Communicating Credibility and Certainty in Qatar’s Foreign Policy

Qatar’s newly-appointed Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who is also the country’s foreign minister, recently reaffirmed the importance of soft diplomacy in an interview, adding that it “contributes greatly” to Doha’s “position as a major and important player in the region and the world”. Qatar’s quest to cement its place in the international arena was also boosted by its success as host of the World Cup. Despite this, however, Qatar has not escaped criticism over human rights, or prevent the various diplomatic crises it faced in the 2010s. Nevertheless, the country has sought to establish itself as both a mediator and a humanitarian channel in crises.

How does Doha earn sufficient credibility to tip countries over to its side? In an era fraught with fake news and disinformation campaigns, how does Qatar communicate its foreign policy effectively, while repulsing criticism? Will the gleaming facilities built for the World Cup end up as white elephants now that the tournament is over? What is “Qatar’s brand”?

To answer the above questions and more, the Middle East Institute will welcome Mr. Ibrahim Al-Hashmi, the Director of Media and Communication at Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for its first in-person session for the Bridging the Gulf series.