Erdoğan to host Emir Tamim in Istanbul for Qatar-Türkiye strategic committee

Qatar's ambassador to Ankara, Faisal bin Abdullah Al Hanzab, said President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will host Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Istanbul on Friday. The two leaders will co-chair the Türkiye-Qatar High Strategic Committee meeting, and a series of agreements and memoranda of understanding is expected to be signed.

Al Hanzab spoke to Anadolu Agency on Wednesday, according to Daily Sabah and Hürriyet Daily News. Hürriyet Daily News gave the meeting date as Nov. 13. Both outlets quoted him as saying the meeting would boost cooperation in the economy, the defense industry, artificial intelligence and technology.

Key numbers

• 115 — agreements signed through 11 committee meetings, per Daily Sabah and Hürriyet Daily News
• 2014 — year Türkiye and Qatar established their strategic partnership, with annual committee meetings since 2015, per Daily Sabah and Hürriyet Daily News
• $1.15 billion — bilateral trade in 2025, per Daily Sabah and Hürriyet Daily News
• $5 billion — the trade volume both countries aim to reach, per Daily Sabah and Hürriyet Daily News
• Aug. 1, 2025 — date a trade and economic partnership agreement entered into force, per Daily Sabah; Hürriyet Daily News said it took effect then

Daily Sabah reported that Al Hanzab described relations as resting on deep-rooted historic bonds of brotherhood and said they had moved beyond conventional political coordination. Hürriyet Daily News carried a similar account of his remarks. According to Daily Sabah, he said: "We aim to turn our shared understandings into concrete steps and projects."

Daily Sabah added that the ambassador named industry, infrastructure, construction, technology and financial services as priority areas for cooperation. He also said artificial intelligence, digital transformation, advanced technology and industrial innovation offered room to expand ties. Daily Sabah said he noted that Qatar has numerous investments in Türkiye.

Both outlets reported that the ambassador pointed to Turkish-Qatari coordination as a way to ease tensions, promote the peaceful settlement of disputes and support diplomatic efforts for regional and international security and stability.

On defense, Daily Sabah reported that Al Hanzab emphasized the "Badr Memorandum of Understanding," signed by Türkiye, Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia. He said it sets a framework for joint production, sharing of technical expertise and research and development. Daily Sabah also reported that a quadrilateral defense cooperation agreement was signed in Doha last month. It cited Türkiye's Ministry of National Defense as saying the agreement is aimed at boosting defense cooperation and strengthening the four countries' defensive capabilities.