I recently spent time in Doha, and what stood out was not the skyline, impressive as it is, but the coherence of the national project underway. Qatar is not trying to outbuild or outshout its neighbours. Instead, it is investing patiently in education, mediation, journalism and platforms for global dialogue — areas where influence is earned slowly but lasts longer.
This approach has paid dividends.
Central to this vision is the Qatar Foundation — an institution that has quietly transformed Doha into an intellectual crossroads. Through Education City, Qatar hosts branch campuses of leading global universities, funds research and links education to public policy and innovation. This is not education as branding, but education as infrastructure.
That long-term thinking extends to diplomacy. Over the past decade, Qatar has emerged as one of the world’s most effective mediators — facilitating talks where others could not or would not. From negotiations involving the Taliban and the United States, to ceasefire and hostage discussions related to Gaza, Doha has positioned itself as a channel that remains open even when relations elsewhere collapse.
Qatar’s strength lies not in coercion but in access.
The Doha Forum reflects this ethos. Unlike many global summits that feel scripted and performative, the Forum brings together heads of state, dissidents, journalists and civil society actors for serious, often uncomfortable conversations. In an era of diplomatic theatre, Qatar has invested in dialogue.
That commitment to pluralism is also embodied by Al Jazeera. The network has long been controversial, criticised by governments and media competitors alike. But it has also expanded the boundaries of global journalism, particularly by centring voices from the Global South and covering conflicts others avoid or sanitise.
I say this as someone proud to be a frequent contributor.
During my visit, one image stayed with me: a tree sculpture memorial dedicated to Al Jazeera journalists killed while reporting, many in Gaza. It is a quiet reminder that journalism is not an abstraction. It is work that still carries risk — and sometimes, lethal consequences.
In a world where journalists are increasingly targeted, silenced, or embedded into power structures, Qatar’s support for a platform like Al Jazeera matters. It is imperfect, but it remains one of the few global outlets willing to challenge dominant narratives.
None of this absolves Qatar of scrutiny. Labour rights, political participation and freedom of expression remain areas where criticism is legitimate and necessary. But what distinguishes Qatar is a visible willingness to evolve — to engage criticism rather than dismiss it, and to plan beyond election cycles and headlines.
Doha itself reflects that mindset. Confident rather than loud. Global without being hollow. It feels like a city still rising, not fraying.
The broader lesson here is about power in the 21st century. Influence today is not only measured in military hardware or skyscrapers. It is measured in convening power, credibility, and the ability to keep channels open when others close them.
In that sense, Qatar is not trying to dominate the future. It is trying to host it.
And in a fractured world desperate for fewer slogans and more solutions, that may be its most consequential choice.