Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani arrived in Spain on May 17 and 18 for a state visit with a distinctly economic focus. He was received by King Felipe VI and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Madrid, signaling a strengthening of bilateral ties between Doha and Madrid.
This marks the Emir’s first official visit since he succeeded his father in 2013, following abdication. He had previously met King Felipe VI in New York during the United Nations General Assembly in September 2016. His father, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, last visited Spain in April 2011.
The Emir travels with his wife, Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani, and a high-powered delegation that includes the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Industry and Trade, and the Minister of State for Energy Affairs.
The visit began with an official reception at the Patio de Armas of the Royal Palace, where the Emir was greeted by King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and other senior figures. He then proceeded to the nearby Senate seat, where President Andrea Gil and Congress President Meritxell Batet welcomed him and presented medals from both chambers.
Later, the Emir met at Zarzuela Palace with the King. The royal hosts hosted an honorary lunch for Sheikh Hamad and his wife. In the afternoon, Madrid prepared to bestow the keys to the city upon Emir Tamim, a ceremony led by Mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida.
The day closed with a gala dinner at the Royal Palace, attended by the King and Queen, Sánchez, other government members, and notable business figures connected with the Gulf state.
Third largest natural gas reserve
On Wednesday, the Emir held talks with the Head of Government at the Palacio de la Moncloa, focusing on bilateral cooperation and energy, given Qatar’s status as home to the world’s third-largest natural gas reserves. As the European Union seeks stable energy partners, Qatar is increasingly viewed as a strategic ally. Spain sources about 4.4 percent of its natural gas from Qatar, ranking behind the United States, Algeria, Nigeria, and Egypt, according to Enagás data from April.
The Qatari embassy stated that the visit aims to deepen cooperation across levels, including signing several commercial accords and memoranda of understanding. Energy, sustainability, and the Qatar World Cup 2022—held in November and December—were highlighted as focal topics during the discussions.
Qatari ambassador Abdullah al-Hamar emphasized confidence that the visit will broaden cooperation across sectors between the two nations, underscoring a long-standing friendship and harmony in their relations.
Signing of agreements
Officials described the visit as elevating bilateral ties to a strategic level, with Spain and Qatar signing a range of agreements and memoranda of understanding across economic, investment, education, judicial, health, and scientific fields, among others.
Among the documents is a cooperation agreement on education intended to deepen collaboration and meet shared objectives approved by the government this week. The agreement envisions visits by student delegations and school teams, organization of art exhibitions, exchange of experiences and technology advances, and sharing educational materials and credentials awarded by institutions in both countries.
Additionally, a bilateral agreement was signed to transfer those sentenced to deprivation of liberty between Spain and Qatar, allowing Spaniards convicted in Qatar to serve sentences in Spanish prisons under specific conditions.
During the stay, the Qatari monarch will receive the Isabella’s Necklace, a gesture proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and approved by the Council of Ministers earlier this week. The necklace, originating from the Isabella the Catholic order of 1815, is a symbol of distinguished civil service and contributions to friendly international relations. It is a common practice for visiting foreign leaders to be honored in this way during state visits.
The visit highlights a broader effort to foster robust ties between Spain and Qatar, reflecting shared interests in energy, investment, and cultural exchange. The leaders emphasize a collaborative agenda that supports growth, stability, and mutual understanding between the two nations.