Relations between State of Qatar and Germany

Relations between the two countries considered in Doha and in Berlin as close and good. Qatar seeks strong economic ties with Germany as Qatar gains worldwide importance because of its natural sources especially liquid natural gas LNG.

The official visit by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani to Germany in May 1999 and his short visit by the end of the same year and the Official visit of The Federal President Johannes Rau to Qatar 2001 and the short working talks that Chancellor Gerhard Schröder held in Doha in 2005 set up the ground for new solid partnership between the two countries. Also the visit of His Excellency Sheikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Thani the former Prime Minister of The State of Qatar to Germany in June 2006, contributed to this goal. Qatar and Germany organized together in Doha two conferences on the support of Afghanistan’s police forces. In February 2011, the Federal President of Germany, Christian Wulff, offically visited Qatar for business talks.

There is an increasing number of German citizens living and working in Qatar. The GTZ organisation has been supporting the Secondary School for Industrial Technology in Doha by seconding three experts as part of its international services. To enhance bilateral economic relations, the German Business Council Qatar was founded in 2003 and in the end of 2002, Qatar German Business Forum under the umbrella of NUMO V, German Near and Middle East Association. Large figure of Qatari Citizens visit Germany every year for medical treatment and also as tourists. The number of Qatari students studying in German Universities is also increasing.