Under the patronage of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the 2018 Doha Forum is set for December 15-16 at Sheraton Doha, bringing together global decision-makers and influencers.
The organisers announced yesterday that this year’s event will launch a remarkable new era of Forum partnerships with several of the world’s most prestigious international policy institutions.
The theme for the solutions-focused 2018 Doha Forum is ‘Shaping Policy in an Interconnected World’. Among the world leaders, policymakers, business leaders and advocates participating in the Doha Forum will be 2018 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Nadia Murad, the inspiring young Iraqi human rights activist.
For the first time, the Doha Forum is teaming up with many of the world’s most acclaimed international institutions as partners, ensuring the 2018 gathering will showcase an unprecedented diversity of views and be extraordinarily compelling and impactful.
The Forum also released a refreshed visual identity and slogan ‘Diplomacy, Dialogue, Diversity’. The new logo and brand have been crafted to enhance and unify the Forum’s identity while strengthening its global presence and reputation for policy innovation. The slogan speaks to the forums efforts to position itself at the forefront of global policy-making, promote critical dialogue, and engage leaders from diverse policy backgrounds and expertise.
HE the Minister of Energy and Industry Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada, stated: “Today, Qatar is a different place, therefore it’s only natural that the Doha Forum, like our country, is given new life. The rebranding of the Forum in 2018 is a result of organic progression. It has evolved, much like our country.”
HE the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary-General Ahmed bin Hassan al-Hammadi, commented, “We are launching a new visual identify for the Doha Forum because we recognise the importance of keeping up with the fast-paced changes our world is witnessing, while ensuring that the principles that the Forum was built on remain steadfast. These principles are embodied in our belief in activating diplomacy to resolve disputes; employing genuine and honest dialogue in policy-making, and preserving diversity of thought and representation.”
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson HE Lolwah AlKhater stated: “The Doha Forum was established 18 years ago as the region’s only large-scale international forum designed to address global challenges and advance pragmatic solutions.
Since its inception, the Forum has evolved into an ideal vantage point to explore the issues that affect us all.”
“This year, the Doha Forum is returning to build on its track record of advancing agendas for leaders and citizens alike, and we look forward to working with our strategic partners to enhance Doha Forum’s impact and network,” she added.
Brookings Doha Center director Tarik Yousef said: “Qatar is a place where we can engage freely and openly on the most difficult subjects we face in the Arab world.
Qatar is well positioned to claim its title of capital of ideas, free thought and honest debate.
The Brookings Doha Center is incredibly privileged to be part of this edition of the Doha Forum.”
Elizabeth Schaeffer Brown, co-executive director of Nadia’s Initiative, said: “Nadia has been working on peace-building and mediation for over three years in Iraq, and she is looking forward to sharing her experience at the Doha Forum”. The 2018 Forum’s overarching strategic partners: the Munich Security Conference, the International Crisis Group, and European Council on Foreign Relations.
The Forum’s content partners, co-producing individual Forum sessions, include RAND, the International Center for the Study of Violent Extremism, the Observer Research Foundation, the Center for the National Interest, the UCLA Middle East Development Center, the S Rajartnam School for International Studies, the Doha Institute, the Valdai Discussion Club, the Global Dryland Alliance and the Brookings Center in Doha.
The Qatari government partners are the Ministry of Finance, the Minister of Economy and Commerce, and the Ministry of Energy and Industry.
Established in 2000 and held annually against the backdrop of Qatar’s visionary development and history of global mediation, the Doha Forum is a platform for global dialogue on critical challenges facing our world.
The Doha Forum promotes the interchange of ideas, discourse, policy making, and action-oriented solutions.
More information is available on www.dohaforum.org