By Evan Lewis
Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Brian McKeon, joined Chargé d’Affaires Ian McCary, May 9, for a groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of construction on the new U.S. embassy in Doha. Situated on a 12.3-acre site, which the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) acquired in 2019, in a new diplomatic zone within the Wadi al Banat district of Qatar’s capital city, the Embassy Doha will support the continued growth of U.S.-Qatari diplomatic relations and serve as a symbolic gateway between the two countries.
Designed by Richärd Kennedy Architects, the new embassy embodies the OBO’s commitment to environmental leadership, and embraces the local context through the use of energy efficiency strategies that respond to the region’s arid climate and enhance the building’s performance. The project is registered with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design—a global green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices—and has a minimum goal of Silver certification.
The embassy’s art collection will include a variety of media, including painting, photography, textile, and sculpture by both U.S. and Qatari artists. An estimated $70 million will be invested in the local economy over the course of the project.
As the bilateral relationship between the United States and Qatar continues to flourish, the start of construction on the new embassy symbolizes the Department of State’s dedication to diplomacy in the region. The embassy is expected to be completed in 2026 and will represent the best of U.S. architecture, engineering, and construction execution.
Evan Lewis is a media relations analyst at the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations.
