His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met Tuesday at the Amiri Diwan with Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa and his accompanying delegation. At the outset of the meeting, the crown prince conveyed the greetings of King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa to HH the Amir, and his wishes for health and happiness for His Highness, and for the Qatari people further progress and prosperity. **media[417900]**HH the Amir entrusted the crown prince of Bahrain with his greetings to the Bahraini king, and his wishes of health and wellness, and for further progress and advancement. HH the Amir and the crown prince also exchanged greetings on the advent of Ramadan, praying to Allah the Almighty to make it a month of goodness for their respective countries and people as well as the Arab and Muslim peoples. The meeting also dealt with discussing the strong fraternal bilateral ties and the means to enhance them, in addition to discussing several regional and international issues of joint interest. The meeting was attended by His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani, His Excellency Minister of Interior and Commander of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, His Excellency Chief of Amiri Diwan Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Mubarak al-Khulaifi, and several of Their Excellencies Ministers and ranking officials. The meeting was attended on the Bahraini side by Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah al-Khalifa, Minister of Interior Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah al-Khalifa, Minister of the Prime Minister's Court Sheikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, and several of Their Excellencies Ministers and ranking officials. HH the Amir and the crown prince of Bahrain also held a bilateral meeting, where they exchanged views on current regional and global developments of joint interest. HH the Amir held a luncheon banquet in honour of the crown prince and hisaccompanying delegation. Earlier, HH the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani led well-wishers to welcome the crown prince upon his arrival at Doha International Airport last morning, along with his accompanying delegation.

Qatar Calendar has announced preparations to welcome the Holy Month of Ramadan, unveiling a nationwide programme of events and activities spanning heritage, culture, sports and family entertainment. The calendar, presented by Visit Qatar, has been developed to reflect the spiritual character of Ramadan while offering residents and visitors a range of experiences across the country. Dubbed “Qatar, Your Home in Ramadan”, these preparations form part of Visit Qatar’s ongoing destination strategy, supporting year-round tourism while maintaining a strong focus on cultural authenticity and community engagement during the Holy Month. Ramadaniyat Heenat Salma will take place throughout the Holy Month, offering an immersive Ramadan experience rooted in nature, culture, and community. The programme brings together farm workshops, artisan installations, live performances, Ramadan talks, Qur’an recitations, and wellness sessions under open skies. The Throwback Food Festival returns for its third edition, taking place until the end of Ramadan at Old Doha Port. The festival revisits the culinary themes of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Leading the season are Barahat Ramadan Nights and Layali Msheireb at Msheireb Downtown Doha, where contemporary architecture blends with traditional ambience to create distinctive iftar and suhoor experiences alongside cultural activities. The Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs is organising a series of religious lectures under the official title “Noor Ramadan Lectures” at Katara Cultural Village. Celebrating heritage, Darb Al Saai presents the Al Razji Event, highlighting authentic Qatari traditions through crafts, traditional attire and folk chants. The country also comes alive with widespread celebrations of Garangao Night across multiple locations, most notably Souq Waqif, The Pearl Island, Gewan Island and Old Doha Port. The port will also host Ramadan at Old Doha Port, featuring Musaher Al Mina, the Iftar Cannon and Farewell to Ramadan activities. Shopping takes on a special character with Hayyi Ramadan Trade Fair at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre, the fourth edition of The Pearl Ramadan Bazaar, Lagoona Mall Ramadan Nights, and the Museum of Islamic Art Bazaar, which offers a distinctive outdoor shopping experience in the park. In addition, the Ramadan Shopping Fair 2026 at Al Wakrah Old Souq, running until February 27, presents a unique Ramadan experience that brings together essential provisions for the Holy Month in a heritage-inspired waterfront setting. Qatar will host several major sporting events during Ramadan, including the Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2026 and the QSF 2 PSA Satellite “Senior” (1K) Squash Tournament. The equestrian calendar features CHI Al Shaqab presented by Longines, the Longines Global Champions Tour, and Al Shaqab Cup. Lusail International Circuit will host Toyota GR Yaris Qatar Season 2. Team sports events include the Doha International Basketball Tournament for National Teams and FIBA World Cup 2027 Qualifiers. Additional activities include the Ekbes Ramadan Beach Volleyball Tournament, The Pearl Island Ramadan Football and Padel Tournaments, and The North Challenge – Ramadan Edition. Qatar’s museums and cultural institutions will continue their exhibition programmes during Ramadan. The National Museum of Qatar and Qatar Preparatory School host “Countryside: A Place to Live, Not to Leave”. The 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum presents “Esports A Game Changer”. Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art marks its 15th anniversary with “Resolutions: Celebrating 15 Years of Mathaf” and presents “Water’s Witness” by Tarek Atoui.The Museum of Islamic Art hosts “Empire of Light: Visions and Voices of Afghanistan”, while the Fire Station presents “Ho Tzu Nyen: Hotel Aporia” and “Haroon Mirza: Everything Was, Is and Always Will Be”.

The State of Qatar has announced that Wednesday (February 18) will mark the first day of the holy month of Ramadan, following the sighting of the crescent moon. In a statement issued on Tuesday evening, the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs said its Moon Sighting Committee had confirmed the beginning of Ramadan for the year 1447 AH. The committee met at the ministry's headquarters in Doha under the chairmanship of Sheikh Dr. Yahya bin Batty Al Nuaimi to verify testimonies of moon sightings on the 29th day of Shaaban, corresponding to February 17, 2026. The committee extended its congratulations on the occasion to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani; to His Highness the Father Amir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani; to His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Thani; as well as to the government, the Qatari people, and Muslims worldwide. Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is observed by Muslims around the world as a period of fasting, prayer, and reflection, and is considered one of the five pillars of Islam.