A Strategic Partnership
A UK-Qatar Typhoon
Security and Defence Partners
Qatar and the UK have a strong military partnership which recognises the strategic role that Qatar represents in the Gulf region. The UK provides extensive training to support Qatari military capabilities.
Cooperation extends to joint training on a squadron of Hawk and Typhoon aircraft and to employing Voyager aircraft to refuel Qatari military aircraft.
UK armed forces were deployed to support the Qatari Ministry of Defence’s counter-terrorism operation during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, helping to ensure a safe and secure event.
We value our strong and long-standing Qatari-UK defence partnership
Economic Partnership
Qatar is one of the UK’s leading trade partners outside Europe and a major investor in the UK.
Under a new UK-Qatar Strategic Investment Partnership signed in 2022, Qatar committed to investing up to £10 billion across the UK in key industries, such as fintech, zero emission vehicles, life sciences and cyber security and to creating jobs and growth in new industries.
Not only will the Strategic Investment Partnership boost local economies and support jobs, but it supports our green economy and decarbonisation – crucial in meeting our Net Zero targets. It also ” strengthens our relationship with Qatar.
Significant numbers:
£13bn in UK
in UK-Qatar trade every year and rising fast. *
£40bn
of Qatari investment in the UK in 2021, making the UK one of the largest recipients of Qatari foreign direct investment.
1,200+
British businesses operating in Qatar.
£5.3bn
UK Annual Exports to Qatar in year up to 30 June 2023 **
* Total UK exports to Qatar amounted to £4.9 billion in 2022 (an increase of 103.8% or £2.5 billion in current prices, compared to 2021). Total UK imports from Qatar amounted to £8.5 billion in 2022 (an increase of 275.1% or £6.2 billion in current prices, compared to 2021).
** Source: ONS UK total trade: all countries, seasonally adjusted.
Real Estate Investment
The UK has benefited from multibillion-pound investments made by the property development business, Qatari Diar, with its urban developments in Glasgow, Manchester and Leeds.
Qatari Diar’s London portfolio includes:
Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority, is also a significant investor in the UK with an extensive portfolio of property interests and investments which include:
Energy Partners
- Qatar is a major supplier of energy to the UK in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
- To meet the UK’s long-term energy needs Qatar co- funded the construction of South Hook LNG Terminal in Wales where LNG is offloaded into special containers. It is Europe’s largest LNG terminal. It is set to play a vital role in boosting UK’s energy security as production in the North Sea declines. Together with the smaller Dragon LNG terminal nearby, it can handle up to 25% of the UK’s gas needs. The Qatari government is investing millions to up that capacity by a quarter by 2025.
- Energy cooperation was further strengthened in 2020 when Qatar and the UK entered a 25 year agreement for the storage and re-gasification of LNG in Kent.
- In 2021, Qatar Energy (QE) and Royal Dutch Shell signed an agreement to jointly invest in blue and green hydrogen projects in the UK.
Technology Partners
Qatar and UK have partnered to develop clean technologies, life sciences, biotech, agri-tech and EVs/battery technology.