Doha: A Joint Communiqu© was issued following the second annual Strategic Dialogue between the State of Qatar and the United Kingdom, held in Doha on April 27, 2025. The meeting was co-chaired by HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, and the UK's Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, the Rt Hon David Lammy MP. Under the theme 'Partners for the Future', the dialogue aimed to reinforce the Qatar-UK partnership across trade, defence, global challenges, and cultural exchanges.
According to Qatar News Agency, the dialogue built on the "Future Framework" established during HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani's state visit to the UK in December 2024. Both countries committed to enhancing collaboration across four key pillars: trade, investment and economy, defence, security and counterterrorism, leadership on global issues, and people-to-people connections. New initiatives were announced to further these aims, aligning with Qatar's National Vision 2030 and the UK's economic growth mission.
The economic partnership between Qatar and the UK is robust, with trade volume surpassing £5.6 billion in 2024. Qatari investments in the UK are valued at over £40 billion, reflecting a deep economic interdependence. The dialogue highlighted new collaborative ventures, including a partnership with Rolls Royce in clean energy technologies and an MoU on financial services between the Qatar Ministry of Finance and HM Treasury.
In defence and security, both nations celebrated their longstanding partnership and agreed to deepen military cooperation. The dialogue underscored the importance of joint efforts against terrorism, with a focus on enhancing each other's defence industrial capabilities. Two key agreements were noted: a Memorandum of Understanding between the UK Home Office and Qatar's Ministry of Interior and the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya), and a joint action plan for law enforcement collaboration.
The communiqu© also reiterated both nations' commitment to global stability and humanitarian efforts. They pledged to co-fund USD 100 million in humanitarian and development programs, targeting regions such as the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Syria, and Yemen. The UK praised Qatar's mediation efforts in Middle Eastern conflicts, including its role in facilitating a ceasefire in Gaza.
Cultural and educational ties remain a cornerstone of the Qatar-UK relationship. The dialogue emphasized initiatives to combat hate narratives and foster inclusion. Both countries committed to deepening AI cooperation and announced the establishment of a Qatar-UK Science, Innovation and Technology Working Group. Additionally, an upcoming MoU on Tourism Cooperation aims to promote cultural exchange and travel.
Foreign policy discussions focused on regional issues, including support for a two-state solution in the Middle East, stability in Syria and Lebanon, and diplomatic efforts concerning US-Iran relations. The UK acknowledged Qatar's mediation in conflicts such as the one in eastern DRC and its support for Ukraine's territorial integrity.
The Strategic Dialogue concluded with a commitment to further deepen Qatar-UK cooperation across all pillars of the Future Framework. The next dialogue is scheduled to take place in London in 2026, where progress will be reviewed and new priorities set to advance the partnership.