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A joint communique between the State of Qatar and the Republic of India was issued on the occasion of the state visit of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to the Republic of India.It reads as follows: 1- At the invitation of Prime Minister of India His Excellency Shri Narendra Modi, His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani paid a State Visit to India on 17-18 February 2025. HH the Amir was accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising Ministers, officials and business leaders. This was the second State Visit of HH the Amir to India.2- HH the Amir was received by Hon'ble President of India Smt Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at the Forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan on 18 February and was accorded a ceremonial welcome. Hon'ble President also hosted a banquet reception in honour of HH the Amir and accompanying delegation.3- Prime Minister held bilateral talks with HH the Amir at Hyderabad House on 18 February. Both leaders recalled the historic trade linkages, deep-rooted people-to-people ties and robust bilateral relations between both countries. They expressed the desire for further expanding and deepening of the multifaceted relationship between both countries. In this context, they expressed happiness on the signing of the "Agreement on the Establishment of Bilateral Strategic Partnership" between the two sides.4- In light of the newly established Strategic Partnership, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen the bilateral relations through regular and structured cooperation in all areas, including political, trade, investment, security, energy, culture, education, technology, innovation, sustainability and people-to-people ties. In this regard, the two sides expressed happiness at the signing of the revised Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and also agreed to expedite negotiations on the India-Qatar Bilateral Investment Treaty.5- The two sides noted with satisfaction that regular interactions at various levels have helped provide momentum to the multifaceted bilateral cooperation. They recalled the successful visit of HH the Amir to India in March 2015 and the visits of Prime Minister to Qatar in June 2016 and February 2024. The two sides agreed to continue the high-level exchanges through regular bilateral mechanisms at Ministerial and senior-official levels.6- The two sides noted that trade and commerce has been a strong pillar of bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries and emphasized on the potential for further growth and diversification in bilateral trade. The two sides welcomed the elevation of the existing Joint Working Group on Trade and Commerce into a Joint Commission on Trade and Commerce. The Joint Commission will be an institutional mechanism to review and monitor the entire spectrum of economic ties between the two countries and will be headed by the Ministers of Commerce and Industry on both sides.7- The two sides laid emphasis on strengthening collaborations between their business and industry bodies. In this context, they welcomed the holding of the first meeting of the Joint Business Council on 13 February 2025.8- The two sides agreed on the need to explore strategies for enhanced and diversified trade between the two countries and address on priority market access issues related to trade in goods and services. In this regard, the two sides agreed to explore the possibility of entering into a bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. Both sides set the target to double bilateral trade by 2030.9- Qatar and India have a strong strategic relationship and given that the Indian economy is one of the fastest growing economies. The Indian side welcomed the decision of Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) to open an office in India. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the Joint Task Force on Investments during its first meeting in June 2024, where various avenues for investments in India were discussed.10- The Qatar side commended the steps taken by India in making a conducive environment for Foreign Direct Investment and Foreign Institutional Investment and expressed interest to explore investment opportunities in different sectors, including infrastructure, technology, manufacturing, food security, logistics, hospitality, and other areas of mutual interest. In this regard, the Qatar side announced a commitment to invest USD 10 billion in India. The Indian side also appreciated Qatar’s efforts in enhancing its investment environment and its initiatives to attract Foreign Direct Investment. India also recognized Qatar’s growing role as a regional hub for goods and services, leveraging its strategic location, world-class infrastructure, and business-friendly policies. Both sides emphasized the importance of deepening cooperation between investment authorities, financial institutions, and businesses to explore new opportunities for investment and trade expansion.11- The parties shall expand and deepen mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation between the two countries in accordance with their respective legislations and the provisions of international conventions to which they are parties. They shall cooperate in order to achieve stable growth and diversification of trade, increase the volume of exchanged products, and provide mutual services on a systematic and long-term basis. Additionally, they shall implement measures to attract and encourage the establishment of joint projects between the private sectors of both countries. In this regard, both sides welcomed convening of the Joint Business Forum inaugurated by the Ministers of Commerce and Industry of both countries on 18 February 2025.12- Recognizing the pivotal role of businesses in driving economic growth, both sides emphasized the importance of trade exhibitions as a strategic platform for promoting commercial partnerships, increasing and diversifying bilateral trade, and facilitating investments. In pursuit of these objectives, both sides will strengthen collaboration between their export promotion agencies to support enterprises in identifying opportunities, addressing market challenges, and increasing participation in international trade exhibitions. This initiative will enable businesses from both nations to showcase their products, explore joint ventures, and establish sustainable commercial ties.13- The two sides welcomed the operationalization of India’s Unified Payment Interface (UPI) in QNB’s Points of Sales in Qatar and looked forward to implement nation-wide roll-out of UPI in Qatar. They agreed to explore settlement of bilateral trade in respective currencies. QNB’s expansion is also welcomed in India through setting up of an office in Gift City.14- The two sides shall work to further enhance bilateral energy cooperation, including through promotion of trade and mutual investments in energy infrastructure and regular meetings of the relevant stakeholders from both sides, including the Joint Task Force on Energy.15- The two leaders unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations including cross-border terrorism and agreed to cooperate in combating this menace through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms. They agreed to enhance cooperation in information and intelligence sharing, developing and exchanging experiences, best practices and technologies, capacity building and to strengthen cooperation in law enforcement, anti-money laundering, drug-trafficking, Cybercrime and other transnational crimes. The two leaders also discussed ways and means to promote cooperation in cybersecurity, including prevention of use of cyberspace for terrorism, radicalisation and for disturbing social harmony. They emphasized the importance of holding regular meetings of the Joint Committee on Security and Law Enforcement.16- The two sides acknowledged health cooperation as one of the important pillars of bilateral ties and expressed their commitment to further strengthen collaboration in this important sector. The two sides appreciated the bilateral cooperation during the Covid-19 pandemic including through the Joint Working Group on Health. The Indian side expressed interest in enhancing exports of Indian pharmaceutical products and medical devices to Qatar. Both sides also expressed their desire to facilitate the registration of national companies and pharmaceutical products.17- The two sides expressed interest in pursuing deeper collaboration in technology and innovation, including emerging technologies, startups, and Artificial Intelligence. They discussed avenues for furthering e-Governance and sharing best practices in the digital sector. Both sides welcomed the participation of Indian startups in Web Summits in Doha, Qatar in 2024-25.18- The importance of food security and protection of supply chains was emphasized by the two sides and they agreed to further strengthen cooperation in this field.19- The two sides stressed the importance of enhancing cultural cooperation through exchanging participation in cultural events and supporting effective partnerships between cultural institutions in both countries. They also decided to further strengthen cooperation in the area of sports including mutual exchange and visits of sportsmen, organising workshops, seminars and conferences, exchange of sports publications between both nations. In this regard, the two sides welcomed the decision to celebrate India-Qatar Year of Culture, Friendship and Sports in the near future.20- The two sides highlighted that education is an important area of cooperation including strengthening institutional linkages and exchanges between higher educational institutions of both countries. They also emphasized on enhanced interactions among educational institutions, including through academic exchanges, joint research, students and scholar exchanges, and University-to-University cooperation of both countries.21- The two sides acknowledged that the centuries old people-to-people ties represent a fundamental pillar of the historic India-Qatar relationship. The Qatari leadership expressed deep appreciation for the role and contribution made by the Indian community in Qatar for the progress and development of their host country, noting that Indian citizens in Qatar are highly respected for their peaceful and hard-working nature. The Indian side conveyed deep appreciation to the leadership of Qatar for ensuring the welfare and well-being of this large and vibrant Indian community in Qatar. The Qatar side welcomed extension of e-visa facility by India to Qatari nationals.22- The two sides stressed upon the depth and importance of long standing and historical cooperation in the field of manpower mobility and human resources. The two sides agreed to hold regular meetings of the Joint Working Group on Labour and Employment to address issues related to expatriates, manpower mobility; dignity, safety and welfare of workers and matters of mutual interest.23- The two sides exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest, including the security situation in the Middle East. They emphasized the importance of dialogue and diplomacy for peaceful resolution of international disputes. The two sides also appreciated the excellent coordination between the two sides in the UN and other multilateral fora.24- The Indian side thanked the Qatari side for its support to the growing India-GCC cooperation and for facilitating the inaugural India-GCC Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue at the level of Foreign Ministers held in Riyadh on 9 September 2024 under Qatar's Chairmanship. The two sides welcomed the outcomes of inaugural India-GCC Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue. Qatar side assured full support for deepening of the India-GCC cooperation under the recently adopted Joint Action Plan.25- In the context of UN reforms, both leaders emphasized the importance of a reformed and effective multilateral system, centered on a UN reflective of contemporary realities, as a key factor in tackling global challenges. The two sides stressed the need for UN reforms, including of the Security Council. Both sides stressed the importance of addressing shared global challenges through coordinated efforts within the framework of the United Nations, its specialized agencies, and programs, as well as through technical cooperation to advance the achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Both sides agreed to engage in close cooperation and support each other at the United Nations including supporting each other’s candidatures to multilateral forums.26- The following documents were signed/exchanged during the visit, which will further deepen the multifaceted bilateral relationship as well as open avenues for newer areas of cooperation: - Agreement on the Establishment of Bilateral Strategic Partnership - Revised Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and its Protocol - MoU between Ministry of Finance, India and Ministry of Finance, Qatar on Financial and Economic Collaboration - MoU on Cooperation in Field of Youth and Sports - MoU for Cooperation in the field of Documents and Archives - MoU between Invest India and Invest Qatar - MoU between Confederation of Indian Industry and Qatari Businessmen Association 27- HH the Amir thanked Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for the warm hospitality accorded to him and his delegation. The visit reaffirmed the strong bonds of friendship and cooperation between India and Qatar. The leaders expressed optimism that this renewed partnership would continue to grow, benefiting the people of both countries and contributing to regional and global stability.

Just as investors suspect that President Donald Trump’ tariffs will once again be used as a bargaining chip and may not be as severe or immediate as feared, the growing threat and uncertainty are depressing market sentiments.The Wall Street has been guessing “will he or won’t he” on tariffs since Trump took office last month promising sweeping levies on geopolitical allies and rivals alike.While the initial reaction in the stock market was caution, the mood is shifting as the administration’s policies become increasingly muddled with delays and exclusions mixing with bellicose rhetoric.So far, investors have been ignoring the noise and buying stocks.While the risk of a global trade war remains dangerously real after Trump announced 25% levies on steel and aluminium imports that will take effect in March and reciprocal tariffs on numerous trading partners that are expected to hit in April, equity indexes continue to rally, with the S&P 500 Index finishing last week within points of an all-time high.From bonds to credit and equities, a standard pattern is emerging in a world beset with uncertainty. Jarring day-to-day swings set an emotional tone for investors — only to dissipate as the sessions wear on.Stocks, meanwhile, closed near all-time highs on Friday, with tech sentiment of late proving particularly febrile.“As investors realise that the tariffs are likely not going to be as punitive as expected, that is good news relative to expectations,” said Andrew Slimmon, portfolio manager at Morgan Stanley.Still, Slimmon noted that weak market sentiment suggests investors remain fearful of the risks in the administration’s plans. A trade policy uncertainty index has spiked to its highest since 2019, when a similar trade war was brewing.Trump during his first term imposed tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminium, but later granted several trading partners duty-free exemptions, including Canada, Mexico and Brazil. Mexico is a major supplier of aluminium scrap and aluminium alloy.Former President Joe Biden later negotiated duty-free quota arrangements with Britain, the European Union and Japan. It is not immediately clear from Trump’s announcement what will happen to those exemptions and quota arrangements.The tariff conundrum is undermining the popular trade of betting on the dollar.Bloomberg’s gauge of the greenback slid to a two-month low on Friday after Trump ordered his administration to consider reciprocal tariffs to rebalance trade relations, efforts that may take weeks or months to complete.That’s adding to the conviction the levies are more of a tactic to gain a better deal than an end in themselves, and reducing the prospect of quicker US inflation that has boosted the dollar.Corporate America, which is in the midst of the fourth-quarter reporting season, is also striking a cautionary tone on trade tensions.Ford Motor Co said last week that Trump’s 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada, which have been pushed back to March 4, will blow a hole in the US auto industry. On Friday, Trump said he would unveil a separate set of tariffs on automobiles “around April 2.”That said, it isn’t as if Wall Street is completely ignoring tariff risk. Rather, it’s led to more selectivity in stock picking.The overall result is a steady — if improbable — fall in pan-market turbulence, even as some measures of policy risk imply a backdrop as unsettled as any in nearly three decades.The dynamic has played out repeatedly over the previous two presidential administrations, when everything from Covid to Federal Reserve rate hikes and Trump’s trade bluster failed to dent Wall Street’s risk-on march.The question now is whether the buyers spurring these gains are appropriately assessing what Trump will do — or dangerously throwing caution to the wind.

Top seed and world No 3 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain on Monday eased past Marin Cilic of Croatia in straight sets to make a winning debut at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open.Alcaraz, who played the Australian Open qualifiers in Doha four years ago during Covid, on Monday won 6-4, 6-4 in 1 hour and 39 minutes at the Centre Court of the Khalifa International Tennis Complex.The four-time Grand Slam champion fired four aces in his straight sets win.“I’m really pleased about saving that game and giving myself the opportunity to (stay) alive,” Alcaraz said on Monday.“Marin puts a lot of pressure when you’re serving, he’s a great returner. I’m really happy to stay calm in that moment, do my routine and make good shots. I’m really happy to win in two sets,” he added.Also on Monday, Czech Jiri Lehecka upset seventh seed Grigor Dimitrov of Belgium. Lehecka won 6-4, 6-4 in 1 hour and 15 minutes.Away from the Centre Court, there was plenty of cheer and noise as Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic partnered veteran Spaniard Fernando Verdasco for a win in their opening doubles match against Alexander Bublik and Karen Khachanov. Backed by a boisterous crowd, Djokovic and Verdasco - who will end his tennis career in Doha this week - on Monday won 6-1, 6-1.“I started my doubles very well today with Fernando, and it’s another reason to feel good in this tournament, being next to Fernando in his last tournament where he’s going to retire after this, so I’m honoured to be the partner on the doubles court with him,” Djokovic said on Monday. A two-time winner in Qatar, Djokovic said he was delighted to be back in Doha.In the day’s last match, Great Britain’s Jack Draper beat Australia’s Alexei Popyrin 6-2, 7-6.

India will have the honour to receive His Highness the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani on Feb 17-18, 2025 on a state visit. This will be the second state visit of His Highness to India, the first being in 2015. Since the first visit of His Highness a lot has changed in the region and the world. Today, the world stands at the cusp of a huge technological revolution being brought by Artificial Intelligence and other technologies with transformative potential for humankind. Yet at the same time the regional conflicts have intensified.In all this, India and Qatar have been resilient in their economic growths and in deepening their historic and multifaceted ties. The trade and investment relations between the two countries have been robust and long-term energy partnership renewed for several more years. Qatar has emerged as a significant diplomatic voice for resolving various conflicts and humanitarian situations. Its successful hosting of FIFA 2022 and other international sporting events has also brought joy to the Indian community. Both countries also supported each other during the tough times of Covid-19.It is now time for both countries to build on their friendly ties and take them to another level. The visit of His Highness the Amir to India will prove to be a landmark in this regard.Over the last decade, under the inspiring leadership of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister Modi, the political relations between both countries have remained strong. PM Modi paid visits to Qatar in 2016 and 2024. Both leaders also met on the sidelines of international meetings and kept in touch on phone especially during the Covid pandemic. The last year has seen intense ministerial contacts, especially between Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani and India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. These meetings have enabled both sides to exchange views on taking forward the bilateral relationship and discuss important regional and international issues.Trade has always been a strong pillar of relations between India and Qatar. In ancient times trade was dominated by spices and pearls while in modern times many new items have been added to the list, especially energy exports from Qatar to India. Our bilateral trade today stands at about $14-15bn annually. The Indian exports include a variety of goods, including foodstuffs like rice, spices, tea and meat as well as engineering products and electronic items. We believe that there is significant potential for enhancing trade between the two countries. Initiatives such as the recently held inaugural meeting of Joint Business Council should help by bringing together businessmen and ideas of both countries on one platform. Services is also an important facet of bilateral trade which should continue to grow.Government of India has given a lot of attention to Ease of Doing Business by opening almost all sectors for foreign investments and simplifying laws. This has enabled greater FDI into India, reaching the level of $1tn. Qatari FDI in India has also grown and reached at least $1.5bn covering sectors such as retail, power, education, IT, health and affordable housing. There are a huge number of opportunities for profitable investments in India as the country continues to grow at 6-7%. This could include sectors such as infrastructure, gas infrastructure, logistics, renewable energy, EVs, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. Indians have also made substantial investments in Qatar’s economy, with over 20,000 SMEs registered in their names.With both Indian and Qatari economies expected to register good growth in coming years there is scope for further enhancing our economic partnership. The focus on technology, innovation and sustainability in the policies of both countries also provides exciting potential. India has one of the largest ecosystems of start-ups in the world utilising technology like AI in diverse fields like health, bio-sciences, finance, space, agriculture, logistics, transport, entertainment and education. Some of the Indian start-ups are part of Web Summits in Qatar and opportunities provided by them can be leveraged. The conversations during the upcoming visit will provide further guidance for cementing co-operation in these areas.Energy partnership between India and Qatar was renewed in February 2024 when both countries signed a contract for continuing supply of 7.5mn tonnes of LNG from Qatar to India for 20 years from 2028 when the current deal ends. The contract is estimated worth $78bn. There have also been other deals for LNG and naphtha supplies this year. Both countries have significant synergy for enhanced energy co-operation as India is targeting 15% share of gas in its energy mix and Qatar raising its LNG production to 142mn tonnes. The energy ministers of both countries met at India Energy Week earlier this month continuing the important dialogue on energy issues.The people-to-people and cultural ties provide the foundational connect between India and Qatar. One manifestation of this is the presence of a large Indian community in Qatar whose contribution is well appreciated by the Qatari leadership and society. The Indian leadership has always expressed gratitude to Qatar for the support it provides to the Indian community. Qatar itself has become a hub of culture, education, research and sports. The co-operation between both countries in these areas should strengthen especially with focus on our youth. With good connectivity, travel and tourism between India and Qatar is already strong but could be further developed.The visit of His Highness the Amir will also provide a valuable occasion to both sides to discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest. Qatar has played an important diplomatic role in various conflicts and its efforts in bringing about a deal for Gaza ceasefire and release of hostages is well appreciated. India has always advocated dialogue and diplomacy for resolving issues. Both countries also work together in various international forums.As we eagerly look forward to the visit of His Highness the Amir to India, it is certain that our relationship is set to soar to newer heights in the years to come. Qatar will be one of the foremost partners for India in its quest for development and becoming ‘Viksit Bharat’ or developed India by 2047.

India will have the honour to receive His Highness the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani on Feb 17-18, 2025 on a state visit. This will be the second state visit of His Highness to India, the first being in 2015. Since the first visit of His Highness a lot has changed in the region and the world. Today, the world stands at the cusp of a huge technological revolution being brought by Artificial Intelligence and other technologies with transformative potential for humankind. Yet at the same time the regional conflicts have intensified.In all this, India and Qatar have been resilient in their economic growths and in deepening their historic and multifaceted ties. The trade and investment relations between the two countries have been robust and long-term energy partnership renewed for several more years. Qatar has emerged as a significant diplomatic voice for resolving various conflicts and humanitarian situations. Its successful hosting of FIFA 2022 and other international sporting events has also brought joy to the Indian community. Both countries also supported each other during the tough times of Covid-19.It is now time for both countries to build on their friendly ties and take them to another level. The visit of His Highness the Amir to India will prove to be a landmark in this regard.Over the last decade, under the inspiring leadership of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Prime Minister Modi, the political relations between both countries have remained strong. PM Modi paid visits to Qatar in 2016 and 2024. Both leaders also met on the sidelines of international meetings and kept in touch on phone especially during the Covid pandemic. The last year has seen intense ministerial contacts, especially between Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani and India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. These meetings have enabled both sides to exchange views on taking forward the bilateral relationship and discuss important regional and international issues.Trade has always been a strong pillar of relations between India and Qatar. In ancient times trade was dominated by spices and pearls while in modern times many new items have been added to the list, especially energy exports from Qatar to India. Our bilateral trade today stands at about $14-15bn annually. The Indian exports include a variety of goods, including foodstuffs like rice, spices, tea and meat as well as engineering products and electronic items. We believe that there is significant potential for enhancing trade between the two countries. Initiatives such as the recently held inaugural meeting of Joint Business Council should help by bringing together businessmen and ideas of both countries on one platform. Services is also an important facet of bilateral trade which should continue to grow.Government of India has given a lot of attention to Ease of Doing Business by opening almost all sectors for foreign investments and simplifying laws. This has enabled greater FDI into India, reaching the level of $1tn. Qatari FDI in India has also grown and reached at least $1.5bn covering sectors such as retail, power, education, IT, health and affordable housing. There are a huge number of opportunities for profitable investments in India as the country continues to grow at 6-7%. This could include sectors such as infrastructure, gas infrastructure, logistics, renewable energy, EVs, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. Indians have also made substantial investments in Qatar’s economy, with over 20,000 SMEs registered in their names.With both Indian and Qatari economies expected to register good growth in coming years there is scope for further enhancing our economic partnership. The focus on technology, innovation and sustainability in the policies of both countries also provides exciting potential. India has one of the largest ecosystems of start-ups in the world utilising technology like AI in diverse fields like health, bio-sciences, finance, space, agriculture, logistics, transport, entertainment and education. Some of the Indian start-ups are part of Web Summits in Qatar and opportunities provided by them can be leveraged. The conversations during the upcoming visit will provide further guidance for cementing co-operation in these areas.Energy partnership between India and Qatar was renewed in February 2024 when both countries signed a contract for continuing supply of 7.5mn tonnes of LNG from Qatar to India for 20 years from 2028 when the current deal ends. The contract is estimated worth $78bn. There have also been other deals for LNG and naphtha supplies this year. Both countries have significant synergy for enhanced energy co-operation as India is targeting 15% share of gas in its energy mix and Qatar raising its LNG production to 142mn tonnes. The energy ministers of both countries met at India Energy Week earlier this month continuing the important dialogue on energy issues.The people-to-people and cultural ties provide the foundational connect between India and Qatar. One manifestation of this is the presence of a large Indian community in Qatar whose contribution is well appreciated by the Qatari leadership and society. The Indian leadership has always expressed gratitude to Qatar for the support it provides to the Indian community. Qatar itself has become a hub of culture, education, research and sports. The co-operation between both countries in these areas should strengthen especially with focus on our youth. With good connectivity, travel and tourism between India and Qatar is already strong but could be further developed.The visit of His Highness the Amir will also provide a valuable occasion to both sides to discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest. Qatar has played an important diplomatic role in various conflicts and its efforts in bringing about a deal for Gaza ceasefire and release of hostages is well appreciated. India has always advocated dialogue and diplomacy for resolving issues. Both countries also work together in various international forums.As we eagerly look forward to the visit of His Highness the Amir to India, it is certain that our relationship is set to soar to newer heights in the years to come. Qatar will be one of the foremost partners for India in its quest for development and becoming ‘Viksit Bharat’ or developed India by 2047.

DOHA: Top seed Carlos Alcaraz will make his Qatar ExxonMobil Open debut today when he takes on Marin Cilic of Croatia.Winner of four Grand Slams, Alcaraz is seeded ahead of Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the Feb 17-22 tournament to be played at Khalifa International Tennis Stadium.Alcaraz may be preparing for his maiden appearance at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, but it will not be the first time the Spaniard sets out to prove himself on the courts of Khalifa International Tennis Complex. Four years ago, Doha hosted the qualifying rounds for the 2021 Australian Open, a move made for logistical reasons in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. Then competing as a 17-year-old No 141 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Alcaraz booked his spot in the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time by winning his three qualifying matches for the loss of just one set. This week, the Spaniard returns to Doha as the World No. 3 and top seed for the 2025 Qatar ExxonMobil Open, which will this year be held as an ATP 500 for the first time. As he prepares to take on Cilic in his opening match, Alcaraz reflected on how contrasting his latest Doha experience is likely to be.“I played the qualies of Australian Open in 2021 because of the pandemic,” Alcaraz told ATP Media. “For me it’s totally different. I couldn’t go out from the hotel in that moment. There was no crowd, no people here, so it’s totally different. But four years on, I think I’m coming here feeling different, obviously, but I have great memories from here, from this last time.“I think Doha has had always really good tennis players at this tournament,” said the 17-time tour-level champion. “Great names, so I’m excited about playing my first time here in Doha, and let’s see. I’m still focusing on the things that I have to improve, just focus on myself, and hopefully show some great tennis here.”Cilic told ATPTour.com following the Doha draw: “An interesting setup, how the pieces fall into their spaces. What a way to start the year for me. The first match of the year to play Carlos. What a way to set the tone for the year. Hopefully I can play many more against the top guys on the Tour. It’s always great fun, a great challenge.”

On February 23, German voters will elect a new federal parliament, and many expect the country’s established political parties to lose ground. In recent elections – for the European Parliament in June and in the East German Länder (federal states) of Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg in September – young voters flocked to the far-right Alternative für Deutschland. In the three eastern states, for example, 31-38% of voters under the age of 25 voted for the AfD.It was a shocking shift: in the 2021 federal election, young Germans largely supported the Greens and the liberal Free Democrats (FDP), which won, respectively, 23% and 21% of the vote among 18- to 24-year-olds and 21% and 15% among 25- to 34-year-olds. Building on this success, the Greens and the FDP formed a new government with the Social Democrats. Hopes were high that the Ampelkoalition, or traffic-light coalition, for the three parties’ colours, would address the economic concerns of the young voters who helped bring it to power.That did not happen, and young Germans – like their counterparts across the democratic West – have swung to the right, into the arms of the populist AfD. A 2023 study suggests that the growing appeal of such parties can be explained by zero-sum thinking. The belief that groups gain only if other groups lose is deeply embedded in populism, which sets itself against global elites, the deep state, or foreigners whose success is believed to come at the expense of locals.The study’s authors found that zero-sum thinking tends to prevail when resources are scarce. That is certainly the case in Germany, where the economy has stagnated since the Covid-19 pandemic, leaving young people with limited job prospects and little chance of moving up the income scale. Even if the German economy were growing robustly, young people would still be facing one of the lowest rates of social mobility among OECD countries.Improving young people’s economic prospects and increasing social mobility should be a high priority for the next German government. The Harvard economist Raj Chetty has some suggestions for how to go about it.To promote equality of opportunity, which is easier to agree on than redistributing income, Chetty recommends focusing on communities, rather than the individual, as the unit of change. Specifically, he suggests targeting areas where opportunity is lacking. Such an approach accounts for the fact that the chances of a child escaping poverty vary dramatically across places, but also within cities. For example, Chetty’s research has shown that moving to a better neighbourhood can improve children’s prospects significantly, even when families’ financial status remains unchanged.Increasing social mobility, according to Chetty, also requires building social capital through a system of “connected capitalism,” in which financial incentives link people who have opportunities with those who lack them. In communities where the rich and poor interact more, people born into poverty are more likely to receive guidance from their wealthier connections on navigating complex decisions, such as where to go to university, and to be inspired to follow similar career paths. One way to reduce class segregation is by providing low-income families with housing vouchers to move to opportunity-rich neighbourhoods.Implementing these ideas and others espoused by Chetty requires a wholesale reorganisation of social assistance. In Germany, the different government agencies responsible for affordable housing, employment, and state benefits would need to unite around the common cause of creating opportunity and to devise policy to achieve that goal.A quarter-century ago, the Harvard political scientist Robert D. Putnam published Bowling Alone, which showed how the US, once a country of joiners, was turning into a country of loners. Americans were not attending church or marrying as often as they had been, and Putnam warned of social isolation’s corrosive effect on democracy.The same trend can be seen in Germany, where feelings of loneliness have increased over the past five years, especially among people under the age of 30. This has surely contributed to the widening political divide between the country’s young men, who have grown increasingly conservative, and its young women, who have adopted far more liberal views. Compounding young people’s plight is the fact that almost one in five Germans between the ages of 20 and 34 have no vocational qualification, which often results in below-average earnings.Like Chetty, Putnam underscored the importance of building “bridging social capital” – the ties that link people across generations, genders, and incomes. The next German government must focus on improving such ties, which includes promoting community well-being and economic prosperity, to give young people hope for the future and stop their drift toward far-right populism. – Project SyndicateDalia Marin, Professor of International Economics at the School of Management of the Technical University of Munich, is a research fellow at the Centre for Economic Policy Research and a non-resident fellow at Bruegel.

Deb Taylor emerged empty-handed from her branch of budget fashion retailer Primark in Southampton, southern England, complaining that “even the cheap stuff’s not cheap anymore”.The 63-year-old cleaner was echoed by Antonia Alden, a stay-at-home mum of three who was on a rare shopping trip looking for a birthday present. “Other than that, I don’t even bother going to the shops,” the 30-year-old said.Both women are struggling to make ends meet after months of high inflation and soaring energy bills, and epitomise the drop in confidence and spending among lower-income shoppers shown in a succession of British surveys.While the bottom fifth of households by income account for just a tenth of UK consumer spending, their reluctance or inability to open their wallets is a headwind for a government that has made growth its top priority, and a political risk too.The Labour Party, elected last July, is already under pressure from Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform party which is having success in targeting those Britons who feel left behind.The financial stress is also bad news for retailers reliant on less affluent shoppers, with the likes of Primark, discounters Poundland and B&M, baker Greggs and sportswear group JD Sports all struggling in the key Christmas quarter.In contrast, mid-market retailers such as Marks & Spencer and Next performed well.“Clearly there is a huge disparity between the haves and have nots, and this appears to be getting worse not better at the start of 2025,” said Neil Bellamy, consumer insights director at market research firm GfK. Many business executives had hoped that Labour’s landslide election victory would bring some stability to Britain following 14-years of often chaotic Conservative rule dominated by the departure from the European Union.But its first budget announcement in October, with a £25bn ($31bn) tax raid on companies to fund investment and public services, has left them reeling.While interest rates are slowly coming down and earnings adjusted for inflation are rising at the fastest pace for more than 20 years, the jobs market has weakened and the economy has flatlined. Retailers warn of price hikes due to higher costs, the Bank of England sees overall inflation rising back to 3.7% this year, and employers have said they expect to rein in pay awards.Britain has long used its minimum wage to support the lowest paid and it has risen almost 50% since before the Covid pandemic - but even with that, large increases in the cost of energy and food have hit the lowest paid disproportionately hard.Eoin Tonge, finance director of Primark parent Associated British Foods, told Reuters the budget had not helped: “If anything uncertainties remain for elements of society, with unemployment and also part-time work being challenging.”The pressures can be seen in a monthly Income Tracker from supermarket group Asda and the Centre for Economics and Business Research, which calculates how much UK households have left to spend after paying taxes and bills. Top and middle income households saw their weekly disposable income grow in December, up 9.9% year-on-year to £894 ($1,111) for the most wealthy, and 18.6% for those in the middle. But for the UK’s lowest-earning 20% of households, it fell by 0.3%, leaving a shortfall of £70 per week.GfK said confidence levels in households with incomes under £14,500 a year fell 11 points in its January survey to minus 46. In contrast, households with incomes over £50,000 saw a drop of just 4 points to minus 1.Similarly, the Institute of Grocery Distribution said its most recent survey found 41% of shoppers who earn below 21,000 pounds plan to cut grocery spend in the next few months, and more than half plan to eat out less.On top of money worries, concerns around job security have risen. Supermarket groups Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons have announced 3,600 job cuts in recent weeks. John Jones, who runs shop and online store Philip Morris and Sons in Hereford, western England, may cut two of his 22 staff as he faces a £100,000 jump in his annual costs from April due to policy changes in the budget.“When you’ve already got no growth, and probably no prospect of growth because the consumers aren’t feeling very confident, that’s a lot of money to be finding,” he said.Outside Primark, Alden is bracing for a tough year: “I don’t see it getting any better.” - Reuters

A new study, which has found that Covid-19, caused by the Sars-CoV-2 virus is linked to accelerated plaque buildup in the coronary arteries, increasing the risk of heart-related complications, has brought back grim memories of the pandemic. The findings were published last week in Radiology, the journal of the Radiological Society of North America. “Covid-19, caused by Sars-CoV-2, is initially characterised by acute lung injury and respiratory failure,” explained the study’s senior author, Junbo Ge, MD, professor and director of the Cardiology Department at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University in Shanghai, China. “However, emerging evidence indicates Covid-19 also involves an extreme inflammatory response that can affect the cardiovascular system.”Dr Ge noted that this inflammation continues beyond the first month of infection, raising the risk of severe cardiovascular issues and even death. To understand this impact, researchers used coronary CT angiography (CCTA) to examine changes in the tissue surrounding the coronary arteries. They analysed signs of inflammation, plaque buildup, and the presence of high-risk arterial blockages. The retrospective study included patients who underwent CCTA between September 2018 and October 2023. The final study group of 803 patients (mean age, 63.9 years, 543 men) included 329 patients (41%) imaged before the Covid-19 pandemic and 474 patients imaged during the pandemic. Of those, 25 patients were infected with Sars-CoV-2 before imaging.The research team analysed a total of 2,588 coronary artery lesions, including 2,108 lesions among Sars-CoV-2 patients and 480 lesions among uninfected patients. For all patients, researchers compared baseline and follow-up measurements of plaque volume changes, the presence of high-risk plaque, and inflammation. They also analysed the relationship between Sars-CoV-2 and cardiovascular events, such as a heart attack or revascularisation procedure. At baseline, the mean stenosis, or narrowing of the artery, per lesion was 31.3%. Only 8.1% of lesions had diameter stenosis of 50% or more. Compared to the uninfected patients, the plaque volumes grew faster in Sars-CoV-2 patients. Lesions in patients with Sars-CoV-2 infection had a higher incidence of developing into high-risk plaques (20.1% versus 15.8%) and coronary inflammation (27% versus 19.9%). Patients with Covid-19 also had a higher risk of target lesion failure (10.4% versus 3.1%), an indicator of increased heart attack or stroke risk.“Inflammation following Covid-19 can lead to ongoing plaque growth, particularly in high-risk, noncalcified plaques.” Dr Ge said. “Patients with Sars-CoV-2 infection are at increased risk for myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, and stroke for up to a year.” He added that these effects persist during the aftermath of Covid-19, regardless of comorbidities such as age, hypertension, and diabetes. “Effective management strategies for these patients are imperative,” Dr Ge said.The findings suggest that Sars-CoV-2 infection may exacerbate cardiovascular risk by accelerating the progression of susceptible plaques and coronary inflammation. However, a more comprehensive understanding of the biological mechanisms is required to formulate preventative and therapeutic approaches. “It’s crucial to anticipate a heavier cardiovascular patient burden in the future as most infected individuals recover from acute Sars-CoV-2 infection,” Dr Ge added.Incidentally, a US National Institutes of Health-funded study, which focused on the original Sars-CoV-2 strain and featuring unvaccinated participants during the pandemic, and published in October 2024, had revealed that the first wave of Covid-19 increased risk of heart attack, stroke up to three years later. The findings, among people with or without heart disease, had confirmed previous research showing an associated higher risk of cardiovascular events after a Covid-19 infection but were the first to suggest the heightened risk might last up to three years following initial infection, at least among people infected in the first wave of the pandemic. Compared to people with no Covid-19 history, the study found those who developed Covid-19 early in the pandemic had double the risk for cardiovascular events, while those with severe cases had nearly four times the risk. The findings were published in the journal *Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology.

The US economic juggernaut continues with the bullish policies of the new president. But are there significant risks both for the US and the world? In sober language, the latest IMF Outlook report suggests that there areGiven the radical agenda of the US President Donald Trump, a remarkable feature of the latest quarterly IMF Outlook for the world economy is how much continuity there is in global economic trends, carrying from those of 2023 and 2024. The report opens by stating that ‘the global economy is holding steady’.One cause is that many investors and economists correctly anticipated Trump’s victory in the November election, so some of the changes are already priced in.There is a consensus that US growth will continue to be greater than that of other western economies, and that the US will not have its economic or geopolitical hegemony significantly threatened.The IMF notes that, globally, growth is slowing, although slightly, with GDP growth for the final quarter of 2024 just 0.1% below the projection. The Fund anticipates global growth of 3.3% for 2025, compared with an average of 3.7% for the period 2000-2019. An upward revision in the US offsets downward revisions in other major economies. Global headline inflation, meanwhile, is expected to fall to 4.2% this year, and to 3.5% in 2026, but the report notes unquantifiable inflationary risks emerging.Across the globe there is some divergence, notably on inflation and monetary policy. There are inflationary pressures in the US and some other western economies, while low inflation is expected to persist in China and some other economies.The very high public debt, and deficit, of the US, is set to continue, and potentially increase. The dollar is the world’s reserve currency, giving the US more ability to borrow than other economies, but running a high deficit over a prolonged period comes with risks. High US borrowing could increase demand for capital globally, leading to an increase in interest rates and possibly depressing economic activity elsewhere, the IMF notes.There is, perhaps, a certain western bias among some economists in describing US growth of just under 3% as strong, and Chinese growth of 4.7% as weak. The reality is, however, that China does need a higher level of GDP growth to generate equivalent improvements in living standards. More of its economy is export-focused, and there is a smaller internal market compared with the US.The forecast of 2.7% US growth in 2025 is 0.5% higher than the projection made in October – but the strong growth prospects for the US economy are tilted towards the short term, the IMF observes. A loose fiscal policy, deregulation of business and financial markets, and the unpredictability of tariffs all incur medium- and long-term risks. In the case of deregulation, the report states that an excessive encouragement of risk-taking and debt accumulation ‘may generate boom-bust dynamics for the United States in the longer term, with repercussions for the rest of the world’.The effect of tariffs on inflation is difficult to anticipate. Policy responses from affected countries are not known, and resulting dynamics can be complicated. The IMF warns that the cyclical positions of many major economies are more prone to inflation than in 2016, when Trump was first elected with a protectionist policy agenda. There could be retaliation against the US on materials that are difficult to substitute.The US continues to dominate the world economy in part because of significant challenges facing other large economies. Geopolitically, China is the only power with the potential to rival the US. Europe has continued to experience sluggish growth, and is in need of restructure if this is to change. The other emerging economies denoted by the Brics acronym in addition to China – Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa – have had varying fortunes, most negatively Russia, severely impaired by the human and economic cost of its invasion of Ukraine.China has made major strategic decisions for political reasons, that have hampered economic growth. It continued with strict Covid-19 pandemic lockdown measures longer than other nations, and the state has exerted greater control over businesses. Now there is a US Presidency determined to curb imports from China. For several reasons, the world’s second largest economy has become a less attractive destination for foreign direct investment. A belligerent and confrontational US President, who sees China as the great rival, requires adroit policy responses from Beijing.Overall, as 2025 begins with the global economy appearing to be ‘steady’, this may not last.The author is a Qatari banker, with many years of experience in the banking sector in senior positions.

China and Thailand should deepen trust in each other and expand co-operation to counter growing global uncertainties, President Xi Jinping said yesterday during a meeting in Beijing with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.The Thai leader’s official visit to China from February 5-8 is her first since taking office in August, marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.Xi cited projects such as a high-speed railway set to link Bangkok with southwestern China’s Kunming, adding that digital economy and electric vehicles were additional areas for greater co-operation.“In the face of unprecedented changes not seen for a 100 years, China and Thailand should deepen mutual trust over strategic interests and firmly support each other,” state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) quoted Xi as saying.His remarks follow US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose fresh tariffs of 10% on imports from China.Online fraud and safety concerns have topped the issues between the two, particularly after Chinese actor Wang Xing was rescued from a scam centre in Myanmar following his abduction in Thailand, to which he was lured on the pretext of an acting job.After his high-profile alleged kidnapping, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand during the Lunar New Year holiday sharply declined in comparison to previous years.Thailand has sought to allay safety concerns among the Chinese, who contribute the largest group of visitors to the Southeast Asian nation.“The safety of people and tourists visiting Thailand is the government’s highest priority,” Paetongtarn said, adding that both nations would co-operate on a warning system to fight crime. “Thailand is ready to work with China to suppress criminal activity that passes through Thailand.”On Tuesday, the Thai government said it would cut electricity to some areas bordering Myanmar in a bid to rein in the activities of scam centres.Xi said China appreciated the Thai measures to combat online gambling and telecom fraud, calling for both to strengthen law enforcement as well as security and judicial co-operation to safeguard people’s lives and property.China is a hugely important market for Thailand as it seeks to rebuild its tourism sector in the wake of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

This weekend’s Qatar International Rally is the second round of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) but it is also the 50th anniversary of the first ever event to be held in 1975.From that small acorn, the joint third oldest rally in the Middle East – the Rally of Lebanon and Cyprus ran for the first time in 1968 and 1970 and Kuwait also hosted a rally in 1975 – has become one of the most popular events in the whole of Asia. Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah will be trying to break his own record of 17 victories on his home rally this weekend. The list of previous winners is an impressive one: current FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem won on nine occasions, local legend Saeed al-Hajri claimed six wins and the defending MERC champion, Abdulaziz al-Kuwari, prevailed back in 2012.As far as co-drivers are concerned, Irishman Ronan Morgan holds the record with eight wins, Mathieu Baumel and Chris Patterson partnered al-Attiyah to six and five successes apiece and Giovanni Bernacchini claimed four victories with the Qatari between 2010 and 2014.Two of the most surprising wins came with victories for Group N/MERC 2 cars. Oman’s Nizar al-Shanfari teamed up with the late Tom Steele to stun his rivals with victory in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V in 1999 and Rashid al-Naimi and Hugo Magalhaes secured a shock win in 2017 with a Subaru Impreza WRX STi.The Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) will be celebrating 50 years this weekend, as 29 teams and competitors from 19 countries make their final preparations for the weekend’s action at the service park within the Lusail International Circuit.Twenty-one of those teams are now registered for 2025 MERC points.Al-Attiyah began competing in off-road events from 1989 and 1990 and then returned to the sport with a vengeance in 2003. He won his first Qatar International Rally that year with British co-driver Steve Lancaster in a Subaru Impreza WRC and has since celebrated victory in Qatar with four additional car manufacturers and as many new co-drivers.Speaking at Lusail on Tuesday, al-Attiyah said: “I remember when Saeed (al-Hajri) and Mohammed (Ben Sulayem), Jaber al-Marri, Mamdouh (Khayat) and many others were competing. We were watching. Then, in 1990, I did the first Qatar International with a Toyota Celica from Mohammed. I was leading all the way until we broke the rear diff. People started to say that this was the new Saeed coming. It was nice memories. “I stopped for 10 years and came back to win for the first time in 2003. I raced the full championship with a WRC Prodrive Subaru and we won the championship for the first time. Then, we started to make our own history. So many changes over the years, from the cars to safety. Now, when you see the old cars compared to the new ones, you don’t want to jump in the older ones. We are happy with the safety of the new cars. We talk about the Rally 2 car. That is faster than even the WRC car from 2015 and 2016.”Bernacchini is working as team co-ordinator for the 1993 event winner Nasser Khalifa al-Atya this weekend. The Italian said: “This rally is one of the best in the Middle East with typical desert conditions. I won here four times. That was good memories but I didn’t just make this rally with Nasser Saleh. I made it with Nasser Khalifa. My first rally here was actually in 2009 with Faisal al-Attiyah, so almost with all the family I made this rally.“There has been a big improvement. It is very difficult to see the way on desert roads. But the QMMF now marks the stages properly with flags and fences. When I first started it was very difficult with just corners to manage the co-driving. Now, even though it is a desert rally, you can see the roads from afar. The fact we also have Lusail and the QMMF HQ and the super special stage all very close is now very good.”Nasser bin Talibe al-Marri has been following the Qatar International Rally since he was a young boy and has a regular blog on social media portraying archive of the MERC. Speaking at Lusail, the Qatari said: “I remember my first event was in 1976. The start was at the Khalifa Stadium. I was around six-years-old and I came with my brother. Then I came again in ’78 and then in 1983.“I spectated on all those rallies. Then I was with my brother from 1995 and with the federation (QMMF) in 2004 and 2005 until 2010. The Middle East is not like before but everything has improved. Before, for many years, everything to do with the rally was at the Ramada in Doha and now we have the circuit and the modern facilities and that has changed everything.”The 50th anniversary rally is being held under the chairmanship of QMMF President Abdulrahman al-Mannai, senior committee member Abdulrazaq al-Kuwari and the QMMF’s Executive Director Amro al-Hamad.Today, competitors will carry out a full reconnaissance of the six different gravel special stages in the northern desert. Vehicles will also pass technical scrutineering checks at the Lusail International Circuit.Qatar International Rally – previous winners+1975 Peter Austin (GBR)/Hameed Abdel Rahman (QAT) Mazda 929 Coupe1976 no rally+1977 John Blackwell (GBR)/John Rollings (GBR) Mazda 808+1978 Harry Kallstrom (SWE)/Claes Billstam (SWE) Datsun 160JSSS1979 to 1982 no rally+1983 Saeed al-Hajri (QAT)/John Spiller (GBR) Opel Ascona 4001984 Saeed al-Hajri (QAT)/John Spiller (GBR) Porsche 911 SC RS1985 Saeed al-Hajri (QAT)/John Spiller (GBR) Porsche 911 SC RS1986 Bjorn Waldegard (SWE)/Fred Gallagher (GBR) Toyota Celica Twin Turbo1987 Saeed al-Hajri (QAT)/Ronan Morgan (IRL) Porsche 911 SC RS1988 Mohammed Ben Sulayem (UAE)/Ronan Morgan (IRL) Toyota Celica Twin Cam Turbo1989 Saeed al-Hajri (QAT)/Steve Bond (GBR) Ford Sierra RS Cosworth1990 Mohammed Ben Sulayem (UAE)/Ronan Morgan (IRL) Toyota Celica GT41991 Mohammed Ben Sulayem (UAE)//Ronan Morgan (IRL) Toyota Celica GT41992 Saeed al-Hajri (QAT)/Mike Corner (GBR) Toyota Celica GT41993 Nasser Khalifa al-Attiyah (QAT)/Mubarak al-Hajri (QAT) Toyota Celica GT41994 Suhail Bin Khalifa Al-Maktoum (UAE)/Khaled Malik (UAE) Toyota Celica Turbo1995 Khalifa al-Mutawei (UAE)/Mubarak al-Hajri (QAT) Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD1996 Mohammed Ben Sulayem (UAE)/Ronan Morgan (IRL) Ford Escort RS Cosworth1997 Mohammed Ben Sulayem (UAE)/Ronan Morgan (IRL) Ford Escort RS Cosworth1998 Mohammed Ben Sulayem (UAE)/Ronan Morgan (IRL) Ford Escort WRC1999 Nizar al-Shanfari (OMN)/Tom Steele (GBR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V2000 Mohammed Ben Sulayem (UAE)/Ronan Morgan (IRL) Ford Focus WRC2001 Mohammed Ben Sulayem (UAE)/Khaled Zakaria (JOR) Ford Focus WRC2002 Mohammed Ben Sulayem (UAE)/John Spiller (GBR) Ford Focus WRC2003 Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (QAT)/Steve Lancaster (GBR) Subaru Impreza WRC*2004 Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (QAT)/Chris Patterson (GBR) Subaru Impreza WRX STi2005 Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (QAT)/Chris Patterson (GBR) Subaru Impreza WRX2006 Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (QAT)/Chris Patterson (GBR) Subaru Impreza WRX STi2007 Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (QAT)/Chris Patterson (GBR) Subaru Impreza WRX2008 Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (QAT)/Chris Patterson (GBR) Subaru Impreza N142009 Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (QAT)/Tina Thörner (SWE) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution2010 Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (QAT)/Giovanni Bernacchini (ITA) Ford Fiesta S20002011 Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (QAT)/Giovanni Bernacchini (ITA) Ford Fiesta S20002012 Abdulaziz al-Kuwari (QAT)/Nasser al-Kuwari (QAT) Mini S20002013 Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (QAT/Giovanni Bernacchini (ITA) Ford Fiesta RRC2014 Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (QAT)/Giovanni Bernacchini (ITA) Ford Fiesta RRC2015 Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (QAT)/Mathieu Baumel (FRA) Ford Fiesta2016 Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (QAT)/Mathieu Baumel (FRA) Skoda Fabia R5 RRC2017 Rashed al-Naimi (QAT)/Hugo Magalhaes (PRT) Subaru Impreza WRX STi (MERC 2)2018 Vojtech Stajf (CZE)/Veronika Havelkova (CZE) Skoda Fabia R52019 Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (QAT)/Mathieu Baumel (FRA) Volkswagen Polo GTI R52020 Cancelled – Covid-192021 Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (QAT)/Mathieu Baumel (FRA) Volkswagen Polo GTI R52022 Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (QAT)/Mathieu Baumel (FRA) Volkswagen Polo GTI2023 Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (QAT)/Mathieu Baumel (FRA) Volkswagen Polo GTI2024 Pierre-Louis Loubet (FRA)/Loris Pascaud (FRA) Skoda Fabia RS Rally2*denotes MERC candidate event+not a round of MERC