Amir of Qatar visits Parliament

The Amir addressed both Houses assembled in the Robing Room of the House of Lords. The Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, gave a welcome speech and the Lord Speaker, Lord McFall of Alcluith, responded to the Amir's address.

Get involved

• See photos from the Amir's visit to Parliament
• Read the speeches by the Speaker of the House of Commons and the Lord Speaker
• Watch the speeches on Parliament TV later today.

Further information

• The Speaker of the House of Commons
• The Lord Speaker
• About Parliament: Addresses to members of Parliament

Speech by Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle

Your Highnesses, my Lords, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, 

It is a privilege to welcome you on behalf of the House of Commons, as well as on behalf of everyone assembled here on this state visit to the Parliament of the United Kingdom.  

The room we are in today is the Robing Room. It is a special place where the King or Queen of the Day prepares themselves to address members of both Houses at the State Opening of Parliament. 

But it is also an important place in the history of the relationship between our two countries - as today you will follow in the footsteps of your father, who in 2010 addressed both Houses in this very room, as you will do shortly.   

It is a particular pleasure for me to welcome you after my own official visit to Qatar in September this year - as the first ever Speaker of the House of Commons to make such a visit.  

I hope my visit helped to strengthen the relationship between our two countries by promoting greater inter-parliamentary co-operation between our two parliaments. 

On that visit I also had the privilege of an audience with you, Your Highness, in which we discussed many topics.

Of course, we discussed the important role your country has taken in mediating on hostage release following the 7th October terrorist attack, the subsequent war in the middle east and your efforts to bring about peace and the two-state solution.  

But we also talked about the importance of closer ties between the House of Commons and Shura Council and I was pleased to meet His Excellency the Speaker, Her Excellency Madame Deputy Speaker and other Members to discuss the importance of increasing engagement in decision-making processes at a national level.  

And on a lighter note, we discussed your love of football and in particular Manchester United.  But of course there is another club in Greater Manchester which would welcome your love – my brilliant and historic home team of Bolton Wanderers! 

From my visit it was clear to see the strong partnership between the United Kingdom and Qatar and the many facets that relationship has, including  our joint UK-Qatar Typhoon squadron, which is a unique defence initiative we have with no one else. I am proud that you fly the best aircraft in the world – built in Lancashire of course! And our common support for humanitarian projects and the desire to work together for peace and development.  

I applaud the aspiration in the current national development strategy for Qatar which states it is - “a partner to solve global humanitarian, social, and development challenges, by sharing knowledge and resources, creating the right forums and connections across the globe” so that the country will “serve as a true bridge between cultures and peoples.” 

One of our leading collaborations is on education and research.  

There are few things more important than developing the technologies for tomorrow. One of them is developing the people of tomorrow. I witnessed how the UK works together with Qatar on both. 

Let me acknowledge the work of the Qatar Foundation, founded by your Highness’s mother and led by your sister, Her Excellency Sheikha Hind.  

I was incredibly impressed by the Qatar Foundation campus and its philosophy on how to develop education at all levels and promote international dialogue.  

It was also great to visit your former school, Doha College and meet the next generation of Qatari leaders at the Community College of Qatar. The insightful questions I received from pupils at both places demonstrates that young people’s engagement with international politics is alive and well.   

The sphere of scientific collaboration is another area where we are working closer together as we try to solve some of the biggest challenges that the world faces such as  food and water security, artificial intelligence and cyber security, clean and renewable energy, and healthcare, and precision medicine. Through our close partnership with leading UK universities, some of which have campuses in Qatar, we are laying the foundations to solve these challenges.  

While in Doha I was struck by the Qatar Foundation’s description of its emblem, the Sidra tree: The Sidra tree, growing strong and proud in the harshest of environments, has been a symbol of perseverance and nourishment across the borders of the Arab world. 

With its roots bound in the soil of this world and its branches reaching upward toward perfection, it is a symbol of solidarity and determination. 

That solidarity and determination is essential in seeking to create peace and build a better world.  

I am sure this meaning will continue to underpin the relationship between our two countries.  

Working together we can achieve much.  

Your Highness, may I now invite you to address Parliament.

Speech by Lord Speaker, Lord McFall of Alcluith

Your Highness, my Lords, Honourable Members of the House of Commons, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

First, I would like to thank Your Highness for your words about the strong relationship which our two countries enjoy. It is an honour for us to listen to you speak here in the Robing Room of the Palace of Westminster.

The friendship between the United Kingdom and the State of Qatar stretches back for more than a century to the Treaty between our two nations signed in 1916 under Your Highness’s great-great-grandfather.

When relations between the UK and Qatar were last debated in the House of Lords, one Noble Lord described Your Highness’s country as - and I quote - a friend and an ally… a leader in the region with global influence and strategic importance for the UK.

This State Visit is a reflection of the great value which the United Kingdom places on its diplomatic, economic, military, academic and cultural links with the State of Qatar.

Our close co-operation in the realm of defence is manifested in Qatar’s role as host to the Royal Air Force’s Operational Headquarters in the Middle East as well as in the establishment of joint UK-Qatari air squadrons.

The United Kingdom greatly appreciates the valuable mediation role which Qatar has played in the current crisis in the Middle East. We commend the efforts which you have made to de-escalate and resolve the conflict and to secure the release of hostages.

Our two nations have worked together to provide humanitarian support in Gaza, arranging joint consignments of aid to civilians.

More widely, we have this year joined forces in a co-funding initiative to address humanitarian need across the Middle East and North Africa.

Under Your Highness’s leadership and that of your father, your capital Doha has been transformed into an international centre of commerce and finance, and the venue for major diplomatic conferences and global sporting and cultural events.

Many football fans from England and Wales – sadly, not Scotland - enjoyed Qatar’s hospitality when they travelled to support their teams in the 2022 World Cup. And many more Britons have since paid visits to Qatar, some as tourists and others as part of the growing academic links between our countries.

Relations between Qatar and the UK are characterised by a flourishing trade and investment partnership. This closeness was significantly bolstered by the Strategic Investment Partnership agreed during Your Highness’s visit to London in 2022.

Your Highness knows our country well, as a result of your studies at Sherborne School and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. You have paid eight previous visits to the United Kingdom as Amir. 

You joined us to mourn the loss of our late Queen Elizabeth II at her State Funeral. And you joined us again to celebrate the happy occasion of the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.

I thank Your Highness for your very gracious address to the Houses of Parliament today. I look forward to the friendship between our nations growing ever deeper and stronger in the years to come.