Illustration of the four pillars described in the Building Bridges report
"Building Bridges in the Age of AI: Recommendations for Sustainable Research & Cross-Industry Collaborations in Artificial Intelligence" is the final report of the UK-Qatar Joint AI Research Commission, led by Queen Mary and Hamad Bin Khalifa University. The Commission was launched in 2024 during a State Visit by His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Amir of Qatar to the United Kingdom.
Funded by the UK Government's Gulf Strategy Fund and supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Commission represents a strategic partnership aimed at addressing the transformative opportunities and complex challenges posed by AI.
Researchers from Queen Mary and Hamad Bin Khalifa University held three expert workshops throughout 2025 which included government officials, industry leaders, and academics from the UK and Qatar. These workshops discussed themes including commercialisation and ecosystem development, data sharing and governance, and AI applications in security, diplomacy, and development, and led to a series of recommendations outlined in this new report.
One such recommendation includes the establishment of the Qatar-UK AI Research and Innovation Alliance (QUAIRIA), an ambitious collaborative framework comprising four strategic pillars: AI for good; AI for science; AI for trust and governance innovation; AI for acceleration and entrepreneurship. This structure would allow policymakers in the UK and Qatar – and indeed, other countries – to prioritise and adapt initiatives based on their country's evolving needs and capabilities, rather than imposing a rigid one-size-fits-all approach.
Underpinning these pillars are shared infrastructure platforms including inclusive computer infrastructure, collaboration platforms, talent development programmes feature and knowledge transfer partnerships. The report also outlines ways in which start-ups and small-medium enterprises can be supported when it comes to ethically and effectively using AI.
Speaking about the report, David Leslie, Professor of Ethics, Technology and Society at Queen Mary and Director of Ethics and Responsible Innovation Research at the Alan Turing Institute said: "By pooling Qatar's ambitious vision and substantial investments in digital transformation with the UK's world-class research ecosystem and regulatory expertise, we can achieve more together than either nation could alone. This partnership demonstrates how international collaboration can amplify national strengths while addressing shared global challenges responsibly."
Dr. Sanjay Chawla, Chief Scientist at Qatar Computing Research Institute at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, emphasised the strategic alignment of QUAIRIA to Qatar's National AI Strategy and the UK's AI Opportunities Action Plan: "Qatar's National AI Strategy envisions the country as both a world-class producer and efficient consumer of AI applications across all sectors. This partnership with the UK creates a powerful technological enabler for Qatar National Vision 2030, particularly across its economic, social, human, and environmental pillars".
Beyond bilateral benefits, QUAIRIA and the proposed collaboration framework outlined in this report aspires to contribute constructively to the global AI ecosystem. By establishing inclusive governance models, the collaboration ensures voices from the Middle East, Global South, and underrepresented regions participate meaningfully in international AI standard-setting bodies.
In addition, the emphasis on Arabic language AI development addresses critical underrepresentation in current AI systems, with potential applications extending humanitarian assistance and educational support throughout the Arabic-speaking world.
The report also outlines a phased implementation approach for Phase Two of the collaboration, beginning with evaluation and planning to prioritise initiatives and develop practical roadmaps.
Read the full report Building Bridges in the Age of AI [PDF 3,747KB]
