This year’s Doha Forum in Qatar brought together a large number of people, from leading officials to commentators and businesspeople. This is not unusual when it comes to the Doha Forum or events in Qatar.
The country has spent decades making itself a destination for world leaders, thinkers, academics, and investors. It is not the only country like this either; Qatar competes with the UAE and Saudi Arabia for attention in the Gulf.
In general, Qatar has often appeared to excel above its neighbors by positioning itself in a unique way. One could say that, because it tries to have friends on both sides of various issues, it benefits from everyone wanting to be associated with Doha.
However, things have changed over the last several years. The Israel-Hamas War has presented challenges for Doha’s narrative and perception. This is because some people, especially those in pro-Israel circles, see Doha in a particularly negative light. It is portrayed as backing Hamas and also being linked to the Islamic causes, such as the Muslim Brotherhood.
As such, this year’s Doha Forum received some pushback online. That pushback did not necessarily trickle down into mainstream coverage, but it has made Qatar appear more controversial in some circles.
This is a new phenomenon for Doha. Previously, coverage tended to regard Saudi Arabia and the UAE as slightly more controversial. Riyadh was seen this way because of Western criticism of Saudi Arabia’s leader, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. The UAE, while generally portrayed as a center of glitter and business, has come under criticism for its role in places like Sudan. Whether fair or not, the story is more about public perception and even PR than about what is actually happening on the ground.
Was the Doha Forum as successful as in previous years?
WAS THE Doha Forum as successful as it was in previous years? This year, it included a number of key speakers, such as Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa. He has already stolen the show at other international forums, such as the UN. In Doha, his rock star-like status was fading slightly as he became more of a norm in the region.
Other speakers and attendees included, according to the Doha Forum’s website, Bill Gates, Donald Trump Jr., Kaja Kallas of the EU, Hillary Clinton, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Egypt’s Foreign Affairs Minister Badr Abdelatty, US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, and a large number of other voices from around the world.
In some circles, the appearance of Tucker Carlson and other critics of Israel in Doha made the forum appear Israel-focused. However, overall, the Doha Forum is not focused on Israel. It represents a much broader spectrum of global leadership, linking the Islamic and Arab worlds with the East and West.
Commentators may disagree with Qatar’s policies, but there is no doubt that the Doha Forum remains an impressive gathering place for a wide range of voices.
Perhaps what is interesting is the fact that Israel is not involved in the forum. While some pro-Israel voices seek to isolate Qatar, the reality is that Doha remains a key player in the region and in many issues in the West.
“Israel and Qatar are locked in a race to win American hearts and minds,” a piece in Haaretz said after the event. The main change for Qatar in this respect is that it used to operate much more behind the scenes. These days, its role gets more attention.
This is probably not a welcome spotlight in Doha because, although it wants attention, it does not like negative attention; not all news is good news.
The question for Qatar after the Doha Forum is whether its hosting of so many dignitaries continues to pay off in terms of influence. For instance, will it achieve its goals in Gaza? A recent report at Axios indicated that officials from Israel and Qatar met at US-brokered talks in the US. The details are unclear, but it is clearly in the Trump administration’s interest that Doha and Jerusalem not always be at odds over Gaza.
When it comes to the Gulf, it’s worth recalling that nothing is ever exactly as it seems. Western media and commentators often take a more simplistic view of things than is necessary. This can be encapsulated in the reporting on Saudi Arabia, which was once positive and then became negative.
Did the kingdom really change that much, or did the reporting change? Qatar was similarly portrayed in a more positive light at one time, and perceptions have shifted slightly. It may shift back in the coming years.
The Doha Forum is one of many large gatherings in the Gulf that bring people from around the world to the region. It is a symbol of these times when the Gulf has become so interconnected and essential to the world order.