Greece-Qatar ties expanding across key sectors: Ambassador

Doha, Qatar: Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to Qatar H E Christos Capodistrias has said that Greece-Qatar relations are characterised by a strong, friendly, and rapidly expanding cooperation, focusing primarily on bilateral investments, energy cooperation, as well as in the fields of defence and tourism.

“Both nations have consistently pursued deeper integration through official high-level diplomatic visits, such as H H the Amir of Qatar’s summit with H E the Greek Prime Minister recently in Athens,” Ambassador Capodistrias said in an exclusive interview with The Peninsula.

On Qatar’s role as a mediator in regional, global conflicts and Qatar’s successful diplomatic efforts to facilitate an agreement between the US and Iran, the Ambassador of Greece said that Qatar’s mediating role in pursuing regional and, in a wider perspective, peace and stability is considered significant and very much esteemed by Greece.

“Greece welcomes every State’s efforts in promoting regional and worldwide peace safeguarding along with a strong feeling for a high degree of respect of the International Law and its Institutions. Qatar’s diplomatic efforts to facilitate an agreement between the US and Iran played, as we understand, a very important role strengthening even more the regional footprint of the country as a successful dealmaker.” 

On Qatar’s role as a mediator in regional and global conflicts, the Ambassador of Greece said that Qatar’s mediating role in pursuing regional and, in a wider perspective, peace and stability is considered significant and very much esteemed by Greece.https://t.co/ic4R5afio4 pic.twitter.com/DqCc5bS9v2

— The Peninsula Qatar (@PeninsulaQatar) July 5, 2026

He further said that Greece and Qatar cooperate in a mutually beneficial way in the international fora, and in a variety of Organisations such as the United Nations and subsequent Institutions, by their shared respect to multilateralism especially in trying to secure diplomatic solutions as a response to the challenges our World keeps facing.

Talking on the significance of H H the Amir’s visit to Greece in April this year for bilateral ties, the Ambassador said that Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani paid a visit to Athens on 29-30 April 2026, accompanied by a high-level delegation.

Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to Qatar H E Christos Capodistrias during the interview. 

“During his visit, he met with the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, H E Kyriakos Mitsotakis, to discuss the latest regional developments as well as bilateral cooperation between the two countries. It was a highly significant visit that reaffirmed the two countries willingness to expand furthermore the potential of their cooperation in the fields of common interest.” To a question about bilateral investment potential, Ambassador Capodistrias said that in the course of the visit of H H the Amir, a bilateral Memorandum of Cooperation in the agri-food sector was signed. “However, our two countries have already established a mutually fruitful cooperation as Qatar places high value on Greece’s economy, and its potential as a strategic gateway into Europe. Qatari investment interests in Greece span real estate, digital economy, and energy sectors, including Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) infrastructure like the Alexandroupoli floating unit.”

Talking on the role tourism is playing in strengthening ties between Greece and Qatar, the Ambassador of Hellenic Republic noted that cooperation between Greece and Qatar in the sector of tourism is characterized by a strong, growing bilateral partnership focusing on aviation connectivity, cross-border investments in luxury hospitality, and cultural exchange.

“Air transport agreements permit frequent, direct flights by Qatar Airways connecting Hamad International Airport (DOH) to Greek hubs such as Athens, Mykonos, and Thessaloniki, facilitating a steady stream of tourists. But allow me also to add that, Qatari firms are already present in Greece’s expanding hospitality sector for investment.” On the importance of energy cooperation between Greece and Qatar, especially in the context of global energy transition, Ambassador Capodistrias observed that energy cooperation between Greece and Qatar has a great potential and it can play a crucial role on aligning Qatar’s status as a global leader in liquefied natural gas (LNG) with Greece’s role as a critical energy gateway into Europe.

“Greece’s growing network of LNG terminals and Floating Storage Regasification Units (FSRUs)—such as the infrastructure in Alexandroupoli—have the potential for providing a secure and diversified entry point for Qatari gas into the European market, especially nowadays given the current challenging situation in the global energy market.”

To another question about any joint initiatives underway in renewable energy, sustainability projects or any other joint collaboration, he said: “Our two countries continue to deepen their partnership in renewable energy and clean technologies, driven by Qatar’s sovereign wealth investments and Greece’s push to become a green energy hub for Europe. The collaboration extends beyond their traditional Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) ties into a broader bilateral economic strategy. More specifically, the Qatar Investment Authority has expanded its European clean energy footprint by becoming an anchor investor in Greece’s Public Power Corporation (PPC).”

He added, “This investment supports PPC’s $5-billion capital raise to expand renewable energy generation and distribution across Greece and the wider Balkan region. It must be mentioned that Qatar’s expertise in global gas and energy distribution is viewed by Greece as highly complementary to our expanding Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) terminals, which may position Greece as a critical gateway for future clean hydrogen and renewable electricity networks into Europe.” Talking on initiatives meant to enhance cultural exchange between peoples of both the countries, the Ambassador of Greece said that both countries have significantly expanded their cultural ties, culminating in Qatar naming Greece an official partner country for its globally celebrated “Years of Culture” initiative in 2027.

Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to Qatar H E Christos Capodistrias with his spouse. 

“This milestone underscores a growing partnership that blends their rich histories and modern societal exchanges. The 2027 Qatar-Greece Year of Culture is intended to foster the mutual understanding between the cultures of our two countries with a variety of events, which include exhibitions, academic exchanges, and concert performances in both countries.” Responding to another question on educational partnerships and student exchange programmes, the Ambassador noted that educational practices and student exchange programmes between Greece and Qatar are governed by active bilateral agreements, most notably a formalised Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Qatar University and the National and Capodistrian University of Athens.

He further said, “To this end, the partnership between Qatar University and the National and Capodistrian University of Athens facilitates faculty research, curriculum sharing, and direct student enrollment, allowing Qatari students to take semester-long courses in Greece with transferable credits. Additionally, the Qatar Olympic Academy actively participates in events hosted at the International Olympic Academy in the site of ancient Olympia, Greece, the birthplace, as you know, of the Olympic Games as early as in 776 BC, by fostering joint academic and leadership training in sports and administration.”