Relations between State of Qatar and Germany

Relations between the two countries considered in Doha and in Berlin as close and good. Qatar seeks strong economic ties with Germany as Qatar gains worldwide importance because of its natural sources especially liquid gas LNG.
The official visit by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani to Germany in May 1999 and his short visit by the end of the same year and the Official visit of The Late President Johannes Rau to Qatar 2001 and the short working talks that Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder held in Doha 2005 set up the ground for new solid partnership between the two countries. Also the visit of His Excellency Sheikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Thani the former Prime Minister of The State of Qatar to Germany in June 2006, contributed to this goal. Qatar and Germany organized together in Doha two conferences on the support of Afghanistan’s police forces.
There is an increasing number of German citizens living and working in Qatar. The GTZ organization has been supporting the Secondary School for Industrial Technology in Doha by seconding three experts as part of its international services. To enhance bilateral economic relations, the German Business Council Qatar was founded in 2003 and end of 2002, Qatar German Business Forum under the umbrella of NUMOV, German Near and Middle East Association.
Large figure of Qatari Citizens visit Germany every year for medical treatment and also as tourists. The number of Qatari students studying in German Universities is also increasing.

After The Qatar Tennis Federation bought the rights to organize the German Open for women from the German Tennis Federation who was not any more able to organize this traditional competition, Scheikh Mohammad bin Faleh head of the Qatar Tennis Federation and Deputy President of the Asian Tennis Federation, went on to organize this competition which known now in its new name Qatar Telecom German open in Berlin and at the same Tennis Club Rot Weiss Berlin from 2005. Top women players take part in this competition. The Qatar Tennis Federation has also around 30% of shares in the traditional Mens Tennis competition in Hamburg.
The investment promotion and protection agreement and the air transport agreement concluded in 1996 have been in force since January 1999. German companies increasingly open branches in Doha to keep eye on Qatar’s economical boom. German companies are mainly active in plant construction, in the building industry and in the service sector.