Lolwah Al-Khater

HE
Lolwah Al-Khater
لؤلؤة الخاطر
Lolwah Al-Khater in 2024
NationalityQatari
EducationMaster of Science in Computing, and a Master’s of Arts in Public Policy
Alma mater
Office
  • Spokesperson for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2017-pres.)
  • Assistant Foreign Minister of Qatar (2019-pres.)
Websitewww.mofa.gov.qa/en/the-ministry/spokesperson/spokesperson-for-the-ministry-of-foreign-affairs

Lolwah Rashid Mohammed Al-Khater (Arabic: لؤلؤة الخاطر) (born in Doha, Qatar) is a Qatari diplomat who is the first Qatari woman to hold the position of Spokesperson for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Assistant Foreign Minister of Qatar.[1][2][3] Since March 2023, she has served as Minister of State for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[4]

Career

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Lolwah Al-Khater holds a master's of science in computing and initially worked as an engineer in the field of oil and gas.[5][6] She pursued a master's of arts in public policy, with a focus on public policy and Islam.[6][7] According to her biography, she is a part-time lecturer at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies and a research associate at The Oxford Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Forum at St Antony's College at the University of Oxford.[7] According to her biography, she is a DPhil Candidate at the University of Oxford in the area of Oriental Studies,[8] examining Islam and Modernity in the context of the Arab Nahda.[9][10]

Al-Khater entered the Qatari ministry of foreign affairs as a minister plenipotentiary.[7] She was Director of Planning and Quality at Qatar Tourism Authority and a Research Project Manager at Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development.[7][11] In 2017, Al-Khater was appointed the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani,[7] the first woman to hold this post.[1][12] This appointment has been cited as an important advance in women's representation in the Qatari government.[5] In this role, she was "one of the most prominent voices" advocating for Qatar during the 2017 Qatar diplomatic crisis, according to Al Khaleej, and pushed for "a meaningful solution" to the Syrian civil war.[5][6][11][13] In 2019, she was appointed Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs by Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.[7][11]

She is Spokesperson for the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management in Qatar. In this role, she delivered daily briefings to the public on Qatar TV during the COVID-19 pandemic.[1][14][15][16]

She is a member of the Advisory Board of the Georgetown University in Qatar.[17][18]

In March 2023, Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani appointed Al-Khater Minister of State for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[19][20]

Following the outbreak of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, Al-Khater was the first foreign official to visit the besieged Gaza Strip on 26th of November. There she surveyed the disputed influx of aid, met wounded Palestinians and spoke with Wael Al-Dahdouh, Gaza bureau chief of Qatari-funded Al Jazeera, who lost his wife, son and grandchild in an Israeli airstrike. [21] Over and above that, discussions on bilateral cooperation took place in October between HE Al Khater, and HE Tim Watts, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, which included topics such as developments in the Gaza Strip and strategies for joint humanitarian aid efforts in the region. Watts also appreciated Qatar's initiatives focused on de-escalation and protecting civilians.[22]

In March 2024, following successful mediation efforts by Qatar to reunite children with their families amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, HE Al-Khater expressed nation's gratitude to Russia and Ukraine for their cooperation and commitment to the children's safety and well-being. She highlighted Russia's provision of care and treatment for the children during their stay and thanked Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova and Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets for their significant contributions to the successful family reunifications.[23][24]

At the "Women for Palestine" conference in Doha on May 11, 2024, HE Al Khater praised Palestinian women and children as embodiments of resilience. Her remarks spurred a global awakening, prompting a reassessment of Western norms like freedom, equality, and women's liberation. Moreover, Qatar has played a crucial role in mediating the release of captives from Gaza and advocating for a ceasefire in the embattled region.[25]

Writings

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  • Tok, M. Evren; Al-Khater, Lolwah R. M.; Pal, Leslie A. (2016). Policy-making in a transformative state : the case of Qatar. London: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-1-137-46639-6.
  • Al-Khater, Lolwah. Educational Outputs and Labor Market Needs: A study on Labor Market Issues and methods of Addressing Them. General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "All You need to know about HE Lolwah Al Khater". Marhaba. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  2. ^ "HE Lolwah R M Al-Khater". The Business Year. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Despite illegal airspace blockade Qatar provided urgent medical aid to 21 countries: Lolwah Al Khater". The Peninsula. 2 June 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  4. ^ "HH the Amir Appoints Minister of State for International Cooperation at Ministry of Foreign Affairs". Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Stanton, Zack (4 December 2019). "'It's not a trade-off to be a modern person, and be proud of your heritage'". POLITICO. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  6. ^ a b c "Lolwah Rashid Al Khater". Women of Qatar. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Lolwah Rashid Al-Khater". www.mofa.gov.qa. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  8. ^ "H.E. Lolwah R Al-Khater | Wilson Center". www.wilsoncenter.org. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  9. ^ "FP Virtual Dialogue: The Role of Female Leadership in Driving Global Recovery and Resilience". Foreign Policy. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  10. ^ "WATCH: Prominent People in Qatar - HE Lolwah Al-Khater". qatarliving.com. November 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  11. ^ a b c ذات حضور قوي.. لولوة الخاطر مساعدة لوزير الخارجية القطري. Al Khaleej (in Arabic). 1 December 2019. Archived from the original on 2020-05-16. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  12. ^ لولوه الخاطر أول امرأة متحدثة باسم الخارجية القطرية. Al-Quds al-arabi. 7 November 2017. Archived from the original on 16 May 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  13. ^ "Breakthrough in Qatar dispute after 'fruitful' talks to end conflict". the Guardian. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  14. ^ "Shops except for food stores, pharmacies to remain closed". Gulf-Times (in Arabic). 17 March 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  15. ^ "Supreme Committee for Crisis Management Press Conference on 8 June". Government Communications Office. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  16. ^ "Middle East matters - Lolwah al Khater on fighting Covid-19 in Qatar". France 24. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  17. ^ "Advisory Board". Georgetown University Qatar. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  18. ^ "H.E. Lolwah Al-Khater, Assistant Foreign Minister, MOFA Spokesperson, and GU-Q Advisory Boardmember, Surprises Georgetown MOFA Interns at International Affairs Internship Class". Georgetown University Qatar. 6 May 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  19. ^ "HH The Amir Appoints Minister of State for International Cooperation at Ministry of Foreign Affairs". Amiri Diwan of the State of Qatar. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  20. ^ "Lulwah Al Khater appointed as Minister of State for International Cooperation". The Peninsula. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  21. ^ "Qatar is the go-to mediator in the Mideast war. Its unprecedented Tel Aviv trip saved a shaky truce". Associated Press. 27 November 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  22. ^ Newspaper, The Peninsula (2023-10-20). "Lolwah, Australian Assistant FM discuss humanitarian aid to Gaza". thepeninsulaqatar.com. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  23. ^ Newspaper, The Peninsula (2024-03-22). "Qatar helps reunite more children with families in Russia-Ukraine conflict". thepeninsulaqatar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  24. ^ "Russia releases five children out of thousands to Ukraine after mediation from Qatar". Sky News. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  25. ^ Salari, Fatemeh (2024-05-12). "Palestinian women and children are icons of resilience and strength, says Qatar's Al Khater". Doha News | Qatar. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
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