Government Communications Forum opens with high-level panel discussions
Strong participation from ministers, senior officials and media experts
Focused dialogues on strengthening the national narrative and digital storytelling
The Government Communications Forum, held from 12–13 January by the Government Communications Office, opened with high-level panel discussions bringing together ministers, senior officials and communications and media experts, alongside representatives of global digital and media companies.
The forum’s opening day featured a senior-level panel titled ‘Strategic Communications for National Impact.’ The session brought together HE Dr Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, Minister of Environment and Climate Change; HE Ibrahim bin Ali bin Issa Al Hassan Al Mohannadi, Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs; and HE Dr Abdulaziz bin Nasser bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, President of the Civil Service and Government Development Bureau and Secretary-General of the National Planning Council. The panel was moderated by Saud Ahmed Al Buainain, Director of Studies and Strategic Planning at the Government Communications Office.
The discussion highlighted the pivotal role of government communications in supporting major national initiatives and advancing the priorities of Qatar National Vision 2030. It examined the influence of communications on public behaviour, the importance of alignment across government and semi-government entities to ensure unified messaging and best practices for engaging expatriate communities in Qatar.
HE Dr Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie said that government communications represent an effective strategic tool for driving behavioural change and achieving sustainable impact, rather than serving solely as a means of raising awareness or conveying information.
He affirmed that the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change is working to move beyond environmental awareness towards embedding responsible practices through clear and simplified communications that link environmental issues to quality of life, public health and societal wellbeing.
He added that diversifying communication channels is a core pillar of successful environmental campaigns, ensuring outreach to all segments of society through digital platforms, on-the-ground initiatives and engagement with educational institutions.
HE Ibrahim bin Ali bin Issa Al Hassan Al Mohannadi stated that the success of public policies is not measured by the plans adopted, but by the extent to which people understand them and feel their impact in their daily lives. He added that effective government communications explain decisions clearly and proactively, guiding public dialogue and preventing misunderstanding rather than reacting to it.
HE Dr Abdulaziz bin Nasser bin Mubarak Al Khalifa said that efforts focus on delivering information clearly, at the right time and to the right audience, while considering the needs of different segments, including citizens, residents and investors. He noted that this approach ensures effective message delivery and enhances public appreciation of government efforts.
He added that media is not merely about broadcasting messages, but about building awareness and understanding of government initiatives and linking the four pillars of national development to tangible outcomes on the ground, allowing individuals to feel the impact of these efforts in their daily lives. He emphasised that presenting the government as a unified entity working towards a shared goal requires a clear communications plan that ensures coordination across all entities and ministries to achieve tangible impact.
HE also affirmed that the ‘Sharek’ platform has played a key role in transforming community dialogue by enabling more targeted messaging and clearer communication of efforts undertaken in line with the Third National Development Strategy. He further noted ongoing efforts to launch the Development Podcast as an additional channel through which undersecretaries will communicate their ministries’ messages and achievements, strengthening transparency and enhancing public engagement.
Addressing key developments in digital communications, the forum hosted a panel discussion titled “Strategic Storytelling in the Digital Age,” featuring representatives from global companies including LinkedIn, Meta and Google. The session explored how storytelling can be used to craft impactful messages in digital environments, drawing on creative content models, audience behaviour analysis and platform-specific strategies, alongside practical experiences in enhancing engagement and building stronger connections with audiences.
The first day’s sessions concluded with a fireside chat titled ‘Trust as the Infrastructure of Growth,’ featuring Anand Joawn, General Manager of Dow Jones in the Middle East and publisher of The Wall Street Journal, and Praseeda Nair, International Editor at The Wall Street Journal. The discussion examined the role of information in strengthening credibility and supporting sustainable growth across the journalism, data and research sectors.
In addition to the panel discussions, the first day’s agenda included specialised workshops aimed at strengthening the skills of government communications professionals. It also featured interactive activities designed to enhance engagement and networking among participants, alongside a showcase of prominent national initiatives and projects in the field of communications.
In its third edition, the Government Communications Forum continues to advance Qatar’s communications sector and strengthen coordination among government and semi-government entities, reinforcing an advanced model capable of delivering national messages with efficiency and professionalism. The forum’s second day will build on these discussions through further sessions and specialised workshops.
