The ceremony, held at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC), marked the official handover of the venue to the UN, which will host world leaders and delegates over the coming days to revitalise the global social pact.
Senior officials from Qatar and the UN attended the brief but symbolic event, alongside UN security officers and Qatar’s Lekhwiya police forces who flanked the twin flagpoles.
Li Junhua, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, said the event represented “a shared commitment to cooperation and collective progress”.
“This moment formally marks the handover of this landmark facility to the UN,” he said. “The QNCC is now transformed into a space where the global community will gather to advance solutions and renew hope.”
Ahmad Hassen Al-Hamadi, Secretary General of Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, welcomed delegates and reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment as host. He said the Summit would “provide a pivotal opportunity to reaffirm political will and capitalise on the abundant opportunities to accelerate transformative actions to achieve social development and justice for all”.
Over the next several days, around 14 000 participants, Heads of State and Government, ministers, civil society leaders, youth delegates, workers and private sector representatives, are expected to engage in high-level discussions on social protection, inequality, decent work and inclusion.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres is set to address the opening ceremony on Tuesday, where he will reflect on progress since the first Social Summit in Copenhagen in 1995 and highlight global challenges such as poverty, inequality and conflict.
The ceremony concluded with a striking aerial display organised by the Education Above All Foundation, featuring parachutists descending over the QNCC with flags representing each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
The performance symbolised unity and shared responsibility, central themes of the Summit, and underscored the message that social development is inseparable from the broader UN 2030 Agenda.
In the lead-up to the Summit, UN DESA partnered with Mark Lee, the Korean-Canadian artist from K-pop group NCT, to launch a social media campaign encouraging young people to reflect on what social progress means to them.
“Young and old, we have a huge role to play,” he said in a video message. “Our voices, our ideas, our creativity can bring people together. Together, we can show that when we move as one, we can make change happen.”
–UN/ChannelAfrica–
