A first visit to the Middle East
Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong will make official visits to Qatar from 18 to 20 October 2026, and to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 20 to 22 October 2026. These will be Prime Minister Wong's first visits to the Middle East as Prime Minister, at the invitation of Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, and Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi. The visits will provide a timely opportunity for Singapore to exchange views with regional leaders on developments in the Middle East, reaffirm support for dialogue and diplomacy, and strengthen cooperation with Qatar and the UAE in areas of mutual interest, particularly energy security and economic resilience.
The timing is significant. The Middle East is in a period of heightened tension, with attacks on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, strikes on Saudi Arabian oil facilities, and global oil prices spiking — Brent crude futures touched US$110 a barrel for the first time since May. For Singapore, a small island state that imports almost all of its energy and depends on open sea lanes for trade, instability in the Gulf is not a distant concern. It affects fuel prices, shipping costs, and the broader economic environment. Wong's visit is therefore both a diplomatic gesture and a practical mission: to understand the situation from regional leaders directly, and to strengthen the partnerships that help Singapore manage the risks.
What is on the agenda in Qatar
In Qatar, Prime Minister Wong will call on the Emir, Sheikh Tamim. Both leaders will co-chair the ninth Qatar-Singapore High-Level Joint Committee (HLJC), which is the primary platform for advancing cooperation between Qatar and Singapore. Wong will also meet Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Bin Jassim Al Thani. The HLJC covers a wide range of cooperation, including political, economic, investment, education, tourism, civil development, joint investment projects and artificial intelligence. At the meeting, the two sides discussed relations and ways of developing them, and listened to presentations on investment opportunities in Qatar and on Singapore's smart city infrastructure and artificial intelligence strategies, including the ethical and regulatory framework for governance. The meeting concluded with the announcement of joint minutes between the two sides.
Qatar is a major liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer and a key energy partner for Asia. For Singapore, Qatar's role in global energy markets makes it an important interlocutor, especially when energy security is under strain. The two countries also share an interest in investment: Qatar's Investment Promotion Agency has been working to create a world-class environment for foreign investment, and Singapore is a major investor and financial centre in Asia. The HLJC is where those interests are translated into concrete projects.
What is on the agenda in the UAE
In the UAE, Prime Minister Wong will visit Abu Dhabi and Dubai. In Abu Dhabi, he will call on President Sheikh Mohamed, and meet Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. In Dubai, he will meet Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Deputy Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The UAE is Singapore's largest trading partner in the Middle East and a major hub for finance, logistics and aviation. Cooperation spans energy, trade, investment, technology and connectivity. The visit is expected to strengthen those ties and to explore new areas of cooperation, including artificial intelligence, digital economy and green finance.
The UAE's role as a regional hub matters for Singapore in a specific way: both countries are small states that have built their prosperity on being open, connected and reliable. They share an interest in a rules-based international order, in open trade, and in dialogue as a way to resolve disputes. In a period of geopolitical tension, that shared outlook is a basis for partnership that goes beyond any single deal.
Energy security and economic resilience
Energy security and economic resilience are the stated priorities of the visit, and they are closely linked. Singapore imports almost all of its energy, and disruptions to Gulf oil and gas supplies feed directly into electricity prices, transport costs and inflation. The recent spike in oil prices — driven by attacks on shipping and on Saudi facilities — is a reminder of how quickly energy shocks can travel. By engaging with Qatar and the UAE, Singapore is seeking to understand the outlook for energy supplies, to reaffirm its support for dialogue and diplomacy as the path to stability, and to strengthen the relationships that help it manage shocks when they come.
Economic resilience is the broader goal. Singapore's economy depends on trade, and trade depends on stable sea lanes, predictable rules and open markets. The Middle East is a key region for all three: the Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important chokepoints, and any prolonged disruption there would have global consequences. Singapore's diplomacy is therefore aimed at supporting stability, not taking sides in regional disputes. Wong's message, as described by Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is to reaffirm support for dialogue and diplomacy — a stance that reflects Singapore's long-standing foreign policy of principled neutrality and respect for international law.
The Singaporean community abroad
Prime Minister Wong will also meet overseas Singaporeans at receptions in Doha and Dubai. These receptions are a regular part of prime ministerial visits, but they matter more than they might seem. Singaporeans living abroad are a bridge between Singapore and the countries where they live, and their experiences inform the government's understanding of the world. For the prime minister, meeting them is both a gesture of connection and a source of insight: Singaporeans working in the Gulf see the region's changes up close, and their perspectives can inform policy back home.
Why it matters beyond Singapore
This visit matters beyond Singapore because it shows how small states navigate a turbulent world. Singapore cannot control great-power politics or regional conflicts, but it can build relationships, diversify its partnerships, and position itself as a reliable partner for dialogue. The visit to Qatar and the UAE is an example of that approach in action: engage with all sides, focus on shared interests, and invest in the relationships that will matter when crises arise. For readers following Singapore, our earlier coverage includes the surge in Singapore's exports and the Monetary Authority of Singapore's policy decision.
What happens next
Wong's visit runs from 18 to 22 October. Watch for joint statements or agreements announced after the HLJC and the UAE meetings, particularly on energy, investment, AI and connectivity. Watch also for how the visit is received in the Gulf, and whether it leads to follow-up visits or new initiatives. For Singapore, the test of the visit will be whether it strengthens the partnerships that help the country navigate an uncertain world — and whether it contributes, in however small a way, to the dialogue and diplomacy that the region needs.