The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, affirmed that his country’s adherence to dialogue and diplomatic solutions does not mean complacency in defending its sovereignty, stressing that the security of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the protection of their stability “is something that cannot be overlooked or neglected,” at a time when the region is facing the repercussions of the war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and the economic losses caused by the attacks on energy facilities.
The Emir of Qatar said, in a speech he delivered on Tuesday, on the occasion of the opening of the second regular session of the second legislative term of the Shura Council, corresponding to the fifty-fifth annual session, that his country was subjected to “an attack on its territory by Iran, in flagrant violation of its sovereignty and the provisions of international law and the principles of good neighbourliness,” stressing that the armed forces and security services performed their duty in defending the country.
He stressed that Qatar will not abandon its approach based on dialogue and negotiation, but it will not hesitate to protect its sovereignty, saying: “Our adherence to dialogue and peaceful solutions does not mean complacency in defending our country, and our right to defend our sovereignty does not conflict with our keenness to prevent the expansion of the circle of war.”
Sheikh Tamim called for redoubling Gulf, regional and international efforts to secure navigation in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, and to protect energy and water facilities and civil infrastructure, considering that recent events have proven the interconnectedness of the security of the region and the world, and the impossibility of isolating the repercussions of conflicts from the international economy and stability.
He stressed the need for continued cooperation and coordination between the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, noting that protecting the sovereignty and stability of the GCC countries represents a shared responsibility, and that Qatar will continue to work with its regional and international partners to maintain the security of the region.
He explained that his country faced the crisis through a strategy based on four tracks: defending the homeland without being drawn into war, ensuring the continuation of services, supply chains and economic activity, contributing to ceasefire efforts and opening waterways, in addition to pushing towards resuming negotiations and reaching peaceful settlements.
The Emir of Qatar praised the performance of the armed forces and security services during the crisis, and the preparations that preceded it over more than a decade of training and equipping, considering that Qatar’s ability to withstand was not the result of the moment, but rather the result of planning and investment in defense and institutional capabilities.
On the economic side, the Emir of Qatar revealed that an important part of his country’s exports had been disrupted as a result of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the direct damage to some energy facilities in Ras Laffan Industrial City.
He pointed out that Qatar supplies about a fifth of the world's liquefied natural gas trade, which makes any disruption in its exports directly affect energy markets and consumers around the world.
He explained that the repercussions of the crisis were mainly concentrated in the energy sector, while the non-hydrocarbon sectors continued to grow, with their contributions reaching about 80 percent of the real GDP, according to the numbers he presented in his speech.
He revealed a decrease in total public revenues during the first half of the year by 42 percent, compared to a decrease in expenditures by 14 percent, stressing that the government decided not to reduce basic services or change development priorities despite the financial pressures.
He said that the state faced the crisis based on previous policies that included strengthening financial reserves, reducing public debt, and developing non-oil revenues, calling at the same time for continuing financial discipline and raising the efficiency of spending.
He stressed that the goal is not limited to restoring the conditions that preceded the crisis, but rather to transform the recovery phase into an opportunity to accelerate economic diversification and strengthen national capabilities.
The Emir of Qatar announced a package of projects and investment opportunities valued at approximately 221 billion Qatari riyals (about 60.7 billion dollars) during the next five years, including infrastructure projects and partnerships between the public and private sectors, in addition to investments in real estate and hospitality.
He pointed out that the Qatari economy recorded real growth of 2.9 percent during the year 2025, with average inflation stabilizing at 0.5 percent, achieving a current account surplus, and maintaining high sovereign credit ratings.
He stressed the continuation of North Field expansion projects to increase liquefied natural gas production, and the progress of the “Golden Pass” project in the United States, in addition to expanding international investments in energy, petrochemical industries, and solar energy.
He called on the Shura Council to keep pace with economic transformations with legislation that enhances the role of the private sector and improves the investment environment, stressing that his country seeks to emerge from the crisis with an economy more capable of adapting to global changes.
Regarding the Palestinian file, Sheikh Tamim renewed his country’s position calling for those responsible for Israeli violations to be held accountable, stressing that what happened in the Gaza Strip “is undoubtedly considered genocide, and its perpetrators may not escape accountability.”
He warned against the continuation of Israeli practices against the Palestinians, especially settler attacks in the West Bank under the protection of the Israeli army, and the repeated incursions into the Holy Mosque, considering that they represent violations of international law, the Charter of the United Nations, and international humanitarian law.
He also renewed Qatar's support for political solutions to the crises of Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia, through comprehensive and fair agreements that preserve the territorial integrity of these countries and achieve the interests of their peoples in security and stability.
