Panel Discussion: Diplomacy and Influence: A Reading of the British Presence in the Gulf is a bilingual event examining the diplomatic, commercial and cultural tools through which British influence developed across the Gulf region.
The discussion begins with the East India Company’s role in trade routes connecting the Arabian Gulf with British-Indian commercial networks. It considers how trade, maritime treaties and the resulting geopolitical knowledge contributed to a British presence extending beyond direct commercial activity.
Diplomacy and soft power
Dr Aisha Hadi Al Rashdi will present examples of diplomatic practices that strengthened British-Gulf relations. These include:
- Protocols for receiving guests
- Dining etiquette
- Exchanges of official gifts
- Soft-power practices used during competition with other regional powers
Dr Al Rashdi is Acting Head of the Department of International Affairs at Qatar University’s College of Arts and Sciences. The session is moderated by Ikhlas Ahmed, Community Engagement Specialist at the Heritage Library.
The panel also introduces selected books from the Heritage Library’s collections concerning Qatari-British relations and British influence in the Gulf.
Visitor information
The discussion takes place on 17 September 2026 from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm in the Auditorium at Qatar National Library in Doha.
- Languages: Arabic and English
- Intended audience: Academics, students and researchers
- Participation: Listed from QAR 0
Online registration is available through Qatar National Library.
