Official Visit by Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong to Qatar, 18 to 20 October 2026

Prime Minister Wong is currently on an Official Visit to Qatar.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Wong had a meeting with Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Bin Jassim Al Thani, who also hosted him to an official dinner. The Prime Ministers discussed opportunities to deepen bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on developments in the Middle East. Prime Minister Wong also visited the National Museum of Qatar, where he was hosted by Sheikh Thani Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani and learnt about Qatar's history and cultural heritage.

This morning, Prime Minister Wong visited Qatar Foundation, where he met Vice Chairperson Sheikha Hind Bint Hamad Al Thani and exchanged views on education, research and innovation.

Prime Minister Wong was later received by His Highness Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani at the Amiri Diwan in Doha, where a Welcome Ceremony was held. Prime Minister Wong subsequently called on Emir Sheikh Tamim, who hosted a luncheon in his honour.

Prime Minister Wong and Emir Sheikh Tamim co-chaired the ninth Qatar-Singapore High-Level Joint Committee (HLJC), marking the first time that the HLJC was co-chaired by the leaders of both countries in its 20-year history. Both leaders reaffirmed the warm and longstanding relations between Singapore and Qatar, and agreed to work towards elevating bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership. They welcomed the continued growth of bilateral cooperation in areas including trade and investment, energy, and defence. The Joint Statement of the ninth HLJC at ANNEX.

Prime Minister Wong and Emir Sheikh Tamim also witnessed the exchange of the Renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding between QatarEnergy and the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry on Cooperation in Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Low-Carbon Technology. This agreement will strengthen energy security between our countries.

Prime Minister Wong and Emir Sheikh Tamim exchanged views on regional and international developments. Prime Minister Wong reaffirmed Singapore's solidarity with Qatar and expressed confidence in Qatar's resilience and long-term economic prospects. Both leaders underscored the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to promote regional peace and stability. They also welcomed the growing ties between ASEAN and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and looked forward to working together to deepen ASEAN–GCC cooperation, including by strengthening trade, investment, and connectivity between the two regions during Singapore’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2027.

Later this evening, Prime Minister Wong will attend a reception for Overseas Singaporeans.

Prime Minister Wong will depart Qatar for the United Arab Emirates on 20 October 2026 for the second leg of his Official Visits.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

19 OCTOBER 2026

ANNEX

JOINT STATEMENT: NINTH MEETING OF THE QATAR–SINGAPORE HIGH-LEVEL JOINT COMMITTEE, 19 OCTOBER 2026

The ninth meeting of the Qatar–Singapore High-Level Joint Committee (HLJC) was held in Doha, Qatar, on Monday, 19 October 2026. The HLJC was co-chaired by His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, and His Excellency Lawrence Wong, Prime Minister and Minister for Finance of the Republic of Singapore. The meeting was attended by ministers and senior officials from both countries.

The Qatar delegation included His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Khulaifi, Chief Director of Amiri Diwan, His Excellency Ali Bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, Minister of Finance, His Excellency Eng. Saad Bin Sherida Al Kaabi, Minister of State for Energy Affairs, His Excellency Mohammed Bin Ali Bin Mohammed Al Mannai, Minister of Communications and Technology, and His Excellency Sheikh Faisal Bin Thani Bin Faisal Al Thani, Minister of Commerce and Industry.

The Singapore delegation included His Excellency Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Dr Tan See Leng, Minister for Energy, Trade and Industry (Energy and Industry), and His Excellency Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim, Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The leaders reaffirmed the warm and longstanding relations between Qatar and Singapore and the importance of the HLJC as the key platform for providing strategic direction to bilateral cooperation. This was underscored by the elevation of the HLJC Co-chairs to His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani and His Excellency Lawrence Wong. Building on the strong foundations of cooperation and mutual trust between Qatar and Singapore, both leaders agreed to work towards elevating bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership. Qatar will become Singapore’s second Strategic Partner in the Middle East.

The leaders welcomed the positive outcomes from the third meeting of the Implementation Monitoring Mechanism (IMM) of the HLJC in Doha in September 2026, and reaffirmed the value of the IMM in facilitating regular follow-up and translating key decisions and agreements from the HLJC. The leaders encouraged both sides to continue high-level and sectoral engagements and expressed their shared desire to broaden and deepen cooperation in trade and investment, energy, sustainable development, security, education, social development, and human capital development.

The leaders welcomed the growing cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), digitalisation, and emerging technologies, recognising these areas as having potential to become an important bilateral cooperation pillar. They encouraged cooperation among government agencies, research institutions, academia, and the private sector in AI, digital government, cybersecurity, data, innovation, research and development, and emerging technologies. They also encouraged exchanges of expertise and best practices, greater cooperation in developing digital and AI talent, and partnerships that promote practical applications of AI and emerging technologies. The leaders underscored the importance of trusted, secure and responsible digital and AI ecosystems, including cooperation on cybersecurity and digital resilience.

The leaders welcomed the strengthening of security engagement, including in the areas of defence industry, maritime security, and cybersecurity. In this regard, both sides noted the defence services agreement signed in February 2026 between Barzan Holdings and ST Engineering valued at QR 1.5 billion (S$470 million). They also encouraged the relevant authorities to further explore engagement in digital defence, maritime security and the exchange of expertise, with a view to enhancing the resilience and security of both countries and addressing evolving traditional and non-traditional security challenges.

The leaders welcomed the renewal of the MOU between QatarEnergy and the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry of Singapore on Cooperation in Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Low-Carbon Technology. The MOU underscores both sides’ commitment to facilitating stable LNG procurement supply chains and energy security, especially in light of recent market developments.

The leaders expressed serious concern over the situation in the Middle East. They commended Qatar’s sustained diplomatic efforts to facilitate dialogue and de-escalation in the region. The leaders underscored the importance of upholding navigational rights and freedoms in accordance with international law, in particular the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), ensuring international shipping, including in the Strait of Hormuz, remains open, safe and secure, and the safety of seafarers and vessels in accordance with the relevant international conventions. They reaffirmed their shared commitment to a rules-based international order and multilateralism to collectively address global challenges.

The leaders welcomed Qatar’s Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) Sectoral Dialogue Partner status and looked forward to strengthening Qatar–ASEAN and ASEAN–Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) cooperation, including through the convening of the third ASEAN–GCC Summit and continued efforts towards concluding an ASEAN–GCC Free Trade Agreement during Singapore’s Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2027.

Both sides looked forward to the State Visit of His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, to Singapore as an important opportunity to launch the Qatar–Singapore Strategic Partnership.

The leaders agreed to convene the 10^th HLJC meeting in Singapore at a mutually convenient time, to be determined through diplomatic channels.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

STATE OF QATAR

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE

19 OCTOBER 2026