State of Qatar

Diplomatic relations between Brazil and Qatar were established in 1974, three years after Qatar's independence. The 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations were celebrated in 2024.

In April 2005, Brazil opened its resident embassy in Doha. The Qatari embassy residing in Brazil was reopened in June 2007. Since then, bilateral political relations have markedly improved, as evidenced by the significant increase in the number of official high-level working visits from both sides. Highlights among theses visits include that of  President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in 2009, 2010 and 2023, as well as the visit of the  then Emir of Qatar, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, to Brazil in 2010.

In 2023, President Lula led a delegation to Doha, focusing on investments, trade diversification and regional and global political issues, such as the reform of the UN Security Council. The visit also marked the holding of the first "Brazil-Qatar Economic Forum".

On the Qatari side, the current emir, Sheikh Tamin bin Hamad Al Thani, participated in the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, in November 2024.

In 2010, Brazil and Qatar signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Political Consultations. Five editions of this coordination mechanism have been held, alternately in Brasília and Doha.

With a diversified economy and a high purchasing power, Qatar is an important partner of Brazil in the Middle East. Bilateral trade has shown significant growth over the past two decades, with trade volumes growing from $41 million in 2004 to $1.19 billion in 2024. The exchange in 2024 is the result of Brazilian exports valued at $445.7 million and imports of Qatari products amounting to $737.8 million, which accounts for a trade deficit of $282 million for Brazil. In the same year, Brazilian main exports  were poultry meat (45%), steel pipes and profiles (31%), beef (6.4%) and products from the manufacturing industry (4.4%), while the main imports were fertilizers (54%), natural gas (24%) and fuel oils (19%). Despite being dominated by a few products, bilateral trade has the potential to diversify with higher value-added items, such as auto parts, defense products and aircraft.

Investments are also a strong pillar of the relationship. Qatar's investment stock in Brazil is estimated at $7 billion, with companies operating in many sectors, such as air transport, banking, agriculture, renewable energy, oil and gas, publishing and education. Brazil and Qatar maintain frequent dialogue about the progress of investment flows in both directions.

Chronology of Bilateral Relations

2024 – The Minister of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight against Hunger (MDS), Wellington Dias, visits Doha

2024 –First Lady Rosângela Lula da Silva visits Doha

2023 –President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visits Doha

2023 – 5th  Brazil – Qatar  Political Consultation Meeting

2022 – Minister of Communications Fábio Faria visits Doha

2022 – 4th  Brazil – Qatar  Political Consultation Meeting

2021 – 3rd  Brazil – Qatar  Political Consultation Meeting

2021 – President Jair Bolsonaro visits Doha

2019 – President Jair Bolsonaro visits Doha

2019 – The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Rodrigo Maia, visits Doha

2019 – Minister of Science, Technology, Innovations and Communications  Marcos Pontes visits Doha

2019 –  2nd Brazil – Qatar  Political Consultation Meeting (April 4)

2017 – Defense Minister Raul Jungmann visits Doha

2017 – Agriculture, Livestock and Supply Minister Blairo Maggi visits Doha

2016 – Sheikh Joaan, the Emir’s brother and president of the Qatar Olympic Committee, visits Rio de Janeiro on the occasion of the 2016 Olympic Games

2015 – Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Celso Pansera visits Doha

2014 – President Dilma Rousseff visits Doha

2014 – Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo visits Doha

2014 – The Governor of the Federal District, Agnelo Queiroz, visits Doha

2013 – Social Development Minister Tereza Campello and Social Security Minister Garibaldi Alves Filho visit Doha

2013 – Creation of the Brazil-Qatar Parliamentary Group within the National Congress, currently inactive

2013 – Foreign Minister Antônio Patriota visits Doha

2012 – Vice-Foreign Minister Khalid Al Attiyah visits Brasília

2011 – Vice-President Michel Temer visits Doha

2011 – Brazil-Qatar Political Consultation Meeting in Brasília (November 8)

2011 – Foreign Minister Antônio Patriota visits Doha

2010 – Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade Miguel Jorge visits Doha

2010 –  Qatar Airways launches the first direct flight between the two countries (June 24)

2010 – The Royal Consort Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned visits Rio de Janeiro

2010 – President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visits Doha

2010 – Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani visits Brazil, accompanied by Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassen bin Jaber Al Thani

2009 – President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva meets Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani in Doha on the sidelines of the Second ASPA Summit (March)

2008 –  Foreign Minister Celso Amorim meets with prime minister and foreign minister of Qatar, Sheik Hamad bin Jaber Al Thani, in Doha, on the sidelines of the Conference on Financing for Development

2007 – The embassy of Qatar in Brasília is reopened

2005 – The embassy of Brazil in Doha is created and opened

2005 – Foreign Minister Celso Amorim visits Doha

1999 – Qatar closes its embassy in Brasília due to Brazil's lack of reciprocity

1997 – Qatar opens its resident embassy in Brasília

1994 – Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism Élcio Álvares visits Qatar

1994 – The foreign minister of Qatar, Sheik Hamad Jassen bin Jaber Al Thani, visits Brazil. Agreement on the opening of resident embassies in Doha and in Brasília

1983 – The diplomatic mission of Brazil in Qatar becomes cumulative with the embassy in Abu Dhabi (Decree No. 88.935 of 10/31/83)

1974 – Brazil and Qatar establish diplomatic relations. Creation of the Brazilian embassy in the state of Qatar, cumulative with the embassy in Jeddah (Decree No. 74.148, 6/6/74)