign Secretary James Cleverly held the first annual Strategic Dialogue inLondon.[50][51]
On 4 December 2024, the two countries announced a new Climate Technology Partnership during Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, State Visit to the UK where he met KingCharles III and Prime MinisterKeir Starmer. Qatar confirmed an initial investment of £1 billion.[52]
There is pressure to remove Qatar from theOne World alliance,seeOneworld internal hostilities.
The UK and theGulf Cooperation Council, of which Qatar is a member, opened up negotiations for afree trade agreement.[53]
As of the 19 February 2024, six rounds of negotiations have been concluded for theGulf Cooperation Council–United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement.[54]
TheQatar Foundation plays an important part in facilitating educational and academic connections; the foundation sponsors Qatari students studying at UK universities, andUniversity College London (UCL) is represented at the Qatar Foundation by UCL Qatar, a branch campus partner of Hamad bin Khalifa University.On a recent official visit to Qatar, the UK’s Minister for Universities and Science, DrDavid Willetts MP, spent much time at the foundation, where he highlighted the depth and importance of collaboration between UK institutions and Qatar Foundation.[55]
There are also amicable links between the Centre for Gulf Studies atQatar University andCambridge University.[56]
In partnership with theUniversity of Ulster, offers UK accredited courses and programs within Qatar and is licensed by theMinistry of Education and Higher Education. This partnership allowed Qatari and resident students to complete educational programs and obtain UK accredited qualifications without leaving their country of residence.[57]
In 2013, the UK set up the UK Science and Innovation Network (SIN) in theGulf, based inDoha, to support science and innovation partnering in the six countries of theGulf Cooperation Council. This is in line with Qatar’s plans to spend 2.8% of its national budget annually on research and to invest heavily in infrastructure and programmes to build a knowledge economy.[58]
Some of the two countries’ collaborations in these fields include:
Additionally, Williams F1 was based at the Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP) for several years and the two organisations worked on a number of initiatives, including the promotion of road safety campaigns in Qatar.[60]
UK Prime MinisterDavid Cameron pledged the UK's support and previous experience from hosting international sporting events to Qatar and its2022 FIFA World Cup project at a meeting with the Emir of Qatar in October 2014.[61]
Qatar's winning bid was advised by Mike Lee and his communications agency Vero, the same figures behind bothLondon andRio de Janeiro’s winning Olympics bids in 2012 and 2016 respectively.[62]
Major UK-based construction and architecture firms have won major contracts to prepare Qatar for the 2022 event.Foster and Partners won a contract to design the main stadium that will host the opening and closing ceremonies,[63] whileWS Atkins won a £70 million contract to coordinate current and planned road, rail, metro and other major infrastructure projects.[64]Arup Associates was also tasked with designing a new carbon-efficient stadium.[65]
Sheffield F.C., the UK's oldest football club, announced that Qatar had invested £100,000 in the club in September 2015.[66]
In 2013, Qatar and the UK instigated the Qatar-UK Year of Culture, a year-long programme of cultural exchange between the two countries. In partnership with theVictoria and Albert Museum andQatar Museums Authority, numerous art exhibitions were launched including one of the biggestDamien Hirst exhibitions to date inDoha between October 2013 and January 2014.[67]
TheBritish Council has been involved in Qatar since 1972, working in arts, education and social programmes.[68]
In November 2021, the British Council started supporting young activists globally to implement projects that will help tackle climate change challenges to create a greener, more sustainable world.The Qatar Environment Champions programme supports Qatar’s National Vision 2030 to confront the challenges posed by climate change.This programme is funded by the FCDO Gulf Strategy Fund and delivered in partnership with the British Council Qatar.[69]
An RAF Rivet Joint surveillance plane equipped with listening devices has also been flying missions from al-Udeid air base in Qatar to eavesdrop on Isis communications.
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