Welcome to the Australian Embassy Qatar!

 

The Australian Embassy in Qatar advances Australia's foreign policy, security, trade, investment and business interests in Qatar and fosters a strong partnership between the governments and people of Australia and Qatar. 

The Embassy promotes Australian culture and offers passport and consular services to Australian citizens living in or visiting Qatar.  

Bilateral relations between Australia and the State of Qatar 

Australia’s bilateral relationship with Qatar anchored by strong commercial links, notably in food exports and engineering services. Qatar opened an Embassy in Canberra in 2012, and Australia opened its Embassy in Doha in 2016.  

In August 2024, the Prime Minister of Qatar visited Australia and met with Prime Minister Albanese, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Marles, and Foreign Minister Wong. This was a historic visit – the first by a Head of Government from the Gulf to Australia in over 50 years. 

Aviation links are strong, with Qatar Airways operating daily direct flights from Doha to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra. Around 3,000 Australians reside in Qatar (2022) and nearly 40,000 Australians visit Qatar annually. 

Qatar has provided repeated assistance to Australia with assisted departures from regional conflicts. This includes Qatar Airways’ assistance to 405 Australians and vulnerable Afghans from Afghanistan following the fall of Kabul in August 2021. In response to the Hamas-Israel crisis in 2023, Qatar Airways supported the assisted departure of Australians and their families. Qatar Airways also assisted with the departure of Australians and their families from Lebanon in October 2024. 

Research links are also healthy, with over 20 Australian universities undertaking collaborative projects with Qatari institutions. Australia and Qatar signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Higher Education, Research and Vocational Training in 2016. In 2025, Swinburne University of Technology partnered with Barzan University College (BUC) to become the first Australian university to offer degrees in Qatar. 

Trade and Investment 

Qatar is a top-two trading partner for Australia in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. In 2024–25, two-way goods and services trade totalled A$3.5 billion, reflecting growth of 12.8 per cent over the past five years. Qatar remains a high-value, strategically important market for Australian exporters and service providers. 

Many Australian companies are registered and active in Qatar. Australian exports are led by alumina, meat and engineering services, while Qatar’s exports to Australia are primarily aviation services, fertiliser and aluminium. There is strong potential for further growth, particularly in sectors aligned with Qatar’s National Vision 2030 priorities, including energy transition, advanced manufacturing, food security, infrastructure, education and digital technologies. 

Qatar is also an important source of investment into Australia. The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and other Qatari state-owned investment vehicles, including Hassad Food and Nebras Power, collectively hold around A$4 billion (2022) in Australian assets across property, logistics, energy and agriculture. Qatar Airways’ acquisition of a 25 per cent minority stake in Virgin Australia in May 2025 further deepened commercial ties. 

Institutional links are strengthening. The Qatar Chamber and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2024, formalising a shared commitment to expand bilateral trade and investment cooperation. Qatar’s sophisticated business environment, strong financial sector, world-class infrastructure and low trade barriers align well with Australian commercial capabilities. 

HE Mr Shane Flanagan 
Ambassador to Qatar 

Mr Flanagan is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently Director of the Southern, Central and West Africa Section. 

He has previously served overseas as Deputy Head of Mission in Afghanistan and Zimbabwe, with earlier postings to Indonesia and Japan. 

Mr Flanagan and holds a Masters of Politics and Policy from Deakin University, and a Bachelors of Economics/Asian Studies from The Australian National University 

The Australian Embassy in Qatar observes the following local and Australian public holidays in 2026. The Embassy will be closed on the following days: 

Public Holiday 2026
Thursday, 1 January 2026	New Year's Day
Tuesday, 10 February 2026	Qatar Sports Day
Sunday, 22 March 2026	Eid AlFitr*
Monday, 23 March 2026	Eid AlFitr*
Tuesday, 24 March 2026	Eid AlFitr*
Sunday, 5 April 2026	Easter Sunday
Tuesday, 26 May 2026	Eid AlAdha*
Wednesday, 27 May 2026	Eid AlAdha*
Thursday, 28 May 2026	Eid AlAdha*
Sunday, 4 October 2026	Labour Day in Lieu
Thursday, 17 December 2026	Qatar National Day in Lieu
Tuesday, 29 December 2026	Christmas shut down
Wednesday, 30 December 2026	Christmas shut down
Thursday, 31 December 2026	Christmas shut down