Jordan–Qatar relations
Jordan–Qatar relations
Jordan and Qatar maintain a generally close bilateral relationship that covers diplomacy, economy, education, and humanitarian aid. Diplomatic ties were established in 1972, and each country has an embassy in the other's capital (Jordan in Doha and Qatar in Amman).
Key areas of cooperation
- Political and diplomatic ties: The two countries have worked together on regional issues, with high-level visits and discussions shaping their cooperation. They have also navigated disagreements, such as during regional crises, and continued to seek expanded collaboration in political and investment spheres.
- Economic ties: Qatar has been a major investor in Jordan, and direct investment grew to billions of dollars in recent years. The two countries have expanded trade, joint ventures, and business ties, including air services to connect their economies and markets.
- Education and culture: They partner in education and scholarships, with Jordanian students receiving opportunities to study in Qatar and joint educational initiatives between their ministries.
- Humanitarian aid: Qatar has supported Jordan during health and humanitarian crises, including funding for COVID-19 vaccination efforts and UNICEF-led programs for refugees in Jordan.
- Migration and people: A significant number of Jordanians live in Qatar, reflecting sustained labor and social links between the two states.
- Education and culture: The Jordanian education system and a Jordanian school in Doha operate under a framework that supports student exchange and shared curricula.
Timeline of notable events
- 1970s–early 1970s: Qatar gains independence; Jordan helps Qatar develop education, military, and economic sectors; Qatar opens an embassy in Amman in 1972.
- Early 2000s: Tensions arise, including the detainment of a Hamas leader and related diplomatic friction. Qatar and Jordan experience strain over regional issues.
- 2002–2003: Jordan closes Al Jazeera’s bureau in Amman and later reinstates it; a Jordanian journalist in Qatar faces a death sentence but is pardoned after discussions with Jordan’s king.
- 2006: Qatar’s backing of a UN secretary-general candidate leads Jordan to withdraw its ambassador from Qatar, though relations remain in play with regional diplomacy.
- 2017–2019: During the Qatar diplomatic crisis, Jordan temporarily downgrades relations and closes the Al Jazeera bureau in Doha; ties are restored in 2019 with new ambassadors appointed.
- 2020–2021: Qatar provides humanitarian aid related to COVID-19 and refugee support in Jordan.
- 2022–2023: An air services agreement expands airline connectivity; Qatari investments in Jordan reach several billion dollars; high-level visits in 2021–2023 discuss expanding cooperation, including economic and investment ties.
Economic and trade highlights
- Jordan set up a trade office in Doha in 2006 to promote direct Qatari investment.
- Qatar has been a major investor in Jordan, with investments reaching several billion dollars by 2018 and rising further by 2023.
- Trade turnover was around hundreds of millions of dollars in the mid-2010s, with growth in 2018–2019 and many Jordanian companies partnering with Qatari firms.
- In March 2022, a significant air services agreement linked Jordan and Qatar, expanding global destinations for both sides.
Education and people
- Qatar’s and Jordan’s education authorities cooperate on conferences, scholarships, and joint programs. Jordanian students receive scholarships to Qatar University.
- The Jordanian School in Ain Khaled, Doha, follows the Jordanian curriculum, with a pathway to a Qatari secondary certificate in later grades.
- About 40,000 Jordanians resided in Qatar around 2014, reflecting substantial people-to-people ties.
Diplomatic missions
- Jordan’s embassy is in Doha, and Qatar’s embassy is in Amman. Ambassadors have included Jordan’s Zaid Al Louzi (in the past) and Qatar’s Saud Bin Nasser Al-Thani (in the past). These missions help manage ongoing political and economic cooperation.
Current outlook
Jordan–Qatar relations are characterized by strong economic and diplomatic ties, active high-level engagement, and ongoing cooperation in education and humanitarian aid. While there have been disagreements in the past, both countries continue to work toward expanding political, economic, and cultural cooperation and to support regional stability.
This page was last edited on 29 January 2026, at 06:07 (CET).