Doha, Qatar 7 December - The 22nd Edition of Doha Forum, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, began today its largest and most highly attended edition, in the presence of heads of state, heads of government, and foreign ministers.

The two-day event, following the theme of 'The Innovation Imperative', saw top diplomats, experts, and change-makers address critical global challenges. More than 4,600 participants from over 140 countries, including over 350 speakers, are participating in this year's edition.

In his opening remarks, His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, emphasized the crucial role of innovation in overcoming global obstacles.

“We have the ability to strengthen our ethical foundations and find solutions to today's challenges with renewed thinking and innovative vision,” he said. “In an era of major transformations, innovation is no longer a choice; it has become an existential necessity for survival and progress. As the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention… not only in the fields of science and engineering, but also in peace-making and diplomatic efforts.”

Dr. Jill Biden, First Lady of the United States, gave the keynote speech, on her last state visit which consisted of visits to health and education institutions in Qatar, to explore ways she can continue to help close the gap in women’s health research. She remarked, “Diseases do not recognize borders, neither does hunger, poverty or violence. We are all connected, even when times are tough, we share a responsibility to come together, and whether it is fighting disease or working for peace in the region, we must reach divides so that all people may live with dignity and security.”

The opening ceremony featured a presentation of the Doha Forum Award - an annual honor bestowed upon individuals or organizations that embody the Forum’s core values of Diplomacy, Dialogue, and Diversity - to a group of war correspondents in recognition of their relentless dedication and innovative approach to bringing the world’s most crucial stories to a global audience.

Award recipients were Wael Al-Dahdouh of Al Jazeera, Carmen Joukhadar of Al Jazeera, Christina Assi of AFP, Dylan Collins of AFP, Motaz Azaiza, an independent Palestinian photojournalist, and Sadaf Popalzai, Radio Manager at Arman FM and Arakozia FM in Afghanistan.

As day one concludes, attention turns to day two, where discussions will continue on key topics, including humanitarian action, digital governance, and the future of international cooperation. The diverse range of discussions today sets the stage for further exploration of innovation’s role in shaping global solutions.

Doha Forum features a distinguished group of participants, including heads of state, prime ministers, foreign ministers, parliamentarians, academics, business leaders, and NGO representatives.

For the full program and session details, visit https://dohaforum.org/.

Doha Forum invites global audiences to be part of its critical discussions. Interested participants can register to watch the sessions live on live.dohaforum.org

Under its guiding principles, the 22nd edition of the Doha Forum continues its legacy of providing a platform for transformative discussions on the world’s most critical challenges. Join us to be part of the conversation and drive meaningful change.

Doha Forum last convened in Doha in December 2023, bringing together more than 3,500 guests from over 120 countries, including more than 270 speakers, across the two-day event.