On National Day, a nod to the power of Qatar-UK cultural bonds

What is the economic value of our cultural activity? The very question itself somehow feels wrong, even cheapening. Arts and heritage are much more profound than merely pounds and riyals. As the great British designer and writer, and the pioneer of the Arts and Crafts Movement, William Morris put it “the worth of art is not measured in coin, but in the happiness and dignity it brings to human life.”

That is surely true. But there is also the complementary argument. Our arts, cultural and creative institutions do not only flourish on their own. We must invest in, nurture and support them, not just because of how they enrich our lives, but also because of the economic value they bring to our societies. This is true not just within any one country, but also of the bonds that join us.

Over the past decade, Qatar’s Years of Culture initiative has demonstrated how cultural diplomacy can directly support mutual, diverse economic growth. The Qatar-UK Year of Culture in 2013 has had a long and powerful legacy, with annual festivals marking the richness of our ties across heritage, art, music, architecture, dance and beyond. It has driven long-term relationships grounded in mutual understanding, and created the conditions for institutional and industrial cooperation to flourish.

Cultural exchange has proven to be a powerful enabler of economic growth and diversity in both Qatar and the UK.

This value is not theoretical. Cultural and creative industries employ almost 10% of Britain’s workforce and contribute over £100 billion annually to the UK economy. British music, film, design, and digital content generate billions in international revenues. We have the largest gaming sector in Europe, and the largest tech sector globally outside of the US and China. These sectors drive tourism and innovation, create jobs, attract inward investment, and reinforce the UK as a global creative hub. They are growing rapidly.

And the same is true for Qatar, which boasts more than 23,000 businesses spanning design, advertising, IT, film, music, publishing, and entertainment—forming a diverse ecosystem that drives innovation and entrepreneurship. Qatar is proving itself as a global hub in so many respects, and there is potential for us to do even more together.

This year’s Qatar UK Festival, which was the 10th celebration of the Qatar-UK year of culture, provides a clear example on how we are moving forward.

Under the patronage of HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani, earlier this month we signed a new agreement between Qatar Museums, the UK Government and the British Council, committing to grow together our creative industries, as drivers of innovation, skills development, and export potential. Through it, we are supporting professional capability building, facilitating international market access, and deepening cooperation between cultural institutions. This is deliberate, and strategic: it supports the priorities of both the UK Industrial Strategy and Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy.

Crucially, this partnership is focused on delivery. By establishing platforms for residencies, training programs, and industry networking, the new agreement creates practical routes for creative businesses and practitioners to collaborate and grow together.

Sectors such as fashion, media, photography, music, and design are well placed to benefit from this framework, which supports business development, collaboration, and longer-term commercial presence. For both our countries, it supports the development of a diversified, sustainable, and knowledge-based economies, with greater global reach.

Qatar’s Years of Culture initiative shows how people-to-people connections can have wide reaching impacts. It will remain a vital part of how we deliver sustainable growth and long-term prosperity, for both our countries for years to come.

H.E. Neerav Patel is the British Ambassador to Qatar.

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Opinions expressed in this article remain those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The New Arab, its editorial board or staff.