Hailing the Minister of Commerce and Industry’s decision to regulate online commerce as a “major shift”, Sharq Law Firm has said it introduces a “structured approach” to address a gap that has become increasingly apparent with the growth of the online business activity. The Minister of Commerce and Industry’s Decision No 25 of 2026 establish the conditions and limitations governing the conduct of commercial activities through websites where such activities do not require a physical presence.This comes against the backdrop of the market estimates, which indicate that social commerce in Qatar is projected to generate about $1.2bn in revenue in 2026, reflecting both the scale of participation and the level of consumer engagement in digital transactions. The ministerial decision “introduces a structured approach to the regulation of digital commerce, addressing a gap that has become increasingly apparent with the growth of online business activity. By extending licensing requirements and introducing defined compliance obligations, it brings digital transactions within the scope of formal regulation,” Sharq Law Firm said in a note. Stressing that further development would be required to ensure consistent application; it said clarification through executive guidance, proportionate licensing models, and clearer thresholds for commercial activity would contribute to greater certainty.“The framework’s effectiveness will depend less on its scope than on its application. Its ability to adapt to evolving business models while maintaining clarity and enforceability will determine its role in shaping the future of digital commerce in Qatar,” it said. Highlighting that over the past decade, Qatar’s commercial landscape has undergone ‘a quiet but decisive transformation’; it said this shift is not confined to conventional ecommerce websites. It is most visible in the everyday use of social media platforms, particularly Instagram, WhatsApp, and TikTok, as primary tools for marketing, selling, and delivering goods and services, according to the law firm. Finding that commercial regulation in Qatar has historically been built around the concept of a physical place of business, with licensing, registration, and oversight mechanisms tied to that premise; the note said digital-only activity does not fit neatly within that model. “As a result, a significant portion of online commercial activity has developed in a space that is only partially regulated, raising questions relating to consumer protection, market fairness, and enforceability,” it said, adding the Minister of Commerce and Industry’s decision must be understood against this backdrop. “Rather than introducing an entirely new regulatory system, it addresses a specific gap: the absence of a clear framework governing commercial activity conducted exclusively through electronic websites...In doing so, it reflects a shift in regulatory focus, from where business is conducted to how it is conducted, while leaving open questions as to how this framework will operate in practice,” it said. Pointing out that a “significant” portion of economic activity now occurs without any physical interface between the business and the consumer; Sharq Law Firm said by recognising and regulating activity conducted through electronic websites, the decision acknowledges this shift.

Britain ‌said Wednesday it had secured a trade deal with the ​Gulf Cooperation Council worth $5bn a year in the long run, deepening economic ties ‌with allies in a ⁠region dealing with ‌the fallout from the Iran ‌war. The deal with the GCC, which consists of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia ⁠and the United Arab Emirates, comes after US-Israeli strikes against Iran in February triggering Iranian attacks on other countries in the region, putting strain on energy and food supplies. "At a time of increased instability, today's announcement sends a clear signal of confidence - giving UK exporters the certainty they need to plan ahead, Britain's Trade Minister Peter Kyle said. The British government said the deal would be ​worth £3.7bn ($4.96bon) each year in the long term, more than double a previous estimate that it would be worth £1.6bn, as the final deal went further on both trade ‌liberalisation and service sector commitments than ⁠previously expected. The deal ​will remove 93% of GCC tariffs on British goods, equivalent to ​the removal of £580mn worth of tariffs by the deal's tenth year, with two-thirds of the tariffs being removed as soon as the deal comes into force. The government said that autos, aerospace, electronics and food and drink would be among the sectors to benefit, with cereals, cheddar cheese, chocolate and butter all becoming tariff-free. In return, Britain has lowered tariffs to the GCC, though the countries' main exports to Britain, oil and gas, are already tariff-free. On services, Britain locked in current access to the GCC so businesses could expand without ‌facing new barriers, while Gulf countries ‌can also grow their own ⁠service sectors through the deal. GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said following the signing that ⁠the agreement had a framework ⁠designed to achieve "tangible and measurable" economic benefits for businesses, investors and citizens of the seven signatory countries, according to a statement by the GCC. He said the agreement spans trade in goods and services, financial services, digital trade, investment protection, telecommunications and others. The deal doesn't change or weaken British environmental or data protection standards, and also doesn't contain ​any language around human rights, the UK government said. Some campaigners had warned the British government against ignoring human rights in any deal with the GCC. Tom Wills, director of the Trade Justice Movement said that "by failing to negotiate any enforceable human rights protections within the deal, the UK has taken a moral step backwards." The agreement does contain an investor protection chapter to extend provisions to the three GCC states that weren't previously covered by such treaties and it includes Investor-State Dispute Settlement, ‌a mechanism that Wills ​also criticised for allowing Gulf investors to sue the British government.

Qatar Airways Group revealed on Wednesday that it recorded a post-tax profit of QAR 7.08 billion (USD 1.94 billion) for the financial year of 2025-2026, after taxes were deducted.In a statement released on Wednesday, the group said these results reflect a strong and outstanding performance, especially given that the last month of the fiscal year was affected by significant geopolitical challenges, affirming clearly the robustness of its business approach and the operational flexibility it enjoys. The statement indicated that Qatar Airways Group continued its path of development and innovation during the fiscal year 2025-2026, providing world-class services and products to travelers and the business sector, thus enhancing the overall travel experience.It explained that Qatar Airways served 41.8 million passengers across its growing global network of destinations, maintaining seamless air connectivity through Hamad International Airport (HIA). Meanwhile, the air cargo sector continued its leading performance, with Qatar Airways Cargo transporting more than 1.43 million tons of chargeable weight, reinforcing its position as the world's largest commercial airline cargo carrier with a global market share of 12 percent.As for operational performance, Qatar Airways maintained its leadership in the aviation sector in terms of punctuality, recording an 86 percent on-time performance for take-off and arrival, thus cementing its position among the top five most punctual airlines in the world, and receiving a Cirium Platinum Award, he most prestigious and highly regarded award in evaluating operational performance in the aviation sector.Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer Hamad Ali Al Khater said, "It is not often that a single financial year asks an organization to demonstrate both the best of what it can achieve and the depth of what it can withstand. The 2025-2026 financial year did both, and the Qatar Airways Group rose to each in turn. ""These results speak to the strength of this Group across every measure that matters - a strong balance sheet, industry-leading operations, partnerships of real depth, and people who maintained the standards this Group is known for, even under the most demanding conditions," Al Khater added."Behind every result are 57,800 people, working across more than 90 countries. In the final weeks of the financial year, many of them were managing an active crisis with a standard of professionalism that defines this organization as much as any financial metric, and it deserves to be recognized," Al Khater continued."We are actively rebuilding our global network with the confidence that comes from a balance sheet that has never been stronger, partnerships that proved their depth when we needed them most, and an organization that has demonstrated, under genuine pressure, exactly what it is capable of," he explained. Qatar Airways said that key achievements of the 2025-2026 financial year included a record-breaking fleet expansion, as the airline signed landmark agreements with Boeing and GE Aerospace for the acquisition and servicing of up to 210 aircraft and 400 engines, among the most significant fleet commitments in commercial aviation history.The airline pointed out that the achievements also included obtaining the World's Best Airline for a record ninth time and that Qatar Airways was named World's Best Airline 2025 by Skytrax, an unprecedented recognition that cements its excellence in global aviation. In addition to that, Qatar Airways also obtained the Cirium Platinum Award for Operational Excellence. This reward comes in recognition of the airline's 86 percent on-time performance and elite operational standards, placing it among the world's top five most punctual carriers.The statement highlighted that Qatar Airways operates the world's first and largest Starlink-equipped widebody fleet, with high-speed in-flight connectivity live across Boeing 777, Airbus A350, and Boeing 787-8 aircraft, bringing seamless and free in-flight internet to passengers on routes worldwide, including various long-haul and ultra-long-haul.In this context, the statement pointed out that, for the 11th consecutive year, Skytrax recognized Hamad International Airport (HIA) as the Best Airport in West Asia, underlining it as the region's premier aviation gateway, adding that Qatar Duty Free was awarded Best Airport Shopping globally by Skytrax for the third successive year, reflecting continued investment in the passenger retail and hospitality experience at HIA.As for Qatar Airways Cargo, the statement noted that it reinforced its status as the world's largest international air cargo carrier, with 1.43 million tonnes of chargeable freight transported and a commanding 12 percent global market share.Looking ahead, Qatar Airways continues to rebuild its global schedule, underpinned by sound business principles, reaching more than 160 destinations by summer 2026. This will enable travelers from around the globe to experience its award-winning service onboard, including staying connected via Starlink and seamlessly connecting through state-of-the-art Hamad International Airport in Doha. (