Greece–Qatar relations


Greece–Qatar relations are the bilateral relations between Greece and Qatar. Relations were formed in 1973.

Diplomatic representation

Greece opened its embassy in Doha in 2007. Qatar has had an embassy in Athens since 2008.
After Egypt closed its embassy in Qatar in 2017, the Greek embassy in Doha agreed to diplomatically represent Egyptian citizens.

Diplomatic visits

In March 2009, Greek Deputy Prime Minister Theodors Pangalos paid a visit to Qatar.

Military relations

Several military agreements between Qatar and Greece have been signed, such as an agreement on joint training exercises and a tripartite memorandum of understanding between Qatar's government, the Hellenic Vehicle Industry and the Hellenic Aerospace Industry.

Economic relations

Both countries signed a deal on the avoidance of double taxation in 2008. Qatar signed an agreement in 2010 in which it would invest $5 billion in Greece over the following years.
In January 2013, Qatar Investment Authority's real estate arm Qatari Diar had been involved in a bid to redevelop Ellinikon International Airport but decided to withdraw from the tender. Later that month, the company recanted its withdrawal after a visit to Doha by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras. Furthermore, during the visit, the Qatari government agreed to create a $1.34 billion joint fund to assist small-to-medium businesses in Greece to aid its recession-struck economy. Also in 2013, another section of the Qatar Investment Authority, Qatar Holding, invested €1.2 billion in northern Greece's gold mining industry.
Former Emir of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani purchased six islets in Greece for a sum of €8.5 million in 2013. He was reportedly interested in constructing a massive palace on one of the islets, but would be challenged by the Greek legal system due to its laws regarding the size of residences.
A joint business council was established in 2015. Trade turnover is low. In 2017, the total bilateral trade volume was $372 million.
In terms of cooperation between companies, Greek company Anangel Maritime Services signed a joint venture agreement with Qatar-based Nakilat to employ ten of its ships to transport LNG. There were approximately seven Greek companies operating in Qatar in 2017.

Migration

According to the Qatari Ministry of Interior, there are 2,200 Greek migrants in Qatar as of 2016.