EN.MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA – The Muhammadiyah Central Board received a courtesy visit from Qatar’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Sultan bin Mubarak Saad Al Dosari, at its Yogyakarta office on Monday (3/8).
The meeting served as an important opportunity to strengthen bilateral ties and explore strategic cooperation in several areas, particularly education, health care, and human resource development.
Muhammadiyah President Haedar Nashir said Qatar had shows a strong commitment to developing partnerships with Muhammadiyah. The potential cooperation includes education, ranging from Islamic studies to science.
“In health care and medicine, in particular, the Qatari ambassador is very much looking forward to welcoming graduates from Muhammadiyah and ‘Aisyiyah universities to Qatar. Around 30,000 health workers and nurses currently work there, but the number from Indonesia remains relatively small. Therefore, Qatar is very interested in developing cooperation with Muhammadiyah,” Haedar said.
The meeting was not limited to discussions on cooperation. It also reaffirmed a shared commitment to strengthening the longstanding ties between Muhammadiyah and Qatar.
Reminiscing the Late Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
Haedar said the Qatari ambassador also expressed his deep appreciation for Muhammadiyah’s condolences following the death of Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, on July 12, 2026.
For Muhammadiyah, Sheikh Hamad was an Arab leader who showed strong concern for humanitarian issues, particularly the humanitarian crisis in Palestine.
“Muhammadiyah feels a deep sense of loss because Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani was a prominent figure, a courageous Arab leader who pioneered a visit to Gaza, Palestine, in 2012,” Haedar said.
Haedar described Sheikh Hamad’s visit to Gaza on October 23, 2012, as a historic milestone. Sheikh Hamad was the first head of state to visit the Gaza Strip while breaching the Israeli blockade, demonstrating tangible support for the Palestinian people’s struggle.
According to Haedar, Sheikh Hamad’s leadership also laid an important foundation for Qatar’s transformation into a modern country with a diverse and advanced economy. His son, Qatar’s current Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, continued that development and led the country to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, a historic achievement for the Middle East and the Arab world.
“He was the leader who developed Qatar into an advanced country in many fields. His son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, continued that work, and Qatar eventually became the host of the 2022 World Cup. That was a truly historic achievement.”
The Qatari ambassador also formally invited Muhammadiyah to make a reciprocal visit to Qatar. The visit would provide an opportunity to discuss sustainable and mutually beneficial cooperation in greater detail.
“Of course, since he has invited us to Qatar, we will plan a reciprocal visit. We also intend to visit the Qatari Embassy in Jakarta,” Haedar concluded. (Bhisma)
