Ambassador of Sweden to Qatar H E Gautam Bhattacharyya speaking during the event.
Doha, Qatar: More than 250 guests and 12 ambassadors gathered for the second annual United Nations of Happiness Gala, a vibrant celebration of unity, diplomacy, and cross-cultural connection hosted by the Happy People Doha Business Club (HPD), at the Marsa Malaz Kempinski recently.
The event drew representation from over 50 nationalities, reinforcing HPD’s founding vision of ‘business beyond borders, happiness beyond imagination.’ What began as a casual conversation among friends in 2019 has since evolved into a thriving community of CEOs, general managers, diplomats, founders, and entrepreneurs.
The event welcomed an impressive diplomatic presence, with ambassadors and senior diplomats in attendance. Among them were Ambassador of Austria to Qatar, H E Erika Bernhard; Ambassador of the Netherlands to Qatar H E Ferdinand Lahnstein; Ambassador of Sweden to Qatar H E Gautam Bhattacharyya; Ambassador of Argentina to Qatar H E Guillermo Nicolás; Ambassador of Rwanda to Qatar H E Igor Marara; Ambassador of Moldova to Qatar H E Iulian Grigoriță; Ambassador of Panama to Qatar H E Johnny Mayani; Ambassador of Uruguay to Qatar H E Marcelo Gerona; Ambassador of Colombia to Qatar H E Odette Yidi; Ambassador of Ecuador to Qatar H E Pascual Del Cioppo; Ambassador of Belgium to Qatar H E William Asselborn; Ambassador of Costa Rica to Qatar H E Juan Carlos Esquivel; Ambassador of Switzerland to Qatar H E Florence Tinguely Mattli and Deputy Ambassador of the British Embassy in Qatar Duncan Hill.
“The United Nations of Happiness reminds us that the basis of diplomacy is not policy but people. In a world of shifting alliances and challenges, it is the human connection — across cultures and borders — that endures,” said Ambassador of Sweden to Qatar H E Gautam Bhattacharyya, capturing the spirit of the event.
The event was orchestrated by HPD founder Ann Williams, along with Frida Brunetti and Malak Kanaan, who also served as emcee.
The programme included a high-energy live band and a series of immersive photo installations that captured the essence of the evening.
“Seeing our second gala flourish with even more cultures side by side proves that happiness is an unlimited resource — especially when we choose to share it,” said Williams. Major sponsors included Alfardan Medical with Northwestern Medicine, Le Royal Meridien, López Khoury & Associates, Massoun Insurance, and Servcorp. Supporting partners such as Kempinski, LuLu, and SkyDrops Qatar also played key roles in bringing the event to life.
