The emir of Qatar has arrived in the UK for a state visit, the ultimate diplomatic gift the UK can give.
The two-day visit is an invitation only extended to countries seen as particularly important to the UK.
It is expected to celebrate and reinforce UK-Qatari ties economically and strategically, as well as acknowledge Qatar’s recent global diplomatic efforts to de-escalate some of the world’s most pressing crises.
But human rights groups have also accused the UK government of “royal washing Qatar’s troubling rights record” by welcoming the emir and his wife.
On Monday afternoon, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, accompanied by Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani, flew to Stansted Airport.
On Tuesday, they will be given a full ceremonial welcome, a carriage procession and a state banquet at Buckingham Palace as part of two days of events where the King and his family will play host.
Read more: Queen to miss ceremonial welcome during state visit
Since the 2000s, Qatar has been a huge financial investor in the UK – in central London the Savoy Hotel and The Shard are just a couple of their standout investments.
In May 2022, the emir of Qatar was welcomed by the-then prime minister Boris Johnson, with his country promising to invest up to £10bn in the UK over five years.
And it is clearly a relationship the new Labour government is keen to maintain.
The World Cup in 2022 saw Qatar’s treatment of workers and human rights record heavily criticised.
Now two years later, they are being lauded globally for their role in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, and the release of hostages from Gaza.
Qatar’s strategic importance for UK is considerable
Dr David Roberts, a reader at King’s College London, has been studying Qatar since 2007. He says for a country with a population around the size of Coventry, its strategic importance for the UK is considerable.
“We import a lot of liquid natural gas to keep the lights on, up to 25% in recent years. So that’s important,” he said.
“But again, the British government perspective is that if you look at the region, there’s been a major conflict there pretty reliably every 10 or 15 years for as long as we can remember.
“So, if we have these important allies in the region, we can work with them upstream, as it were, to develop capacities there to maybe stave off that instability.”
Concerns about state’s human rights record
But both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have told Sky News of their concerns about the royal welcome this week and protests are expected near the palace on Tuesday.
Polly Truscott, Amnesty International UK’s foreign policy adviser, said: “It’s important that Qatar’s poor human rights record isn’t overlooked during the pomp and ceremony of this visit…
“Freedom of expression in Qatar is curtailed and the few who dare to criticise the government face arrest and possible jail sentences.”
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‘Royal washing’
Yasmine Ahmed, UK director of Human Rights Watch, said: “Hosting the royal visit without addressing these issues is tantamount to royal washing Qatar’s troubling rights record.”
Campaigner Peter Tatchell, who was detained in Doha when he protested ahead of the World Cup in 2022, said: “I am profoundly shocked that the Labour government, which is supposed to be about human rights, is prepared to cosy up to a dictatorship for the sake of money.
“You know, investment is important but not at any price and we are taking blood money”.
The Princess of Wales will join the family for part of the welcome events. Pic: PA
All other state visits during King’s reign have passed without controversy
The international media office for Qatar told Sky News this is “a historic, decades-long partnership that spans diverse fields, including diplomacy, defence, humanitarian aid, energy security, trade, and investment”.
“Over the past decade, we have consulted and coordinated extensively with global partners, including the ILO [International Labour Organisation], trade unions, NGOs, and the UK government to implement a modernised, fair, and effective labour system in line with the highest international standards.”
This will be the fourth state visit of the King’s reign. All the others have so far passed without controversy.
This time, the Princess of Wales will also join the family for part of the welcome events.
Her attendance, in a year where her public engagements have been limited, will guarantee pictures of the visit will spread around the world, boosting the global recognition the UK government believes Qatar deserves.