Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohamed bin Saud al-Thani with Tunisian Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali on the
sidelines of the recently concluded World Economic Forum in Turkey

Qtel Group chairman Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohamed bin Saud al-Thani has met several world leaders including Palestine president and prime ministers of Turkey and Tunisia at the World Economic Forum in Turkey recently.
Sheikh Abdullah and Qtel Group CEO, Dr Nasser Marafih held private bilateral talks with key regional statesmen such as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Tunisian Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan on the sidelines of the key event. 
Qtel Group, the world’s fastest growing telecom operator in terms of revenue over the last five years, successfully operates Wataniya Mobile Palestine and Tunisiana, and has plans to see those companies fully optimised over the coming months and years, through increased focus on the customer experience while simultaneously leveraging the many benefits that size and scale offer a group-sized operation.
Wataniya Mobile Palestine launched its service in November 2009 as a partnership between the Wataniya Group (headquartered in Kuwait and majority owned by Qtel) and the Palestine Investment Fund (PIF) with ownership stakes of 57% and 43% respectively.
Qtel Group acquired a 75% stake in Tunisiana through its subsidiary Wataniya in January 2011, with a local partner taking the remaining 25% of the company. In May 2012, Tunisiana won 3G and fixed line licenses in a US$132mn deal.
The World Economic Forum is an independent international organisation committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas.
Dr Marafih was invited to speak to delegates from more than 100 countries, and an audience composed of some to the most influential personalities from across the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia.
He participated in a panel session entitled ‘Digital pathways to Inclusive Growth’ and addressed many topical issues, including how the explosion in demand for data is changing the role of operators and regulators.
In order to support a sustainable ecosystem, new agreements are required between Internet players, content and applications providers and the companies that build and support the networks, and the regulatory environment will need to adapt accordingly.
The Qtel Group has taken on increased global prominence in recent years, with a presence in some 17 countries and a strong focus on the Middle East, North Africa and Asia. In particular, it has contributed to a number of important CSR and educational initiatives for students and young entrepreneurs. Executives at Qtel Group aim to raise the profile of this work, and forge new strategic connections, through its agreement with the World Economic Forum.
Of particular importance to Qtel Group is the ‘business’ segment in many of the markets in which it operates, and the company is committed to providing the infrastructure and services needed to allow businesses of all sizes to fully capitalize on the benefits afforded by participation in the new knowledge economy, chiefly entrepreneurship and job creation.
Qtel Group’s agreement to work actively with the World Economic Forum organisation was announced at the GSMA Mobile World Congress, which took place in Barcelona in February/March this year.
Representatives of Qtel Group will also participate in the forum´s prestigious annual global event in Davos, Switzerland in early 2013.