Qatar

Ambassador of Ukraine to Qatar Andriy Kuzmenko affirmed that the 2022 Qatar National Day (QND) is celebrating a great success story in hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which constitutes an occasion to present Qatar's great achievements to the whole world.In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), the Ambassador said, "The right to host the world's largest sporting event has become another vivid example of a great success story of Qatar. The legacy of the World Cup 2022 will forever be enshrined in Qatar's history, and there is no better way to cement this legacy than hosting the final of the most prestigious sports competition on the National Day.""The slogan of the 2022 National Day, which is 'Our Unity Source of Our Strength' has a multifaceted meaning. Foremost, it is the way to describe the inner unity of Qatari society. It does not only take the leadership of the country to bring its vision to reality," he said."Bridging together the wise leadership and the people is of vital importance in achieving common goals. In the grand scheme of things, this slogan also symbolises the humanitarian nature of Qatar, which is embodied in its vision of the World Cup being a global platform for intercultural, interreligious, inter-civilizational dialogue that brings nations together," Kuzmenko indicated.Kuzmenko reaffirmed that "what Qatar has presented in preparation for the World Cup and subsequently to the National Day is truly astonishing since what is built here today will serve the people of Qatar for generations. Indeed, Qatar has delivered on its promise to its people and to the international community despite all the circumstances and obstacles thrown in its way."The Ambassador of Ukraine expressed his thanks to Qatar for its clear and solid position towards the Russian-Ukrainian crisis and said that "while some would like to pretend that nothing is happening, the resolute support of Qatar in favour of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine was and still is remarkable. This was demonstrated in particular by the position of the Qatari side during the voting on the relevant resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly."

On the occasion of the Qatar National Day on December 18, the Amiri Diwan announced that Sunday 18/12/2022 will be an official holiday.

Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Lebanon Elias Bou Saab praised Qatar's success in hosting a historic edition of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 that is difficult to replicate, adding that Qatar has achieved great success, and this achievement is a source of pride for all Arabs.In an interview with the Qatari newspaper Al-Sharq, published on Wednesday, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Lebanon stressed that Qatar is a role model in overcoming difficulties and challenges and turning them into achievements, explaining that Qatar was able to present the best World Cup tournament that shot down all bets on its failure and refuted all smear campaigns through this high level services, hospitality and dealing with hundreds of thousands of fans coming from all over the world.Bou Saab explains that this feeling of pride is not only due to the success of the tournament, but also in presenting a model in the ability to overcome difficulties and challenges, whatever they may be, and achieve impressive achievement.Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Lebanon affirmed that His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani is keen to help Lebanon and support its stability and prosperity, noting that Qatar is the most prepared country to help the Lebanese get out of the crisis caused by the vacancy in the presidency of the Republic, praising Qatar's efforts to provide aid and support the Lebanese army.Bou Saab pointed out that his visit to Doha included a series of official meetings with a number of Qatari officials and dealt with the distinguished fraternal relations between the two countries, adding that these meetings are based on the distinguished Qatari role towards Lebanon from a long time ago. In all crises, Qatar was proactive in standing by Lebanon, and this not a new thing, he said.He added that when Doha finds the atmosphere ready, it will not delay playing any role that contributes to saving Lebanon and getting it out of its crises, noting that this issue was part of the talks he had with Qatari officials, especially since Qatar has successful experiences in the Lebanese file, in addition to its many stances and initiatives in support of the Lebanese, the latest of which was the assistance it provided after the port explosion, as well as the continuous support for the Lebanese army.Regarding the presidential vacancy, Bou Saab said that they need a president who has an economic vision and clear positions and is open to the international community. He explained that if the positions of the presidential candidate are not clear, they will enter into a cycle of postponing the crisis instead of solving it, stressing that he prefers a president who is a politician with extensive knowledge of political and economic files and the skill to deal with the international community.He believed that the best path to reach a solution in the current crisis is the one that takes place under the dome of the Parliament headed by the Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri because the parliamentary blocs are concerned with electing a president for the republic, adding that Nabih Berri has previously called for dialogue, and he has a long history in managing dialogue. He assured all parliamentary blocs that there is no alternative to dialogue, expressing his hope that this call will end in success, and in the event that the Lebanese dialogue fails, there are friends of Lebanon, most notably Qatar that might be ready to contribute to the dialogue between the Lebanese to end the presidential vacancy crisis.Regarding the demands to amend the constitution, the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Lebanon stressed that the Lebanese constitution needs some amendments. Although some fear the amendment of any article of the Taif Constitution, and there are those who interpret the demand for amendment as a position against a specific party, this is a wrong, he affirmed, adding that the constitutional amendment in Lebanon has become more urgent to close the loopholes that have obstructed political life.Regarding the Capital Control Law (which is capital control measures taken by the government or the central bank to limit the flow of foreign capital to and from the local economy) and the reform laws required by Lebanon as part of the economic recovery, Bou Saab said that there are 4 laws that must be approved by the Parliament. They approved banking secrecy, and they are currently studying capital control, he said, adding that there is also the restructuring of banks and reform of the financial system. These laws must be approved by Lebanon, in addition to establishing a sovereign fund for oil and gas resources so that they can work with the International Monetary Fund and the international community in accordance with international standards in order to create confidence that there are no loopholes for financial corruption, he explained, adding that if this was achieved, it would open opportunities to attract Arab and foreign capital and investments, most notably Qatar's investments.Regarding the border demarcation with Syria, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Lebanon Elias Bou Saab stressed at the end of his dialogue with Al-Sharq, that it is impossible to open the file of demarcation with Syria before demarcating the southern maritime borders, adding that they have initiated contacts and asked for an appointment after the completion of the southern file to discuss the demarcation of the maritime borders with Syria, because block one and block two cannot be directly explored before the demarcation file with Syria is completed.He said that they consider Syria a fraternal country and they deal with it from this standpoint. The expected President of the Republic must complete communication with Syria to end this file, because Syria is Lebanon's gateway to the Arab countries, he added.

HE Minister of Culture Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al-Thani affirmed that the slogan of this year's National Day is 'Our Unity Source of Our Strength', excerpted from a speech by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, expresses the reality of the people of Qatar over the decades since the founding of the State.HE the Minister of Culture said in a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the slogan expresses the basic condition that enabled Qataris to face challenges, as unity has turned into a firmed value in awareness and behavior, passed on from one generation to another.HE added that evoking this value on the National Day is a renewal of loyalty and consolidation of the values of ancestors, stressing that Qatari people have clung to their national identity, which is based on preserving human dignity and justice, supporting the oppressed, and respecting those who in turn respect their culture and values, in addition to what they were known for in terms of appreciation for science and scholars, their modesty, their noble morality and their wisdom in facing crises.He continued to say that on this national occasion, the authentic values that Qataris were raised and believed in are promoted, noting that thanks to these values, they succeeded in achieving progress for the country and society and proved, with determination and work, their worthiness to attain the glory, their permanent solidarity with each other, and their rallying around the vision of the leadership, which demonstrated high wisdom in dealing with various crises.HE pointed out that Qataris have fought through the stages of their history the difficulties, whether in the battles to prove sovereignty and defend their homeland, or in facing the adversities of nature, referring to the economic challenges such as the Pearl Depression' in the 1930s. In every challenge, Qatari people clung to their faith in God and their unity which are the source of their success, HE added.On the coincidence of the country's celebrations of the National Day with the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and the conclusion of this global football festival on this day, HE Minister of Culture Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al-Thani said that the National Day this year is an exceptional event, as it coincides with Qatar's organization of the 2022 World Cup, emphasizing that it is the duty of every citizen and resident in this good land to be an ambassador of the State of Qatar, as the world came to the country from every country. HE indicated that Qataris were known for their wisdom, chivalry and good manners.He demanded that our expression of our unity on this occasion be more than before, as all are responsible for presenting our bright image to the world, stressing that Qataris have been able, from one generation to another, to dazzle the world over the course of crises, thanks to their cohesion and tolerant values.

Weather inshore until 6pm on Wednesday will be hazy at places at first becoming moderate temperature daytime with some clouds, relatively cold to cold by night, Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather report.Offshore will be hazy with scattered clouds to partly cloudy at times, the report added. Wind inshore will be variable at first mainly northwesterly to northeasterly at a speed of 03 to 13 knot.Offshore, it will be northwesterly to southeasterly at a speed of 03 to 13 knot. Visibility will be 4 to 8 kilometres.Sea state inshore will be 1 to 2 feet. Offshore it will be 1 to 3 feet.

Several British journalists working for the FIFA website stressed that Qatar presented an outstanding model in its World Cup organization, hailing the tremendous level provided by Qatar for organizing the 22nd World Cup edition, describing it as exceptional.In their remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA), the journalists expressed their content for attending the first World Cup being held in the Arab region and the Middle East and getting closely acquainted with an atmosphere that looks different from all previous World Cup editions, stressing that Qatar fulfilled the hosting task perfectly to present an outstanding hosting model.For her part, a British journalist for the FIFA website Camelia Dominique expressed her great passion for attending the 22nd World Cup edition. She said that she could not hide her great admiration for Qatar's exceptional hosting of this World Cup edition and would say that the criticism of Qatar we baseless and unrealistic, given the praises of the FIFA personnel as well as many heads of state and team officials.She said that she had attended several matches during her coverage of the World Cup matches at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium, and Al Thumama Stadium and she made a photo report on 974 Stadium, given its unique design and Al Bayt Stadium that resembles the Arabian tent. She said would always have beautiful memories that she tried to capture during her coverage of the World Cup matches in the stadiums as well as her social accounts on Facebook and Twitter.For his part, Sagar Gautam, who works within the FIFA social media team, said that he was keen on coming to Qatar to cover the World Cup for FIFA media channels, as well as delivering the World Cup atmosphere through social media. He pointed out that he visited several World Cup stadiums and admired their exceptional designs that reflect the Qatari environment and modernity.In his remarks to QNA, he said that he was mainly impressed by the 974 Stadium, given its innovative design using shipping containers. He made sure to capture some of his moments at that stadium, given the fact that it will be dismantled after the tournament, although he wished the stadium remained as a legacy for many matches and tournaments to come.Sagar said he felt content throughout his stay in Doha and made sure to visit some of its places, including Sealine, Katara, Souq Waqif, and some museums, especially the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum.In this regard, Nadia Hayef, who works for the FIFA+ website, said that during her stay in Qatar, she was keen on visiting the eight World Cup stadiums to cover the World Cup atmosphere and capture rare moments for international football legends. She pointed out that given her work with FIFA, she was well aware of the massive scale of the achievement carried out by the State of Qatar during its World Cup hosting journey. She said that she knew what it meant for Qatar to host the FIFA World Cup and that they witnessed that in reality, which had a positive impact on several aspects of the country, and that she is confident that the tournament would leave a long-lasting legacy.In a related context, Josh Stafford, who works as a videographer for FIFA + website, stressed that the World Cup atmosphere in Qatar is outstanding in light of the gripping moments of awaiting to know the winner of the 22nd edition trophy. Stafford, who was happy with his captured videos topping the list of FIFA's most watched videos, indicated that Qatar managed to prove its presence among world countries that achieved the required standards for hosting mega sporting events, which undoubtedly was proven on the ground.He added that the World Cup stadiums were the key to this event's success, given their compactness, and the infrastructure that enabled the fans to easily access and move between the stadiums and the activities held on the sidelines of the World Cup.

For the third year in a row, Meta is launching a social good campaign “#LoveLocal” across Instagram and Facebook to support small and medium-sized businesses across the Middle East and North Africa region. As this important holiday sales period gets underway, Meta celebrates unique gifting ideas from small businesses across MENA and encourages holiday shoppers to support local SMBs.The holidays are a crucial time for many small businesses. According to Meta’s most recent Global State of Small Business Report, 25% of small businesses reported that they expect over half of their sales to be made between October 1st and December 31st of this year.Fares Akkad, Regional Director for MENA at Meta, said: “By launching #LoveLocal for the third consecutive year, we affirm our commitment to championing small businesses and getting them the attention they deserve.Meta is in the business of small business. The majority of the 200 million businesses that use our apps every month to reach customers and grow are SMBs. This latest campaign is a continuation of our efforts to help SMBs unlock economic opportunities.”To amplify the voices of these local small businesses and get them noticed during this key shopping season, Meta has partnered with prominent creators from across the region who will showcase unique gifts from small businesses on Facebook and Instagram.Findings from the Ipsos 2022 Small Business Study reveal that Meta apps are essential to the success of small businesses. On average, 89% of the SMBs surveyed in MENA markets reported that Meta apps help their business grow.“Facebook Business Page and Instagram have been instrumental in helping me build and grow my business. I have gone from trading on my Facebook Business Page to having a website. Meta technologies are my tools of choice in driving traffic to my website." - Gul Awan, Owner, Book Bag Doha, QatarAs a Meta initiative, #LoveLocal was launched in 2020 across Meta technologies as part of the company’s commitment to supporting SMBs.To find out more about #LoveLocal, visit: https://www.facebook.com/business/m/love-local

The Chairman and Managing Director of Qatar Postal Services Company (Qatar Post), Faleh Mohamed al-Nuaimi, stressed that the Qatar National Day is an occasion that everyone cherishes and is translated into reality through continuing to work hard, contributing to the realisation of Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030) and the advancement of Qatar’s present and future.In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), al-Nuaimi said that Qatar Post celebrates this year’s National Day coinciding with one of the country’s exceptional achievements, the hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.“We are proud that the State of Qatar is the first Arab country to organise this world championship in an exceptional organisation which is the most distinguished among all editions of the championships. We spared no effort in producing it in the best way, reflecting the national vision with the solidarity of all sectors, institutions, and individuals, affirming the hospitality and the depth of the well-established principles of leadership and people, thereby realising the principles of loyalty and unity, following the Founder Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed bin Thani,” he added.Since 2014, Qatar Post has confidently worked to become one of the most advanced postal companies in the 21st century, relying on digital technology according to the latest services that can be provided, and keeping pace with the development wheel and the Qatar National Vision 2030 with its fast and distinguished postal services inside and outside Qatar to make the experience of their customers a unique and an exceptional experience, in addition to the development of mailbox services for individuals and companies, and money transfer operations, he added. He pointed out that with the organisation of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, postal services witnessed a quantum leap, as the Qatar Post is one of the participating parties in this tournament, in the framework of co-operation with the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy and the company also agreed with FIFA in November 2020 to become the provider of postage stamp issues for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in addition to providing other services during the hosting period of the tournament.He explained that according to this agreement, Qatar Post issued a set of postage stamps using the latest technologies in addition to augmented reality, consisting of 11 stamp issues during 2021 and 2022, where a serial set of official postage stamps for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 was issued, which includes a distinguished group of stamps that document the events of the period Qatar hosted the tournament, the first of which is the official postage stamp of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which is distinguished for being the first stamp in the form of a map of the State of Qatar and bears the official logo of the tournament.The second edition consisted of 8 stamps for the 2022 World Cup stadiums, while the third edition was devoted to the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021, a design inspired by the colours of the flags of the Arab countries participating in the tournament, while the fourth edition expressed the new classic postage stamp collection that deals with the history of football since the year 2010-2018.The fifth edition is represented by the mascot La’eeb of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, as this mascot symbolises a cheerful personality coming from a virtual world and has the spirit of adventure, exploration, and assistance, as it is used to follow the World Cup tournaments throughout history and interact with its most prominent moments, while the sixth edition came in a set of distinctive stamps celebrating the 32 teams competing in the upcoming World Cup then followed by the “Qatari Football Achievements” stamps in the seventh edition, documenting the State of Qatar’s winning the second place in the 1981 FIFA World Youth Championship, the 11th Arabian Gulf Cup, the gold medal for football in the 2006 Asian Games, and the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.In the eighth edition, a set of official stamps for the World Cup was issued, in co-operation with FIFA and under official sponsorship with Adidas, within the role of Qatar Post in documenting all events, celebrations, and preparations organised by Qatar to host the tournament through distinctive postage stamps. While the ninth edition was devoted to the official logo of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which simulates the shape of the sand dunes that characterise the desert.The logo reflects the number 8, referring to the number of stadiums hosting the tournament matches. (QNA)

The Official Healthcare Spokesperson for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Dr Yousef al-Maslamani, has said that the medical plan to provide services during the international tournament has been very successful so far, with the health sector being able to manage the increasing demand for healthcare, and the daily routine services provided to citizens and residents not affected.In a statement to the Qatar News Agency (QNA), Dr al-Maslamani attributed this success in accommodating the growing demand for health services, provided for fans, citizens, and residents to advance planning and to good tournament organisation.He also said the great experience gained by the health sector in managing medical services during major events, such as the Qatar 2015 24th Men's Handball World Championship, the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019, the World Athletics Championship Doha 2019 all the way to the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021, contributed to the success.Dr al-Maslamani said that the health sector's infrastructure underwent great development in the last decade, with the construction of about 10 new hospitals and 16 health centres.He added that the health sector has allocated 100 new clinics around the eight World Cup stadiums, as well as in the fan zones and in the areas where fans reside.Dr al-Maslamani stressed that the strategy followed by the health sector in Qatar in providing health services during the World Cup offered everyone access to medical service as soon as possible, without the fans' need to travel long distances or go to hospitals to seek treatment.Even in cases when heading to a hospital was needed, ambulances were ready and available.Dr al-Maslamani pointed out that the allocation of the four hospitals – Aisha Bint Hamad Al Attiyah Hospital (AAH), Al Wakra Hospital, Hamad General Hospital, and Hazm Mebaireek General Hospital – to serve World Cup fans also contributed to providing high-quality medical and health services to fans without affecting the usual services to citizens and residents.He explained that the 100 medical clinics designated for the World Cup receive an average of 1,000 people per day suffering from simple and moderate conditions, such as colds, headaches, or coughs, with 35 of them being transferred to hospitals to receive treatment right away, and only about 1-2 people needing to be admitted for observation, which is a normal and appropriate rate in such large events.Dr al-Maslamani also pointed out that the ambulance service continues to play a major role during the World Cup, given that all World Cup stadiums are equipped with ambulances on site, in addition to fan zones and in the various regions of the country.Ambulance service arrival time has maintained its pre-tournament record, which is eight minutes after receiving the service request on the number 999.Dr al-Maslamani explained that roving paramedics were provided among the crowds in event areas, in addition to other emergency services, including paramedics equipped with Mechanical Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (mCPR) devices, and other first aid requirements.He stated that all medical services in Qatar, including those of the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Defence, as well as QatarEnergy, in addition to Hamad Medical Corp and the Primary Health Care Corporation, all contributed to the success of the medical and healthcare strategy during the tournament, together with the additional medical and paramedical cadres that were employed to meet the increasing need for health services, joining the doctors, nurses, technicians and paramedics, who work in the health sector in Qatar.FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 ambulance service operations manager Saleh al-Mejareh al-Marri meanwhile said that the health sector's strategy during the tournament focuses on providing medical care close to the people, which means providing health services in almost all fan sites.He said that during the World Cup, a wide range of medical services are provided in every World Cup stadium on match days.This includes up to 13 medical clinics spread around each stadium, as well as medical teams and ambulances designated for footballers, and emergency services that include 31 mobile medical teams, and eight ambulances per stadium.Al-Marri stated that the health sector provided more than 2,200 medical personnel working in multiple areas and events during the World Cup.He stressed that emergency and urgent care is provided free of charge to all Hayya card holders, whilst the cost of non-urgent services is charged at the regular fees rate.Ali al-Khater, the chairman of the supreme healthcare communication committee at the Ministry of Public Health and the communication officer between the health sector and the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), said that during the World Cup, healthcare teams from various health sector facilities are working together to provide a wide range of medical support services and have already succeeded in accommodating the growing demand for healthcare, thanks to the significant expansion the health sector in Qatar underwent in recent years.He added that the most important pillar in the tournament's healthcare strategy is to enable easy access to healthcare, thus, anyone can call 999 to request an ambulance, where they will receive prompt medical care, and will be transferred to the appropriate medical emergency department.Al-Khater pointed out that the allocation of 100 medical clinics all around the country, be it in football stadiums, fan zones or main residential areas, contributed to ensuring medical support for fans and obtaining appropriate medical services.

Handicrafts pavilions at Katara – the Cultural Village are witnessing a remarkable turnout – including both tourists and World Cup fans – keen to acquire souvenirs and heritage collectibles that reflect the beauty of Qatari heritage and Arab culture.The Katara Handicrafts Exhibition, along Ibn Al-Reeb Street at Katara, is an open market presented by KatArt.It displays products of craftsmen and artists, including souvenirs inspired by raw materials from the Qatari, Gulf and Arab environment.The souvenir shops at the exhibition offer varied options that include products and handicrafts embodying different aspects, whether through the expression of the richness of the popular heritage or the exceptional global sporting event represented by the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.Salem al-Harassi, supervisor at Treasures of Oman, said: "I am very happy with my participation in the activities of Katara accompanying the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.”“The public turnout it is witnessing is great,” he said. “Our place displays Omani products that reflect the Omani heritage and history, most of which are rare perfumes made from Omani frankincense.”“Amber, oud, musk and natural oils can be found, in addition to other exhibits such as types of sticks, which are considered a complement to the Omani and Gulf men’s clothing and are made of local Omani wood, as well as the Omani veil (*lisu) made of silk and decorated with Arabic inscriptions and letters on the occasion of the Omani Women's Day,” al-Harassi added.Malak from Millionaire Store noted that headscarves of various colours that reflect the participating teams are highly popular among World Cup fans, who are keen to wear them and encourage the teams of their countries.Meanwhile, the pavilions of countries participating in the Katara Traditional Dhow Festival are also witnessing an "unparalleled turnout" of heritage lovers to see "marine heritage holdings and artefacts, such as models of sailing ships and traditional dhows that were used for fishing, diving and trade trips in the past", a press statement notes.Other heritage items, such as handicraft made of palm fronds, in addition to tools such as wicker baskets, built-in boxes woven with beads and decorated with inscriptions, and the *barwa (a tin container in which important papers, documents and geographical maps are kept) are popular purchases by tourists and visitors, for use to decorate their homes or as gifts for friends and relatives.Another attraction, the Al Thuraya Planetarium, situated in Building 41, continues with its various shows and activities.In addition to a series of scientific films for different age groups, it offers modern digital projections that generate panoramic scenes of space, stars and galaxies as well as comets and elements of the solar system.The planetarium sports modern digital technologies and can accommodate about 200 visitors.The dome screen extends over the visitors with a width of 22m.The planetarium features two- and three-dimensional displays, all of which are supported by a high-quality sound system that provides visitors with an exciting and unique experience of the wonders of the vast universe.Maldives president visits KataraProf Dr Khaled bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, general manager of Katara – the Cultural Village Foundation, received Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih during the latter's visit to Katara.

Indian embassy has announced that the walk in service for passport, PCC, attestation or any other consular service is open from December 15. In a tweet, the embassy explained that the step is in view of the request from the community and the vast improvement in the Covid-19 situation in Qatar.

Rumi: The Musical brought alive the heritage of the east at Education City Tuesday as part of Qatar Foundation's (QF) D’reesha Performing Arts Festival and entertained the audience about the philosopher/poet’s legacy. The final performance is Wednesday. “We may each have our differences but we are united in longing and direction. If you are bound for pilgrimage, seek a pilgrim as your companion. It matters not if they are a Hindu, an Arab or a Turk: see not their shape or the colour of their skin but find their purpose and their intention. If they are in accord with you then your complexion is the same.”Inspired by the poetry of Jalal Al Din Rumi, one of the greatest philosophers in the Islamic world, these words were spoken at the musical. QF's D’reesha Performing Arts Festival showcases the culture of the Arab world at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, described as the world’s biggest event that brings people from around the world to celebrate a game that unites everyone.“The musical is inspired by the global scale of Rumi’s outreach and influence, which has always broken cultural borders, and has resonated with hearts and minds across continents. The musical performance was a grand score -- which combined Middle Eastern elements with classical influences of contemporary musical theatre, and lyrics derived from Rumi’s poetry,” said co-composer and scriptwriter Nadim Naaman, who also is playing the role of Rumi in the show.Reflecting on how the arts complements sports in many ways, the British-Lebanese theatre actor, Naaman said: “Performing arts, and in particular musical theatre, and sports have plenty in common – they have the ability to thrill and unite people. They can be enjoyed by everyone, and provides an escape from life’s challenges. They also provoke thought, debate, and encourage creative thinking and reflection of our world.”Rumi: The Musical performance is also co-composed by Dana Alfardan, a renowned Qatari contemporary composer, singer and songwriter; and led by a cast of 14 actors who have appeared in popular West End and Broadway shows such as Les Misérables, The Phantom of The Opera, The Prince of Egypt, collectively representing the countries of Iran, Lebanon, Egypt, Oman, Mauritius, Pakistan, India, Malta and many others.“As Qatar invites the world to see that the Middle East can be a home for sporting success, I passionately wish for the Middle East to be seen as a thriving home for the Arts too. I’m hugely proud and excited for my co-writer Dana Alfardan to be able to present this musical in her home country, and hope that our audiences will find an inspiration to explore music and theatre. And that the region as a whole will continue to recognise that, just as sport can, the Arts can be a wonderful unifying platform for the success and talent of a nation and its people,” Naaman said.On why the character of Rumi in specific was chosen to be highlighted in a cultural festival while hosting such a huge sporting event in the Arab region, Namaan believes that Rumi is an iconic figure and thinker who shares many characteristics with an international event such as the World Cup. “Rumi’s work transcends international borders and is revered and quoted by millions regardless of nationality, faiths, age or gender. His words unite humanity through highs, lows and periods of reflection. His thoughts regarding tolerance and acceptance were ahead of his time,” he said.“Dana and I proudly presented our first musical, Khalil Gibran’s Broken Wings, back in 2019. Following the challenges of Covid-19, and in sync with the arrival of the World Cup in Qatar, returning in 2022 feels like a moment of coming a full circle. And it’s a huge honour to be performing live on stage for the audience in Doha during a historic event such as the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.”QF’s D’reesha Performing Arts Festival will conclude on December 17. Held under the theme ‘Travel and Adventure’, it will showcase a variety of performances in Arabic and English, from music and poetry to visual arts and theater, with the new D’reesha of Invention showcasing scientists, scholars, and researchers from the Arab world. Tickets can be purchased from https://tickets.virginmegastore.me/qa/family/17911/d-rsquo-reesha-performing-arts-festival. More information is available from www.qf.org.qa/dreesha

As the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 draws to a close, football fans worldwide turn eyes to the 2026 World Cup to be held in three countries for the first time in history.It will be played in the US, Canada and Mexico with the participation of 48 teams. Qatar's fascinating World Cup hosting associated with unlimited creativity with an Arab and Gulf footprint raised many questions about the three countries' potentials for hosting the 2026 edition.The World Cup in Qatar bolstered the abilities of sports to bring peoples together, and sent messages of peace, love and unity worldwide. Qatar, through this successful organisation, sent a message to the world that the Middle Eastern, the Gulf and Arab regions were still arenas of love, peace and coexistence, not of wars, conflicts and crises, as portrayed by the West by reporting only on crises in the region. Qatar showed the Arabs' acceptance of other cultures, appreciation and respect for different beliefs, races and languages.Qatar brought people together in a space of peace, love, competition, and football encouragement with passion and respect. Qatar reflected the Arab traditions and culture by enabling Arab fans to watch more than one World Cup game per day. This made Arab fans in direct connection and cultural exchange with football fans from around the world. Qatar's exceptional organisation of the tournament is a turning point that enhances the FIFA concepts and principles to spread the culture of soccer and unite peoples through football, by providing eight unique stadiums, and open space for the media to carry an abstract image of the region and its the people.The mission of the delegations of the three countries who are now attending the World Cup in Qatar seems more accurate to benefit from Qatar's organisation, with the work teams of the three countries are monitoring the details of the Qatari organisation to follow in its excellent footsteps. Despite the size of Qatar, it provided open arenas and stadiums in a World Cup experience that will inspire the 11 stadiums in the three countries during the 2026 edition to produce an outstanding hosting.The 2026 edition will see the participation of 48 teams for the first time in FIFA history, with 80 games to be played in 11 cities in the US, three in Mexico and two in Canada. The World Cup 2022 had only 64 fixtures. FIFA announced that they had followed arrangements which would generate further revenues for FIFA and sports federations worldwide. In a statement, FIFA said that increasing the revenues will develop 211 FIFA-affiliated federations.The football governing body added that it earned nearly $8bn in revenue through the 2022 edition in Qatar, $1bn more than revenues from the Russia 2018 edition, thanks to geographical proximity between stadiums and hotels and the ease of access for fans, in addition to the security and safety factors that enhanced fan attendance. Qatar's administrative, organisational and financial success will pave the way for the development of the game with a new concept that accepts peoples' cultures, races and languages, and has brought football and the World Cup to the pinnacle of sports. This success will put further pressure on the trio the US, Canada and Mexico to make similar achievements.

More than 100,000 people have been visiting Souq Waqif on a daily basis throughout the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, said Souq Waqif director Mohamed al-Salim.He told local Arabic daily *Arrayah that tourists like to visit traditional and popular markets in the countries they visit.In Qatar, too, a place like Souq Waqif is a major destination among visitors to the country.The official noted that the place offers visitors multiple, diverse food and beverage options that appeal to different tastes and preferences.It also has many shops selling souvenirs, gifts and accessories with a focus on traditional and heritage items.Al-Salim said the sales generated by most shops during the past couple of weeks at Souq Waqif, in particular cafes, restaurants and accessories and gifts shops, has been as much as what they usually make in more than four months.He stressed that the souq had been well-prepared and equipped before the launch of the World Cup, with dedicated studios for media coverage and adequate co-ordination with all the shops there.Souq Waqif also boasts of horse and camel shows, pony rides for children and kids' games and activities, including a train ride.A number of cafe and restaurant operators at Souq Waqif said that they have been experiencing "excellent and extraordinary" business and turnout of customers throughout the World Cup period, with most eateries working round the clock due to the huge demand.Some pointed out that local and other Arabic dishes and sweets are among the most sought-after items among customers from around the world.Some visitors have even placed special orders for packages of food to take home as gifts for families and friends.Msheireb Downtown Doha cafes and restaurants have also been seeing a huge turnout of customers from fans and tourists.The demand increased by more than 100% compared to the period before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, according to the daily.Throughout the tournament, objects and practices related to local culture and heritage have been a great attraction for foreign visitors and fans.For instance, henna tattoos with local patterns and heritage designs have been highly popular among visiting women and girls, who have been keen to try it and get traditional henna on their hands and arms.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met at Lusail Stadium Tuesday evening with King of Malaysia Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and the accompanying delegation, who are visiting the country to attend part of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 matches.At the outset of the meeting, the king congratulated the Amir on the hosting and organisation of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, wishing good luck to the participating teams. The meeting discussed bilateral relations and means of strengthening and promoting them, in addition to issues of common concern.

Sahtak Awalan – Your Health First, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar’s (WCM-Q) flagship public health campaign participated in two FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 festivities.‘Walk the Talk Doha,’ a community walk around Doha’s largest Fan Zone in Al Bidda Park, recently saw Sahtak Awalan fitness instructors provide guided warm-up exercises to all participants. The event was staged by the Ministry of Public Health of Qatar and the World Health Organisation in partnership with FIFA and the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy.Another Sahtak Awalan initiative, the ‘One Goal’ programme, has joined Msheireb Downtown Doha’s World Cup activation zone. The ‘One Goal’ zone features an impressive variety of experiences, including immersive VR games, information about healthy lifestyles, and a walkthrough presentation of ‘Khayr Qatarna,’ Sahtak Awalan’s groundbreaking sustainable agriculture project. The zone operates daily from 2pm-12am for the duration of the tournament.Nesreen al-Rifai, chief external affairs and development officer at WCM-Q, said: “Empowering the community to embrace a healthy lifestyle is at the heart of everything we do. Sahtak Awalan was conceived as a catalyst for health and well-being and quickly grew to become a well-respected national initiative. Today, I am proud to say that we not only have a strong presence within the community but have had a real impact on people of all ages across the entire spectrum of society.”Sahtak Awalan – Your Health First was launched in 2012 to inspire and empower all members of the community to achieve and maintain good health in sustainable ways through a wide variety of initiatives.

UK Minister of State for Investment Lord Dominic Johnson said that Qatar, its leadership, government, and people have proven the success achieved in the wonderful and exceptional organisation of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, describing this edition as "the most sensational World Cup I think we have ever had."In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), the UK minister praised the technologies that Qatar has invented for the success of this tournament in terms of air conditioning in stadiums and sports facilities, modern building techniques, and crowd management techniques.He expressed happiness at having the opportunity to see the huge infrastructure projects put in place for the World Cup. "I have seen the stadiums, the amazing one built out of containers, for example. It's just one of the examples of the astonishing sense of innovation," he said."It is not simply a question of hosting a football tournament and then it finishes. This gift that Qatar presented to the world can, in partnership with the UK, build on the legacy of the World Cup to prolong this wonderful event, long into the future by enhancing sports, cultural and technical co-operation between the two sides," Lord Johnson added.On the Qatari-UK relations, the minister affirmed the strength and durability of relations between the two countries, especially in investment, energy, culture, and other vital fields.In this regard, he commended the investment partnership between Qatar and Rolls-Royce in developing low-cost and low-carbon nuclear energy technology and producing electricity from clean energy.In response to a question about the contribution of Qatari investments to strengthening the UK economy, Lord Johnson noted Qatar's assistance to the UK in protecting its Olympic legacy in 2012 by investing heavily in this field. There's also, for example, Harrods, one of the largest buildings in the United Kingdom, and some buildings at Heathrow Airport Qatar has a large stake. There is already a good partnership between the two sides and it is going very well, he said.Regarding the investment sectors that represent a priority for his country, the UK has some strengths and emerging industries that it would like to invest in with Qatar, especially in clean energy, life sciences, tech technical skills, research, development, and innovations in the health field.Investment in these areas will greatly strengthen the economies of the two countries in the future, he said.Regarding the regulatory and legislative development witnessed by Qatar to attract foreign investments and develop the business environment, the UK minister praised the effective regulatory environment in the business sector and the State's keenness to support small companies achieve success.He also lauded the strength of the national economy and the prosperity of Qatari companies in the insurance, engineering, property businesses, and other sectors.On British companies operating in Qatar, the minister said relations between the two countries stretch back decades, and there are 700 UK businesses registered in Qatar, many of which have contributed to infrastructure projects and preparations for hosting the World Cup 2022.He pointed out that business between Qatar and the UK exceeds $8bn in imports and exports, which makes Qatar among the best trading partners for the UK.The British minister also expressed his admiration for the great development witnessed in the education sector in Qatar. He praised the presence of many prestigious international universities in the country where the same distinguished educational programmes and services provided by main campuses are offered to students locally.Regarding strategic dialogue and advancing partnership and co-operation in investment between the two countries, Lord Johnson emphasised the keenness of the two sides. He said a strategic dialogue will be held in the first quarter of next year in London, where discussions will focus on strengthening bilateral relations in investment, defence, energy, education and other important sectors.He added it will also be an opportunity to assess other new areas of interest for investment in order to develop the partnership between the two countries.On the role of the private sector in developing co-operation between the two countries, he stressed the importance of the private sector in promoting investment between Qatar and the UK. He pointed out that there are many Qatari investors who have various investments in Britain in real estate, construction companies, engineering businesses, insurance, banking, finance and other sectors.In the context of providing facilities to investors, a physical business mobility visa will be issued next year to facilitate movement of investors and businessmen between Doha and London, the minister said pointing to the regular daily flights by Qatar Airways between Doha and many British airports.On the possibility of holding a new edition of the Qatar-UK Business & Investment Forum, which was held in 2017, Lord Johnson affirmed his country's keenness to enhance investment co-operation with Qatar and build on partnerships and strong relations linking Qatar and the United Kingdom.On the decision to cancel visa requirement for Qatari citizens to enhance the movement of people and capital between the two countries, he said business mobility is very important, and there are huge numbers of Qataris who visit London regularly and vice versa. The new system being put in place will facilitate that.He explained that the UK government was getting rid of the paperwork and bringing in a new electronic system that will enable free and easy travel between the two countries."The more digital transactions we can do between the countries in terms of paperwork, the better, it makes everyone's life much easier. It sets the tone, which is correct in order to encouraging our partnership, and it reduces cost."On the movement of foreign investment in Britain after Brexit, the minister stressed the strength of his country's economy, as the British economy occupies an advanced position in the investment sector at the European level as well as at the global level,. He added the exit from the European Union has allowed his country to become a global superpower and be more proactive with regard to global trade, which gives it independence in its trade relations.He also noted the strong trade relationship between his country and the European Union states. He added: "I'm very encouraged by the position of the British economy at the moment. I think in relative terms, we are doing extremely well because we've come through a period of volatility. We now have a very strong and stable government. I am very optimistic about our ability to show the world that we continue to be an extremely stable and predictable market for investment."On the partnership between Qatar and the United Kingdom in the energy sector, Lord Johnson said the "we have a very strong energy partnership with Qatar and I assume that will continue. Qatar is very important part of our energy matrix and I look forward to that continuing."

Qatar Duty Free (QDF), which recently launched the first FIFA Store inside the Hamad International Airport (HIA), has been playing a key part in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, an official has said.QDF vice-president Thabet Musleh said, “This has been an extraordinary period for our beloved home Qatar, and we are proud to have played a significant role in this year's FIFA tournament.”On Monday, QDF officially launched the first FIFA Store inside HIA – named by Skytrax as the 'World’s Best Airport' – and showcases an impressive collection of FIFA Official World Cup merchandise, souvenirs, collectibles and team jerseys.The official opening of the FIFA Store was officiated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive HE Akbar al-Baker, HIA Chief Operating Officer Badr al-Meer, and Musleh.The FIFA Store, which spans over 185sq m and operates 24/7, features a collection of FIFA merchandise, including football jerseys, sports attires, accessories, the Official FIFA World Cup Al Rihla Ball, souvenirs and collectibles.In addition, fans are offered a premium selection of official team jerseys and accessories to show support for their favourite teams. Unique items sold at the FIFA Store include the Al Hilm Pro Final Official Match Ball and Retro FIFA collection items. The stores also feature trophy World Cup replicas and FIFA 2022 branded attire.Musleh said, “Launching the first FIFA Store worldwide at our brand new expansion in Hamad International Airport is a great honour. As the tournament is coming to an end, we look forward to welcoming thousands of fans travelling through HIA to explore the FIFA Store and shop for memorable souvenirs to mark an unforgettable experience.”QDF, the Official Retail Partner for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, is also operating all the official FIFA stores located in different locations throughout the iconic eight stadiums of Qatar and the mega store at the FIFA Fan Festival.

Besides the energetic and high-spirited cheering by Mexican football fans during the tournament’s group stage, the football-loving nation has also left some cultural and artistic pieces of legacy in Doha.Two unique sculptures, ‘Oryx’ and ‘Humpback Whale’ by Mexican Artist Rodrigo Solorzano were installed at Katara – Cultural Village and represent Qatar and Mexico as they symbolise the endemic animals native to each region.“We are working to build an enduring bridge between Mexico and Qatar, through sports, cooperation, culture and art; the two sculptures created by Rodrigo Solorzano constitute yet another symbol of the positive dialogue and understanding between the two nations; a genuine act of public diplomacy,” Mexican ambassador to Qatar Guillermo Ordorica Robles told Gulf Times.The envoy joined Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Secretary Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon, Katara general manager Prof Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al- Sulaiti, and Katara’s Public Diplomacy Centre CEO engineer Darwish Ahmed al-Shaibani at the unveiling of the installations in November.The sculptures were donated to Katara in time for the FIFA World Cup 2022, underlining the friendship, excellent relations, and further cultural exchanges between the two nations.‘Oryx’ and ‘Humpback Whale’ also form part of Solorzano’s latest project, ‘Bestiario’. A reinterpretation of paper toys, this collection consists of a range of steel and aluminium sculptures inspired by the ancient art of origami.Through an exploration of fold and form, his traditional figures are transformed into creatures of our century. This collection invites us to rethink the distinctions between the functional and the artistic, between design and play.Described as a ‘compendium of beasts’, bestiario or bestiary – a fictional place – originates in the ancient world and these medieval books highlight all the animals that people can imagine: from the common to “legendary creatures that no one has managed to document yet.”This product series combines creatures from various families and regions like ancient bestiaries. Animal figures take new forms from new materials. This collection is not limited to combining the contemporary with the traditional; as a continuation of Solorzano’s past works, he invites people to rethink the distinctions between the functional and the artistic, between design and play.Bestiario was digitally created from the start and prepared to be electronically manufactured using mostly computer-aided machines. The result is a series of industrial sculptures born from the union of technological efficiency with the poetic inspiration of art.The works of Solórzano – an industrial designer who often ventures into the art world – found solace in various countries globally such as the London Parliament, catwalks in Japan, and a luxury hotel in Morocco.The artist’s numerous collaborations led him to explore the world of fashion and robotics, manufacturing health allies, and enriching childhood landscapes. His work is a meditation on the limits between aesthetics and practicality, in which the contradiction between utility and beauty disappears.

HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani met Tuesday with Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlic-Radman, who is visiting the country to attend the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 activities.Bilateral relations and means of supporting and enhancing them were reviewed during the meeting, besides discussing issues of joint interest. The Croatian minister congratulated Qatar on its success in organising the World Cup.