His Excellency Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani chaired the Cabinet's regular meeting at the Amiri Diwan Wednesday.Following the meeting, His Excellency Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ibrahim bin Ali al-Mohannadi stated the following:At the outset of the meeting, the Cabinet praised the results of the talks between His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz during his official visit to Qatar on Feb 5.The Cabinet affirmed that the strategic relations between the two countries, and their evolving investment partnership, have entered a new and promising phase serving the interests of the people, and in a way that contributes to consolidating security, peace and stability in the region and the world. This is in light of the extensive and fruitful discussions that took place, which included strengthening bilateral co-operation in various fields, and the most prominent regional, international issues and developments, in addition to the results of the Qatari-German Business Roundtable meeting, which was held within the framework of the German Chancellor's visit.The Cabinet welcomed the results of the seventh session of the Joint Higher Committee for Co-operation between Qatar and Kuwait, which was held in Kuwait. The Qatari side was headed by HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, while the Kuwaiti side was headed by Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah. The session constituted a further step towards strengthening co-operation and integration between the two brotherly countries.The Cabinet praised the launch of Cabinet’s General Secretariat 2026-2030 Strategy on Sunday, and aims to translate national priorities into effective institutional practices. This includes enhancing the efficiency of government decision-making, improving the regulatory environment, strengthening capacity to respond to future challenges, establishing the principles of justice and transparency, and integrating sustainability considerations into policies and decisions to achieving sustainable development and the goals of the National Development Strategy.The Cabinet then considered the items on its agenda, approving draft legislative instruments related to the proposal to transfer the Real Estate Brokerage Department from the Ministry of Justice to the Public Authority for Regulating Real Estate. The proposal aims to unify and regulate the supervision of real estate brokerage activities within a specialised regulatory body in line with the Authority’s objectives and competencies, and to enhance the governance of the real estate sector, raise the efficiency of regulating and developing related activities, achieve institutional integration in the practice of relevant competencies, and contribute to supporting, sustaining and growing the real estate market, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030, and in support of the objectives of the Third National Development Strategy.The Cabinet decided to approve the draft memorandum of understanding on conducting political consultations on issues of common interest between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland, and the draft air services agreement between the governments of Qatar and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.The Cabinet concluded its meeting by reviewing four reports and making the appropriate decisions regarding them. The first report was the results of the work of the Permanent Committee for Monitoring Fuel Filling and Storage Stations, the second was the annual report on the achievements and work programmes of the Qatar General Organisation for Standards and Metrology for 2025, the third on the results of the participation of Qatar delegation headed by HE Minister of Labour in the Web Summit and its accompanying meetings (Lisbon, Nov 2025), and lastly, a report on the results of the participation of Qatar delegation headed by HE Minister of Communications and Information Technology in the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum 2026 (Davos — Jan. 2026).

The 14th edition of the Halal Qatar Festival 2026 was officially launched yesterday at the southern area of Katara Cultural Village. The festival, known for its distinctive heritage atmosphere, drew broad participation from livestock breeders in Qatar and abroad, with intensive preparations underway for the competitions. Prof Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, general manager of Katara, toured the festival grounds with department directors, reviewing the pavilions and organisational arrangements. He underlined Katara’s commitment to delivering an exceptional edition that reflects the festival’s status as one of the region’s leading specialised heritage events. **media[416070]** Salman Mohamed al-Nuaimi, chairman of the Organising Committee, said the festival continues to strengthen its position as a premier heritage platform. “Halal Qatar Festival preserves and promotes the heritage of livestock breeding, supports breeders, and highlights authentic national values, while also offering opportunities for international participation that reflect Qatar’s standing in this field,” he said. The first day saw the arrival and placement of participating livestock in preparation for the Mazayen (beauty competitions), with members of the judging committee for the “Arab” category taking the oath to ensure transparency and integrity. **media[416069]** The festival programme features competitive rounds for Arab/Awarid and Syrian categories, including contests for the Most Beautiful Locally Produced Camel (Symbol Round), the Most Beautiful Five Young Females from a Single Farm (Production Round), and Elite rounds. Additional competitions include Most Beautiful Stud, Most Beautiful Individual Female, Most Beautiful Young Female, and Most Beautiful Three Young Females, reflecting the high technical standards of participants. **media[416068]** The festival’s sections and pavilions are inspired by Bedouin heritage and include a livestock display area, auction and show stage, and a majlis for VIP guests, embodying authentic Arab hospitality. A local market and traditional souq in Bedouin-style tents showcase handicrafts, while art workshops for children foster a connection to folk heritage. Cultural activities feature five visual artists creating live paintings and Rababa musical performances, adding an authentic heritage dimension. Families are drawn to the camel-riding area and a section showcasing pygmy goats. Seventeen shops offer traditional foods, sweets, perfumes, and accessories, alongside booths for goat supplies, farm equipment, and veterinary services, providing visitors with a complete heritage, shopping, and hospitality experience.