GU-Q hosts Model United Nations with record 863 participants

Georgetown University in Qatar’s Model United Nations (GMUN) celebrated 20th anniversary last week, marking its biggest event yet, with more than 860 participants from 55 local high schools.

The theme was *Achieving Global Solidarity and Peace in Conflict Zones: The Significance of Building Individual and Collective Agency.

GMUN’s 20-year journey has seen it grow from a single annual conference to three, reaching both local and international high school and university students.

As one of the GU-Q’s oldest flagship initiatives, the programme remains Qatar’s longest-running Model United Nations (MUN), with schools and faculty attending loyally, some for nearly two decades.

The conference began with welcomes by GMUN deputy secretary-general Nagla Abdelhady, followed by GU-Q chief operating officer Andrew Henley.

GU-Q alumna Al-Daana al-Mulla, an attorney and senior diplomat for the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivered a special keynote.

She spoke about the power of diplomacy and the pathways that the GMUN can create for aspiring changemakers.

“You are at the forefront of work to find new solutions to problems that seem intractable,” al-Mulla said, adding a message of encouragement drawn from her own experience as a student interested in international issues.

“Seeing devastation around the world today, some of us might feel overwhelmed, but I hope these coming days may offer invigoration,” she said. “As young people committed to understanding the world around you, you have an opportunity to leave this conference better prepared to find solutions.”

GU-Q dean Safwan Masri told the young diplomats: “Through this platform, you will step into the shoes of diplomats, negotiating solutions to some of the world’s most complex problems.”

“You will learn the importance of listening deeply, engaging respectfully, and standing firm in your values,” he said, setting the tone for two days of rigorous debate and collaboration.

The conference moved quickly into action, with delegates stepping into committee rooms to debate pressing global issues, from conflict resolution to climate change and humanitarian aid.

Led by GU-Q student chairs and 100 student volunteers, these young diplomats tackled complex scenarios, practiced their public speaking, and even negotiated crises, all while building skills that will serve them far beyond the conference.

The GU-Q’s next MUN event will be offered for university students in the region on November 27-29, followed by an MUN for local and international high school students on February 13-15, 2025.