Summary
Mr. Fahad Hamad Al-Sulaiti, Director General of the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), addressed students at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar as part of the Dean’s Lecture Series. The discussion, moderated by Dean Michael Trick, focused on QFFD's philosophy of shifting from traditional aid to investment-driven development. Key topics included Qatar’s National Vision 2030, the importance of data-driven planning, and the essential link between education and global economic needs.
Event marks the latest installment of the CMU-Q Dean’s Lecture Series
Doha, Qatar – X January 2026: Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q) hosted Mr. Fahad Hamad Al-Sulaiti, Director General of Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), to discuss Qatar’s international development approach and its focus on sustainable economic transformation.
The lecture marked the latest installment of the CMU-Q Dean’s Lecture Series. Dean of CMU-Q, Michael Trick, welcomed H.E. Al-Sulaiti for a dynamic conversation that explored key issues at the intersection of international development, education, and economic growth, followed by an engaging question-and-answer session with students.
During his lecture, Mr. Al-Sulaiti highlighted Qatar’s development philosophy, explaining: “
At QFFD, development is about contributing to sustainable economic growth and supporting countries in strengthening their national capabilities to achieve lasting progress. While aid is a vital pillar of our work, our experience has shown that long-term impact comes from empowering economies to grow, innovate, and advance through resilient, home-grown development pathways.”
He explained that QFFD is increasingly focused on investment-driven development, with returns reinvested in partner countries to help build sustainable private sectors and long-term economic resilience.
Dean Trick emphasized the value of engaging global leaders directly with students, stating: “The purpose of this series has always been to bridge education and real-world challenges and opportunities that await our graduates.” He added that the discussion offered students a meaningful opportunity to hear first-hand how decision-makers in development are shaping global policy and practice.
When asked by students about data-driven development, infrastructure gaps, and digital transformation, Mr. Al-Sulaiti underlined that data is central to effective development planning, adding that while artificial intelligence can support analysis, meaningful data collection must begin on the ground.
Mr. Al-Sulaiti also emphasized that education remains central to Qatar’s international development strategy. “It is imperative to align education with a country’s economic needs to reduce unemployment and unlock long-term opportunity,” he said.
He noted that strategic partnerships, including those with Education Above All Foundation and Qatar Foundation, make support for education initiatives in more than 70 countries possible.
The Dean’s Lecture Series is part of CMU-Q’s ongoing commitment to fostering dialogue and inspiring progress and innovation in Qatar and the region. It provides a platform for thought leaders and industry experts to share their knowledge and expertise with the university community and the public.
