Qatar–South Africa relations

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Qatar–South Africa relations

Qatar and South Africa have maintained bilateral ties since 1994. Formal relations began on May 10, 1994, the same day Nelson Mandela became South Africa’s president. Their embassies were opened in the early 2000s: South Africa’s embassy in Doha started in September 2002 and Qatar’s embassy in Pretoria opened in January 2003.

Key visits and diplomacy
- Nelson Mandela visited Qatar in April 1995.
- The first Qatari head of state to visit South Africa was Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani in May 2002.
- South African President Jacob Zuma visited Qatar twice in 2012 (January and May).
- Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani visited South Africa in April 2017.

Trade, business and economy
- The Qatar–South Africa Business Forum was created to boost trade discussions.
- In 2016, South Africa exported about $104 million to Qatar, while Qatar exported about $390 million to South Africa.
- South Africa’s main exports are machinery, mechanical appliances and metals; Qatar’s main exports are chemicals and plastics.
- South Africa has invested around $8.9 billion in Qatar’s energy sector.
- Notable projects include Sasol’s joint venture with QatarEnergy for the Oryx GTL plant in Ras Laffan and a 2003 plan by PetroWorld (South Africa) and QatarEnergy to develop a large methanol project in Ras Laffan.

Defense and sports
- In 1991, Qatar bought 12 G5 howitzers from South Africa.
- In 2017 there were talks about a possible sale of a stake in South Africa’s defense company Denel to Qatar.
- South Africa, the host of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, offered to share its expertise to help Qatar with the 2022 World Cup.

People
- About 5,000 South Africans lived in Qatar around 2016.