Part of Qatar National Vision (QNV) 2030, the country’s long-term economic development framework, is fostering innovation and creativity and creating a robust system for funding scientific research. It also aims to ensure that Qatar has a global influence in scientific research and intellectual activity. Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy (NDS-3) for the 2024-30 period aims to have more than 18% of students graduating from the science, technology, engineering and maths fields, up from the 10% figure witnessed in 2024. The NDS-3 also targets making the country a regional centre for research and innovation as well as increasing the commercialisation of research outcomes and findings within its dozens of colleges and universities.
The Qatar Research, Development and Innovation (QRDI) Council was created in 2018 to create a framework that would facilitate expansion in the research, development and innovation (RDI) subsectors. The QRDI Council developed QRDI Strategy 2030, which has three core factors and four enabling goals. The core factors are scientific research, RDI talent and innovation. The first enabling factor is RDI funding, which is needed for the achievement of transformation objectives in a combination of public and private RDI activities. Secondly, RDI governance would allow the strategic alignment of RDI activities, fast decision-making and responsible allocation of RDI funding. The third enabling factor, RDI regulatory environment, refers to the policies and regulations needed to support the conduct of safe RDI practices. Lastly, the RDI information systems factor references the information systems and knowledge platforms that improve synergies and make effective use of resources.
Qatar is home to the first national competitive research funding agency within the Middle East, the Qatar National Research Fund. In terms of research institutions, the country is home to the Qatar Computing Research Institute, which has advanced infrastructure, as well as Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute and Qatar Biomedical Research Institute. Qatar University (QU) also has different research centres and research hospitals, including Hamad Medical Corporation, Social and Economic Survey Research Institute and Biomedical Research Centre. Qatar has also advanced in research through international cooperation.
Research Study
In December 2024 UK and Qatari entities announced the creation of a joint artificial intelligence (AI) commission. Specifically, the research study will be a collaboration between Queen Mary University of London and Hamad bin Khalifa University, managed by Qatar Foundation (QF). More broadly, it is a collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the AI committee within the Ministry of Communications and IT, the QRDI Council and the British Embassy in Qatar. The study covers various topics within the field of AI including ecosystem development, international engagement, policy and regulation. The project is funded by the UK’s Gulf Strategy Fund.
Cooperation
In February 2025 a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) and Airbus, École Nationale de l’Aviation Civile, the Institut Supérieur de l’Aéronautique et de l’Espace and Qatar Airways in order to advance education and research in aeronautics. UDST and the four leading global institutions in aeronautics will provide foundational learning experiences and deliver innovative solutions that contribute to advancing the economic diversification goals of QNV 2030.
In terms of local partnerships in research and innovation, in December 2024 an MoU was signed between the QRDI Council and Qatar Shipyard Technology Solutions, which led to the launch of four calls for innovation to enhance digitalisation, AI technologies and other aspects, in line with QNV 2030. In March 2025 an MoU was signed between Itqan Clinical Simulation and Innovation Centre and the QRDI Council for developing the health care research and innovation landscape in Qatar. It is expected that the partnership will lead to the creation of joint research projects and that it will issue calls for innovation, as well as enhance the capacity for technology testing. The project will involve medical innovation and technological advancements, as well as communication between local and international health care experts. Given that the partnership advances scientific research and technological advancement, it aligns with QNV 2030.
Higher Education Campaign
Education City, an initiative of QF, plays a major role in making Qatar a higher education centre. Education City has created an education landscape featuring branches of renowned international higher education institutions and, as a result, has attracted many international students, thus becoming a unique education destination in the region. In order for Qatar to position itself as a regional higher education centre, QF collaborated with Qatar Tourism and QU to develop a higher education campaign. The campaign targeted students and parents in the GCC, promoting Qatar as a regional centre for education. As part of its promotional campaign, QF students were interviewed and asked about the benefits that they were receiving from their education.
There are seven branches of international universities in QF’s Education City: Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, Georgetown University in Qatar, Northwestern University in Qatar, Texas A&M University at Qatar, Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar and HEC Paris in Qatar. Students attending institutions in Education City also have the opportunity for QF scholarships and need-based financial aid, adding to its attraction. Admissions are need blind, meaning that schools select students worldwide regardless of their financial solution.
Brain Gain
Students attending universities in Education City have the opportunity to study abroad, another factor in its ability to attract international students and become a regional higher education centre. Education City also offers students the opportunity to cross-register for classes at other branch universities and complete joint minors or certificates, another significant draw for both local and international students, thus strengthening Qatar’s position as an education destination for the region and beyond. In November 2024 HEC Paris in Qatar and QF renewed their strategic partnership through 2034, with both institutions aiming to empower leaders, foster innovation and contribute to the long-term growth of Qatar and the region. Since its establishment in 2010, HEC Paris in Qatar has had more than 1300 graduates from 59 countries and a student body made up of 43% female.
QU plays an important role in positioning Qatar as a regional higher education leader through its scholarships. In October 2024 QU announced it would open scholarship applications for international students pursuing undergraduate education. The initiative offers a full scholarship that covers tuition, books, housing and round-trip flights, and includes an annual stipend. Lusail University in Qatar also offers scholarships for international students. In September 2024 the university began accepting applications for its undergraduate scholarships programme for 2025, which offers full tuition, roundtrip flights, furnished accommodation, transport and a monthly stipend. The programme targets international students from developing countries who are pursuing undergraduate studies.
Education Participation
Qatar has positioned itself as a higher education centre through participation in key international higher education events. In September 2024 Qatar participated in the European Conference on International Education 2024, which is one of the most important global higher education platforms focused on fostering academic cooperation and knowledge exchange. The country’s participation showcased the strength of its education sector as it aims to attract international students to study at its private and national universities. A total of 11 Qatari higher education institutions participated in the event, including the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE), QU, QF, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar and Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar.
In November 2024 Qatar participated in the 85th Canadian Bureau for International Education Conference in Ottawa. During the conference, Ibrahim bin Saleh Al Nuaimi, undersecretary of the MEHE who chaired Qatar’s delegation, highlighted the importance of international collaboration and cooperating with global universities, as well as showcasing Qatar’s higher education and research institutions.
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