The recent opening of two more lines of the Lusail Tram is expected to spur “exponential growth” in local tourism, particularly within the vicinity of Lusail City, a Qatar Rail executive has said.Lusail City has been attracting thousands of local and international visitors in recent years as it is home to several touristic destinations, such as world-class malls and theme parks. It is also a hub for luxury residential homes, retail and food outlets, and offices for public and private sector entities.Only recently, Qatar Rail announced the launch of the Pink Line and the completion of all Orange Line stations. According to Qatar Rail, once the full tram network opens, it will connect various government offices, residential towers, leisure and sports facilities, avenues, marinas and other major attractions across Lusail City.Engineer Ahmed al-Saleh, senior director of the Lusail Tram Project at Qatar Rail, spoke to the media earlier and pointed out that the transport agency’s focus is on encouraging more people to utilise the tram, thus increasing ridership.Not only will this drive tourism growth in the Lusail area, but the expanded operations of the Lusail Tram will also help entice more people to relocate and live in Lusail City’s residential neighbourhood, al-Saleh emphasised.Engineer Jassim al-Ansari, chief of Programme Delivery at Qatar Rail, also said plans are in the pipeline to add tram links, similar to the Metro Link, to augment the transportation needs of the riding public.“A study, as well as preparations for a tram link, are being put in place. But this will always be subject to the number of ridership. In Lusail, particularly, we need to be more careful, and we need to know exactly where we can have more catchment of population and ridership to have effective operation of a tram link,” al-Ansari told Gulf Times.He added: “We are in favour of increasing ridership and encouraging more people from the surrounding neighbourhoods to use our network, considering that the Lusail Tram is also connected to the Doha Metro network.Ajlan Eid al-Enazi, chief of Strategy and Business Development at Qatar Rail, underscored the importance of both the Doha Metro and the Lusail Tram, saying both transport networks help the riding public save on travel time.Both networks also provide accessibility to key destinations, such as government offices, corporate buildings, commercial shops and malls, restaurants, and other tourism-related establishments.Citing Qatar Rail’s successful experience during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, al-Enazi said the Doha Metro and Lusail Tram served as a vital mode of transportation for many sports fans. He said both networks will continue to ferry passengers quickly and safely during future sporting events to be hosted in Qatar.

The Hamad International Airport has again secured its position as the ‘World’s Best Airport’ by the prestigious 2024 Skytrax World Airport Awards held at the Passenger Terminal Expo 2024 in Frankfurt.The airport also clinched the title of ‘World’s Best Airport Shopping’ for the second time in a row and ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ for the tenth consecutive year.HIA's recognition is based on “meticulous assessments” conducted by air travellers, it said in a statement. They evaluated the airport's performance across key performance indicators and selected it as the best in the world amongst a group of over 500 global airport contenders.Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Badr Mohamed al-Meer, who spearheaded the development and growth of HIA over the past decade, said: “This is a remarkable achievement for Hamad International Airport, as it celebrates its 10th anniversary of operational excellence, connecting passengers seamlessly from all around the world.“It is a testament to the dedication of our team and partners, who have contributed to providing passengers with the finest travel experience. Our continuous investment in our facilities and pioneering initiatives in retail and hospitality within a single expansive terminal has made this achievement possible.”He emphasised the importance of understanding passengers' needs and evolving travel trends: “At the heart of our growth strategy lies the passengers’ journey, their evolving needs, and our commitment to meeting and exceeding their expectations. We have introduced a diverse range of experiences at the airport, including ‘Souq Al Matar’, which brings Qatari hospitality and culture closer to travellers; and ‘Orchard’, the ideal place for relaxation and rejuvenation between flights and an array of high-end lounges. We remain dedicated to pushing the boundaries of the industry to maintain our position as the world’s premier airport.”HIA achieved a significant milestone in 2023, witnessing an exceptional surge in passenger traffic. Serving over 45mn passengers, the airport experienced a remarkable 31% increase compared to the previous year, surpassing the momentum established during the historic FIFA World Cup.The airport also welcomed new airline partners including Vistara, Iberia, Xiamen Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, and Japan Airlines, and serves over 250 destinations, including passenger, cargo, and chartered flights.As HIA approaches its milestone 10th year of operations, it anticipates a bustling 2024.Plans include welcoming new airline partners, enhancing connectivity, and supporting Qatar's endeavours to host various global events.Committed to the Qatar National Vision 2030, HIA aims to enhance sustainability efforts through investments in new technologies and pioneering industry-first initiatives, further solidifying its position as a leader in the aviation industry.

Qatar Friday expressed deep regret at the failure of the UN Security Council to adopt a draft resolution accepting full membership of the State of Palestine in the United Nations, and considered it a sad day for justice and a setback for efforts to bring peace to the region.In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed the failure of the Security Council to adopt the draft resolution reveals, time and again, its inability to carry out its responsibilities and role within the framework of maintaining international peace and security, especially in light of the brutal war on the Gaza Strip, which led to the worst humanitarian disaster the world has ever witnessed in the 21st century.The ministry reiterated Qatar's firm position in support of the legitimate rights of the brotherly Palestinian people, foremost of which is their right to establish their independent state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.The Organisation of Islamic Co-operation too expressed deep regret at the failure of the Security Council, at a time when the Palestinian people are facing the harshest forms of aggression, persecution, and genocide.In a statement, the organisation said the use of the US' veto right contravenes the provisions of the United Nations Charter, which allows membership for all states accepting the obligations therein, and continues to hinder the Palestinian people from obtaining their legitimate rights, thus perpetuating the historical injustice suffered by the Palestinian people over the past 75 years.The organisation also affirmed Palestine's legitimate right to embody its political and legal status within the United Nations, akin to other countries around the world, considering this as an overdue entitlement for decades based on the political, legal, historical, and natural rights of the Palestinian people in their land, as confirmed by relevant United Nations resolutions.It emphasised that recognising the State of Palestine contributes to achieving peace and stability and paves the way for the implementation of a two-state solution.The organisation expressed appreciation for the positions of countries that supported the resolution project, reflecting their stance in favour of rights, justice, freedom, and peace, and their rejection of Israeli colonial occupation policies.It called on countries that either rejected or abstained from voting on the resolution to review and rectify their positions in line with their obligations under international law, the United Nations Charter, and relevant resolutions.The Muslim World League (MWL) too voiced its regret over the UN Security Council's failure.In a statement by the general secretariat, the MWL stressed that obstructing Palestine's admission as a full member exacerbates the suffering of its oppressed people, encourages the occupation's intransigence to continue violating international law unchecked, and represents a significant obstacle to the pursuit of a just and comprehensive peace that all parties seek.The MWL reiterated its demand for the international community to assume its responsibilities by stopping the Israeli occupation's attacks on civilians in the Gaza Strip, supporting the Palestinian people's right to self-determination, and establishing their state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant international resolutions.