In line with the shared commitment of the Qatari and Egyptian leaderships to strengthen co-operation and co-ordination between Doha and Cairo, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt is embarking on an official visit to Qatar. This visit to Doha carries significant weight amid the current regional and global developments, which call for enhanced consultation and co-ordination between the two countries.
These efforts aim to address the latest developments and issues impacting Arab security, the legitimate aspirations and rights of Arab peoples, and to foster Arab unity, security, and stability in the region and beyond serving the collective interests and positions of Arab nations on various international platforms.
The Qatari-Egyptian summit in Doha reflects the high level of excellence reached in bilateral relations and underscores the shared determination of both leaderships to deepen co-operation and co-ordination across all levels for the benefit of the two countries and their brotherly nations.
Qatar-Egypt relations witnessed a dynamic momentum, marked by reciprocal visits between the two leaders. In June 2022, His Highness the Amir paid an official visit to Egypt, during which he discussed with President al-Sisi ways to strengthen and expand bilateral ties, particularly in the fields of investment, energy, defence, culture, and sports. The talks also touched on a range of current regional and international issues, with both leaders exchanging views especially regarding developments in the Middle East.
Again, in November 2023, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani made a fraternal visit to Egypt. During the visit, His Highness and President al-Sisi held official talks at Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo. Discussions focused on further enhancing bilateral relations across various sectors, as well as reviewing pressing issues on the regional and international stages. Chief among these were the situation in occupied Palestinian territories and joint efforts to end the aggression on Gaza, de-escalate tensions, and facilitate the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid aimed at protecting civilians and contributing to regional stability.
Both sides reaffirmed their unwavering and continuous support for the Palestinian cause and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people particularly their right to establish an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the two-state solution. They also strongly condemned all violations against the Palestinian people, their land, and their holy sites, which undermine efforts to reach a just resolution to the issue.
In September 2022, President al-Sisi paid an official visit to Qatar. His Highness the Amir and the Egyptian president held official talks, during which they discussed the close bilateral relations and explored ways to strengthen and develop them across various fields, particularly in investment, transport, and social affairs. The talks also covered several regional and international issues of mutual concern. During the visit, the Amir and the president witnessed the signing of several memorandums of understanding between the governments of Qatar and Egypt in the fields of investment, ports, and social development.
President al-Sisi extended an invitation to Qatari business leaders to visit Egypt and explore the wide range of investment opportunities available across all economic sectors. Speaking at the opening of the Qatari-Egyptian Business Forum, he emphasised that sectors such as agriculture, commerce, real estate, and industry are all open for investment whether in partnership with the government or with Egypt’s private sector.
He also expressed Egypt’s readiness to offer genuine investment opportunities to Qatari private enterprises, highlighting Egypt’s progress in modernising infrastructure such as new road networks, power plants, and modern public transport systems as well as legal and regulatory reforms that meet investors’ expectations and pave the way for sustainable growth.
As part of the ongoing high-level exchanges between the two countries, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, has made several visits to Egypt including a visit in March 2022 and again in November 2024. In turn, Prime Minister of Egypt, Dr Mostafa Madbouly, paid an official visit to Qatar in February 2023 and returned to Doha in December to participate in the 2024 Doha Forum.
In March last year, Doha hosted the fifth session of the Qatar-Egypt Joint Supreme Committee. The session reviewed the growing co-operation between the two nations and explored ways to further develop their ties particularly in the areas of trade, investment, diplomacy, social affairs, education, youth, and sports. In this regard, both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral relations in a way that also contributes to broader Arab co-operation.
The discussions also addressed the latest developments in Gaza and occupied Palestinian territories, with both sides emphasising the urgency of reaching an immediate ceasefire, ensuring the protection of civilians under siege, and guaranteeing the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza. During the session, a number of memorandums of understanding and executive co-operation programs were signed between the two sides in areas such as investment, diplomacy, social affairs, public education, youth, and sports.
Qatar-Egypt relations have seen significant progress on the economic front over the past three years particularly in the area of investment which helped boost bilateral trade and expand mutual investments.
The volume of trade between the two countries rose to approximately $1.2bn in 2024, up from $890mn in 2022. This growth is attributed to several factors, including streamlined investment procedures, removal of customs barriers, and strengthened collaboration on joint projects.
There has also been a flurry of activity in mutual visits by trade and economic delegations between the two countries, with a strong focus on enhancing investment co-operation particularly in sectors such as tourism, healthcare, real estate, oil, and gas. Multiple Egyptian delegations visiting Doha briefed Qatari business leaders on Egypt’s ongoing economic renaissance and its landmark development projects, including New Administrative Capital, new ports, and expansive road networks, as well as the range of incentives offered to foreign investors. They also highlighted a wealth of investment opportunities across various sectors, including industry, agriculture, tourism, healthcare, education, hospitality, green energy, food processing, automotive manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and port development. These efforts are backed by Egypt’s advanced infrastructure, favourable legislation, streamlined procedures, and access to export markets. The country is also expanding its network of free zones currently home to nine with additional zones in the pipeline.
In turn, the Qatari business sector invited Egyptian companies and investors to explore investment opportunities in Qatar, which has emerged as a leading investment destination both regionally and globally. This position is underpinned by a progressive legal and administrative framework that allows 100% foreign ownership across a wide range of economic and commercial activities. Besides to a world-class infrastructure designed to meet the full spectrum of investor needs. Key logistical advantages include Single Window platform for business registration, a network of free zones, Hamad International Airport, and Hamad Port.
There are about 261 Qatari companies operating in Egypt, with Qatari investments totalling $2.165bn. Of this, $249mn is in the tourism sector, around $208mn in construction, and about $36mn in the industrial sector. In March 2022, Qatar announced investments worth $5bn on the sidelines of the visit of HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani to Cairo.
Several Egyptian companies are actively operating in the Qatari market, while Qatar also maintains significant investments in Egypt. Notably, Qatar Investment Authority holds investments estimated at around $3.317bn in resorts and tourism projects within Egypt.
Reflecting the deep-rooted fraternal ties between Qatar and Egypt, Doha hosted the Egyptian Cultural Week in January, 2025. The event showcased a wide array of creative expressions from visual arts and music to traditional crafts, folklore performances, and cultural exhibitions highlighting the richness of Egypt’s contemporary cultural scene as well as its heritage.
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