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21 December 2025 – Doha, Qatar: Al Araby Al Jadeed, one of the Arab world’s leading regional media outlets, has published a thought-leadership op-ed by Her Excellency Mariam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad, Minister of State for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, examining how culture and sport have become central pillars of Qatar’s modern diplomatic engagement.
Titled “When the Goal and the Brushstroke Converge: Qatar’s Cultural Dialogue Through Sport and the Arts,” the piece explores how shared cultural experience and global sport are reshaping international cooperation, trust, and mutual understanding. Drawing on Qatar’s experience hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ and the long-standing Years of Culture initiative, the Minister outlines how diplomacy today extends beyond formal agreements to lived, people-centred exchange.
In the op-ed, HE Al Misnad emphasises that culture is not peripheral to foreign policy, but one of its most powerful instruments. She argues that cultural expression offers a universal language that transcends borders and builds lasting relationships.
The article also highlights the symbolic and strategic convergence of sport and culture ahead of the Qatar Canada and Mexico 2026 Year of Culture, which coincides with the FIFA World Cup 2026™, co-hosted by Canada and Mexico. This parallel, the Minister notes, reinforces Qatar’s commitment to sustained global engagement through both creative exchange and shared sporting experience.
HE Al Misnad further underscores the importance of inclusivity and ethical stewardship in cultural diplomacy, pointing to the role of local communities, Indigenous traditions, youth, and underrepresented voices in shaping equitable and resilient partnerships.
The authored article reflects Qatar’s continued investment in people-to-people diplomacy and its belief that meaningful international relations are built through shared experience, curiosity, and dialogue.
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