Prime Minister Mark Carney has secured a new partnership with Qatar aimed at deepening trade, investment, and defence cooperation, marking a significant step in Canada’s efforts to diversify its global economic relationships amid growing geopolitical and economic uncertainty.
Carney’s visit to Doha the first ever by a sitting Canadian prime minister comes as Ottawa seeks to reduce its reliance on a single trading partner and build resilience against global economic shocks. The Prime Minister met with Qatar’s Amir, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, for high-level talks that culminated in a joint commitment to expand bilateral engagement across strategic sectors critical to both countries’ long-term growth and security.
At the heart of the visit was Qatar’s pledge to make significant strategic investments in Canadian nation-building projects. Canadian officials say the investments are expected to accelerate the development of major infrastructure and industrial initiatives, strengthen Canada’s clean energy, health, artificial intelligence, and defence industries, and support the creation of thousands of high-quality jobs.
“Canada is positioning itself as a strong, reliable partner at a time of global change,” Carney said, framing the agreement as part of a broader strategy to attract global capital, open new export markets, and secure sustained prosperity for Canadian workers and businesses.
Building on the momentum from the visit, Canada and Qatar issued a joint statement committing to accelerated two-way investment and collaboration in advanced sectors including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, aerospace, defence technologies, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, and agri-food.
A key breakthrough came with the decision to revive and conclude negotiations on a Canada–Qatar Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) by the summer of 2026. Talks on the agreement began in 2018 but had stalled in recent years. Once finalized, the FIPA is expected to provide greater certainty and protection for investors, making it easier for Canadian companies to expand into Qatar and for Qatari capital to flow into Canada. Qatar’s economy is valued at nearly $290 billion.
The two governments also agreed to establish a Joint Canada–Qatar Commission on Economic, Commercial, and Technical Cooperation, designed to provide a permanent forum for advancing trade and investment initiatives. Additional areas of immediate cooperation include information technology — particularly AI and computer technologies — as well as agriculture and agri-food.
Negotiations are also set to begin on a new double-taxation agreement, a move aimed at reducing barriers for Canadians working or investing in Qatar and for Qataris doing business in Canada.
Defence and security cooperation featured prominently during the visit. Canada and Qatar agreed to launch negotiations on a framework to facilitate the exchange of expertise on military, security, and defence matters, reflecting shared interests in regional stability and international security.
To support this effort, Carney announced that Canada will establish an office for its Defence Attaché in Doha. The move is expected to increase the frequency and depth of bilateral defence engagement and support exports from Canada’s defence sector.
The Prime Minister also confirmed that Canada and Qatar will exchange security-related best practices and lessons learned as preparations intensify for the FIFA World Cup 26, which Canada will co-host alongside the United States and Mexico.
As part of the broader partnership, Canada will expand air services between the two countries under the existing Canada–Qatar Air Transport Agreement, a step aimed at facilitating business travel, tourism, and cultural exchange.
Carney also emphasized the growing people-to-people ties between the two nations, particularly as Qatar begins its 2026 Year of Culture. He formally invited the Amir, as well as Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, to visit Canada in the coming year.
Nearly 10,000 Canadians currently live and work in Qatar, contributing across sectors such as aerospace, artificial intelligence, defence, and agri-food.
During his time in Doha, Carney met with Qatar’s Minister of Public Health to reinforce shared priorities in health and life sciences. He highlighted opportunities for Canadian firms to expand their presence in Qatar’s healthcare ecosystem, particularly in biotechnology and AI-driven health technologies.
The Prime Minister also held meetings with Qatari business leaders and senior figures from the Qatar Investment Authority, underscoring Canada’s ambition to position itself as a premier destination for global capital.
Two-way trade between Canada and Qatar currently exceeds $325 million, with Québec accounting for nearly half of Canadian exports, driven largely by aerospace and advanced manufacturing. Qatar’s investment in Canada has been growing by nearly 20 per cent annually, a trend Canadian officials hope to accelerate under the new partnership.
In a statement following the visit, Carney described Qatar as “an effective, expansive, and increasing diplomatic force” and a critical partner in shared efforts to promote peace and stability, from Ukraine to the Middle East. He pointed to Qatar’s role in helping evacuate more than 200 Canadians from Afghanistan in 2021 as a defining moment in the bilateral relationship.
“Now we’re elevating our relationship — with an ambitious, new strategic partnership across trade, commerce, investment, AI, and defence — to deliver greater stability, security, and prosperity for our peoples,” Carney said.
With Qatar now Canada’s third-largest economic partner in the Gulf region and visa requirements for Qatari citizens lifted in late 2025, officials on both sides say the foundations are in place for a deeper, more enduring partnership — one that reflects shifting global realities and shared ambitions for economic diversification and international leadership.
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