Qatar’s Bid to Host IMF, WBG Confirms Global Role

Economists considered the State of Qatar’s bid to host the meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG) for the year 2026 as the culmination of a series of major meetings, conferences and events hosted by the Qatari capital, Doha.  They described this event, in the form of its approval by the concerned authorities, as the ‘World Cup of the financial sector,’ given that Doha will be a destination for the world’s elite and decision-makers in the financial and political fields throughout the days of the event’s meetings.

In their statements to Qatar News Agency (QNA), economists stressed that Qatar’s bid to host the event is an affirmation of the country’s soft power and role that has been established over the past years, which was translated into the country’s hosting of the largest political and economic conferences, sporting events and cultural activities around the globe. In this context, Economist Dr. Abdullah Al Khater told QNA in a statement that Qatar’s candidacy to host the meetings of IMF and WBG for the year 2026 confirms the growing organizational capabilities of various major global events, such as the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the 5th United Nations Conference on the Least Developed  Countries (LDC5), and the opening of the opening of UN House in Doha, adding that these events prove the growth of the State of Qatar’s soft power.

This candidacy is another episode in a series of events with a global dimension that support Qatar’s reputation as a destination for dialogue and discussions dealing with international affairs, he added. He also explained that Qatar’s candidacy to host these meetings is an equivalent to a candidacy to host the activities of a financial World Cup, considering that these events attract an elite of economic actors and economic and political decision makers around the globe. Dr. Al Khater pointed out that UAE’s support for Qatar’s candidacy file to host the 2026 annual meetings of the IMF and WBG, clearly demonstrates the solidarity, cohesion, and harmony that has come to characterize the region, and the continuous endeavor to spread the values of security, peace and sustainable development.