The key facts

  • Macron arrived in Doha after visits to the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain; his plane was escorted by fighter jets as part of the ceremonial welcome.
  • France secured commitments for 295,000 tonnes of diesel per month — just over 10% of French consumption, according to the Élysée Palace.
  • On October 20, talks were held with the Emir of Qatar; on October 21, a strategic dialogue on energy, economy, investment and defense is scheduled.

The Doha visit and its context

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Doha on Tuesday, October 20, on a state visit. He was met at Hamad Airport by Qatar's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani; the president's plane was escorted by Qatari fighter jets as part of the state visit ceremonial. The visit is part of a regional tour that included stops in the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain.

Energy commitments

In a Sunday address to the nation, after a weekend marked by mass protests in France, Macron said he would travel to the Gulf countries to secure the country's energy supply and respond to discontent over fuel prices and the cost of living; the government, he said, is working with fuel distributors so that these efforts are reflected in consumer prices. The tour has already yielded results: according to the French administration, the UAE and Bahrain each committed to supplying an additional 100,000 tonnes of diesel per month. Including supplies from Saudi Arabia, the commitments reached 295,000 tonnes per month — just over 10% of French consumption.

Talks with the emir and the dialogue agenda

Macron began the visit with talks with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, at Lusail Palace. The French delegation includes TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné; the company is already involved in the North Field East gas field expansion project in partnership with QatarEnergy. Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Tuesday talks would be followed by a strategic dialogue on Wednesday devoted to energy, the economy, investment and defense.

Context of bilateral relations

Qatar's Foreign Ministry Director of Media and Communications, Ibrahim bin Sultan Al Hashmi, told a briefing in Doha that France is a friend and ally and welcomed its position during the regional crisis. According to Euronews, France was one of Qatar's main defenders during the war with Iran, providing protection of the country's airspace with fighter jets and other means. The visit also builds on investment ties: during the emir's state visit to France in 2024, Qatar pledged to invest 10 billion euros in areas including the energy transition, artificial intelligence, aerospace and healthcare.