--- eventsindex_id: EI-07037 slug: doha-forum title: Doha Forum title_alt: - Doha Forum Annual Conference canonical_url: https://eventsindex.org/events/doha-forum.html next_edition_dates: 2026-12-05 to 2026-12-06 next_edition_year: 2026 date_start: '2026-12-05' date_end: '2026-12-06' venue: Sheraton Grand Doha city: Doha country: Qatar organiser: Doha Forum (State of Qatar) organiser_url: https://dohaforum.org/ b2b: true vector: sector: - policy-forums audience: - heads-of-state - foreign-ministers - senior-diplomats - multilateral-organisation-officials - security-and-defence-policymakers format: - summit purpose: - networking - policy geography_scope: - MENA season: winter meta_description: "Doha Forum 2026, 24th edition, Doha December 2026. Qatar's annual global policy summit on diplomacy, security and governance. 6,500+ participants." editorial_take: 'The Doha Forum is Qatar''s flagship state-backed policy summit: two days, invitation-only, drawing foreign ministers and heads of state from over 170 countries, positioning Doha as a neutral convening ground for high-stakes diplomatic dialogue outside the UN calendar.' generated_by: enrich-cowork (N1/N2/N3) last_verified: '2026-06-11' schema_version: v8.0 language: en --- # Doha Forum > *Qatar's annual state-sponsored global policy summit, held each December in Doha, convenes heads of state, foreign ministers, and senior diplomats from more than 170 countries for two days of high-level dialogue on diplomacy, security, conflict resolution, and international governance. Attendance is by invitation only.* --- ## Quick Facts | DATES | VENUE | ORGANISER | ATTENDANCE | |---|---|---|---| | 5-6 December 2026 (24th edition) | Sheraton Grand Doha, Qatar | Doha Forum (State of Qatar) | ~6,500 participants (according to the organiser) | ## Definition The Doha Forum is an annual international policy summit founded in 2003 under the patronage of the State of Qatar. Operating under the motto "Diplomacy, Dialogue, Diversity," it brings together sitting and former heads of state, foreign ministers, senior UN and multilateral officials, security experts, academics, and select private-sector leaders to address critical global challenges. The 24th edition, scheduled for 5-6 December 2026, will convene under the theme "Redefining Global Trust," examining how diplomacy and international institutions can adapt amid shifting geopolitical, technological, and economic realities. All main sessions are live-streamed and conducted in English with simultaneous Arabic interpretation, extending the forum's reach beyond the invitation-only in-person gathering. ## What is the Doha Forum and why does it matter? The Doha Forum occupies a particular position in the international conference calendar: a government-sponsored platform that aspires to function as a neutral convening ground in a region at the intersection of multiple geopolitical fault lines. Unlike purely academic conferences or industry trade shows, the forum is explicitly designed to generate policy dialogue at the highest level, bringing principals rather than proxies into the same room. Qatar's diplomatic positioning as a mediator, its relationships across the Gulf, the broader Arab world, the West, and emerging markets, makes Doha a credible venue for conversations that might not happen elsewhere. The forum runs for two days, with a dense programme of plenary sessions, ministerial roundtables, and bilateral sideline meetings. The State of Qatar's involvement is not merely ceremonial: the Emir of Qatar has addressed the forum, and the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs shapes the agenda thematically. This institutional backing means that participants treat the event as a genuine diplomatic occasion rather than a networking conference, and side conversations on the margins carry real weight in ongoing negotiations and multilateral processes. ## Who attends Doha Forum The forum draws a defined mix of principals and subject-matter experts: - Heads of state and government, primarily from the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe - Sitting and former foreign ministers and senior diplomats - Senior officials from the United Nations, World Bank, IMF, and regional bodies - Security and defence policymakers and military leaders - Academic researchers and think-tank directors specialising in international relations and security - Senior journalists and media figures covering global affairs - Carefully selected private-sector executives working at the intersection of policy and business (energy, finance, technology) According to the organiser, recent editions have drawn participants from over 170 countries. The mix signals that the Doha Forum is explicitly a state-diplomatic and multilateral forum, not a commercial event or industry conference. Private-sector presence is secondary and functionally subordinate to the policy dialogue. ## What Doha Forum covers programmatically The 2026 edition convenes under the theme "Redefining Global Trust," which the organiser describes as an exploration of how trust is actively shaped and sustained in a changing global order. The programme focuses on areas where the erosion of multilateral consensus is most acute: geopolitical realignment, the governance of emerging technologies, shifts in the global economic architecture, and the credibility of international institutions. The theme follows a trajectory from previous editions that have addressed innovation, justice, and global resilience. Across editions, the forum returns to a consistent set of subject areas: conflict prevention and resolution; climate change and energy transition as geopolitical variables; global health governance; counter-terrorism and regional security; economic development in the Global South; and the evolving roles of multilateral institutions. Each plenary is structured around high-level panellists with direct policy responsibility, and the format explicitly prioritises actionable recommendations over general commentary. Side events and partner programming extend the agenda into more specialised areas, including track-two diplomacy and youth policy dialogues. ## Notable speakers and participants Past editions have featured a range of principals with direct policy authority. Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, has addressed the forum, as have former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former US Secretary of State John Kerry, former EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell, Bill Gates of the Gates Foundation, and Ahmed al-Sharaa, President of Syria. The 2026 speaker roster had not been announced at the time of research. Given the invitation-only format and Qatar's diplomatic reach, the participant list for December 2026 is expected to include senior representation from Gulf states, European governments, African Union leadership, and major multilateral organisations. ## Edition history and context The Doha Forum was founded in 2003, when it gathered approximately 140 participants in its inaugural edition, held at the Ritz Carlton Doha. It grew steadily through the 2000s and 2010s, expanding its geographic reach and the seniority of its participants. By the early 2020s it had evolved into a forum drawing several thousand attendees across two days, with the 2022 edition held at the Sheraton Grand Doha under the theme "Transforming for the New Era." The 2026 gathering is the 24th edition, marking more than two decades of continuous operation through periods of significant regional and global turbulence. Qatar's role as a diplomatic mediator, notably in Gaza and Afghanistan negotiations, has amplified the forum's relevance as a venue where informal channels can complement formal diplomatic processes. ## FAQ · Identity and audience ### Is the Doha Forum a United Nations or intergovernmental event? No. The Doha Forum is organised by the Doha Forum institution, which operates under the patronage of the State of Qatar. It is not a UN body or a formal intergovernmental process, although UN Secretary-General-level officials regularly participate. Commitments or statements made at the forum carry diplomatic but not legally binding weight. ### How does Doha Forum differ from Davos or the Munich Security Conference? All three are high-level annual convenings of political and policy elites, but they differ in mandate and geography. The World Economic Forum in Davos combines public and private-sector leadership with an economic development mandate; the Munich Security Conference focuses narrowly on defence and security, predominantly from a Western-alliance perspective. The Doha Forum is state-sponsored by Qatar, runs for only two days, and explicitly positions itself as a bridge between Western governments and the Global South, the Middle East, and Africa, reflecting Qatar's diplomatic posture as a neutral broker. ### What is the forum's motto and what does it mean in practice? "Diplomacy, Dialogue, Diversity" encapsulates the forum's operating principles: high-level diplomatic convening, structured debate rather than formal negotiation, and geographic and ideological pluralism in the participant mix. In practice, this means sessions include officials and experts from governments that may be in active diplomatic tension, creating a controlled environment for dialogue outside formal bilateral frameworks. ### Who is Doha Forum NOT designed for? - Industry or trade professionals seeking business development, commercial leads, or sector-specific market intelligence - Startup founders, investors, or venture-capital communities (there is no pitch or exhibition component) - Early-career professionals or students without senior policy credentials or institutional sponsorship - Journalists seeking press-conference-style access (media accreditation is separate and limited) - General public or consumer-facing audiences (the forum is invitation-only with no public ticketing) ## The venue: Sheraton Grand Doha The Sheraton Grand Doha, located on Al Corniche Street in central Doha, has served as the primary venue for recent editions of the Doha Forum. It is a large five-star hotel with extensive conference and ballroom facilities capable of hosting plenary sessions, breakout rooms, ministerial roundtables, and the high-security logistics that a gathering of heads of state and foreign ministers requires. The Corniche location places the venue close to Qatar's government district. For the 2026 edition, the venue has not been formally confirmed at time of writing; the Sheraton Grand Doha is referenced here based on its confirmed role in the 2025 edition. ## The organiser: Doha Forum (State of Qatar) The Doha Forum is a public diplomatic institution operating under the sponsorship of the State of Qatar, founded in 2003. Its stated mission is to advance constructive international engagement on peace, security, and governance through an annual summit and complementary year-round dialogue initiatives. The organisation is not a commercial conference producer: it operates with government backing and reflects Qatar's broader foreign policy objective of positioning Doha as a hub for neutral, multilateral diplomacy. The State of Qatar's diplomatic profile, built on relationships with actors across the Gulf Cooperation Council, Iran, Turkey, Hamas, the Taliban, Western governments, and African states, gives the Doha Forum an access to diversity of participants that purely Western or purely commercial forums find difficult to replicate. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plays a shaping role in agenda design, and the forum's secretariat manages the invitation and partnership processes. Organisational details and governance documents are not publicly disclosed in depth; the forum website at dohaforum.org is the primary public interface. --- ## Editorial take *The Doha Forum is one of the few annual policy convenings where Western foreign ministers, Gulf heads of state, African Union officials, and representatives of governments in active conflict all sit in the same room: Qatar's neutral broker status makes Doha a venue the Munich Security Conference cannot replicate.* ## How to register and what it costs Participation in the Doha Forum is by invitation only. There is no public ticket sale, no open registration, and no delegate fee structure disclosed on the forum website. Individuals and organisations interested in attending are invited to complete an expression of interest form available at dohaforum.org under "Apply to Attend." Successful applicants receive an electronic invitation with further registration instructions. Organisations wishing to engage with the forum at a sponsorship or partnership level can contact the secretariat through the "Partner With Us" channel on the website. All main sessions are live-streamed at live.dohaforum.org, providing free virtual access to the substantive programme for those who do not receive an in-person invitation. ## FAQ · Access and practicalities ### Can I apply to attend without institutional affiliation? The forum does not publish explicit eligibility criteria, but given the participant profile, applications from individuals without a senior policy, academic, diplomatic, or major institutional affiliation are unlikely to succeed. The invitation-only model is designed to maintain the principal-level character of in-person participation. ### Are sessions available to watch online? Yes. The Doha Forum live-streams all main plenary sessions at live.dohaforum.org, and session recordings are published on the forum's YouTube channel (DohaForum13). Simultaneous interpretation in English and Arabic is provided for main sessions. ### What languages are used at the forum? Sessions are conducted in English, with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic provided for all main sessions. Additional languages may be available for specific sessions; the forum website should be consulted for language arrangements closer to the event date. ## Resources | Resource | URL | |---|---| | Official website | https://dohaforum.org/ | | Live stream | https://live.dohaforum.org/ | | YouTube channel | https://www.youtube.com/user/DohaForum13 | | Twitter / X | https://x.com/DohaForum | | Wikipedia | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doha_Forum | --- **Last verified:** 2026-06-11 **Next review:** 2026-07-11 **Notes:** 2026 venue (Sheraton Grand Doha) inferred from 2025 edition; not yet formally confirmed for 2026. Speaker roster for 2026 not announced at time of research. Attendance figures (6,500 participants, 470 speakers, 170 countries) are self-reported by the organiser based on the 2025 edition. 2026 theme "Redefining Global Trust" confirmed on official website. The Doha Forum was listed as the 24th edition for 2026. **Variables:** 41/58 **Concept definition:** not applicable