Beyond the Headlines: Why CHOGM 2026 is a ‘Must-Watch’ for Qatar
22 Sep 2026
This November, Antigua and Barbuda will host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2026. Qatar should be paying close attention.
In the two years since my appointment as Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the State of Qatar, I have been asked the same question more times than I can count. It comes in different forms, from different people: a businessman, a journalist, a diplomat across a conference table. The question is always some version of this: “Antigua and Barbuda. Where is that exactly? And why should Qatar care?”
It is a fair question. Our nation is 440 square kilometres. We have a population of fewer than 100,000. On a map of the world, we are barely a speck. Qatar, by contrast, has used its own modest size to become a global heavyweight. It is a model of what vision and determination can achieve.
My answer is this: influence is not a function of size or geography. It is a function of voice and vision. It is also a function of the willingness to act.
Hosting CHOGM is a statement. It is the Commonwealth’s way of saying that small states are not peripheral to the global conversation. They are central to it. It is a demonstration of what the Commonwealth represents today: a network where size does not determine voice, and where the potential of small nations is recognised and championed.
CHOGM is a marketplace. When leaders gather in Antigua and Barbuda this November, Qatar should be paying close attention.
The Commonwealth today is a diverse coalition spanning Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, the Pacific, and Europe. It includes some of the world’s fastest-growing economies and some of its most vulnerable states. Its business arm, the Commonwealth Business Forum, alongside the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, has explicitly called for deeper engagement with the Gulf, including Qatar.
That call has not gone unanswered. Earlier this year, Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs met with the Commonwealth Secretary-General. The engagement is already underway. CHOGM 2026 is the moment to convert that dialogue into deals.
As the host nation, Antigua and Barbuda brings a distinct perspective. We are a Small Island Developing State. Most of our population lives within a few kilometres of the coast. When hurricanes strike, and they do with increasing ferocity, we do not simply lose property. We lose years of development. In 2017, Hurricane Irma destroyed nearly every structure on Barbuda in a single day. The entire island was evacuated. That memory is a warning.
But here is what I also want Qatar to understand: Antigua and Barbuda comes with a proposition.
Consider what we bring to the table. Our tourism sector welcomes over one million visitors annually. But we are not content to remain a mid-tier destination. We are actively courting luxury brands, high-end hotel chains, and premium hospitality operators. For Qatari investors, who have built a global reputation for excellence in hospitality through brands like Katara Hospitality and Qatar Airways, Antigua and Barbuda offers a compelling proposition: a pristine Caribbean destination ripe for luxury development, with a government that is open for business.
Beyond tourism, we are developing our digital economy and modernising our infrastructure. We are also positioning ourselves as a hub for renewable energy projects. The blue economy, including sustainable fisheries, ocean-based renewable energy, and maritime logistics, represents a frontier of growth. We are also strengthening our financial services sector, creating a modern, well-regulated environment for international business.
These are bankable projects seeking partners.
Qatar understands this. Its National Vision 2030 prioritises economic diversification. It also prioritises environmental sustainability and a high quality of life for its people. Qatar has demonstrated that a small nation can punch above its weight through strategic investment, advanced infrastructure, and clear-eyed global engagement. That is a model we admire, and one we seek to emulate.
There is a natural partnership here. Qatari capital and expertise in technology and logistics can combine with Antigua and Barbuda’s strategic location and skilled workforce. The country’s natural beauty adds to the proposition. Together they could create a powerful engine for shared prosperity.
Small Island Developing States are testing grounds for new approaches to energy, climate resilience, and sustainable development. We are strategically located near major shipping lanes and offer access to markets across the Americas. For Qatari investors seeking new asset classes and for a foreign policy that invests across regions without demanding political alignment, the Commonwealth, and SIDS in particular, represents a frontier of opportunity.
So what do I expect to materialise from these meetings? As Ambassador, I am not interested in communiqués that gather dust. I want to see concrete outcomes. I expect Qatari businesses to explore joint ventures in luxury tourism and hospitality in Antigua and Barbuda. I expect the Qatar-Commonwealth relationship to evolve from periodic consultations to a structured economic partnership. The Commonwealth Business Forum in November will be the place where those connections are made.
The meetings in Antigua and Barbuda this November will set the tone for the Commonwealth’s next two years. The ripples will be felt in the Gulf. For Qatar, this is a strategic opportunity hiding in plain sight.
