Both countries established diplomatic ties on 19 January 1972. In 1995, Syrian President
Hafez al-Assad sided with Saudi Arabia against Qatari Emir
Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani when he deposed his father
Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani in a bloodless coup. Later on,
Bashar al-Assad visited
Doha in 2003, which initiated a new chapter of economic, trading and investment relations. In May 2010, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and
Emir of Qatar Sheikh
Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani expressed support for Turkish-led efforts to bring about a diplomatic resolution to the dispute over Iran's nuclear program. Before the beginning of the Syrian conflict, Qatar and Syria had a fairly positive relationship and maintained diplomatic connections. Since 2005, the two countries had regular visits from top officials and their trade and investment relations were strengthening. Qatar has made investments in multiple areas in Syria, such as the real estate, financial and tourism sectors. Qatar primarily aimed to strengthen
MB's influence in the region and advance its own interests by offering support to the
Syrian opposition.
Qatar Charity or
Alkarama. Qatar and Turkey formed a single bloc in the Syrian conflict and supported the same rebel groups, including internationally designated terrorist groups, such as
Tahrir al-Sham Islamist alliance, jihadist umbrella group
Syrian Islamic Front,
Islamic Front,
Jaysh al-Islam,
Ahrar al-Sham and
Al-Qaeda-affiliated
Nusra Front. One prominent militant group funded by both Turkey and Qatar is the pro-Islamist
Syrian National Council. According to reports both countries provided weaponry, munitions, and additional financial support to the militant groups, such as the
Free Syrian Army,
Syrian National Army,
Army of Conquest and has transformed the Syrian embassy in Doha into an operations room for adversaries of Syria. Both were also involved in the
CIA–led
Timber Sycamore covert operation to train and arm
Syrian rebels. Moreover, Qatar had a noteworthy involvement in training and instructing rebel fighters through the "MOM" (Müşterek Operasyon Merkezi) command center in Turkey. Qatar has been the biggest sponsor of Syrian rebel forces during the war. In April 2023, the
Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), in cooperation with the
Turkish Presidency of Disaster and Emergency Management (AFAD), announced plans to build a city in northern Syria, which would house 70,000 displaced Syrians, following the
2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake. In June 2023, Qatar pledged to donate $75 million for humanitarian needs to Syria. In May 2023, the Syrian government returned to the
Arab League. Despite Qatar's refusal and the statement of its foreign minister that the reasons for suspending Syria's membership still exist, Doha did not formally object to the return of Damascus. In August 2023,
Qatar Charity rehabilitated the Bablit Water Station in northern Syria, enhancing water access and employment opportunities in the region.
Post-Assad regime relations During the
2024 fall of the Assad regime in Syria led by
Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Qatar re-iterated its support for the country's rebels and its opposition to Assad. It was later reported that Qatar would send humanitarian aid via the Turkish city of
Gaziantep. Later on, the state of Qatar decided to reopen its embassy on 17 December 2024. A week later, Mohammed al-Khulaifi, Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, met with Syria's de facto leader
Ahmed al-Sharaa, in Damascus, marking the first Qatari flight to the Syrian capital since the collapse of the Assad regime. Syrian foreign minister
Asaad al-Shaibani visited Qatar on 4 January 2025. Later that month, on 30 January, Emir
Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani became the first head of state to visit Damascus following the regime change, discussing among other things post-conflict reconstruction in Syria. On 8 May 2025 several sources claimed the US have agreed that Qatar will financially support Syria's public sector and pay their salaries. ==See also==