The Doha Debates
What are The Doha Debates?
The importance of The Doha Debates is the fact that we’ve engaged a generation of students and young people, who are talking about controversial subjects for the first time in their lives in a foreign language, on foreign TV, and they do it remarkably well.
Broadcast to almost 400 million people around the world on BBC World News and other television partners, The Doha Debates are the leading public forum for debate and discussion in the Arab world.
Free independent speech
The Doha Debates promote dialogue and free speech by providing an exciting arena where all sides of an argument can be heard and conflicting viewpoints are given an equal weight.
Although financed by Qatar Foundation (QF), the Doha Debates enjoy editorial independence; no government, official body or broadcaster has any control over what is said at the sessions or who is invited.
Young Arabs have their say
The Debates center on controversial and topical subjects and involve panel of expert speakers - two for and two against. This format allows the audience to participate through questioning before registering a final electronic vote. It is an approach that gives young Arabs a vital opportunity to have their say on key political issues and to challenge politicians and experts face to face.
Live in Qatar and throughout the world
Founded in 2004 and chaired by award-winning broadcaster and journalist, Tim Sebastian, The Doha Debates are filmed at QF’s Headquarters. Two thirds of the 350-strong audience are students from more than 40 universities and high schools throughout Qatar. The general public is invited to register for tickets through The Doha Debates website.
The Doha Debates also regularly hold overseas debates. So far this format has been filmed in the UK, USA and India.
Special editions of the Doha Debates have featured high-profile guests such as leading Hamas officials, Bill Clinton, Shimon Peres, Amr Moussa and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Did you know?
- The Doha Debates won the prestigious Association for International Broadcasting Award in November 2010 for the ‘Hamas meets Fatah’ Special, which was screened in March 2010.
