ع
The Ministry of Justice affirmed that the new Law No. 17 of 2026 on international treaties and agreements, paired with Amiri Decision No. 39 of 2026, forms a complete system that promotes a more integrated institutional method for handling this important domain. According to a ministry statement, the legislation and decision will improve the efficiency of government operations while advancing the targets set in the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy for 2024-2030. The framework covers every aspect of treaty management, and its rules will take effect from January 2027, the ministry noted in the announcement issued on October 25.
The ministry’s statement detailed how the system organizes the full lifecycle of any international treaty or agreement, beginning with the assessment of need and evaluation, extending through drafting, legal examination, submission for approval and formal adoption. It further incorporates ongoing monitoring of implementation along with evaluation of measurable outcomes to ensure value delivery. This approach, the ministry explained, fosters coordination among all concerned authorities from the initial stages onward.
Saeed bin Abdullah bin Saeed Al-Suwaidi, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Justice, stressed that the new arrangements create a more comprehensive legal and institutional structure balancing the expansion of international cooperation against the protection of national interests. Al-Suwaidi added that international agreements serve as a primary tool to convert collaboration with states and organizations into partnerships and initiatives that deliver added value to the state and society. He pointed out that the true worth of such pacts lies in their real-world effects rather than the sheer number concluded.
Khaled Mohammed Al-Khamis Al-Obaidly, Assistant Undersecretary for Agreements and International Cooperation at the Ministry of Justice, explained that the updated system aims to standardize government practices and raise operational efficiency across relevant entities. Al-Obaidly highlighted that the significance of agreements should be judged by their concrete impacts on citizens, residents and the national economy, citing examples such as easier travel procedures, greater investment prospects, judicial and legal cooperation, experience exchange and service development. These benefits, he said, can reflect directly or indirectly on individuals and economic activity.
Sara Abdullah Al Suwaidi, Head of the Unified and Model Legislation Section at the General Directorate of Legislation within the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, observed that the framework bolsters coordination between authorities starting from the drafting phase. She noted that it requires evaluation of any effects on national laws, with appropriate legislative adjustments made prior to submission to the Council of Ministers. This process, according to Al Suwaidi, guarantees complete harmony between the country’s international commitments and its domestic legislative framework.
Qatar has steadily expanded its multilateral engagements in recent years, including accession in March 2026 to additional protocols under the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, as the country’s delegation stated during a conference in Vienna. The state has also hosted major UN events and maintained a permanent presence through the United Nations House in Doha, which accommodates 14 agency offices and supports regional coordination on development and humanitarian issues. Such steps have reinforced Qatar’s role in global diplomacy, from mediation efforts referenced in UN Security Council resolutions to substantial aid contributions that reached QR 2 billion in agreements signed at the 2025 Doha Forum alone.
The Planning and Statistics Authority has outlined how the Third National Development Strategy builds on the Qatar National Vision 2030 by emphasizing strengthened global partnerships, sustainable economic growth and effective governance mechanisms that align with international obligations. Ministry of Justice officials have indicated that the new treaty system will help translate these strategies into practice by ensuring agreements produce tangible results that benefit the population and national development priorities. The integrated approach is expected to streamline procedures while safeguarding sovereign interests in an increasingly interconnected global environment.
