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With a slew of new features that integrate and further strengthen the public transport sector in Qatar, the Ministry of Transport (MoT) on Thursday opened Sila Operation Centre. The facility which will function as the nucleus of Qatar’s Public Transport Integrated Services was opened by HE the Minister of Transport Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti. HE the Minister of Municipality Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie and the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) president Dr Engineer Saad bin Ahmad al-Muhannadi along with senior officials from MoT were present. With Sila Brand Management and Wayfinding, Unified Electronic Ticketing hub and related payment systems, Central Clearing house and test authority, the centre complements the work of the National Transport Co-ordination Centre and the Land Transport Safety Committee. "Sila is the latest system that benefits the whole public transport system while giving information and updates about various modes of transportation," HE al-Sulaiti told Gulf Times. “We launched Sila with the mission to bring together Qatar’s public transport modes into an integrated network, offering people the smartest choices for travel and supporting the country’s ongoing development," he pointed out. The Minister of Transport described that the Sila Operation Centre ''will become a hub for all future sustainable public transport milestones, aiming to achieve a fundamental change in Qatar’s public transport network and enhance its efficiency to create a more connected and sustainable transport network for generations to come." In the past few years, the MoT has made strides in effectively improving public transport in Qatar, thereby encouraging its usage. The initiatives included enhancement in public transport services such as introducing new modes of public transport, integration of a multimodal transport system, and launching Sila, which brings together the public transport network through services such as a journey planner through its app and website. The MoT's Technical Affairs Department director Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalid al-Thani noted that Sila is the result of an ambitious vision to connect individual public transport modes and create a sustainable future, ultimately benefiting citizens, residents, and tourists alike. Sila currently includes the metro, bus, tram, and taxi. “It’s being launched in phases and will include several initiatives such as integrated payment options, introducing new services and transport modes and promoting the public transport network through public awareness and marketing initiatives to reach a wide audience within Qatar,” he explained. Once integrated payment options are fully launched, the Sila call centre will focus on managing all 'financial' passenger inquiries related to ticketing and journey planning, among others, while the individual public transport modes’ call centers will continue to manage all non-financial inquiries. Qatar’s citizens and residents are encouraged to follow Sila’s social media pages to get the latest updates. (Facebook: @silaqatar, Instagram: @sila_qatar & Twitter: @sila_qatar).    

With a well-developed Transport Services Team in place, Mowasalat (Karwa) is all set to cater to fans' transportation requirements during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The team comprises a workforce of more than 14,000 people, including drivers, ground staff and operational staff members, according to a tweet by the company. "Qatar 2022’s Transport Services Team is all set! We're having 9,000+ drivers, 2,000+ ground and 3,000+ operational staff to offer you a seamless experience while you enjoy your favourite teams play," Mowasalat (Karwa) said, reiterating its readiness to provide transportation solutions during the mega event. The company recently held a trial run of around 1,300 buses that ran trips in and around Doha. The trial run was connected to transporting football fans, arriving for the mega event running from November 20 to December 18, around Doha and between the eight stadiums across Qatar. The initiative came as part of Mowasalat (Karwa)’s efforts to prepare its drivers to ‘Deliver Amazing’ during the World Cup. Qatar is making massive arrangements to ensure smooth and extensive public transport operations during the World Cup, which will be held from November 20 to December 18. This includes bus services, the Doha Metro and Lusail Tram. In April this year, Hamad Port received 130 electric buses, which marks the last batch of a total of 741 units Qatar had ordered for the World Cup. The fleet will be fully operated by Mowasalat (Karwa) and embedded in the country’s public transit system, thus creating a lasting legacy of clean-energy mass transit after the championship, according to the Ministry of Transport (MoT). During 2022, electric buses will be used for metrolink services. They will also be used on public transit routes that will basically operate in Doha, in addition to deploying them in Lusail City and Al Khor. There will be over 200 operational and administrative staff members and more than 3,000 drivers for the e-bus fleet operations. The fleet of electric buses comes in the context of supporting the execution of the action plan as part of the strategy to transition to electric vehicles that the ministry has developed in association with the bodies concerned. The full delivery of Qatar’s electric bus order is setting the stage for transforming 25% of the bus fleet of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 to electric.    

The newly built Lusail Bus Station will significantly support fans' transportation during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the Ministry of Transport (MoT) has stressed. The facility is ready to operate 40 buses every hour, and is equipped with the necessary electric charging equipment for optimal operations, according to the MoT, which released an infographic Sunday explaining the highlights of the bus station. Located alongside Lusail QNB Metro station on Al Khor Coastal Road, the bus station provides easy access to key landmarks and nearby facilities. It will provide fan transportation services to and from Lusail and Al Bayt stadiums during the tournaments and connect them to other public transit modes. Fans stand to benefit greatly as the station is connected to public transportation modes such as Doha Metro, metrolink services, Lusail Tram, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service and the Park & Ride facility. The MoT explained that the station is equipped with electric charging equipment in order to secure necessary charging during operations in the context of achieving sustainable transportation in the country in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030 goals. Spread over an area of 39,708sqm, the station has nine bus parking areas with nine lanes that can accommodate 10,000 passengers a day, the ministry said, stressing that the facility is ready with an operational capacity of 40 buses an hour. The bus station has a ticketing counter and a passengers’ waiting area, along with administrative offices, a mosque and commercial facilities. Lusail Bus Station is one of the eight stations that are being set up in the country within the Public Bus Infrastructure Programme, implemented by the Ministry of Transport in co-ordination with the Public Works Authority (Ashghal). The programme is part of the provision of high-quality transportation services and modern parking facilities strategically distributed across the country and accessible for everyone easily and affordably. It’s aimed at encouraging vehicle owners to use modern public transportation systems while helping them save time and cost. The Public Bus Infrastructure Programme has been envisioned to improve services on public roads and at major intersections by achieving smoother traffic flow, less congestion and less carbon emissions while providing a significant enhancement to Qatar’s public transportation network. The bus stations are being constructed in accordance with the highest global safety and environment standards, GSAS. As part of the programme, Park & Ride facilities are available at certain locations. Free parking spaces are available for passengers, who can park their vehicles and avail of Metro services to reach their destinations.

Qatar has joined the AMBER Alert network on Facebook and Instagram to help find missing children and return them to their families by publishing missing alerts. The Ministry of Interior (MoI), in collaboration with Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, Wednesday launched the missing alert service. Meta brought the service to Instagram last June after it successfully launched on Facebook. Brig Jamal Mohamed al-Kaabi, director general of Criminal Investigation; Brig Abdullah Khalifa al-Muftah, director of Public Relations Department at MoI; Emily Vacher, director of Trust and Safety at Meta and Shaden Khallaf, Public Policy for North Africa and the GCC at Meta, attended the ceremony at the Criminal Investigation Department office at Duhail. The MoI’s new step comes as part of its continuous efforts to strengthen security and public safety in Qatar, ranked as the safest country in the world according to Numbeo Safety Index 2022. Senior MoI officials attending the ceremony. The service aims to provide all available resources and options to enable society members to contribute to maintaining enhanced security in their communities including harnessing advanced technologies, utilising the available platforms to serve this purpose, and facilitating their co-operation with the competent authorities when they receive a 'Mafqoud/Missing' notification via Instagram and Facebook. The AMBER Alerts on missing children will appear to all Facebook and Instagram users within a 160km radius. Users can also share the alert with their friends and reach a larger audience, thus helping identify and locate the missing child within a short period of time, as most of these incidents occur in highly crowded areas. While addressing the ceremony, Brig al-Muftah said the ministry is keen to make proactive efforts to ensure that crimes of all kinds are kept to a minimum. "Adopting a proactive approach is what keeps Qatar at the forefront of the safest countries in the world," he said, expressing his gratitude towards Meta for the great co-operation that resulted in continuous meetings and co-ordination with the Ministry of Interior, praising the efforts of the work team, which starts from receiving the case report and passing it to Meta until its publication on Instagram and Facebook. Maj Madawi Saeed al-Qahtani, assistant director of the Economic and Cyber Crimes Combating Department, said the service is yet another effort in the context of larger and more comprehensive efforts made by the MoI to maintain the security of residents and visitors alike, especially with the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Meta's Vacher said Qatar has become the first country in the Middle East to launch the smart alert on Facebook and Instagram at the same time. Shaden Khallaf, Meta's head of Public Policy, North Africa and GCC, said that the launch reinforces Meta's commitment to Qatar and the Middle East region with the local partnership.

Al Thumama Stadium on Saturday hosted the Moroccan Fan Leader activation event, which was attended by a large number of football lovers from the North African country. The event was organised by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) within the framework of the Qatar Fan Leader Network and as part of the promotional programmes being held for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The event was aimed at introducing the fan leaders of the Moroccan team to one of the World Cup stadiums, as well as the organisational procedures for the stadium during the tournament that will held from November 20 to December 18. The enthusiastic fans, along with Moroccan embassy representatives, were given an opportunity to have an exclusive tour of the stadium on the occasion. Nearly 50 fan leaders of the Moroccan national team were briefed on the facilities of Al Thumama Stadium. The attendees were able to get acquainted with all the facilities of the stadium and experience the exceptional atmosphere that they will live on the ground during Qatar 2022. Singing the national anthem and chanting football songs, the fans toured the stadium in a festive mood. Al Thumama Stadium will host Morocco's matches against Belgium on November 27 and Canada on December 1. The event included an introductory tour of everything related to the architectural masterpiece, including the stadium's sections, its entrances and exits, the players' rooms, warm-up rooms and their annexes, and the stands. In addition, the attendees learned about the quality of the pitch and grass. Al Thumama Stadium project manager Khalifa al-Mana, along with SC and other stadium officials, welcomed the gathering. Qatar legacy ambassadors Ahmad Khalil and Mohamed Saadon al-Kuwari were also present. Moulay Zaine El Moussaoui, deputy head of mission at the Moroccan embassy, told Gulf Times that the mission is making big plans to welcome fans to Qatar and organise cultural events across the country. “Qatar will be an amazing host and we hope everything will go off smoothly. We are delighted to be part of the mega event,” he said, adding that arrangements are being made to hold cultural programmes that will reflect the Moroccan tradition and legacy. “Thousands of Moroccan football fans are expected to come to Doha. The stadium premises and fan zones will see various Moroccan cultural programmes,” he noted, expressing confidence that Morocco will make it to the knockout rounds even though their group is a tough one, as it includes formidable teams such as Belgium and Croatia. In remarks to Qatar News Agency, Moussaoui underlined that Qatar 2022 will be a source of pride for all Arabs given the high organisational level and the huge preparations that Qatar has made in order to present a unique and extraordinary World Cup. "We feel proud and honoured to be at Al Thumama Stadium, which is one of the eight masterpieces that will host the global football event," Moussaoui added. He also wished good luck to the Qatari national team which he said will receive the support of all Arab fans, including the Moroccan community. Al-Mana said Al Thumama Stadium has become well known for Arab fans in general and Moroccan fans in particular after its hosted the final of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021. He hoped that Al Thumama Stadium will be a good omen for the Moroccan team in the World Cup when it hosts two matches for it in the group stage. Deputy president of a Moroccan community organisation, Mohamed Adrudu, said the Fan Leader Network event is the catalyst for the local fans to get involved in community activities while helping their national team to perform well in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. “Everybody can feel the excitement here. We have a strong team and our fans will be both inside the stadiums and outside to encourage the players,” he said. Football lovers from the Americas had come together at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium recently to mark the North and South American Fan Leader activation in Qatar. Al-Mana noted that Al Thumama Stadium will host matches for two Arab teams - the Moroccan and the Qatari - stressing the significance of the Arab presence in the World Cup finals. "We are confident that the Moroccan fans will be present to support their team in the World Cup, and it will be different from any previous occasion," he added, wishing good luck to the Moroccan team. Meanwhile, former Moroccan star and Qatar SC coach Yousef Safri said in a statement to QNA that Qatar's hosting of the World Cup finals presents a source of pride for all Arabs, stressing his confidence that Qatar 2022 World Cup will be exemplary, in light of the state-of-the-art stadiums that the world saw through the Arab Cup hosted by Doha last year, which provided great indications of an expected organisational success for the World Cup. Safri underlined that the Moroccan team will not come to Qatar to participate only, but will seek to present a good level of football and compete significantly in order to reach the farthest possible point, given the historical advantage that the World Cup will be held in an Arab country and the great support the Arab teams will receive from their fans. Former star of the Moroccan national team, Youssef Chippo, said the approaching date of the World Cup increases the passion for watching competitions in general and the Moroccan team in particular, considering that the World Cup in Qatar will be different, not only at the level of organisational success, but also in terms of an Arab country hosting the major football event for the first time in history. This will provide unique public support for the Arab teams and make their players feel that they are playing on their land - an advantage Chippo sees as an incentive and a motive that will positively reflect on the results of the Arab teams, whether it is Qatar, Morocco, Tunisia or Saudi Arabia.    

Free-kick fame Fida Fathima to watch Ronaldo at FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022   Little did she know, when Fida Fathima was trying a Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick at her school ground in the southern Indian state of Kerala, that she would fly to Qatar to watch her favourite footballer playing for his national team. Young Fida is excited as she will be, if things pan out as planned, and she is able to watch the Group H match between Portugal and Uruguay on November 28 at Lusail Stadium. Recently, Fida’s video of her scoring a free-kick goal had gone viral on social media. The video shows the 9th grade student giving a little spin on the ball and forcing it to dip suddenly downward with a super-charged velocity. The goal, lauded as a ‘Rono Style Freekick’, struck a chord with the social media. In appreciation to the young prodigy, Mosafer Travel and Tourism in Doha stepped in and arranged for her a match ticket and transportation. “Enthused by the charm and energy of his football, I got a penchant for watching Cristiano Ronaldo playing and celebrating after he scores each time. I am thrilled to see him playing from close,” Fida told Gulf Times. Fida is currently studying at AMHSS at Thirurkad in Malappuram and is a member of the school football team. The much celebrated goal came last month while she was taking part in a friendly match, held at the school as part of the Indian Independence Day celebrations. The video was shared by Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty, who praised the girl on his official Facebook account. Taking note of the video, Mosafer Travel and Tourism general manager Firos Nattu contacted the girl’s family and made the initial arrangements. “We tried to give the girl what she deserved. We have made all arrangements and asked the family to make her ready to fly. She will be welcomed in Qatar by the football fans,” Firos said. Fida’s fascination with football dates back to her early school years. “While I was in my ancestral home, my cousins took me to the football ground and I used to play with them,” she said, while reminiscing the memories with her cousins Shiyas, Siyad and Rishan. Mansoor, a cousin of Fida, is a professional football player. Fida also owes gratitude to her father Shihabudheen M V, who serves as cleric of a nearby mosque. “I am happy to see her playing. I want my girl to get what she deserves, enjoy and achieve,” he said.    

The best sustainability and green practices of Stadium 974 yesterday won another international recognition as it secured the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) 5-Star certification. The achievement came in praise for the unique sustainable features in stadium design, building and operation. The certificate was handed over to the Supreme Committee of Delivery and Legacy (SC) representatives at a function that was held at the stadium. The function was attended by Gulf Organisation for Research and Development (Gord) founder Dr Yousef al-Horr, SC Sustainability and Environment director Engineer Bodour al-Meer, Eng. Ghanim al-Kuwari, Deputy Director General, Technical Services, Mohamed al-Atwaan, Facilities Management Director, Stadium 974 and Jassim al-Jaidah, Sustainability Communications Manager. Al-Horr told Gulf Times that many features ranging from the sustainable practices in construction to the less power consumption while operating the stadium helped Stadium 974 win the prestigious certification. “The stadium has a unique cooling technology and it’s constructed by shipping containers, modular steel frame and removable seats while setting a model of sustainability,” al-Horr said. With its clever modular design,the stadium needed fewer building materials while keeping costs down and reducing the construction duration. “The seaside location offers a natural cool breeze while providing an electric atmosphere. Unlike other stadiums, Stadium 974 didn’t need a cooling system,” he noted. Al-Meer, while talking to Gulf Times, said that Stadium 974 is a symbol of innovation and sustainability and is one of the pioneering projects in tournament legacy planning. “The stadium features several sustainability models and stands as a benchmark that will set new standards in stadium development. It’s made of colourful shipping containers and it’s the first fully dismountable stadium,” al-Meer said. The SC official noted that sustainability is at the core of Qatar’s values and one of the mottos of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. “We will keep the momentum going. The green practices and sustainable initiatives will be continued,” al-Meer said. “Sustainability has been the primary focal point with Stadium 974. To receive top GSAS certification marks from GORD is further confirmation of our efforts to establish new, sustainable concepts of stadium design and construction that we hope will be adopted worldwide,” said al-Kuwari adding that Stadium 974 is also a proud example of the legacy we intend to leave from Qatar’s hosting of the World Cup. Al-Jaidah thanked the contractors and stakeholders, including the stadium management team for helping make Stadium 974 become a proud symbol of SC’s sustainability objectives. “This award is an important recognition of our goals to stage a carbon-neutral FIFA World Cup,” he said. “This is a great achievement for everyone that has worked on this project and made it a reality,” said al-Atwaan. The 40,000-capacity venue is a landmark in sustainable stadium design and construction, having been built with prefabricated and modular steel elements such as standard certified shipping containers. This reduced the waste generated during the production of stadium components and the waste created on site during construction. The use of modular elements also reduced the venue's construction duration. Water efficiency methods ensured that 974 reduced water use by 40% compared to a conventional stadium development. Stadium 974 will host seven matches up to the round of 16 stage during Qatar 2022, starting with Mexico versus Poland on November 22.    

* MoI launches traffic management skills course for World Cup    The signs depicting closures and diversions on Qatar's roads will soon be a thing of the past, a senior official at the General Directorate of Traffic has said. Brigadier Dr Mohamed Radi al-Hajri, director of the Traffic Awareness Department, while attending the ‘Police With You’ programme on Qatar Radio, said that the matter of closures and traffic diversions will be there for a short period only and all roads will open completely soon. “We know that now the main concern is traffic diversions and the traffic congestion caused by these diversions. It will come to an end shortly,” he said. Brigadier al-Hajri explained that the engineering side of the roads, which is the responsibility of the Traffic Safety Department at the General Traffic Department, is to set standards and conditions for road safety in coordination with the competent authorities. “This is in addition to preparing plans related to controlling and following-up traffic and installing radars, signal cameras and optical surveillance cameras as well as identifying places that need devices and supervision. Also, they identify spots where traffic accidents occur frequently while maintaining and developing roads in cooperation with the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) and the Ministry of Transport (MoT) and inspecting the site of traffic diversions,” he said. He further explained that there is a traffic plan to secure the safety of students, who have returned to schools since the new academic year began earlier this month. This, according to him, will be based on strengthening the field deployment of patrols at all intersections, main roads and around schools in order to manage and ensure the smooth flow of traffic, reduce traffic accidents and control the traffic on the streets. Also, the plan will be implemented based on the live broadcasts of places experiencing traffic jams and requiring rapid intervention. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) yesterday launched the five-day traffic management skills course for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 for officers and other ranks (first group). This course, organised by the traffic Awareness Department at the General Directorate of Traffic, comes within the framework of the continuous efforts of the MoI to raise the level of professional performance and enhance the capabilities of human competencies in preparation for the championship, QNA reported. The course programme includes several axes, including introducing the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the role of the General Directorate of Traffic in this major sporting event, the duties and tasks of the traffic unit, the daily work of traffic patrols, closures and alternative plans, and the management of pedestrian traffic near sports sites. The course participants will also learn how to deal with traffic accidents during the tournament, in addition to informing them about the role of the operations room (NCC-TCC) and other related topics.    

There are plans to deploy buses to take fans from Doha Metro stations to all the stadiums hosting FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 matches, a top official has said. Nasser al-Khater, CEO of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC, made the observation while speaking at a special online programme hosted by Qatar News Agency (QNA) Wednesday on the preparations for the upcoming mega sporting event. “We welcome the people of the Gulf region to their land, Qatar, for the success of the first World Cup in the Arab world and the Middle East,” he said, noting that plans are in the works to transport fans from Saudi Arabia by buses from the border area to the World Cup stadiums and various facilities in the State and these initiatives will be announced soon. The mechanism for entry of Saudi citizens into Qatar during the World Cup will be announced soon, and several proposals to implement this mechanism are currently being discussed, al-Khater added. Regarding ticket sales, the official said: “We finished selling tickets for the second stage on August 16, and a good number of tickets will be available at the end of September, especially for the Saudi public who are looking forward to attending the World Cup.” The Argentina vs Mexico group match has seen the highest demand, followed by Saudi Arabia vs Argentina, he noted. “We at the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy were sure of the high demand for the FIFA World Cup tickets due to Qatar’s geographical location close to Asian countries such as China and India, as well as European countries,” he said. From the GCC region, he pointed out, a spectator can use same-day flights or stay in Qatar during the event and the important thing is to obtain match tickets and the Hayya Card. The official said the organisers have provided housing for all fans of Qatar 2022 at prices that suit all categories, and there is a periodic update of the rates. “The prices of housing units available on the Hayya platform start from $80 per night, and many new housing units will be added to the platform continuously.” Al-Khater stressed that Qatar’s victory 12 years ago, achieved through winning the right to host the World Cup, was a catalyst for the development of the country’s infrastructure, especially various sports facilities. “We have reached a high level of readiness for the start of the World Cup,” he said. Meanwhile, he said the revenues from the World Cup in Qatar may go up to $6bn, according to FIFA estimates. On the Lusail Super Cup match on September 9 between Saudi and Egyptian clubs, al-Khater said the match at Lusail Stadium will serve as a mini-rehearsal for the World Cup, during which some special measures will be applied, most notably the Hayya Card. He added that 8,000 tickets were sold in the first hour for the Lusail Super Cup match.

The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is an occasion for cultural exchange for communities as the tournament will strengthen social ties, Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) ambassador Mohammed Saadon al-Kuwari has said. While speaking to Gulf Times on the sidelines of SC’s Fan Leader Activation programme at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium on Saturday, al-Kuwari noted that for Qatar it’s inevitable to bring the communities together while hosting the mega event. As an official ambassador, the former professional tennis player on the ATP Tour and Qatar Davis Cup representative represents the SC's legacy initiatives including Generation Amazing, Challenge 22 and Community Engagement programme while attending various events in Qatar and across the region. A member of the Qatar National Padel Team, Al-Kuwari is the co-founder of one of Qatar’s biggest Padel clubs, Padel In. “It's a fantastic idea to give the community members on what’s going on in Qatar while helping them get information and access to the World Cup facilities. For Qatar, as a hosting country, the tournament will turn out as an opportunity to give a boost to the cultural legacy of the country and the Arab world,” he said, adding that Qatar has been working with the aim of marking a unique and unprecedented hosting that makes the tournament the best. Al-Kuwari, who welcomed the fans and the community leaders to the World Cup stadiums and SC initiatives said that the fans will be lent an opportunity to enjoy the hospitality of the region. He explained that the Arab region has proven its love towards football and therefore it deserves to be an host. “The facilities are now set to give an amazing experience to the teams and the fans,” he said. The acclaimed senior sports journalist and presenter at Qatari network beIN Sports will present the World Cup. “I am thrilled to cover the fourth World Cup in my career for the spectators,” he said. The noted social media influencer will tell stories of the World Cup.

* SC's Fan Leader activation programme delivers exceptional experience at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium Football lovers from the Americas came together at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium Saturday to mark the North and South American Fan Leader activation in Qatar, organised by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC). Donning the colours and jerseys of their national teams, and carrying the flags of their countries, the fans filled the stadium with their cheers, chants and songs. Fans from Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Uruguay, Canada, the US, Mexico and Costa Rica took part in the initiative. The fan leaders, along with the representatives of embassies and community leaders, were given a rousing welcome at the stadium where they explored the facilities while interacting with each other. Also, SC officials briefed them on the arrangements within and outside the stadium. “The preparations and facilities have amazed everyone. Qatar will be a wonderful host of the World Cup,” said Shane McDonald, a Canada supporter. He added that Canadians are keen to come to Qatar and watch their team play in the country. Ecuador supporter Andres hailed Qatar’s preparations and said the World Cup will be an amazing experience for fans from South America. “Our fans are set to come and watch the games, and Ecuador will be in the tournament with its best team,” he said. Another fan, Daniela, noted that football fever has started gripping the country and many are making plans to fly to Qatar for the event. Stephanie, a Costa Rica supporter, said fans will have a great time in Qatar and also have the opportunity to get involved in artistic and cultural activities while enjoying the beautiful game. Morgan Cassell, press attaché at the US embassy, noted that people from her country is one of the top buyers of tickets for the tournament and a huge influx of US fans is expected in November-December. “The US community in Qatar is excited to watch the national team playing in Qatar,” she said. Exuding confidence that fans in yellow will take over the streets, Bruna from Brazil said her team will win the tournament. “With our best team, we will outshine others and our fans will make their presence felt through their presence both within and outside the stadiums,” she said. Uruguay fan Pablo said Qatar is well prepared and the tournament will be memorable. “Our team is making all preparations to win the cup and the fans are set to fly to Qatar in order to encourage our team and cheer for them,” he said. Mexico fan Maria Del Rio said the fans are eager to watch the Mexico vs Argentina match, adding that her team will put up a good performance. PICTURES: Thajudheen An Argentina supporter present on the occasion said he was confident that the Lionel Messi-led team will shine at the World Cup. SC officials handed over mementos to the community and fan representatives at the end of the programme. World Cup legacy ambassadors Mohamed Saadoun al-Kuwari and Ahmed Khalil were also present.

The Doha Central Development and Beautification project is imparting a new look to Qatar's capital city. The latest video by the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) explains that the project will link the outskirts of the city to the heart of Doha in multiple ways while opening tunnels, revamped roads, pedestrian ways and bicycle paths. Granite pavements across 30km and pedestrian, bicycle and running tracks spanning over 35km are among the highlights. Granite slabs are meant to go along with the heritage ambience of Doha, while increasing the lifespan of roads and reducing the speed of vehicles and increasing the safety of pedestrians. Engineer Mubarak al-Nuaimi, engineering consultant at the Urban Planning Department at the Ministry of Municipality, said that the project includes the development of the B Ring, D Ring, and E Ring roads in central Doha with links that connect to the city outskirts through Al Rayyan Road, Salwa Road and Rawdat Street, Old Airport and Ras Abu Aboud. Ashghal has expanded the sidewalks on both sides of the road in several parts of the project area, to encourage pedestrians and cyclists while providing special parking for bicycles and parking for buses and public transportation with the aim of diversifying the means of transportation. The development and beautification projects in central Doha aim to create a suitable environment that encourages the public to follow a healthy lifestyle. These will be achieved by providing pedestrian-friendly transportation such as paths and crossings by linking all the vital centres in the region while highlighting Qatar's historical and cultural heritage and respect for the natural environment. The development works are also expected to remarkably improve traffic flow in Doha by ensuring better connectivity. Ashghal is carrying out multiple works as part of the three phases of the Doha Central Development and Beautification Project. The project includes a host of infrastructure works. The first package features the development of Abdullah Bin Thani Street, one of the main roads in the Doha Central region. It includes the development of Al Dostour, Al Sakhama, Ras Brouq, Dar Al Kutub, Bu Hasaya, Al Ghous and Ras Usheirej streets. Lighting poles, street furniture and traffic signals for vehicles and pedestrians will be installed along with pedestrian crossings and shared paths for pedestrians and cyclists. The aim is also to reduce traffic volume by promoting pedestrian movement besides increasing tree plantation and landscaping. The Doha Corniche development project, implemented by the Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places, features connected paths for pedestrians and bicycles. There are four pedestrian tunnels in order to enhance movement and access and to link the waterfront with the areas adjacent to the Corniche in a secure manner. The walkways and three tunnels will be soon opened for pedestrians and cyclists. Al Dafna Tunnel, Corniche Station Tunnel and West Bay Station Tunnel are the ones to be opened to enhance the movement of pedestrians and connect the paths with the neighbouring places. The new tunnels are equipped with escalators and elevators for the elderly and people with disabilities. Bicycle paths enhance movement between the Corniche and Al Bidda Park, Theatre Park and Hassad Tower. The tunnels also have a rainwater drainage network, firefighting systems, and green areas extending to the entrances from the sea side. The tunnels are spacious to accommodate a large number of pedestrians.

* Expats' collective releases album to mark World Cup countdown.   With its melodious rhythm and merry tempo, a song by Indian expatriates’ collective supporting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is striking a chord with fans while highlighting Qatar’s legacy. Titled Hakk Hakk Hayya, the Malayalam song was released on YouTube on August 12 to mark the beginning of the 100 days countdown. The music video, available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=papQ-GpLP1w, features Qatar’s preparations for the mega event and the iconic locations across Qatar with accompanying visuals of fans’ jubilation, memorable moments of previous world cups and football stars. “The album is a tribute in a constructive and creative way to Qatar, while the country is all set to host the World Cup. Through the album, we make an attempt to take part in the campaigns while contributing our bit to make the event a big success. We have tried to portray the history, the present and the future of Qatar and football,” lyricist Sreevalsan G told Gulf Times Community. The album is produced by members of the Friends of Angamaly (ANRIA) Qatar in co-operation with Argentina and Brazil fans along with other expatriate collectives. Sreevalsan conceptualised the initial idea and shared it with his friends at ANRIA earlier this year. Famous Malayalam playback singer Anwar Sadath is the lead vocalist. Background score and mixing were handled by Arun Kumaran and videography by Sinu S Nair and Thushar while Shafeek XDC performed choreography. “The song is a fusion of Malayalam and Arabic music. For the melody part, we followed the Malayalam style while the chorus part was composed in Arabic style. The lines lend a positive feel while echoing the jubilation and cheer of fans,” music director Collins Thomas said. Filming and studio work started in July. Some parts were shot in Qatar while some locations in Kerala were picked. Starting with a head to head between Argentina and Brazil fans, the album features dances and cheering at various locations in Qatar including the World Cup Countdown Clock, the Corniche, Souq Waqif, various World Cup stadiums and Hamad International Airport. Sreevalsan said the album reflects the enthusiasm of the Indian community and football fans. “All were keen to take part in the album. Collectives of football fans and artists volunteered to participate while doing the pre and post production works and performing in front of the camera,” he said. Sreevalsan’s wife Ajitha Sreevalsan and daughter Amrita Sree feature in the album. There are plans to add subtitles in English and Arabic to the video, the lyricist added.

While adding one more recognition to its credit for green practices, the Lusail Stadium has won the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) 5-Star certification. The accreditation certificate was received by senior officials of the Supreme Committee of Delivery and Legacy (SC) from GSAS representatives at a function at the stadium on Monday. Gulf Organisation for Research and Development (Gord) founder Dr Yousef al-Horr, SC technical services deputy director general Engineer Ghanim al- Kuwari, sustainability specialist Jassim Jaidah and Sustainability and Environment director Engineer Bodour al-Meer and Lusail Stadium operations manager Tamim El Abed were present. One of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 arenas, Lusail stadium envisages planning and care for the environment while integrating measures to protect the environment. The 80,000-capacity venue boasts a number of sustainability features, including a state-of-the-art roof and water efficiency systems. The stadium’s design is inspired by the interplay of light and shadow, based on the ‘fanar’ lantern, which illustrates the golden age of art and craftsmanship in the Arab and Islamic world. “This recognition from Gord is an important part of our FIFA World Cup journey,” said al-Kuwari, adding that sustainability has been central to SC’s plans from the start as we are determined to develop venues that boost local communities here in Qatar long after the tournament. “We are very proud to receive these awards and pay tribute to everyone involved in the construction of Lusail Stadium – an incredible venue that will host the biggest international football match on the planet – the FIFA World Cup final – later this year,” al-Kuwari said. One of Lusail Stadium’s most notable sustainability features is the roof, made from PTFE – a material that protects the stadium from warm wind, keeps out dust and allows in enough light for the pitch to grow while providing shade to reduce the burden on the stadium’s air conditioning. “We are proud that this is the fourth World Cup stadium that wins the GSAS accreditation,” al-Meer said. She added that a slew of practices and measures helped the stadium win the prestigious certification. “Sustainability is at the forefront of the priorities of SC. Lusail stadium has followed sustainable building practices with recycling construction waste whenever possible. All suitable green methods have been put in place in the construction phase. Also, the stadium relies upon the public transport system while saving energy at every opportunity,” al-Meer said. The SC official added that Ras Abu Aboud stadium will receive the certification next month. “Achieving these top ratings is testament to the hard work of the project team, which prioritised sustainability features from the design phase all the way through to construction and operation,” said Al Meer. “In addition to the roof, the project site has conserved 40% more water than conventional stadium developments thanks to efficient fixtures and leak detection systems,” al- Jaidah said. “We thank all our contractors and stakeholders for helping us to achieve this valuable award, which is yet another proud moment in our FIFA World Cup sustainability journey,” he added. Al-Horr said that Lusail Stadium has set a new precedent in environmental excellence, guided by the SC’s sustainability strategy. “We congratulate the SC for advancing climate action by successfully translating green building principles into impactful practices. This is testament to the strong commitment to sustainability – which has been apparent from before ground was broken at Lusail and other venues,” he added. Lusail Stadium will host ten matches during the World Cup, starting with Argentina versus Saudi Arabia on November 22, and ending with the final on December 18, which is also Qatar National Day. Afterwards, Lusail Stadium is set to host a number of civic facilities for the local community. Any seats removed from the venue could be donated to countries that lack sporting infrastructure. Eight stadiums will host matches during Qatar 2022, which will take place from November 20. Each venue has achieved a minimum four-star rating under GSAS, which was adopted as a sustainability rating system by FIFA and will ensure all tournament-related infrastructure meets stringent environmental standards.    

Indian football team’s former captain Dr I M Vijayan Thursday launched a summer football camp for students in Qatar. Set to begin on August 1, the month-long camp will be organised by Manjappada Qatar, a collective of Kerala Blasters FC and Indian Sports Centre (ISC). The camp will provide around 120 students from various age groups with training to improve their football skills. The exercise will be supervised by Kerala football team’s Santosh Trophy head coach Bino George and led by Gokulam Kerala FC coach Suneesh. The function at Integrated Indian Community Centre, also saw Dr Vijayan being honoured. The star footballer was recently awarded a doctorate by the Akankirsk Northern State Medical University in Russia for his contribution to Indian football. The captain of the Indian national team from 2000-2004, the Kerala player made 79 appearances for India, with 40 goals to his credit. Dr Vijayan said that the doctorate came as a recognition of his efforts and achievements including the record for the fastest goalscorer in the 12th second, against Bhutan at the 1999 SAF Games. He said he is glad to receive the honour from the Indian community and the embassy in Doha and wished a bright future for budding Indian footballers in Qatar. Dr Vijayan is in Qatar to attend the final match of the Dhanaraj-AS Firos All India Sevens Football Tournament as the chief guest. The final of the tournament, organised by Sol Qatar, will be held today. Dr Vijayan noted that football always stands for good while bringing everyone together. Manjappada vice-president Jose Francis told Gulf Timesthat arrangements are being done for the camp and around 120 students are expected to attend. “The camp will be held from 6pm to 9pm in three batches of three age groups, such as 6-9, 10-14 and 15-18 years. Various Indian schools and community organisations are co-operating for the camp. Manjappada general secretary Akhil Noordeen handed over a ticket of the Argentina-Mexico match of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 to Dr Vijayan. Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) president P N Baburajan, Indian embassy first secretary (culture and education) Sachin Dinkar Shankpal, second secretary Dr Sona Soman and Manjappada president Deepesh Govindankutty were also present.

  * Indian expat and a noted actor in Malayalam film and television, Mohan Ayroor, was active in Qatar's arts and socio-cultural segments   After being active nearly four decades in Qatar's arts and socio-cultural segments, Indian expatriate Mohan Ayroor, a noted actor in Malayalam film and television, has left the country for good with many fond memories. “I had a good time in Doha while playing multiple roles and doing various works. I am glad that my efforts paid off well and I could pursue my dreams, thanks to Qatar,” he told Gulf Times Community in a farewell interview. Mohan Ayroor and his family Mohan was born in Ayroor village in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, and his father K P John, a military official, and mother Saramaa John, wanted him to become a government official. But little did he know when he left Kerala in 1983 for Qatar, leaving aside the dream of becoming a cine artist, that two decades later he would foray into the film industry. Once in Qatar, Mohan started his career as an accounting assistant in a private firm in Doha and later established a photo studio. Charishma Arts, a forum established by Mohan along with friends Dr V K Mohanan and Shaji Sebastian, proved to be a turning point in his life. “Our initiative later resulted in the formation of many collectives, some of which are still keeping the Malayali attachment towards arts intact,” he said, adding that year-long programmes will mark the 30th anniversary of Charishma in Doha. Mohan was deeply involved in arts and cultural activities, including penning and staging dramas in Doha. He wrote 12 dramas and acted in 50, over the years. “Still, I wanted to do something big and I was lucky enough to receive the call to play one of the leading roles in the 2003 Malayalam hit movie Chronic Bachelor," he recalled while reliving the excitement of his film debut. Noted Malayalam director Fazil’s brother Khais Abdul Hameed helped Mohan get selected for the film. “He was very supportive and the good gesture came after he got impressed by my stage performances,” Mohan said. The debut with celebrated Indian actor Mammootty helped Mohan get further opportunities in the industry. He has so far acted with leading actors Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi, Biju Menon and Mukesh. In 2005, he got a role in the Hollywood movie, The Mistress of Spices. “I wanted to break stereotypes and I could achieve what I wanted even though I had to wait. The charm of the silver screen is really enthusing,” he said. Mohan is now playing leading roles in popular Malayalam television serials including Kaliveedu. Mohan has expressed his gratitude to his Doha studio manager Krishna Kumar, who used to keep the business running when the former was busy with his acting career in Kerala, with occasional trips to Qatar. The founding president of Charishma Arts, Mohan later initiated steps to form the Confederation of Kerala Organisations, an apex body of around 50 organisations in Qatar. He was also a founding member of Indian Cultural Centre and the Indian Community Benevolent Forum. Mohan’s wife Usha worked with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) as a nurse. His elder daughter Punchiri is working with HMC as project co-ordinator, second daughter Panchami is a clinical psychologist in Kuwait, and third daughter Paurnnami is a business operations executive in Bengaluru, India.

The Abu Samra land border between Qatar and Saudi Arabia is witnessing a huge number of people crossing the border. Since the beginning of Dhul Hijjah, the border has been witnessing daily 8,000 to 9,000 people travelling to Saudi Arabia or arriving in Qatar, Captain Mohamed Abdullah al-Baridi told Qatar TV. The official explained that the rush at the border is due to the Haj pilgrimage season and Eid al-Adha holidays. All arrangements have been made by the Permanent Committee to Manage Abu Samra Border Crossing to receive travellers. Adequate staff has been deployed to handle the rush at the border, he added. After the Eid al-Fitr holidays were announced, many citizens as well as residents in Qatar opted to spend the vacation in countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE where they can visit relatives and friends. “I decided to celebrate Eid with friends in Dubai and I am now having a good time with all,” Doha resident Farhan Ibrahim told Gulf Times. He crossed the border on Thursday after completing the necessary formalities. "All arrangements are in place at the border where I saw a long queue of vehicles with many travelling to celebrate the holidays," Ibrahim added.

People from across Qatar turned up at mosques and designated grounds in the early hours for the Eid prayer, as the Eid al-Adha celebrations got underway in the country. Citizens and residents, as well as visitors, performed the prayer at 5.05am at the 588 mosques and prayer grounds in the country by the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs. Clerics delivered special sermons in which they called for love, compassion and unity. Also, they urged worshippers to keep the spirit of Eid alive while wishing them prosperity and good health. Worshippers at prayer locations in Doha. PICTURE Thajudheen “The message of Eid is to strengthen relations,” said the imam at Al the Wakra prayer grounds. Dressed in special clothes for Eid, people of all ages greeted each other and wished them well. The Awqaf ministry and Ministry of Municipality made all necessary arrangements at mosques and prayer grounds where special cleanliness drives were carried out ahead of Eid al-Adha. Al-Fazaa and Traffic Department personnel were deployed at these places to ensure smooth traffic flow, while also making sure that worshippers could cross the road safely. Citizens and residents greeting each other Saturday morning on the occasion of Eid al-Adha. PICTURE Shaji Kayamkulam Also, worshippers adhered to Covid-19 precautionary measures inside mosques in line with the recent Cabinet decision on making masks mandatory in closed public places. “Eid is an occasion to greet and meet. I spent the morning with friends whom I met at the prayer ground in Al Wakra,” said Al Wukair resident Mohamed Shafi. Another resident said this is a time to pause, reflect and understand what really matters in life. "It is also a time to spend some much-needed quality times with the near and dear ones," he added. PICTURES: Thajudheen, Shaji Kayamkulam and Shemeer Rasheed Meanwhile, slaughterhouses wore a busy look as demand for sacrificial animals was high. These were duly and adequately prepared for the occasion, with administrative, technical and health and safety arrangements made to ensure the delivery of smooth and quality services and products. Inspections were carried out by various municipalities to make sure that the sacrificial animals on offer were fit for consumption and were being sold and slaughtered in strict compliance with the relevant laws and rules. As the day progressed and the weather conditions eased, many people ventured out. Parks and beaches started receiving people looking to make the most of the holiday, while malls and indoor entertainment and recreation facilities saw big crowds. The Ministry of Municipality had made extensive preparations at beaches and parks where cleanliness drives were carried out and the necessary equipment were put in place. Beaches like Sealine, Al Wakra, Al Mamlha, Simaisma, Al Ghariya, Al Kharji and Al Farkhia welcomed families, women as well as bachelors since the evening. The ministry has urged the visitors to keep the parks and beaches clean, not to dump waste and co-operate with the authorities. Various activities and events have been lined up at Katara - the Cultural Village, which received a large number of people, including children. Among the highlights of the festivities there is the distribution of gifts among children.