UK and Qatar step up defence ties with new Defence Assurance Arrangement

The UK government has signed a new defence agreement with Qatar.

The agreement was signed on 29 October 2025 by UK Defence Secretary John Healey during a meeting with the Amir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, during a visit to Doha.

The new enhanced Defence Assurance Arrangement deepens the UK’s defence partnership with Qatar, paving the way for enhanced interoperability across the land, air and sea domains.

“The agreement sees the UK and Qatar commit to increasing interoperability between our armed forced and conducting joint planning on threat scenarios to ensure we can better face the threats of tomorrow together,” the MoD stated. “It underlines the UK’s unwavering commitment to supporting the defence of Qatar as a key partner in the region, and to strengthen the wider strategic partnership between Qatar and the UK.”

The MoD noted that the UK’s partnership with Qatar extends beyond defence, with UK exports to Qatar reaching GBP 4.4 billion (EUR 5 billion) in 2025, while Qatari investment in the UK stands at more than GBP 40 billion, covering areas such as financial technology, life sciences, renewable energy and cyber security.

“Qatar and the UK are close partners with historic defence ties going back decades. This partnership bolsters the national security of both our nations and supports stability in the Gulf region,” Healey stated during the signing ceremony. “Today, we build on that proud legacy by starting a new chapter in our partnership as we strengthen the bonds between our militaries and defence industries. This is part of our drive to strike new defence deals to strengthen our alliances and our UK defence industry.”

Later on 29 October Healey visited Al Udeid Air Base, where he met with RAF Group Captain Jim Mastin, Deputy Air Component Commander, and personnel from the Royal Air Force’s (RAF’s) 83 Expeditionary Air Group.

In July 2018 the RAF and the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) stood up 12 Squadron, based at RAF Coningsby: a joint UK/Qatari squadron operating Eurofighter Typhoon fighters and the RAF’s first joint fighter squadron since the Second World War.

The MoD stated that the enhanced bilateral Defence Assurance Arrangement builds on the success of the UK-Qatar Joint Typhoon Squadron and “will provide to foundation to jointly enhance our air defence capabilities and strengthen operational co-operation between British and Qatari armed forces”.

When the UK announced on 27 October a deal with Türkiye worth up to GBP 8 billion to supply Ankara with 20 Typhoons, it emerged that Türkiye will also receive 12 second-hand Typhoons from Oman and another 12 from Qatar. The QEAF currently operates 24 Typhoons, but the QEAF’s order for an additional 12 now seems to be destined for Turkey.