Poland in Qatar

Historical view 

Poland established diplomatic relations with Qatar in 1989. The Emir of Qatar, HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, visited Warsaw in 2002, marking the first ever visit of a head of an Arab Gulf state in Poland. In 2004 the President of Poland, Aleksander Kwaśniewski, paid an official visit to Qatar. In 2007, the Embassy of Poland opened in Doha, while the Embassy of Qatar in Warsaw has been in operation since 2008. In 2013 President Bronisław Komorowski paid an official visit to Doha. In 2017, the Emir, HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, visited Poland. In 2019 Mr. Jacek Czaputowicz, the Minister of Foreign Affairs visited Doha.

Political cooperation after 1989

The Polish-Qatari relationship can be described as outstanding. Diplomatic relations between the two states were established in 1989. In August 2006, the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Doha was opened, and in April 2008 the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Warsaw was established. Bilateral cooperation is to a large extent founded on the strategic cooperation in the field of energy, which is an important tool for Poland to diversify supplies. In 2009, PGNiG S.A. and Qatargas have signed an 20-year LNG supply contract at 1 million tons per year. The deliveries started in June 2016. In March 2017 an additional agreement was signed by the parties increasing the volume of LNG deliveries from January 2018 to 2.1 million tons per annum.

The bilateral agreement and treaty basis includes 7 agreements and memoranda of understanding in such areas as: air transport, avoiding double taxation, cooperation in the field of tourism, economic cooperation, cooperation in the field of health and medical sciences, cooperation in the field of culture, and waiving the visa requirement for holders of diplomatic and special passports.  Official visits to Qatar have been paid by: President A. Kwaśniewski (2004), Prime Minister D. Tusk (2008) and President B. Komorowski (2013). In December 2019 DOha was visited by Jacek Czaputowicz, Minister of Foreign Affairs, who took part in the Doha Forum 2019.

Official visits to Poland were made by the Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani (2002, 2011) and the Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani (2017). From 2014, regular political consultations at the level of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs have been held. In the first half of 2016, bilateral military cooperation was established (a number of delegations of the Polish Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defense) in connection with the deployment of the Polish contingent in the Al-Udeid base in July 2016 (as part of the Inherent Resolve mission).

The image of Poland in Qatari media is good, although local media do not pay excessive attention to the country. Most of the information about it appearing in the local press, radio and television are agency reports. 

The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Doha is active in the field of public diplomacy by organizing concerts, exhibitions and other events promoting Polish art and culture in Qatar. In 2015, the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra performed works of renowned Polish composers under the baton of Wojciech Czepiel. In 2016, a concert of Marcin Wyrostek with the group Tango Corazone took place in Doha. A Polish film festival was also organized. In the same year, Krzysztof Penderecki gave concerts with the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra. A number of Polish musicians has performed in Doha in the previous years, including Alicja Węgorzewska and numerous jazz bands, such as Marcin Wasilewski Trio. In 2012, the National Museum in Gdańsk, the Polish Academy of Sciences Library and the Orientalist Museum in Doha presented the exhibition "Bartholomäus Schachman, (1559-1614): Art of travel".

In 2018, the National Library of Poland and Qatar Museums Authority completed a joint, long-term project of publication of an extended scientific publication of the manuscript by Wacław Seweryn Rzewuski "Sur le Chevaux Orientaux et provenants des Races Orientales – Concerning the Horses of the Orient and Those Originating from Oriental Breeds " and a facsimile of the original work. The entire cost of this undertaking, which is the largest edition of the source in history, was covered by the Qatari side. The publication was presented at the largest book fair in Qatar (29th Doha International Book Fair) in November 2018.

In June 2019 H.E. Mr. Salah Bin Ghanem Al Ali, the Minister of Culture and Sports of the State of Qatar visited Poland.

For several years, the embassy has noticed a growing interest of Qatari residents in studying in Poland. Since 2015, cooperation between the Polish Naval Academy in Gdynia and the Qatari Coast Guard, sending its cadets to 4-year full-time studies, has been developing successfully. In 2016, at the initiative of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Doha, a study visit of Qatari journalists to Poland was organized. The participants visited, among others, the Medical University of Warsaw as well as the Gdansk Science and Technology Park. The "Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Government of the State of Qatar on cooperation in the field of higher education and research" is currently being negotiated.

The Embassy also inspires cooperation between Polish and Qatari scientists and universities. As part of such dialogue, a lecture by Prof. Zbigniew Rychard on political changes in Poland was held at a local branch of Georgetown University in 2014. In 2017, in cooperation with Hamad Bin Khalifa University, a lecture and exhibition on Tatars in Poland were organized.

In 2014, at the initiative of the Polish community in Qatar, the Captain W. Pilecki Polish School in Qatar was established. It is an informal institution run by parents-volunteers, organizing classes for Polish kids living in Doha each Friday morning. Every year, about 50-70 children attend these free classes at school. They are organized with the approval and support of the Qatari Ministry of Education and Higher Education, and lessons are held at one of the local public schools: Tariq bin Ziyad Independent School for Boys in Doha.

 

 

November 15, 2019

Chopin concerto performed in Doha by Wojciech Waleczek and Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra

October 14-17, 2019

visit to Doha of the Operational Chief Commander of Poland’s Armed Forces Gen. Tomasz Piotrowski with an accompanying delegation. The visit’s program foresaw meetings with the Director of the Combined Air Operations Center at the Al Udeid Air Base Brig Gen Alex Day, talks with the Qatari Coast Guard’s Chief Commander Brig Gen Lt Col Abdulaziz Al Mohannadi, and the Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Interior of the State of Qatar Brig Gen Nasser Al Malem, as well as consultations with the Director of the Department of Foreign Armed Forces in the Ministry of Defence of the State of Qatar Col Khalifa Ahmad Al Ammarim. Poland’s military met also with Qatari graduates from the Naval Academy in Gdynia who obtained the 2LT ranks in the 2019 promotion.

April 27-28, 2019

visit to Doha of the CEO and President of the Management Board of the Polish Oil and Gas Company Piotr Woźniak who held meetings with Minister of State for Energy Affairs of the State of Qatar Saad Sherida Al Kaabi and the CEO of Qatargas Shekih Khalid Bin Khalifa Al Thani. The accompanying delegation consisted of the CEO of Orlen Upstream Janusz Radomski, the CEO of Lotos Group Mateusz Bonca and the CEO of Gas Storage Poland Krzysztof Hnatio

June 10-12, 2019

visit to Warsaw of the Minister of Culture and Sport of the State of Qatar Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali with an accompanying delegation. The Minister held meetings with the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Culture of Poland Piotr Gliński, the Minister of Sport of Poland Witold Bańka, the Deputy Minister of Culture of Poland Paweł Lewandowski and representatives of Poland’s film industry

April 6, 2019

visit to Doha of the Deputy Marshal of the Senate Michał Seweryński with an accompanying delegation of the Sejm and the Senate of Poland who jointly participated in the 140. General Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union

March 11-13, 2019

visit to Doha of the Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Technology of Poland Marcin Ociepa

February 24-25, 2019

visit to Doha of the President of the Management Board of the Warsaw Stock Exchange Marek Dietl who signed the memorandum of understanding with the Qatar Stock Exchange (25.02)

February 13-14, 2019

visit to Warsaw of the Vice Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani who participated in the “Ministerial To Promote A Future of Peace and Security in the Middle East”

December 3-14, 2018

participation of the Qatari delegation in the 2018 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Katowice (COP24). The delegation consisted of the Minister of Municipality and Environment of the State of Qatar Eng. Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Subaie and a number of officials from the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Transport and Communication, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (KAHRAMAA), General Authority of Civil Aviation, Qatar University and Qatar Petroleum

December 1-2, 2018

visit to Doha of the Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of Poland Paweł Lewandowski and accompanying delegation who held meetings with the Minister of Culture and Sport of the State of Qatar Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali, the Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Culture and Sport of the State of Qatar Faleh Ajlan Al Hajri and the acting director of the Qatar Museums Authority Ahmad Musa Al Namla. The delegation participated in the 29. International Doha Book Fair 2019

October 31,  2018

presentation of the letters of credence of the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the State of Qatar Janusz Janke

April 25, 2018

visit to Warsaw of the President and Executive Director of Qatar Petroleum Saad Sherida Al Kaabi

March 12-14, 2018

visit to Doha of the Counter Admiral of Poland’s Navy Mirosław Mordel

October 27, 2017

visit to Doha of the Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland for the Middle East, Africa, Development Aid and Human Rights Joanna Wronecka who held meetings with the Secretary General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar Ahmed Hassan Al Hammadi and the representatives of the National Committee for Human Rights

October 20, 2017

visit in Warsaw of the President of Qatar Investment Authority Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Thani who held meetings with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Development and Finance of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki

September 12, 2017

visit to Doha of the Head of Poland’s Foreign Intelligence Agency Piotr Krawczyk who met with his Qatari counterpart Ghanim bin Khalifa Al Kubaisi

September 7-8, 2017

visit to Warsaw of the Secretary General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar Ahmed Hassan Al Hammadi who held meetings with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Joanna Wronecka, the Deputy Marshal of the Sejm Ryszard Terlecki and the Deputy Minister of Energy of Poland Michał Kurtyka

August 11, 2017

visa requirements for Polish citizens lifted

May 4-5, 2017

state visit to Poland of the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani who held meetings with the President of Poland Andrzej Duda and the Prime Minister of Poland Beata Szydło.  While in Poland, the Amir and Polish counterparts held plenary consultations, signed agreements on economic co-operation in the field of health and health sciences, culture and the abolition of the visa requirement for holders of diplomatic and special passports

April 8-9, 2017

political consultations in Warsaw led by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Joanna Wronecka and the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of  Qatar Ahmed Hassan Al Hammadi

December 4-8, 2016

visit to Warsaw of the Deputy Minister of State Abdullah Juma'an Al Hamad

October 3, 2016

visit to Doha of the Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of National Defense of Poland Tomasz Szatkowski

September 25-28, 2016

Visit to Doha of the Operational Commander of Poland’s Armed Forces Gen. Marek Tomaszycki

September 24-25, 2016

unofficial visit to Poland of the Amir-Father of the State of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani who met with the President of Poland Andrzej Duda

June 4, 2016

deployment of the Polish military contingent in the State of Qatar as part of the Polish participation in Operation Inherent Resolve

April 8-15, 2016

visit to Doha of the Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland Katarzyna Kacperczyk along with an economic mission and a cultural program of the project “Poland presents”

February 27, 2016

concert of Krzysztof Penderecki in the Doha Opera House (accompanied by the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra)

May 24, 2015

visit to Doha of the Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland Konrad Pawlik and an accompanying delegation who participated in the EU-GCC ministerial conference in Doha

April 14-15, 2015

2. Polish-Qatari political consultations in Doha led by the Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland Katarzyna Kacperczyk and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi. Side event: Polish-Qatari Economic Forum

November 2015

visit to Doha of the President of the Supreme Audit Office Krzysztof Kwiatkowski

January 29  – February 1, 2015

visit to Doha of the Minister of Sport and Tourism of Poland Adam Biernat who held talks with the Secretary of the Qatar Olympic Committee Saud bin Abdurahman Al Thani and the Minister of Sport and Culture of the State of Qatar Salah bin Ghanem al-Ali

January 1 – June 30, 2015

The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Doha held the local presidency of the Council of the European Union

April 6, 2014

presentation of the letters of credence of the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the State of Qatar Krzysztof Suprowicz

March 27, 2014

Polish-Qatari political consultations in Warsaw with led by the Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland Bogusław Winid and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi

February 28 – March 3, 2014

private visit to Doha of former President of Poland Lech Wałęsa

December 9-10, 2013

state visit to Qatar of the President of Poland Bronisław Komorowski who held meetings with the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the Amir-Father Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani

November 11-22, 2013

participation of the Qatari delegation in COP19 Warsaw

October 26-28, 2013

participation of the delegation of Polish Olympic Committee in the XXXIV World Volleyball Congress Doha 2013 led by the POC Andrzej Kraśnicki

October 26-28, 2013

visit to Warsaw of the Minister of Culture, Art and National Heritage of the State of Qatar Abdulaziz Al Kuwari

December 5, 2012

inaugural flight of the Qatar Airways aircraft to Warsaw - launch of direct air connections (participation of the president of Qatar Airways Akbar Al Baker and the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the State of Qatar Robert Rostek)

November 26 - December 7, 2012

participation of the Polish delegation in the COP18 in Doha

October 2-3, 2012

visit to Warsaw of the wife of the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al Misnad who met with Poland’s First Lady Anna Komorowska, and received Poland’s Order of Smile

September 24 - October 15, 2012

participation of the Polish delegation in the XXV Congress of the World Postal Union in Doha led by the Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Administration and Digitalisation of Poland M. Olszewska. The delegation consisted of the Polish Post and the Council of Electronic Communications representatives.

September 3-6, 2012

participation of the Qatari delegation in the International Defense Industry Exhibition in Kielce

June 28-29, 2012

unofficial visit to Warsaw of the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani who met  with the President of Poland Bronisław Komorowski on the sides of EURO Cup 2012

March 26-29, 2012

participation of the Polish delegation in DIMDEX 2012

January 21-25, 2012

visit to Doha of the wife of the President of Poland Anna Komorowska who participated in 5. Forum of the Shafallah Foundation, and met with the wife of the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al Misnad

October 20, 2011

official visit to Poland of the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani with an accompanying delegation (including Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Amir’s Office, Minister of Energy and Industry, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Economy and Trade, General Director of Qatar Holding). The Amir held talks with President of Poland Bronisław Komorowski, Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Marshal of the Senate Bogdan Borusewicz. Poland and Qatar signed a tourism cooperation agreement and established a Polish-Qatari Business Council

June 10, 2011

visit to Warsaw of the Minister of Finance and Economy of the State of Qatar Youssef Hussain Kamal who participated in the 1. Polish-Qatari Forum in Warsaw and met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Poland Waldemar Pawlak

April 13, 2011

visit to Doha of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Radosław Sikorski who participated in the 1. Meeting of the Contact Group for Libya

March 27-30, 2011

visit to Doha of the President of the National Bank of Poland Marek Belka

March 9-12, 2011

visit to Doha of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage of Poland Bogdan Zdrojewski who awarded the Gloria Artis gold medal to the Minister of Culture, Art and National Heritage of the State of Qatar Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari

October 19-21, 2010

participation of Polish representatives in the 8. Interfaith Dialogue Conference Doha 2010 (prof. pater K. Kościelniak, prof. B. Zagórski, prof. pater Z. Kroplewski)

May 30 –  June 3, 2010

visit to Doha of former President of Poland Aleksander Kwasniewski who participated in the 10th Doha Forum and met meeting with the Amir of the State of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani

March 28 -  April 1, 2010

participation of the Polish delegation in DIMDEX 2010

November 15-18, 2009

visit to Warsaw of the Minister of State for Energy and Industry Mohammed Saleh Al Sady

June 28-29, 2009

visit to Doha of the Minister of Treasury of Poland Aleksander Grad who signed the contract for the supply of LNG to Poland

April 19-22, 2009

visit to Dohaof the wife of the President of Poland Maria Kaczyńska who participated in 4. Forum of the Shafallah Foundation and met with the wife of the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al Misnad

March 4-6, 2009

visit to Doha of the Minister of Sport and Tourism of Poland Mirosław Drzewiecki with the accompanying delegation of EURO Cup 2012

January 24-28, 2009

visit to Doha of the President of the Supreme Audit Office Jacek Jezierski who participated in the INTOSAI Conference

November 18-19, 2008

visit to Doha of Prime Minister Donald Tusk with an accompanying delegation in Doha who signed the agreement on avoiding double taxation with Qatari counterparts

November 11, 2008

presentation of the letters of credence of the first  Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the State of Qatar Robert Rostek

November 4-5, 2008

visit to Doha of the Minister of Treasury of Poland Aleksander Grad

April 19-22, 2008

visit to Doha of the wife of the President of Poland Maria Kaczyńska who participated in the 3. Forum of the Shafallah Foundation and met with the wife of the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al Misnad

April 17, 2008

opening of the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Warsaw

April 7-9, 2008

visit to Doha of Marshal of the Senate Bogdan Borusewicz with an accompanying business delegation (KIG)

March 17-20, 2008

participation of the Polish delegation in DIMDEX 2008

January 9-11, 2008

visit to Doha of the former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Grzegorz Kołodko who met with the Minister of Finance and Minister of Economy of the State of Qatar Yousef Hussain Kamal, and gave lecture at the Georgetown University

September 3-5, 2007

participation of the Qatari delegation led by Gen. M. Al Mohannadi in the 15. International Defense Industry Exhibition in Kielce

April 28, 2007

opening of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Doha

April 3-6, 2007

first mission of the Polish Chamber of Commerce in Doha, signing of a cooperation agreement between the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Polish Chamber of Commerce

January 27-29, 2007

visit to Doha of the Minister of Economy of Poland Piotr Woźniak who met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy and Industry of the State of Qatar Hamad Al Attiyah

January 21, 2007

visit to Doha of Poland’s Mufti Tomasz Miśkiewicz

October 29 – November 1, 2006

participation of the Polish delegation in the Doha Conference for Democracy led by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Witold Waszczykowski

September 1, 2006

establishment of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Doha

April 22-24, 2006

participation of the Polish delegation in the International Energy Forum in Doha led by the Minister of Economy of Poland Piotr Woźniak

March 24, 2004

state visit to Qatar of the President of Poland Aleksander Kwasniewski in Doha (as part of the regional visit)

June 11-12, 2002

official visit to Poland of the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. The Amir was accompanied by a high-rank delegation (including Minister of Foreign Affairs Hamad bin Jassem Al Thani, Minister of Finance Yousef Hussain Kamal) and a group of businessmen. The Amir was received by the President of Poland Aleksander Kwasniewski. Poland and Qatar drew attention to the low level of trade exchange and the need to activate economic contacts. The Amir met with the Marchal of the Senate Longin Pastusiak and the Primate of Poland Józef Glemp

November 9-13, 2001

participation of the Polish delegation in the WTO meeting in Doha led by the Deputy Minister of Economy of Poland Janusz Kaczurba

February 23-24, 1999

visit to Doha of the Marshal of the Senate Alicja Grześkowiak who was received by the Amir of the State of Qatar, held talks with the Chairman of the Qatar Advisory Assembly Mohamed bin Mubarak Al Kholaifi and the representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar. It was the first high-level visit of a representative of Polish authorities to the country

April 21-22, 1998

visit to Warsaw of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani who held talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Bronisław Geremek and was received by the President of Poland Aleksander Kwasniewski and the Marshals of the Sejm and the Senate. During the visit, a number of documents were signed, which should be considered the first stage of creating a legal and treaty base of bilateral relations: a civil air transport agreement, an agreement on cooperation between Foreign Affairs departments, an agreement on cooperation between chambers of commerce, an agreement on the establishment of diplomatic representation. It was the first visit of any GCC Minister of Foreign Affairs to Poland

November 16-18, 1997

participation of the Polish delegation in the MENA Economic Conference in Doha led by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Marek Grela

June 1996

visit to Warsaw of the Minister of Energy and Industry of the State of Qatar Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah. The Amir of the State of Qatar sent a letter to the President of Poland in which he declared his willingness to develop bilateral contacts and thanked for Poland's position in relation to the problems in the Middle East and the Balkans. He also expressed a desire to visit Poland

March 1996

visit to Doha of the Minister of Industry and Trade of Poland Klemens Scierski. The issues of bilateral cooperation in the liquid fuels and gas sector as well as the prospects of supplying LNG to Poland were discussed. A memorandum was signed defining the scope of future cooperation. Minister Ścierski was received by the Amir, to whom he sent a message from the President of Poland Aleksander Kwaśniewski

May 1994

visit to Doha of the Deputy Minister of International Economic Cooperation of Poland Maciej Leśny

1993

visit to Doha of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Andrzej Ananicz as part of his trip to the GCC countries - the first political consultations in the history at the level of deputy ministers of foreign affairs

September 1989

official establishment of diplomatic relations (Poland recognized Qatar when it proclaimed its independence in 1971 and supported Qatar's admission to the United Nations)