In a significant development, on Monday, Sheikh Faisal bin Thani Al Thani, the President of Africa and Asia Investments at Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), paid a courtesy visit to His Majesty King Mohammed VI at the Royal Palace in Rabat.
Al Thani delivered a verbal message to King Mohammed VI from the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
The reception was attended by the advisor to King Mohammed VI, Fouad Ali El-Himma.
Morocco and Qatar share a long history of friendly relations. In August, King Mohammed VI addressed a message to the Emir of Qatar expressing Morocco’s willingness to strengthen ties with the Gulf nation.
The visit holds immense importance as it signifies both nations’ commitment to deepening their existing partnership. On Monday, Sheikh Faisal bin Thani Al Thani expressed his utmost gratitude for the warm reception and underscored Qatar’s enthusiasm to expand its investment portfolio in Morocco.
The strong diplomatic ties between the two Arab nations are reflected in the frequent exchange of visits between senior officials and in the cooperation that Rabat and Doha share at different levels.
The Qatar 2022 World Cup also highlighted the close ties between the two countries, as Qatari leadership and people displayed unwavering support for Morocco throughout the competition.
During the World Cup, members of the Qatari royal family, including the country’s Emir, attended Morocco’s games and held the Moroccan flag to celebrate the Atlas Lions’ triumphs.
In the leadup to the event, Qatar had sought Morocco’s expertise in security while organising the global competition.
In October 2022, beIN Sports reported that Morocco and Qatar released a joint statement promising to increase security cooperation and exchange information ahead of the World Cup.
In addition to security, Morocco and Qatar have been working on boosting economic ties by removing trade barriers and increasing trade volumes.
Between 2017 and 2021, the trade volume between the two countries increased by 130% reaching $207 million, up from $90 million.
In November 2022, the two countries concluded a first round of discussions on a Free Trade Agreement that is expected to further accelerate this growth by encouraging cooperation between businesses in both countries.
In 2016, Qatar was the fifth largest foreign investor in Morocco, according to the country’s exchange office. As of 2022, Qatar was home to 80 Moroccan companies operating in the hospitality, trade, fashion, and contracting sectors.
