Qatar's experience shows world peace requires cultural diplomacy

The need to preserve cultural heritage is emerging as one of the world’s most powerful unifying forces, bringing together countries, activists, and regions that are otherwise distant. That is why the gathering of the international community for the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris is a timely reminder that protecting heritage is as much about securing a shared future as it is about preserving the past.

As a forum tasked with safeguarding the world’s shared legacy, the Committee is convening at a moment when cultural diplomacy is increasingly recognised as a critical instrument of multilateral engagement.

What’s at stake in these meetings goes far beyond resolutions. The deeper question is this: how can nations use culture to protect memory and shape a more peaceful and interconnected world? UNESCO has long understood this. Its founding vision was to build peace in the minds of men and women through the foundation of cultural exchange.

This is precisely where national initiatives like Qatar’s Years of Culture demonstrate their value. Since 2012, this programme has paired Qatar with a different country or region each year, from Japan and India to France, Brazil, the United States, and Morocco. Each partnership becomes a platform for sustained engagement through joint exhibitions, archaeological collaborations, youth exchanges, business engagement, and craft revitalisation residencies designed to build enduring relationships grounded in respect and co-creation.

One of the most tangible outcomes of this approach was the high-level cultural Memorandum of Understanding signed between Qatar and France, which originated during the Qatar-France 2020 Year of Culture. Today, that agreement continues to link our cultural institutions in long-term collaboration across the arts, heritage preservation, and curatorial exchange.

As Qatar’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO, I have had the privilege of witnessing how our cultural diplomacy has evolved into a model for international engagement. But this commitment is not confined to global partnerships. It is also reflected in our domestic cultural landscape as well.

This year, we mark two major milestones: the 20th anniversary of Qatar Museums (QM) and the 50th anniversary of the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ). Under the theme ‘More than Museums’, this joint celebration reflects how our institutions have transformed into civic platforms where dialogue, innovation, and international cooperation thrive.

Today, Qatar’s cultural landscape is part of a broader ecosystem. From safeguarding Islamic art and architectural heritage to supporting young entrepreneurs and curating world-class exhibitions, our institutions reflect a belief that culture is not ornamental but is imbedded in infrastructure and policy.

One example is work done by the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), a key member of the Year of Culture National Committee, which is partnering with Uzbekistan to help restore important cultural landmarks, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Bibi-Khanym Mosque in Samarkand. This collaboration aims to preserve Uzbekistan's cultural heritage and promote sustainable economic growth through community development and job creation.

Importantly, this cultural momentum is not unique to Qatar, but part of a wider shift. Across the Global South, countries from Southeast Asia to North Africa are developing their own models of cultural exchange, rooted in local traditions yet reaching outward. Together, these efforts show a deeper understanding that sustainable development, social resilience, and international credibility are strengthened by cultural engagement.

This year’s 43rd Session of the UNESCO General Conference (October 30 – November 14) is therefore especially strategic. It is the first time since 1985 that this high-level diplomatic gathering is being held outside Paris, which I believe is an intentional gesture that reflects a broader shift toward cultural pluralism and regional inclusion. The centre of gravity in global cultural dialogue is expanding, and with it, a renewed commitment to inclusion, pluralism, and regional leadership.

But we must also acknowledge that cultural diplomacy is not a simple endeavour. It does not yield immediate metrics or viral headlines. It is gradual, deliberate, and deeply human. But it is precisely in that slow, thoughtful process that real change begins. A shared musical performance or a conversation between students from different continents can reverberate far beyond the moment, planting the seeds of empathy and understanding.

UNESCO’s Constitution reminds us that “peace must be founded upon the intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind.” It is in that spirit that Qatar continues to invest in cultural institutions and programmes that challenge assumptions and reimagine what national identity can mean in an interconnected world.

Dr. Nasser bin Hamad Al Hanzab is a Qatari diplomat with a PhD in law from Paris 1 Panthéon‑Sorbonne, serving as Qatar’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO. He has played an active role in heritage protection, cultural diplomacy, educational advocacy, and normative governance within UNESCO—particularly as Chair of the Committee on Conventions and Recommendations (2023–2025).

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