Qatar and Canada share a relationship that spans over five decades, characterised by significant progress in trust-building, frequent high-level official visits, and ongoing consultations on issues of mutual concern. This longstanding partnership is rooted in mutual respect and shared interests, fostering cooperation across various sectors and producing contributions that benefit the people of the two countries.
The recent milestone visit of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Canada highlights the growing commitment to strengthening multi-faceted cooperation between the two nations. This historic visit reaffirms both countries’ dedication to deepening their strategic partnership in areas such as energy, education, trade, and natural resources. This official visit has the potential to further enhance bilateral relations and drive collaboration in key areas like economics, education, politics, and trade, while also promoting joint efforts on global political and security issues.
These strong ties reflect a high degree of understanding and coordination between Qatar and Canada, opening up new avenues for investment and cooperation. Bilateral trade has seen promising growth, with the trade balance rising to QR1.358bn in 2023, up from QR620m in 2021. Both nations continue to advance investment cooperation, particularly in energy, technology, healthcare, and defence, with Canadian companies playing a pivotal role in Qatar’s infrastructure development.
As a major global economic power and member of key international organizations like the G8 and OECD, Canada exports goods such as aircraft, machinery, electrical equipment, and paper products to Qatar, while importing mineral fuels, aluminium, and fertilisers. To further expand trade and investment ties, Qatar and Canada have signed several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), establishing a framework for cooperation and exchange in specific sectors, with a focus on driving growth and innovation in areas like financial services and professional business services. The State of Qatar and Canada have close relations based on understanding and upholding values from humanitarian perspectives in various fields, especially cultural ones.
The relationship between Qatar and Canada also extends to cultural and academic collaboration, rooted in shared values and a commitment to humanitarian principles. Both countries place great importance on cultural affairs, continually seeking to enhance cooperation and cultural exchange. Their shared appreciation for human cultural diversity fosters closer ties, particularly in cultural and academic partnerships. Institutions like the University of Calgary (UCQ) and the University of Doha for Science and Technology (formerly the College of the North Atlantic) exemplify this enduring collaboration, with a longstanding presence in Doha since 2006.
