Doha, 26 Jan. 2026

At the Doha Legal Forum, Board member Qatar Lawyers Association, Essa Mohammed AlSulaiti  elaborated on the institution’s critical national role. He explained that the Association unites all admitted Qatari lawyers under one professional banner, acting as their collective voice and the formal conduit between legal practitioners and key national stakeholders. These include ministries, government authorities, regulators, and the private sector. Its core mandate is to listen to lawyers' professional insights, feedback, and concerns, and to channel these perspectives to policymakers, thereby representing the profession at both institutional and national levels.

Sulaiti emphasized that a lawyer’s duty in Qatar transcends providing services to clients. It carries a profound national responsibility to support the state by strengthening the rule of law, enhancing legal practices, and ensuring legislation aligns with international standards while remaining agile enough to support Qatar’s rapid socio-economic development. As practitioners who apply laws daily, lawyers are best positioned to identify practical gaps and challenges in existing frameworks. Forums like the Doha Legal Forum, he noted, are essential platforms for translating this on-the-ground experience into actionable recommendations for regulators, helping refine laws and improve legal outcomes.

He underscored the importance of inclusive dialogue among all components of the legal ecosystem—judicial authorities, ministries, lawyers, academics, and the business community. Such collaboration fosters realistic solutions that enhance both justice and efficiency. The forum itself, he added, serves as a vital bridge, facilitating networking and professional exchange between experts and institutions that may not regularly engage.

On substantive reforms, Sulaiti highlighted Qatar’s ongoing judicial modernization, particularly through specialized courts and committees for investment, trade, real estate, and labour disputes. These bodies ensure complex cases are handled by judges with specific expertise, improving decision quality and systemic efficiency. He also noted the positive integration of technology in court administration, such as e-filing systems, while cautioning that digital efficiency must never come at the expense of judicial fairness or integrity.

Looking forward, he addressed emerging challenges like the need for ethical regulation of artificial intelligence in legal practice to maintain public trust. Linking all progress to Qatar National Vision 2030, Sulaiti reaffirmed the lawyer’s role in explaining complex legislation to the public and investors, fostering a transparent business environment. He proudly noted the growing profession, with the Association's membership including about 250 lawyers, 40% of whom are women, many in leadership roles—a testament to a dynamic and inclusive legal future. He concluded with optimism that the forum’s discussions would yield tangible improvements for Qatar’s legal and regulatory framework.