Dr. Khalid Al-Shafi
Last Sunday, Qatar Foundation celebrated its 30th anniversary, highlighting significant achievements that have strengthened Qatar’s reputation and standing in education, research, medicine, innovation, and sustainability.
Since its establishment in 1995, under the vision of Father Amir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Qatar Foundation has built an integrated system that advances education, supports scientific research, fosters entrepreneurship, and promotes sustainability to prepare future generations for emerging challenges.
Over three decades, QF has established a comprehensive educational environment, including six specialised schools and world-class higher education institutions such as Hamad bin Khalifa University (HBKU) and seven partner universities, collectively graduating over 9,900 students across 60 academic programmes. Additionally, it has supported over 3,000 research projects, with women making up 49% of researchers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It has also attracted students from 119 countries, enriching cultural diversity and fostering an engaging learning environment.
In healthcare, QF has played a pivotal role in precision medicine, analysing over 45,000 DNA samples and advancing early diagnostics for diseases like cancer and diabetes, benefiting over 6,200 individuals.
Its commitment to artificial intelligence has driven support for 38 research projects in 2023 alone, alongside specialised training programmes in AI and machine learning to accelerate technological innovation. Sustainability remains central to QF’s mission, exemplified by the establishment of the Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future, as well as the organisation of more than 1,400 events in 2023 addressing topics such as climate change and renewable energy.
Culturally, QF has actively preserved Arab heritage and promoted global dialogue through initiatives like Qatar National Library. It has prioritised the Arabic language, launching the innovative Fanar platform. In sports, the foundation has developed world-class facilities and played a role in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, organising programmes that emphasised sports as a tool for cultural exchange.
As it enters its fourth decade, QF continues to lead in innovation and sustainable education, aligning with Qatar National Vision 2030 to ensure a lasting global impact by fostering creativity, learning, and scientific research for future generations.
“From dream to reality” is a phrase that encapsulates so much and holds deep meaning, which is why I chose it as the title of this article. My sincere gratitude goes to H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser for her dedication, tireless efforts, and unwavering determination for success and excellence. Through her commitment, she has enriched both the local and global community by utilising all available resources and achieving remarkable accomplishments.
By the grace of Allah, and thanks to her guidance, supervision, and direct involvement in overcoming challenges, we can now take pride in Qatar in having this great and prestigious institution that has made a significant impact in education, research, medicine, and various other fields of science. We still anticipate much more, as H H Sheikha Moza works tirelessly, never giving in to fatigue, and does not believe in the impossible. Her words stand as proof and testament to this: “The institution and I are intrinsically linked; we have grown and matured together. Now, the dream has become a reality. I was the dreamer, and QF was the emerging dream.”
These words are filled with pride and send a powerful message to Qatar and its people: the future is in their hands. They reaffirm that we are on the right path, guided by our wise leadership, toward a broader world and a bright future filled with progress and prosperity. By the grace of Allah, Qatar has been blessed with a leadership that deeply cares for its people and remains acutely aware of the challenges and risks that lie ahead. It channels all its resources toward a future that is secure, stable, and prosperous.
So, thanks to QF, to H H Sheikha Moza, for these extraordinary and groundbreaking achievements. We are certain that the best is yet to come. Mere words of gratitude cannot fully do justice to H H, for she is the mother of all, the wife of H H the Father Amir—leader of Qatar’s modern renaissance—and the mother of H H the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (Tamim the Glorious). The story is long, and the hopes we hold are in safe hands. QF, which we take immense pride in, began as an idea, grew into an institution, and has now become a world-class academic beacon, competing with the most prestigious institutions globally.
