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Qatar's Abu Samra border crossing is handling a surge in Eid holiday traffic without disruption, as authorities deploy expanded staffing, dedicated cargo lanes, and streamlined procedures to keep travellers and goods moving freely — even as regional tensions continue to weigh on commercial air routes.Speaking to Qatar TV, Major Mohamed Mubarak al-Buainain, Head of the Passports Department at Abu Samra, said the spike in traveller movement during Eid is expected, but this year authorities moved early to stay ahead of demand. Flexible operational plans were activated ahead of the holiday to ensure procedures remain swift and that neither inbound nor outbound travellers face unnecessary delays.To that end, the crossing has kept a sufficient number of lanes open to guarantee easy passage and quick processing. Separate, dedicated pathways have been assigned exclusively for commercial cargo, preventing congestion from spilling across different traffic streams. Processing efficiency on the freight side has also been significantly improved, cutting turnaround times and keeping supply chains intact during one of the busiest periods of the year.On the ground, additional teams of trained personnel have been deployed at all entry and exit points, supported by advanced technology and up-to-date equipment to ensure procedures are both accurate and fast — without one coming at the expense of the other.In the skies, Qatar Airways Cargo has played an equally critical role. Despite restrictions on commercial flights caused by the ongoing regional escalation, the airline has kept cargo operations running at full capacity, maintaining a steady flow of imports into Doha. A significant portion of its fleet was redirected to freight operations, airlifting hundreds of tonnes of fresh food, medicines, and medical equipment into the country to meet local demand.The results on the ground have been tangible. Qatar's local market has recorded no shortages, no price spikes, and no disruption to supply — a testament to the resilience of the country's logistics infrastructure, the effectiveness of government oversight, and the speed with which both public institutions and private operators adapted to the pressure.For consumers, the Eid shopping experience has remained entirely normal — shelves stocked, prices stable, and queues manageable — reflecting a level of preparedness that has kept daily life running smoothly despite the turbulence beyond Qatar's borders. 

MES Indian School, Abu Hamour branch (Mesis), successfully organised a two-day food festival to promote cultural appreciation, teamwork, and social responsibility.**media[407586]**The event witnessed the participation of all students from grades 1 to 12, showcasing a variety of hygienically prepared dishes through class stalls, gaining hands-on experience in collaboration and entrepreneurial skills. Parents actively supported the event, strengthening the school–parent partnership, while attractions such as henna designing and face painting added to the festive spirit.**media[407587]**The Scouts and Guides ensured smooth conduct by managing discipline and guiding participants. A major highlight of the festival was the donation of all proceeds to Qatar Charity's Sudan Relief Fund, fostering empathy and global citizenship among students.**media[407588]**The event, held under the inspiring leadership of principal Pramila Kannan, reflected the school’s commitment to holistic education, experiential learning, and community service, making the celebration both meaningful and memorable. 

Starting February 1, Qatar will roll out the MSAR E-system, a new digital platform that allows visitors entering the country through the Abu Samra border crossing to obtain vehicle insurance entirely online.  The move marks a major step in Qatar’s ongoing digital transformation of government services. The Qatar Unified Insurance Office (QUIO), in collaboration with the Standing Committee for the Management of the Abu Samra Border Crossing, announced that the new system will replace manual insurance services for short-term visitors.  Beginning next month, on-site border services for short-term insurance — ranging from one week up to less than one month — will be suspended. However, services for long-term coverage periods of one month or more will continue to be offered at the border.  The MSAR platform will be accessible via a dedicated mobile app and web portal, enabling travelers to complete all procedures electronically before arrival. The system allows users to issue insurance documents digitally, make payments securely online, and receive instant confirmation and continuous 24-hour technical support.  Ali Ibrahim al-Abdalghani, Chairman of the QUIO Board of Directors, said the MSAR E-system was designed according to advanced technology and strict data security standards to protect users’ information and ensure quick processing of applications.  He highlighted that users can purchase insurance directly through the app or website and will retain the ability to cancel and receive refunds should their travel plans change. Al-Abdalghani added that the system accommodates a wide variety of vehicle types — private, commercial, and tourist —and offers flexible coverage options, including weekly, biweekly, and monthly policies valid for multiple trips. Furthermore, insured vehicles using the system will benefit from a dedicated lane at the Abu Samra crossing, significantly reducing wait times during peak travel seasons.  Colonel Khalid Ali al-Misshal al-Buainain, Chairperson of the Permanent Committee for Abu Samra Border Management, emphasised that the initiative will enhance traffic movement and improve the traveler experience at the country’s main land entry point.  He added that visitors without prior electronic insurance can still finalise their coverage through designated counters at the border for longer-term policies. Through this initiative, Qatar seeks to simplify border procedures, bolster security, and raise public service efficiency, while offering travelers a faster and more convenient entry experience. 

Team Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) kicked off their 2026 campaign in spectacular fashion, claiming a double victory at the 6 Hours of Abu Dhabi, the opening round of the 24H Series ME-Trophy by Creventic on Saturday. The newly assembled QMMF driver line-up of Sheikh Jassim al-Thani, Faesal al-Yafei, and Ahmed al-Emadi dominated the Porsche 992 Cup category, securing both the overall class victory and first place in the 992 AM division at the demanding endurance event. The QMMF drivers displayed remarkable consistency throughout the six-hour race, combining strong pace with perfect execution and smart race strategy. Their performance in the highly competitive Porsche 992 Cup field demonstrated both individual talent and exceptional teamwork, allowing them to control the race and ultimately claim the top step of the podium in both categories. 

Coach Ehab Abu Jazar is guiding a national team that carries on its shoulders all the hopes and sorrows of Palestinian football, but it is his mother, forced by war to live in a Gaza tent, who is his main inspiration and motivation.The war that broke out following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 put an end to Palestinian league matches, and left athletes in exile fearing for their loved ones in Gaza.But Abu Jazar’s mother refuses to let the conflict overshadow the sporting dreams of her son, to whom she feeds tactical advice from the rubble of the Palestinian territory by phone.“She talks to me about nothing but the team. She wants the focus to remain solely on the tournament,” the 45-year-old manager told AFP.“My mother asks me about the players, who will play as starters and who will be absent, about the tactics, the morale of the players and the circumstances surrounding them.”The coach’s mother Huda Mahmoud Abu Jazar, 62, is now displaced in Gaza’s Al-Mawasi camp, near Khan Yunis, living in a tent with her other son, his wife and their children.“My feelings are indescribable from the amount of happiness I feel for my son and his amazing team,” she told AFP.She beamed with pride about him and the Palestinian squad, saying her entire camp cheered when the team beat Qatar in an Arab Cup match last week.“You could hear ululations everywhere. They brought back a joy we had forgotten in Gaza,” she said.“He made us all proud. It is a great honour for us.”The manager, himself a former left-back, says he wants his players to convey the spirit of his mother and Gazans like her.“We always say that we are a small Palestinian family representing the larger family,” he said.“Undoubtedly, it puts pressure on us, but it’s positive pressure.”The Palestinian team are 96th in the FIFA rankings, and their hope of playing in their first World Cup vanished this summer.But the squad, most of whom have never set foot in Gaza, is within reach of the Arab Cup quarter-finals, keeping their message of resilience alive.Palestine play Syria in their final Arab Cup group match Sunday, where a draw would be enough to achieve an unprecedented feat for the team.He said progress would show the world that the Palestinians, if given the right conditions, can “excel in all fields”.Abu Jazar finished his playing career in 2017 before managing the Palestinian U-23 team and eventually taking the top job last year.After the war broke out, his family home was destroyed, displacing his mother in Gaza, like most of the territory’s population during the height of the conflict.He now feels pressure to deliver for them after witnessing from exile the horrors of the war, which came to a halt in October thanks to a fragile US-backed ceasefire.“At one point, it was a burden, especially at the beginning of the war,” he said.“We couldn’t comprehend what was happening.“But we possess the genes of resilience.“If we surrender and give in to these matters, we as a people will vanish.” 

Palestine coach Ihab Abu Jazar praised his team’s resilience and refusal to give up after they fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Tunisia at Lusail Stadium in their second Group A match at the FIFA Arab Cup in Doha.Abu Jazar said the comeback – secured through sheer determination and character – reflected the spirit of a team playing for an entire nation. He stressed that qualification for the quarter-finals is not yet guaranteed, but the last-gasp equaliser brought immense joy to Palestinians everywhere.“The players’ determination and refusal to give up was the main reason for the draw,” Abu Jazar said at the post-match press conference. “This joy is the joy of a people. The national team has become the ambassador of Palestine, the only smile for our people who suffer daily.”Despite conceding twice due to defensive mistakes, the coach expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance over the full 90 minutes. He highlighted the strong display as one shared between “two countries that love each other.”Abu Jazar added that messages pouring in from across Palestine – especially after the earlier win over Qatar – place a heavy responsibility on the squad to continue bringing moments of happiness to their people. “Every match we play is a message through which we convey the Palestinian cause to the world,” he said, noting that the final round remains open to all scenarios.He also credited the presence of several professionals from the Egyptian league, along with those playing in Qatar, for strengthening the team’s competitiveness and composure against Tunisia.Zaid al-Qanbar, who was named player of the match after scoring the equaliser, said he was delighted to deliver at a decisive moment. He revealed that criticism after the Qatar match motivated him to raise his level and prove he deserved his place in the squad. “The joy in the stadium and among Palestinians everywhere means a lot,” Al-Qanbar said. “I will keep giving everything to help the team in the remaining matches.”Meanwhile, Tunisia coach Sami Trabelsi said the 2–2 draw 'felt like a defeat,' particularly as both Palestinian goals came from set pieces and defensive lapses. Trabelsi explained that leading the national team at the Arab Cup was a responsibility he was obliged to fulfil, especially after Tunisia abandoned its initial plan to field an under-23 side. He rejected suggestions that taking charge for the tournament involved any risk, insisting he never viewed participation through the lens of possible repercussions.“We took a two-goal lead and performed much better than in the first match, so this draw feels like a loss,” he said. “I take full responsibility. The mistakes were naïve and cost us dearly.”Facing Qatar next, Trabelsi said Tunisia still retain 'a glimmer of hope' of reaching the second round, though he acknowledged the challenge ahead. Fatigue, he noted, affected many of his players in the second half. “We will fight for our chances in the last match and try to deliver a performance worthy of the national team,” he affirmed. 

The biggest oil company in the United Arab Emirates has secured a key European approval that brings it a step closer to completing a €12bn ($14bn) takeover of Covestro AG, part of a global deals push to create a natural gas and chemicals leader.Abu Dhabi National Oil Co won a conditional European Union go-ahead for the proposed buyout after addressing regulators’ concerns around state subsidies. The European Commission said on Friday that an offer from Adnoc to maintain Covestro’s intellectual property in Europe, as well as concessions around state guarantees, had settled earlier concerns, with the commitments valid for 10 years.The deal will be the largest takeover of a European firm by a Middle Eastern company and marks the region’s ambitions in employing its hydrocarbon wealth to build international networks. Adnoc and regional rival Saudi Aramco are snapping up liquefied natural gas supply contracts to feed growing trading arms.The Gulf countries are betting that demand for natural gas and chemicals will continue to grow as inputs for power and building blocks for consumer goods like the plastics, packaging and lightweight materials that go into mobile phones, computers and cars. Adnoc’s offer would be a cash injection into an industry that’s suffering falling prices and slack margins, hurting profit across the chemicals sector in Europe.The planned purchase of Covestro would give Adnoc control over a German company that supplies materials for some of the world’s most prominent phone and carmakers. Adnoc would own Covestro through its investment unit XRG, set up in last year as the company’s international platform for natural gas, chemicals and energy solutions.A year ago, Abu Dhabi launched the high-profile energy investment firm hoping to deploy billions of dollars on deals around the world. The company had early successes with gas deals in the US, Africa and central Asia. XRG’s biggest effort yet fell apart in September when the firm dropped its planned $19bn takeover of Australian natural gas producer Santos Ltd. It bounced back with a deal announced last week to explore buying into an LNG project in Argentina.In July, the commission, the EU’s antitrust arm, opened a full-scale investigation into the Covestro deal under tough new foreign subsidies rules. EU officials warned at the time that Adnoc’s state funding may have given it an unfair advantage over rivals with less-deep pockets, concerns that were allayed during negotiations between the parties.“Commitments offered by Adnoc effectively address the potential negative effects by allowing market participants to access key Covestro patents in the field of sustainability,” EU competition chief Teresa Ribera said in a statement. “Clear, pre-defined access to these patents will enable others to innovate and advance research in an area that is critical for Europe’s future.”Adnoc also transferred to XRG its holdings in four subsidiaries listed on the Abu Dhabi stock exchange in September. The transaction will bolster XRG’s balance sheet by providing it with cash flows from companies with total market capitalisation of nearly $120bn.

Abu Dhabi’s five-year-old oil trading arm plans to boost the volume it handles by two thirds in the next few years as it expands internationally, its CEO said.State-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Co sees trading as a way to capture greater value from selling fuels produced in the emirate and elsewhere, said Ahmed bin Thalith, chief executive officer of the unit. The next phase of Adnoc Global Trading’s expansion will be an office in Houston in 2027, he said.“In only five years, we’ve established offices in Singapore, in Geneva and, soon to come, in the US,” bin Thalith said in an interview at the company’s office in Abu Dhabi. “This will put us on the global map and this will increase our footprint.” AGT is handling the equivalent of about 1.1mn to 1.2mn barrels of oil a day and aims to expand that to about 2mn barrels a day, he said.Middle Eastern oil producers have for decades dominated global crude markets, traditionally selling their cargoes on long-term contracts. More recently, companies like Adnoc and Saudi Aramco have been setting up and expanding trading operations as growing domestic refining capacity gave them access to higher-value products such as diesel that can be sold into new markets like Europe.Expanding to the US with a Houston office in 2027 will help achieve its volume targets, bin Thalith said. AGT has started a petrochemicals trading desk and will expand it as Adnoc builds its presence in that industry internationally and with plants on the US Gulf coast, he said.“Once you tap into a market such as the US where most of the products are exported, then that will give you a big boost,” he said.AGT is a joint venture between Adnoc, Italy’s Eni SpA and Austria’s OMV AG. Those partners also operate the emirate’s refinery at Ruwais on the Arabian Gulf coast, with capacity to process more than 900,000 barrels of crude a day. Some of the refinery’s gasoline, diesel and jet fuel is used domestically, but the majority goes for export.“We own the full value chain, from the well all the way to the distribution, and trading comes in and takes advantage of the whole operation,” bin Thalith said. “When you have one of the biggest refineries in the world behind you, that’s a very good thing to start with” and helped the trader be profitable “from day one,” he said.Adnoc and Saudi Aramco are both expanding their trading units in an effort to maximise profits and replicate the success of international firms such as Shell Plc and BP Plc. Another business called Adnoc Trading that’s wholly owned by the Middle Eastern producer, deals in crude oil and liquefied natural gas.International oil companies have long profited from selling on the open market crude from fields they operate and fuels from their own refining networks. That business, known as trading the system, gives the oil companies a base around which to buy and sell fuels produced by others, create hedges and react to market opportunities, a model the Middle Eastern producers are seeking to follow.“If you look at other companies that have those mega systems, they have a ratio of one system barrel to three non-system barrels,” bin Thalith said. “So we’d like to reach that point.” Regional rival Aramco Trading moved 7.3mn barrels a day of crude oil and refined products in 2024. Vitol Group the world’s largest independent trader, had a similar volume last year.Some traders have struggled make money this year due to price volatility caused by geopolitics rather than pure market fundamentals.“People confuse volatility with uncertainty and they’re not the same,” bin Thalith said. “Uncertainty is something like sanctions, like trade wars, that you don’t know when it’s going to end and it impacts you in a way that is different than the normal movement of the market.”

HE the Minister of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs Ghanem bin Shaheen al-Ghanem met Sunday with the visiting Syrian Minister of Endowments Mohammad Abu al-Khair Shukri and his accompanying delegation from the Supreme Fatwa Council.The two sides discussed co-operation relations in the fields of endowments and Islamic affairs, and ways to enhance and develop them. They also exchanged views on topics of common interest.

Buses carrying released Palestinian prisoners arrived in the Gaza Strip on Monday through the Karam Abu Salem crossing, marking a significant moment in the first phase of the newly brokered ceasefire agreement.The release comes as part of a deal mediated by regional and international actors, aimed at de-escalating the ongoing conflict and laying the groundwork for broader peace talks. Families gathered at the crossing to welcome their loved ones, many of whom had spent years in Israeli detention.More details are expected as the ceasefire unfolds over the coming days, with additional exchanges and coordinated steps anticipated.

Aya Mohamed etched her name in history by becoming the first Qatari woman to win the women’s singles title at the Arab Teams Table Tennis Championship in Casablanca, Morocco, Sunday. The 31-year-old defeated Jordan’s Tima Abu Yemen 3-2 in a thrilling final at the Mohammed V Indoor Complex, clinching Qatar’s 20th medal and fourth gold of the tournament.Mohamed also secured silver in doubles with Maryam Ali and another silver in the team event alongside Ali and Serena Sheikh.A pioneer for Qatari table tennis, Mohamed competed at the London 2012 Olympics and earlier this year, alongside Mohamed Abdulwahab, broke into the ITTF world’s top 100 in mixed doubles for the first time in Qatar’s history.Following her victory, Mohamed expressed pride in her achievement: “I am honored to be the first Qatari to win this title. This moment will stay in my memory forever. The final was tough, but with focus and determination, I was able to deliver this gold medal for Qatar.”Head of the Qatari delegation, Khalid Ali Al Kuwari, hailed Mohamed as a “champion of gold,” calling the triumph a reward for years of dedication and sacrifice, and credited Federation President Khalil bin Ahmed Al Mohannadi for his unwavering support.

Qatar Media Corporation (QMC) has participated in the 62nd Assembly of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU). QMC’s Director of International Co-operation Office Abdullah Ghanem al-Mohannadi led the Qatari delegation to the event held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The assembly addressed the role of media in preserving national and cultural heritage. Qatar’s participation reflects its commitment to introducing the country’s national efforts in the field of media, and opens new prospects for media cooperation between media institutions in the Asia-Pacific region and the State of Qatar.