Years of Culture
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2025/07/14
This article explores the warm ties of friendship between Qatar and Türkiye, highlighting their political dialogue, economic ventures, and people-to-people connections, including the landmark Qatar-Türkiye 2015 Year of Culture.
Diplomatic relations between Qatar and Türkiye were established in 1972, with the countries recently celebrating the 50th anniversary of official ties.
Türkiye maintains a diplomatic presence in Qatar through the Embassy of Türkiye in Doha, led by His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Mustafa Göksu. Qatar's diplomatic representation in Türkiye is headed by His Excellency Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed bin Nasser bin Jassim Al Thani at the Embassy of Qatar in Ankara, and a further consulate in Istanbul.
A major milestone in the diplomatic relationship between the countries was the establishment of the Qatar-Türkiye Supreme Strategic Committee in 2014, which serves as the cornerstone of bilateral collaboration. Co-chaired annually by His Highness The Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the committee has convened regularly in both countries for the past decade. Each session has resulted in the signing of numerous agreements and Memorandums of Understanding across various sectors.
The strategic partnership between Türkiye and Qatar has gone from strength to strength, through a series of high-level diplomatic engagements.
In 2021, President Erdoğan paid a state visit to Doha which culminated in the signing of 15 new cooperation agreements, reinforcing the strength of the alliance. The 10th Supreme Strategic Committee meeting, held in Ankara in November 2024, further underscored this close partnership, followed by high-level discussions in December 2024 focused on strategic ties and regional issues.
Political consultations between the two countries’ foreign ministries also reflect this dynamic relationship, with the inaugural session held in October 2018. More recently, in April 2025, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visited Qatar, where he was received at Lusail Palace by His Highness The Amir.
Economic cooperation between Qatar and Türkiye has grown into a dynamic and multifaceted partnership, marked by significant trade exchanges and long-term investments. Over the past decade Qatar-Türkiye trade relations have seen remarkable growth, reaching over USD 1.8 billion in 2023.
The Qatar-Türkiye economic partnership is underpinned by multiple trade agreements and a shared commitment to economic diversification. Turkish exports to Qatar include transformers, food products, and machinery, while Qatar’s exports to Türkiye, worth QR1.64 billion in 2023, primarily comprise petroleum products and raw aluminium.
Turkish contractors have played a pivotal role in Qatari infrastructure development, notably contributing to projects related to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. Meanwhile, platforms such as the Qatar-Türkiye Business Forum have provided platforms for investors and entrepreneurs from both nations to explore opportunities. There is a shared ambition to raise bilateral trade to USD 5 billion in the medium term.
Notable initiatives in 2024 included the first session of the Qatari-Turkish Joint Committee for Economic and Trade Cooperation held in Istanbul, co-chaired by both countries’ trade ministers.
Additionally, Qatari participation in the Arab-Turkish Chambers meeting in Cairo underscored a commitment to deepening commercial ties. Together, these efforts reflect a strong and evolving economic alliance, anchored in a shared vision for long-term prosperity.
Qatar ranks among the largest foreign investors in Türkiye, with the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) acquiring significant stakes in various Turkish enterprises, including Borsa Istanbul, major banks and the auto-manufacturer BMC.
Around 200 Qatari companies operate in the Turkish market, while more than 770 Turkish firms are active in Qatar, including 15 within the Qatar Free Zones. Investment activity spans sectors including real estate, construction, tourism, technology, media, and healthcare, with recent trends focusing on ports and digital technologies.
The cultural connection between Qatar and Türkiye is rich and deeply rooted, fuelled by shared heritage and a mutual appreciation for the arts, history, and faith. Regular cultural exchanges and collaborations help strengthen people-to-people ties and promote cross-cultural understanding.
The opening of the first Turkish school in Qatar in 2016 marked a milestone in serving the growing Turkish community and promoting bilingual education. This school has not only helped maintain cultural ties for Turkish families in Qatar but also introduced Qatari students to aspects of Turkish language and history. The Translation and Interpreting Institute at Hamad Bin Khalifa University also offers a Turkish Programme for adults.
The Yunus Emre Enstitüsü Cultural Centre was inaugurated in Doha in December 2015. Named after the 13th-century Turkish poet and philosopher, the centre serves as a hub for promoting Turkish language, literature, art, and history.
Programmes include Turkish language courses, art exhibitions, lectures, and workshops, with the aim of building bridges between Turkish and Qatari communities. The centre is part of a wider network of over 60 such centres around the world, all working to enhance cultural understanding through education and exchange.
In 2018, Qatar and Türkiye strengthened their cultural cooperation through a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Qatar National Library (QNL) and the National Library of Türkiye. Signed during the official opening of QNL in Doha, the agreement focused on the exchange of historical documents, scientific resources, and cultural expertise.
As part of this initiative, Türkiye gifted 400 books by Turkish authors to QNL, enriching its multilingual collection and deepening public access to Turkish literature and history. The agreement also paved the way for joint digitisation projects, archival collaboration, and professional training in areas such as cataloguing, conservation, and library systems.
This partnership was further expanded in 2021, with a renewed focus on science, technology, and cultural innovation. Both agreements align with shared commitments under the UNESCO framework, reflecting Qatar and Türkiye’s mutual investment in preserving heritage and promoting knowledge exchange.
Qatar also hosted Türkiye’s National Day at the International Horticultural Expo 2023 in Doha, celebrating Turkish heritage through music, dance, cuisine, and traditional arts. The event was attended by officials, ambassadors, and members of the Turkish community in Qatar.
The Qatar-Türkiye 2015 Year of Culture marked a high point in the bilateral relationship, showcasing the strength of the nations' cultural bond through a year-long programme of exhibitions, performances, and public events.
The 4th edition of Years of Culture was officially launched with a grand Turkish Gala at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) in Doha, featuring musicians from Türkiye's Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
A Turkish Festival and Bazaar at MIA Park brought the vibrant sounds and colours of Turkish culture to the Qatari capital, featuring traditional music, the Mehteran Ottoman Military Band, mesmerising folk dance performances, a charming Turkish tea house, and an enchanting open-air cinema experience.
The impressive Harem Al Sultan Exhibition at Katara Cultural Village displayed a curated set of props, costumes and accessories used during the popular Turkish series of the same name, based on the era of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.
The Hunt exhibition at MIA featured a collection of works from Qatari and Turkish museums celebrating royal hunters and the sport of hunting as portrayed in Islamic art.
Photography exhibition Language without Words held at Istanbul’s Archaeology Museum showcased the work of Sheikh Khalid Al Thani, with a focus on Qatar’s desert landscapes and impressive natural heritage. A striking exhibition of pearl jewellery from Qatar and other cultures at the Turkish and Islamic Art Museum in Istanbul also paid homage to Qatar’s maritime heritage.
Additionally, the "Artistic Journeys: New Angles; New Perspectives" photography project united emerging Qatari and Turkish photographers to document the lives of ordinary people across both nations, offering fresh narratives and visual storytelling.
As part of the festivities, Qatar Street was officially inaugurated in one of Istanbul's prestigious neighbourhoods, symbolising the enduring alliance between the two nations.
Türkiye also participated in the Qatar-MENASA 2022 Year of Culture, bringing the traditional Karagöz and Hacivatshadow puppet show to life in Doha, and organising an event to celebrate National Sovereignty and Children's Day. Additionally, Türkiye took part in the Flag Plaza Community Days Festival, further celebrating cultural diversity and strengthening ties within the MENASA region.
Qatar and Türkiye have built a strong and dynamic partnership rooted in shared values, common goals and vibrant cultural exchanges that bring their people closer together.
The 2015 Year of Culture set a precedent for future collaborations and affirmed the transformative power of cultural diplomacy. It showed that Qatar-Türkiye diplomatic relations are not just confined to politics and economics, but are equally enriched by human connections and artistic expression.
The Qatar-Türkiye partnership stands as a compelling example of how diplomacy, commerce, and culture can come together to shape a meaningful international alliance.
Discover upcoming Years of Culture events in Qatar.
