Years of Culture
false
2025/01/15
The official political relationship between Qatar and France was established with the opening of a Qatari Embassy in France in 1972, one year after Qatar’s declaration of independence. The nations signed a bilateral agreement in 1974 and the relationship has gone from strength to strength over the decades since political ties began.
Officials in Doha have welcomed the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron several times in recent years, and numerous agreements have been signed between the two countries. A significant diplomatic tool between Qatar and France is the Strategic Dialogue, which enables official conversations and operations around major projects to take place. The inaugural session was held in Doha on 28th March 2022.
The Embassy of Qatar in Paris is located on Rue de Tilsitt with His Excellency Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al-Thani serving as the Qatari ambassador in France. Set within the spectacular Hôtel Landolfo-Carcano, the embassy has opened to the public each year since 2020 for the annual European Heritage Days.
The Embassy of France in the State of Qatar is based in Doha's West Bay district, headed by Ambassador Jean-Baptiste Faivre. It serves approximately 5,500 French citizens based in Qatar.
The economic relationship between Qatar and France is a dynamic partnership, reinforced by strong trade agreements and significant mutual investments across a wide range of sectors. There is strong bilateral trade between Qatar and France, consistently surpassing USD 1 billion per year since 2014 (and reaching just under USD 1.7 billion in 2021).
In 2023, The Investment Promotion Agency (IPA) Qatar and Business France released the “Qatar-France Report on Bilateral Trade and Foreign Direct Investment”, which highlighted the scale and success of this collaboration.
Qatar has extensive investments in France, perhaps the most high profile of which being the iconic Paris Saint-Germain football club, which has been majority owned by Qatar Sports Investments since 2011. There are also currently over 120 French businesses registered in Qatar.
Qadran is a Franco-Qatari economic circle founded in 2015 on the initiative of the Qatari business community in France. The association aims to facilitate the exchange of ideas between the Qatari and French business communities and lay a strong foundation for future collaborations.
Cultural relations between France and Qatar are vibrant and multifaceted, highlighted by numerous educational and cultural initiatives that bridge the two nations. Collaborative projects between Qatar and France have spanned fields including fashion, architecture, cinema, gastronomy and more. This profound collaboration reflects the shared commitment of both nations to enhancing mutual understanding and cultural appreciation.
The French Institute in Qatar plays a proactive role in promoting French culture in Qatar, through language lessons, themed workshops, events and a “mediatheque” cultural library. They also organise events for adults and children around French literature at the Doha International Book Fair.
Qatar regularly hosts French cultural festivals, art exhibitions, film screenings and more. The TII Language Center in Doha offers French language instruction to the community in Doha. French schools in Doha include Lycée Bonaparte and Lycée Voltaire. Several educational exchanges and partnerships between universities have further deepened these ties, including the recent "France Day in Qatar”.
In 2022 a plaque was unveiled at the Arab World Institute (AWI) in Paris by His Excellency Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al Thani, Qatar’s Ambassador to France, honouring Qatar for its support for the Arabic Language House project.
Earlier this year, the prestigious French Michelin guide announced it will be expanding into Qatar with the very first Michelin Guide Doha in 2025.
"These past few years, our inspectors have been keeping a watchful eye on Doha’s culinary evolution and continue to relish the wonderful diversity that this fast-paced city has to offer.” - Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guides.
Known as “the architect of flavour”, renowned French chef Alain Ducasse opened his first haute cuisine restaurant in Doha at the Museum of Islamic Art in 2013. IDAM combines Mediterranean cuisine with Arabian flavours in a stunning Philippe Starcke designed setting.
The chef’s second restaurant in Qatar, Jiwan, opened on the fourth floor of the National Museum of Qatar, paying homage to Qatari cuisine and prioritising local produce.
French architects have played an important role in some of Qatar’s most iconic and standout buildings. The spectacular Place Vendôme mall in Qatar is inspired by the elegance of classic French architecture, and in 2023 was awarded “World’s Most Beautiful Shopping Mall” at the prestigious Prix Versailles.
The breathtaking structure of the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) in Doha was designed by Prikzer-Prize winning French architect Jean Nouvel.
A special event was held in Paris in 2022 honouring both the architect Jean Nouvel and Alain Ducasse for their contributions to strengthening the creative cultural relationship between Qatar and France.
Qatar and France also have a historic sporting relationship. 14 Qatari athletes participated in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, bringing sport in Qatar to the forefront yet again. Notably athlete Mutaz Essa Barshim won a bronze medal in the Men’s high jump category.
The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ saw the French national team reach the final of the tournament at Lusail Stadium in Doha. Earlier this year, the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum presented a film screening and exhibition in celebration of legendary French footballer, Zinédine Zidane.
France and Qatar share a dynamic relationship around fashion, with the Qatar-France 2020 Year of Culture celebrating French haute couture alongside Qatari designers.
Non-profit organisation Fashion Trust Arabia shone a spotlight on the best of fashion from the MENA region, presenting pieces by up and coming designers during Paris Fashion Week in January 2020. A reception was held for esteemed guests including Carine Roitfeld, Elie Saab and Farida Khelfa at the Qatari Embassy.
Luxury French Fashion House Hermès also brought their touring exhibition Once Upon a Bag to NMoQ in Doha. The Hermès Heritage exhibition explored the story of the high-end fashion brand from its origins to the present day.
In 2020, the 9th Edition of Years of Culture took place between Qatar and France, with a packed programme of celebrations, exhibitions, performances and events.
Some of the stand-out events included the hugely successful Our World is Burning exhibition at the Palais Tokyo in Paris and an artistic collaboration for the Nuit Blanche contemporary arts festival.
Years of Culture also facilitated an inspiring trip to Paris for 12 emerging Qatari designers from Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar to exhibit their work at the prestigious Maison & Objets design fair.
Organised in partnership with the Musée national Picasso-Paris, the Picasso’s Studios exhibition at Fire Station in Doha gave visitors a fascinating insight into the artist’s different studio spaces throughout his lifetime.
In 2022, several meaningful events were held as part of celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Qatar and France. The Aubusson Tapestry Project was a collaboration between contemporary Qatari artist Bouthayna Al Muftah, and Aubusson Tapestry, a 600-year-old French institution.
The ties of long-lasting friendship between Qatar and France are reflected in their significant political, economic and cultural engagements since diplomatic ties between the countries first began.
As part of the legacy of the Qatar-France 2020 Year of Culture, several exhibitions opened in 2024 in Doha, including Chaumet & Nature, a jewellery exhibition at M7 and The Art and Influence of Jean-Léon Gérôme at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art.
Read more about the current edition of Years of Culture.
