The Ambassador Program is Doha Debates’ 12-week virtual training for young people who want to change how public conversation works. Doha Debates is a production of Qatar Foundation and is based in Doha. The format borrows from the majlis, a traditional gathering where people talk through hard questions in the open. Ambassadors take part from anywhere in the world by videoconference, working through expert-led training, mentored collaboration and personal storytelling to build intercultural communication, systems thinking and debate skills. Cohort 9 meets every Tuesday evening Qatar time from 22 September to 1 December 2026 and closes with a two-hour virtual World Majlis. Past cohorts have been large and broadly international: the fourth cohort had 98 ambassadors from 37 countries and the fifth had 86 from 33.
Benefits & funding
- No fee to take part. The program is fully online, so there is no stipend and no travel funding.
- Twelve weeks of expert-led training in intercultural communication, systems thinking and debate.
- Mentored group collaboration across the whole program.
- A place in the culminating two-hour virtual World Majlis event on 8 December 2026.
- An official Doha Debates certificate on completion.
- Alumni are invited to stay involved through Doha Debates events, conversations, workshops and debates, and may be selected as mentors for later cohorts.
Eligibility
- Aged 18 to 26 on 22 September 2026, the program start date.
- Fluent in English.
- Open to applicants of any nationality and any education level.
- Reliable internet access for videoconferencing.
- Available for every Tuesday session at 6:00 p.m. AST between 22 September and 1 December 2026.
Can you apply?
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Age requirement
18–26 yrs
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Application process
- 1Join the Doha Debates Learning Community and complete the Introduction to the Majlis Course to earn the Majlis Master badge. Applicants who took the course in an earlier year must take it again.
- 2Submit the short application form by 12:00 a.m. AST on 24 August 2026, with basic details and a personal video introducing yourself and reflecting on the course.
- 3Attend a virtual group interview between 8 and 11 September 2026 if selected as a finalist.
- 4Decisions are sent on 15 September 2026, and accepted ambassadors start on 22 September.
Program timeline
Applications open for Cohort 9
1 July 2026
Application deadline, 12:00 a.m. AST
24 August 2026
Candidate interviews
8–11 September 2026
Acceptance notifications
15 September 2026
Program starts
22 September 2026
Final weekly session
1 December 2026
Culminating World Majlis virtual event
8 December 2026