The State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Spain have affirmed their commitment to a deepened strategic partnership during the inaugural Qatar-Spain Strategic Dialogue held in Madrid. The meeting, attended by His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, and His Excellency Jose Manuel Albares Bueno, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain, marks a significant milestone in bilateral relations.
At the heart of their discussions was a shared ambition to enhance cooperation across various sectors, prominently including renewable energy and climate change mitigation. Both countries expressed their dedication to leveraging clean technologies to address global challenges such as environmental sustainability and energy security.
The dialogue underscored the importance of the Memorandum of Understanding signed during Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon’s visit to Doha in 2024, which formalized commitments to deepen collaboration in areas like renewable energy, trade, investment, education, and innovation.
“Qatar and Spain share a vision for a sustainable future, and renewable energy is pivotal to achieving that goal,” stated Prime Minister Al-Thani. “Our partnership aims to advance clean energy technologies and contribute to global efforts in combating climate change.”
Minister Albares emphasized Spain’s recognition of Qatar’s efforts in promoting peace and stability in the Middle East and beyond, highlighting Qatar’s mediation efforts and humanitarian initiatives in Gaza and other conflict zones.
The economic ties between the two nations are robust, with over 1.4 billion euros in trade last year alone. Qatar remains a significant investor in Spain, particularly in sectors like energy and real estate, bolstering economic growth and job creation in both countries.
Looking ahead, both parties discussed expanding investments in technology-enabled sectors and the circular economy, aligning with Spain’s national priorities and Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy (2024-2030).
“We see great potential in collaborating on innovation programs and clean technologies through initiatives like the Qatar-Spain Innovation Program,” noted Minister Albares.
The dialogue concluded with a commitment to further strengthen bilateral relations, enhance regional security cooperation, and support initiatives promoting global peace and prosperity. Both Qatar and Spain reaffirmed their support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and pledged to continue efforts towards sustainable development goals.
