United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), Dr. Rania Al Mashat, emphasized Qatar’s pivotal role in promoting sustainable development and multilateral cooperation during her recent visit to Doha. The visit, which took place in July 2026, highlighted the longstanding partnership between ESCWA and Qatar, with a focus on accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the Arab region.
In discussions with senior Qatari officials, Dr. Al Mashat underscored the importance of expanding collaboration in areas such as social protection, digital transformation, innovation, strategic planning, artificial intelligence, and statistical data governance. She noted that these efforts are critical to reinforcing development initiatives not only at the regional but also at the international level.
Dr. Al Mashat praised Qatar’s advances in sustainable development, particularly its achievements amid the interconnected challenges facing the Arab world. She pointed out that Qatar ranks among the top performers in the 2025 Government Electronic and Mobile Services (GEMS) Maturity Index, which surveyed 17 countries. The country has successfully broadened digital government services across various sectors, including commerce, justice, municipal affairs, education, healthcare, labor, and tourism.
The executive secretary also recognized Qatar’s active role in regional multilateral cooperation and its consistent support for the Palestinian cause. She emphasized that sustaining initiatives aimed at fostering peace and enhancing regional stability are vital to addressing the common challenges confronting the area.
A key component of the ESCWA-Qatar partnership involves strengthening SDG data governance. ESCWA is providing advisory services and conducting national workshops to improve data quality and timeliness, as well as localizing the ESCWA SDG monitoring and reporting platform within Qatar.
Addressing broader regional concerns, Dr. Al Mashat stated that Arab countries, including Qatar, have promising potential to accelerate sustainable development and deepen regional integration. She highlighted the necessity of advancing digital transformation, leveraging artificial intelligence and innovation, and improving public sector efficiency to create jobs and equip the workforce with future-relevant skills.
Economic and social policy measures are also critical, according to Dr. Al Mashat. These include strengthening social protection systems, enhancing food and water security, and mobilizing financing to support sustainable development goals, which together can foster more resilient and inclusive economies across the Arab region.
Dr. Al Mashat concluded by emphasizing that regional challenges transcend national borders and demand collective Arab action to promote sustainable and inclusive prosperity for all. She expressed optimism about expanding cooperation with Qatar in the coming years, particularly in emerging technology sectors and strategic planning, to support the region’s development ambitions.