Qatar will invest £1 billion ($1.27 billion) in climate technology, boosting the UK’s position as a clean energy superpower, it was announced on Wednesday.

The partnership is likely to create thousands of highly skilled jobs over its lifetime and will see the launch of world-leading climate technology hubs across the UK and Qatar to accelerate development in climate-friendly technologies.

This includes investment in technology programmes by British engineering giant Rolls-Royce that improve energy efficiency, support new sustainable fuels and lower carbon emissions.

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Clean energy superpower

“I am proud that Qatar has chosen to base this global partnership here in the UK and I am delighted that the project is getting off the ground with this initial £1 billion commitment,” said UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.

“Qatar and Rolls-Royce pursuing these opportunities in climate technology is a significant step in our ambition to become a clean energy superpower and further evidence that the UK is one of the best places in the world for companies to develop those technologies,” he added.

“We are delighted to formally launch this groundbreaking partnership. The United Kingdom has a proud history of innovation in cutting edge technology, and Qatar has long been a trusted investment partner to British businesses. This new collaboration aligns with our long-term strategy to invest in the economies of the future,” said Prime Minister of Qatar, His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed Abdulrahman Al Thani.

“We welcome the formalization of our strategic relationship with Rolls-Royce. Qatar is already one of the largest purchasers of Rolls-Royce engines for Qatar Airways and a major investor in the small modular reactor nuclear industry. This new partnership further strengthens Qatar’s position as a leading global investor in climate technologies,” he added.

Technology hubs

It is expected that climate technology hubs delivered through the partnership will be developed across the UK, alongside universities, industry, free ports and the Qatar Free Zone to leverage the UK’s expertise.

Sites in Qatar will also enable startups to access markets and opportunities in both countries – paving the way for further inward investment.

Marking a new milestone in decades of innovation and collaboration between the UK and Qatar, the deal will accelerate the two countries’ flourishing investment relationship.

The partnership will generate jobs, growth and investment in both countries and is further evidence of the UK’s desirability as an investment destination as well as underlining the strength of the relationship between Qatar and Rolls-Royce.

Overhauling healthcare

In a further boost for the UK-Qatar future-facing partnership, the UK and Qatar will also pursue closer ties to seize the enormous potential of genomics – the study of our DNA – to overhaul healthcare, as well as for work focusing on AI’s scope to drive economic growth and make public services more efficient.

The two countries have unveiled plans to set up a shared Genomics Medicine Academy, and a joint commission on AI research.

This is part of the UK and Qatar’s commitment to closer ties on science and technology. The UK-Qatar Strategic Dialogue, launched in 2022, is also being upgraded to encompass science, innovation and technology: a reflection of both countries’ big ambitions when it comes to unleashing the potential of science and tech to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing us all – from delivering economic growth to improving public health.