The Appellate Circuit of the Investment and Commerce Court upheld a lower court ruling ordering a passenger transport company, one of its drivers, and the vehicle’s insurer to jointly pay QR500,000 in compensation to a passenger who sustained serious injuries in a traffic accident while travelling in a company vehicle.According to court documents, the claimant filed a lawsuit through his legal representative, seeking QR3mn in material and moral damages from the transport company, the driver, and the insurance company. The lawsuit indicated that the claimant was visiting Qatar when he was involved in a road accident in May 2024, while riding in a vehicle operated by the passenger transport company.The accident was attributed to the driver’s negligence, resulting in severe injuries. Accordingly, the claimant suffered multiple injuries, including spinal fractures, a partial amputation of a finger on his left hand, and partial hearing loss caused by a ruptured eardrum. He also incurred substantial medical expenses both inside and outside Qatar and claimed loss of additional income due to his inability to work during his recovery period.The court noted that a final criminal judgment had previously convicted the driver responsible for the accident. As the ruling was not appealed, the driver’s liability was established, along with the joint responsibility of the transport company and the insurer for compensating the victim’s material and moral damages.In support of the claim, the plaintiff’s legal representative submitted documentary evidence, including the accident report and vehicle-related records. The Court of First Instance ultimately ruled that the transport company, its driver, and the insurer were jointly liable and ordered them to pay QR500,000 in compensation for the damages suffered by the claimant.Eventually, the defendants appealed the judgment. However, the Court of Appeal accepted the appeal on procedural grounds but rejected it on the merits, affirming the lower court’s decision in full.The appellate court reasoned that the first-instance judgment was legally sound and consistent with applicable law. It found that the lower court had thoroughly examined the facts and evidence of the case and had provided sufficient and well-founded legal reasoning.The court further held that the appellants failed to present any arguments or evidence capable of undermining the judgment's validity or the legal and factual grounds on which it was based. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed, and the compensation award was upheld.

The US House of Representatives has passed a resolution calling for an end to the war with Iran, a move representing a political setback for President Donald Trump, who ordered military operations against Iran on February 28.Introduced by Democrats, the resolution requires congressional approval before further military action against Iran, amid growing concerns within the legislative body about the consequences of war.The resolution passed by a vote of 215-208 after four Republican representatives joined the Democrats in voting for it.

Customer loyalty apps have become nearly impossible to avoid in Qatar. Whether ordering coffee in Doha, booking flights, shopping in malls, or paying utility bills through telecom providers, consumers are increasingly being rewarded with points, cashback, exclusive discounts, and personalised offers — all through mobile applications.Filipino expatriate Ferdie D, who regularly uses several loyalty apps, told Gulf Times that while points may not always seem substantial, they still provide a form of discount.He noted that some supermarkets and retail outlets offer better incentives, allowing customers like him to accumulate points more quickly with every purchase. Other establishments, he pointed out, appear too “stingy” to provide meaningful rewards even after customers spend large amounts at the same store.Loyalty programmes that once relied on simple point collection are now turning into highly digitised systems shaped by AI, customer data, and smartphone use.Analysts tracking the sector say adoption is growing rapidly across the Gulf. A 2025 regional market report by Businesswire found that the Middle East loyalty market is projected to grow to $5.49bn by 2029, driven largely by smartphone adoption, app-based reward systems, and digital payments.In Qatar specifically, loyalty programmes are expanding across aviation, telecommunications, banking, food delivery, retail, and hospitality sectors.Traditional loyalty programmes in Qatar once revolved around plastic cards and manual stamps. Today, however, most major brands are shifting toward app-based systems capable of tracking customer behaviour in real time.Retail and travel businesses appear to be leading the shift. Across the Gulf, loyalty networks are growing more integrated. Vodafone Qatar customers, for example, can convert telecom reward points into airline miles through the My Vodafone app.Retail chains operating in Qatar are also investing heavily in digital rewards systems that allow customers to earn and redeem points instantly through mobile applications.Indian expatriate Rahul, who frequently shops at a popular apparel chain in Doha Festival City, recalled redeeming nearly QR85 in rewards, which significantly reduced his total bill.“We all know it is part of a marketing strategy, but for me, it somehow gives customers a consolation for spending more in a particular brand or shop. Still, I hope businesses will offer more,” he said.For some users — especially those with memberships and subscriptions to food delivery platforms — the savings from frequent orders add up quickly.An employee at a boutique offering a customer loyalty app observed that consumers no longer want complicated redemption systems and that engagement rises dramatically when rewards are simple to understand and instantly usable.Asked why customers in Qatar are embracing loyalty apps, many Doha residents said these platforms provide “a sense of financial efficiency” amid rising living costs.“If one café gives me rewards and another doesn’t, I usually return to the one offering points,” one resident said. “You feel like you’re getting something extra.”That behavioural shift is exactly what companies are targeting.According to Businesswire market researchers, digital loyalty systems boost customer retention by encouraging repeat purchases and providing businesses with valuable consumer data.A 2026 study published by ResearchGate examining Qatar’s banking sector found that customers who actively redeemed loyalty rewards were significantly more profitable and engaged than non-users.The research suggested that customised rewards programmes are becoming more important for banks competing for customers in Qatar.It is learnt that the loyalty app boom is no longer limited to major corporations. Small cafés, salons, barbershops, and independent retailers across Qatar are steadily adopting affordable digital loyalty platforms.According to BonusQr.com, industry providers now offer businesses QR-based reward systems, digital stamp cards, and app-free point tracking tailored for small enterprises.Several small businesses interviewed by local entrepreneurs said loyalty systems also help them compete against larger chains.A café supervisor in Doha noted that while major brands already have extensive customer databases, loyalty apps also help smaller businesses build stronger customer relationships.Industry experts see Qatar’s loyalty economy is still in its early stages of expansion. Future trends are expected to include AI-generated personalised offers, subscription-based loyalty memberships, gamified rewards systems, cross-brand partnerships, and instant digital redemption through mobile wallets.The same Businesswire report noted that Gulf consumers are more likely to be attracted to “ecosystem loyalty,” where a single app integrates travel, dining, shopping, and entertainment benefits.For shoppers, the appeal remains straightforward: regular spending leads to perks and savings.For businesses, however, loyalty apps have become more than just reward systems. They are now important tools for keeping customers coming back and for learning more about customer spending habits and preferences.