Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) hosted a seminar highlighting the history and evolution of the Qatari legal system, in conjunction with a delegation of legal scholars visiting Qatar from the United Kingdom’s De Montfort University (DMU). The seminar was in close partnership with HBKU’s College of Law and Public Policy (CLPP).

Focusing on the various factors that contributed to the formation and continuous progression of the Qatari legal system, the seminar analysed current regional developments from the country’s legal framework.

It highlighted the legal aspects of the current political situation in the region, using a multifaceted approach to analyse Qatar’s mature stance on the crisis. In this first-of-its-kind event at CLPP, participants had the chance to speak candidly, not only about the legality of the matter but also about geopolitical ramifications in relation to food security, travel and movement, economics and beyond. By collaborating with DMU, another leading global research institution, HBKU continues to remain a hub for sharing ideas that shape the professional leaders of tomorrow and help achieve Qatar’s sustainable development goals.

Clinton Francis, Founding Dean of CLPP, said that partnerships with renowned research-based universities create an academic and scholarly environment that is conducive to producing talent capable of functioning effectively and efficiently in Qatar’s knowledge-driven economy.

Seminars and events like this specifically focus on providing our students with a robust platform for developing multidisciplinary thought leadership skills and cross-cultural communication techniques through engagement with diverse groups of people from different backgrounds.’

Dr Reem Al-Ansari, who is the associate dean of graduate studies at Qatar University’s College of Law, led the seminar. Also serving as a visiting professor at HBKU’s CLPP and teaching within the Juris Doctor (JD) programme, Dr Al-Ansari engaged the DMU and CLPP attendees with a presentation of Qatar’s rich history and the advancement of its exceptional legal system. The presentation also examined how this legacy has enabled the country to successfully overcome local and international legal challenges that arise from the current-political developments.

I always envision Qatar as a country that is young at heart and that is driven by a sense of invincibility, but that is still very flexible. Today’s seminar proves how Qatar has always been clear, transparent and noble, since day one of its history, dating back as far as 1913.’

In matters of counter-terrorism, political stability, foreign policy, sovereignty, and international collaboration, Dr Al-Ansari emphasised the importance of honesty, dialogue and being adaptive.

DMU’s delegation of legal scholars consisted of nine students and two faculty members – Dr Rajnaara Akhtar and Dr Kate Wilkinson Cross – from the field of business law. The delegation will be visiting a variety of other public and private sector organisations, in addition to taking part in cultural, social and professional engagements, to strengthen their understanding of the Middle East, while sharing their own knowledge, expertise, and experiences from the United Kingdom.

Dr Rajnaara Akhtar said that their visit to Qatar is part of a larger initiative called #DMUGlobal.

The idea behind it being: to provide our students with international experience so that when they graduate university, they have an awareness of other cultures, laws, and norms. With the recent regional situation, the Qatar trip became even more important as it illuminates fresh outlooks on the current crisis.’

As part of the award-winning #DMUglobal programme, students and faculty from DMU and CLPP were given the opportunity to engage in a lively discussion about the legal field in the country, and expose themselves to Qatari culture and tradition.

Commenting on the seminar and the lively discussions that followed, Usman Ali, an undergraduate student at DMU, said it was enlightening to visit Qatar and get an on-ground perspective of the new political developments. He said that the seminar was informative and interesting.

Several CLPP scholars attended the talk and shared their own understanding of Qatar and the region.

To learn more about HBKU and its various colleges and programmes, visit hbku.edu.qa.