The Qatar International Academy for Security Studies

The Qatar International Academy for Security Studies (QIASS) is a professional institute headquartered in Doha, Qatar, dedicated to raising security standards, promoting knowledge, and fostering cooperation within the Gulf region and globally. QIASS provides specialized training, consultancy, and research in security, serving government, commercial, and non-profit sectors. The academy is recognized for its innovative training programs, strategic research initiatives, and global partnerships designed to address complex and evolving security challenges (QIASS, 2024; Tawalbeh, 2024).

Establishment and Founders

QIASS was established in Doha to meet the growing need for advanced security education and research in the region. Mohammed Hanzab, a former Lieutenant Colonel in the Qatar Armed Forces and an influential figure in regional security, served as the President of QIASS before becoming the Chairman of the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS). His leadership played a pivotal role in shaping the academy’s direction and reputation (ICSS, 2024).

Mission and Vision

Mission:

QIASS’s mission is to equip clients with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to address today’s complex security challenges. This is achieved through meticulous training, innovative educational techniques, and fostering excellence in research and education. The academy aims to build lasting security partnerships across nations and cultures (QIASS, 2024; QIASS, 2025).

Vision:

QIASS envisions a safer and more secure world, where security professionals are empowered to manage and mitigate modern threats through advanced training, strategic research, and international cooperation. The academy strives to be a global leader in security education, contributing to the development of effective, evidence-based security solutions (Tawalbeh, 2024).

Goals and Objectives

• Raise Security Standards: Elevate the quality and effectiveness of security practices through innovative training and consultancy.
• Promote Knowledge: Advance security knowledge by facilitating research, education, and global knowledge-sharing.
• Foster Cooperation: Build strategic partnerships with international institutions, enhancing cooperation on security issues.
• Capacity Building: Equip professionals in government, commercial, and non-profit sectors with practical skills for real-world security challenges.
• Support Research: Conduct and disseminate research on contemporary security trends and challenges, contributing to global security dialogues.
• Host Global Forums: Organize events such as the Global Security Forum, providing a platform for stakeholders to address pressing security threats (QIASS, 2024; Tawalbeh, 2024; QIASS, 2025).

History

The Qatar International Academy for Security Studies (QIASS) was established in Doha, Qatar, to address the region’s growing need for advanced security education, training, and research. Since its inception, QIASS has focused on elevating security standards and fostering international cooperation. The academy is known for organizing the Global Security Forum, which began in 2018 and has since become a leading platform for addressing global security challenges. QIASS collaborates with international partners and has hosted events with participation from government, law enforcement, academia, and private sector leaders (QIASS, 2024; Milipol Qatar, 2024; Zawya, 2024).

Location

QIASS is headquartered in Lusail, Doha, Qatar. The primary office is located on Al Jamiaa Street, Doha, Addoha, with the postal code 00000. This central location enables the academy to serve clients across the Gulf region and internationally (QIASS, 2024; QIASS, n.d.).

Financial Sponsors

QIASS operates as a professional institute and often collaborates with governmental, commercial, and non-profit sectors. While specific details about direct financial sponsors are not publicly disclosed, QIASS frequently partners with leading global education and strategic policy organizations. The academy’s activities are supported by strategic partnerships and collaborations, especially with Qatari governmental bodies and international institutions. There is no direct evidence of commercial sponsorship; rather, its funding appears to be primarily institutional and partnership-based (QIASS, 2025; ICCT, 2013; ZoomInfo, n.d.).

Website and Contact Information

• Website: www.qiass.org (QIASS, 2024)
• Email: info@qiass.org (QIASS, n.d.)
• Phone: +974 4141 0041 (QIASS, n.d.)
• Address: Al Jamiaa Street, Lusail, Doha, Qatar, 00000 (QIASS, n.d.)

Key Fields of Concentration (Research)

QIASS’s research encompasses:

• Policy and strategic security analysis
• Risk management and operational security
• Cybersecurity and misinformation management
• Homeland security and civil defense
• Emerging security threats and innovation in security practices

These areas reflect QIASS’s commitment to addressing both traditional and contemporary security challenges through objective, data-driven research (QIASS, 2024; Milipol Qatar, 2024).

Activities and Contributions

QIASS actively engages in:

• Delivering scenario-based training programs for government, commercial, and non-profit sectors
• Providing consultancy services in risk management and security policy
• Organizing and participating in international security forums and events, such as Milipol Qatar
• Hosting seminars on emerging topics, including artificial intelligence regulation in security contexts
• Forging security partnerships across nations and cultures to foster knowledge-sharing and cooperation

These activities contribute to raising security standards and equipping professionals with practical skills to tackle real-world security issues (QIASS, 2024; Instagram, 2021).

Publishing / Significant Reports and Impacts

While specific titles of reports are not detailed, QIASS produces objective, data-driven research reports that support critical decision-making for national and organizational security interests. Their publications and research outputs influence policy formulation and operational strategies in security sectors. QIASS’s impact is also reflected in its role in shaping security discourse through conferences, seminars, and collaboration with academic bodies. The academy’s research outputs contribute to advancing knowledge and best practices in security studies, particularly in the Gulf region (QIASS, 2024; Milipol Qatar, 2024).

Prominent Research Figures

While specific prominent individual researchers affiliated solely with QIASS are not extensively detailed in the provided information, QIASS's research and consultancy team is composed of professionals with operational, technical, and academic backgrounds who advise government and corporate clients on policy, security, and risk management (QIASS, 2024).

Additionally, Dr. Majed bin Mohammed bin Hassan Al-Ansari has headed the Qatar International Academy for Security Studies since 2019. He moved to QIASS from Qatar University, where he served as Director of the Policy Department at the Institute of Social and Economic Survey Research and as an assistant professor in the Department of International Affairs. Dr. Al-Ansari holds an MA and Ph.D. in social transformation from the University of Manchester and a BA in Political Science from Leeds University. His career began in international relations research with the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2005, followed by work in civil society organizations and advisory roles for governmental and semi-governmental institutions (Grabien, 2019).

Other institutions in Qatar, such as the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies and Northwestern University in Qatar, also engage with prominent scholars in critical security studies, including Noha Aboueldahab, Abdullah Al-Arian, Zahra Babar, Sami Hermez, and Bassel Salloukh. These scholars contribute to a broader academic discourse on security in the region (Doha Institute, 2024; Northwestern University in Qatar, 2024).

Relations to the Islamic World

QIASS is located in Doha, Qatar, placing it within the Islamic world. Its work is particularly relevant to the security challenges and contexts of the Gulf region and the broader Middle East. The academy aims to foster lasting security partnerships across nations and cultures, implying engagement with countries in the Islamic world (Mastersportal, 2025; QIASS, 2024). Programs like the Master’s in Critical Security Studies at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies also focus on empirical cases related to Qatar and the Arab region, indicating a regional emphasis on security studies within the Islamic world (Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, 2019).

Partnerships

QIASS engages in various partnerships to fulfill its mission:

• Academic and Research Institutes: QIASS collaborates with academic and research institutes on specific topics to enhance its research projects and provide strategic analysis to government and private sector leaders (QIASS, 2024).
• Governmental, Commercial, and Non-Profit Sectors: The academy offers its training and consultancy services to a diverse range of clients across these sectors, equipping professionals with practical skills for real-world security challenges (QIASS, 2024).
• International Events: QIASS participates in major international events like Milipol Qatar, the global event for homeland security and civil defense, to showcase its expertise, highlight innovative approaches to training, and discuss tools for cyber monitoring and misinformation management (QIASS, 2024).

These partnerships underscore QIASS's commitment to collaboration and knowledge-sharing to address complex global security issues (Mastersportal, 2025; QIASS, 2024).

Critique and Hidden Objectives from Iran’s Perspective

1. Perceived Alignment with Western and Israeli Interests

QIASS is managed by entities such as The Soufan Group, led by Ali Soufan, a former FBI counterterrorism agent with ties to U.S. and Israeli security frameworks. This association raises concerns in Iran and among its allies that QIASS serves as a conduit for Western intelligence and security agendas in the Gulf region, potentially undermining Iranian interests (Islamism News, 2023; Washington Institute, 2024).

2. Qatar’s Complex Regional Position

While Qatar maintains diplomatic and economic ties with Iran, it also hosts significant U.S. military assets, including Al Udeid Air Base, and cooperates with Western security organizations. This duality leads to skepticism in Tehran about Qatar’s true security intentions. Iran may view QIASS as part of Qatar’s broader strategy to balance relations but ultimately align with Western-led security frameworks that counter Iranian influence (FDD, 2025).

3. Accusations of Supporting Terrorism and Proxy Groups

Iran and its allies often accuse Qatar of supporting groups opposed to Iranian interests, such as Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, which complicates the perception of QIASS’s role. Critics argue that QIASS’s training and security initiatives may indirectly serve to counter Iranian-backed entities in the region, thus positioning the academy as part of a geopolitical contest rather than a neutral security institution (BU Pardee Atlas, 2022; Islamism News, 2023).

4. Concerns over Influence and Propaganda

Some critiques highlight Qatar’s media outlets, including Al Jazeera, which have been accused of amplifying narratives favorable to Iran or critical of Israel and its allies. Given QIASS’s close ties to Qatari institutions, there is concern that its work may align with broader Qatari foreign policy objectives that are not fully transparent, potentially including the shaping of regional security discourse in ways that obscure Qatar’s nuanced alliances (Islamism News, 2023; FDD, 2025).

Summary

From Iran’s viewpoint, QIASS is not simply an academic or training institution but part of a complex geopolitical landscape where Qatar navigates between Western alliances and regional Islamic ties. The academy’s connections to Western security experts and Qatar’s ambiguous regional policies fuel suspicions that QIASS’s activities may serve hidden objectives aligned against Iranian strategic interests.