Saudi mediation success, Middle East peace deals, and Saudi Arabia diplomacy have a decades-old history in the region. Conflict resolution achievements include Saudi Arabia's mediation efforts in Yemen in 1989, which led to the historical peace agreement known as the Taif Agreement and a ceasefire in 1990, ending 15 years of civil war. In 2007, Saudi Arabia played a key role in the Israel-Palestine negotiations by mediating the Mecca Agreement, which reconciled the Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah. In recent years, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has once again emphasized Saudi peace efforts by leading mediation in Yemen, engaging in peace talks with Houthi rebels since 2022 to broker a ceasefire. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has hosted negotiations in the Sudan peace talks, attempting to resolve the prolonged conflict between the country’s military forces and paramilitary rebel groups. In 2022, Saudi Arabia facilitated a Russia-Ukraine prisoner exchange, securing the return of over 250 prisoners of war, reinforcing its role as a key regional and global mediator.

What peace agreements has Qatar signed?

Qatar peace agreements, Middle East mediation, and Qatar diplomacy have positioned the country as a major player in global conflict resolution efforts. Along with Egypt and the United States, Qatar played a key role as the primary mediator in brokering the Hamas-Israel ceasefire in January 2025. In 2020, Qatar facilitated the US-Taliban agreement, which ended the 18-year-long war in Afghanistan. This agreement led to the withdrawal of U.S. and allied forces, allowing the Afghan Taliban to take control of the country. Qatar has also been engaged in multiple Sudan peace talks, including mediating a ceasefire between the government of Chad and dozens of opposition groups in 2022, marking a significant achievement in Chad ceasefire mediation. Additionally, in 2010, Qatar brokered a peace deal between the Sudanese government and armed groups in the western Darfur province. Further solidifying its role in Lebanon conflict resolution, Qatar successfully brought Lebanon’s rival factions to the negotiating table in 2008, preventing the country from descending into another civil war.

Saudi Arabia brokered the Taif Agreement in 1989 to end the Lebanese civil war.

Why does Qatar want to make a peace deal?

Qatar peace strategy began to take shape when Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani became the Emir of Qatar in 1995, marking the country’s growing role in mediation diplomacy. He remained in power until 2013. One of the key reasons behind Qatar’s diplomatic ambitions was its focus on gas reserves diplomacy, particularly the South Pars/North Dome field, discovered in 1990. Since these reserves extended into both Qatar-Iran cooperation waters, Qatar needed to maintain a working relationship with Iran, despite its geopolitical tensions with Saudi Arabia. Dr. H.A. Hellyer, a scholar at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London, states that Qatar realized early on that its geopolitical influence depended on forging its diplomatic path. Instead of aligning strictly with one power bloc, Qatar pursued Middle East stability by positioning itself as a conflict resolution policy leader. He further explains that “if a country maintains positive relations with multiple nations, it can build a network of allies that offer support and protection,” reinforcing Qatar’s foreign policy. Qatar’s dedication to economic security and diplomacy is even embedded in its 2004 constitution, highlighting its long-term commitment to international negotiations. Dr. Paul Salem notes that “Qatar has made international relations and mediation its national brand, establishing itself as a country that others can turn to for conflict resolution.”

How different are Saudi Arabia and Qatar as mediators?

Saudi vs. Qatar mediation plays a crucial role in Middle East diplomacy, with each country adopting a distinct approach. Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy is more traditional, engaging in state-to-state mediation, while Qatar’s mediation strategy focuses on non-state actors and unconventional conflicts. Qatar is often chosen as a mediator in peace agreements because it maintains connections with Islamist group relations, such as the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, and the Taliban—groups that Saudi Arabia and other nations avoid. Dr. Paul Salem explains that Qatar’s diplomacy differs significantly from Saudi Arabia’s, as it does not have deep hostility toward these organizations. He notes that Qatar-Taliban relations allowed the country to act as a bridge between the United States and the Taliban, facilitating their peace talks. Similarly, Qatar’s ties with both Hamas and Israel enabled its mediation in the recent ceasefire agreement. Elizabeth Dent, a scholar at the Washington Institute, highlights the traditional vs. unconventional mediation styles of both nations, stating that Saudi Arabia primarily mediates in formal diplomatic disputes, while Qatar engages in more complex, informal conflicts. However, Qatar’s support for groups like the Muslim Brotherhood has put it at odds with Saudi Arabia, leading to Gulf diplomatic rivalry. Dent also points out that the Arab Spring influence played a major role in shaping Qatar’s mediation role. During the uprisings of 2010-2011, Qatar backed opposition groups in Syria and Libya, making its position clear. This, however, led to the regional conflict resolution crisis of 2017, when Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern nations severed ties with Qatar. Following this rift, Dent notes that Qatar has engaged with extremist groups even more than its regional neighbors, making it appear more neutral as a mediator. Dr. H.A. Hellyer emphasizes that, despite their Saudi-Qatar geopolitical differences, the two nations do not actively compete over peace negotiations. He states, “Qatar is not trying to challenge Saudi Arabia today, and Saudi Arabia is not interested in taking over Qatar’s mediation efforts.” “Unfortunately, there are still enough conflicts in the world to keep both countries occupied.”