As part of efforts to strengthen cultural and educational exchanges between Qatar and France, H.E. Lolwa bint Rashid Al Khater, Minister of Education and Higher Education, today inaugurated the new premises of the French Institute in Qatar, located in the Al Tarfa district of Doha.

The French Institute is the largest cultural institution affiliated with the Embassy of France in Doha and forms part of the global network of French Institutes. The ceremony was attended by H.E. Arnaud Pescheux, Ambassador of France to Qatar, senior officials from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, and members of the French Embassy.

Dedicated to promoting the French language and culture and advancing the values of Francophonie, the Institute offers a wide range of activities, including French and Arabic language courses, cultural and artistic workshops, exhibitions, lectures, film screenings, and musical evenings. It also hosts a media library and provides internationally recognized certifications such as DELF-DALF, along with Campus France services to support students wishing to pursue higher education in France. The Institute thus serves as a comprehensive hub for cultural and educational exchange between the two countries.

In her remarks at the ceremony, Ms. Nouf Khalid Al Suwaidi, Acting Director of the Department of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, and Acting Secretary-General of the Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, said that the opening of the French Institute is more than an expansion of a cultural institution; it reflects the depth of the strategic partnership between the State of Qatar and the French Republic. She emphasized that the relationship between the two nations is founded on mutual trust and long-standing cooperation across academic, cultural, political, and humanitarian fields, noting that the Institute has been a distinguished symbol of cultural dialogue and friendship between Qatar and France for more than 36 years.

She added that the Ministry of Education and Higher Education has worked closely with the French Embassy and the Institute to strengthen French language programs in Qatari schools, organize academic cooperation initiatives such as “France Day in Qatar,” and promote research and innovation partnerships between universities. These initiatives, she noted, reflect Qatar’s commitment, under the Education Strategy 2025–2030, to advancing multilingualism, global citizenship, and excellence in education.

She also commended the flourishing Qatari-French partnership in education, research, and the arts, highlighting joint educational institutions such as the Bonaparte and Voltaire schools and HEC Paris in Education City, in addition to cultural collaboration on pioneering projects like the National Museum of Qatar, designed by Jean Nouvel.

She noted that since Qatar joined the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), the country has worked closely with France and its partners to promote linguistic and cultural diversity as pillars of peace and cooperation. She added that the new French Institute gives life to this shared commitment, serving as a space for exchange, creativity, and dialogue. This, she said, reminds us that cooperation between Qatar and France, whether through education, cultural initiatives, or youth programs, not only strengthens our bilateral relations but also contributes to fostering mutual understanding and global peace.

For his part, H.E. Arnaud Pescheux, Ambassador of France to Qatar, highlighted that the relationship between Qatar and France is built on a shared vision that considers culture and education as fundamental pillars of development, tools that unlock both individual and collective potential and serve as bridges for dialogue and mutual understanding.

He added that today’s inauguration marks a new milestone that will further strengthen the partnership between the two nations, reaffirming France’s deep confidence in its relationship with Qatar, a partnership based on mutual respect, dialogue, and cooperation, and one that has notably flourished in recent years, particularly in the fields of culture and education.

The French Institute in Qatar carries a legacy of nearly four decades of cultural and educational cooperation. With its new, modern premises, the Institute is now even better equipped to continue its mission: promoting the French language, supporting creativity and innovation, strengthening academic and cultural partnerships, and fostering dialogue and exchanges between Qatar and France.

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