Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail arrived in Doha today for a three-day official visit to the emirate.

The aircraft carrying the Malaysian deputy prime minister touched down at the Hamad International Airport here at 5.45am local time. 

She was met on arrival by Qatar’s Assistant Undersecretary for Social Affairs Ghanim Mubarak Ali Al-Kuwari and Malaysian ambassador to Qatar Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin.

This is Wan Azizah's first official visit to the country after being appointed deputy prime minister on May 21 following Pakatan Harapan’s victory in the last general election.

Wan Azizah, who is also women, family and community development minister, is scheduled to have an audience with the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani as well as pay a courtesy call on Qatar Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani.

Her itinerary also includes a courtesy call on Qatar Deputy Prime Minister and State Defence Affairs Minister Khalid Mohammed Al Attiyah, a meeting with of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs Minister Yousuf Mohammed Al-Othman Fakhro and a presentation on the emirate’s social affairs sector.

Fadil told reporters that Wan Azizah will also deliver a speech titled 'The new Malaysia: Navigating the journey towards convergence' at Qatar University. 

The last speech by a foreign leader at the university was delivered by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2015.

Wan Azizah will also meet Qatar Foundation vice-president and CEO Sheika Hind Bint Hamad Al Thani and the Malaysian diaspora in the emirate.

She is accompanied by Deputy Foreign Minister Marzuki Yahya and Deputy Finance Minister Amiruddin Hamzah.

- Bernama