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Forbes Middle East has ranked Doha Bank Group CEO Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Fahad bin Faisal al-Thani as “the second most powerful banking executive in Qatar” in its annual Top 100 CEOs in the Middle East 2025 list.The ranking celebrates executives who demonstrate exceptional leadership, drive innovation, and shape the region's business landscape. The recognition reflects Sheikh Abdulrahman’s visionary approach to banking and his leadership in positioning Doha Bank at the forefront of digital innovation in Qatar's financial sector.Under his guidance, the bank has pioneered industry-first initiatives, including Qatar’s first mobile app for Letter of Guarantee services, reinforcing its commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions that serve evolving customer needs.Forbes Middle East’s Top 100 CEOs list profiles the region’s most influential business leaders at the helm of major corporations, acknowledging those who set new standards for excellence, navigate complex markets, and drive sustainable growth across diverse industries.Sheikh Abdulrahman said: “This recognition reflects the dedication of our teams and the trust of our clients. At Doha Bank, we are committed to advancing digital banking, operational excellence, and delivering solutions that support Qatar's economic vision. Being acknowledged by Forbes Middle East reinforces our commitment to setting new benchmarks in the banking sector and serving as a forward-thinking financial institution.”The ranking adds to Doha Bank’s growing list of prestigious industry awards, reaffirming its position as one of Qatar’s leading financial institutions and a trusted partner in driving innovation and excellence in the region's banking sector.

Under the patronage of His Excellency the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, Qatar University (QU) launched the 8th International Conference on Entrepreneurship for Sustainability and Impact (ESI 2025), organised by the College of Business and Economics under the theme "Frontier Technologies for Resilient Economies." The opening ceremony was attended by His Excellency Minister of Commerce and Industry, Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal al-Thani, and His Excellency President of QU, Dr.- Omar Mohammed al-Ansari, along with a distinguished group of senior officials and international experts.Recognised as one of the region’s leading academic gatherings, ESI 2025 convenes over 600 scholars, researchers, policymakers, and business leaders from more than 50 countries to explore how emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, blockchain, the Internet of Things, quantum computing, robotics, and advanced data analytics are shaping the future of business, entrepreneurship, and sustainability.In her keynote remarks, Prof Rana Sobh, Dean of the College of Business and Economics and Conference Chair, emphasised the urgency of fostering innovation and adaptability in a world defined by rapid technological disruption and global uncertainty."Resilience is not the absence of crisis-it is the ability to evolve through it. The technologies we discuss here - AI, quantum computing, blockchain, and others-are not just tools of efficiency; they are catalysts for imagination and progress. Yet, their success depends on people-their creativity, wisdom, and courage to act responsibly. ESI 2025 is a forum for shaping that collective vision: to build economies that are strong, inclusive, and forward-looking," she stated.The Business Consortium, a distinguished feature of ESI 2025, brought together policymakers, entrepreneurs, and executives from across sectors to discuss Fintech and Financial Transformation, Government Institutional Excellence in the Era of Innovative Technology, Technology for Climate and Sustainability, and AI in Education and Humanitarian Affairs.In his remarks, Dr Mohammed El Gammal, Chair of the ESI 2025 Organising Committee from QU, highlighted the continued success and growing global participation of the conference. "The International Conference on Entrepreneurship for Sustainability and Impact is now in its eighth consecutive year, and this edition has attracted over 650 research papers from around the world." Dr Jim Adams, a former deputy chief technologist at Nasa, gave the opening keynote address. He shared insights from his extensive global experience in space technology and innovation, emphasising that the true impact of technology lies in our ability to empower people to use it effectively.The conference also featured Dr. Sui Sui (Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada), Dr. Khaled Hussainey (Bangor Business School, UK), Dr. Adel Ben Youssef (Université Côte d’Azur, France), and Dr. Arman Eshraghi (Cardiff Business School, UK), among other leading academics who addressed digital entrepreneurship, sustainable finance, circular economy strategies, and global supply-chain resilience.Dr. Amna Al Ansari, Director of the Strategic Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Development Office at QU, highlighted the university’s growing role in cultivating innovation among students and researchers. "Through its innovation and entrepreneurship framework, QU ensures that creative ideas are not confined to classrooms-they are transformed into startups, social enterprises, and technologies with real impact. Student-led innovations, such as assistive technologies for the deaf and visually impaired, are prime examples of how research at QU is making a tangible contribution to national development and global knowledge." In parallel sessions, participants presented over 90 peer-reviewed research papers across 17 thematic tracks, addressing subjects ranging from digital transformation and smart cities to circular economy and climate adaptation. The Meet the Editors forum allowed early-career researchers to engage with editors from leading international journals, while the PhD Symposium offered doctoral candidates mentorship and feedback from senior scholars.The conference concluded with a Women Entrepreneurs Forum, celebrating female innovators and researchers who are advancing inclusive economic development in the region.

Qatar Airways has been named the 'Best Airline in the World' at the Business Traveller Awards 2025. Held at the Sky Garden in London, the Business Traveller Awards ceremony brought together influential figures from across the travel and hospitality industry to celebrate outstanding achievements. Qatar Airways was recognised by a panel of industry experts, each bringing decades of experience and a sharp eye for excellence, for its role in advancing the aviation industry. Qatar Airways was also awarded Best Business Class in the World, Best Economy Class in the World, Best Frequent Flyer Programme in the World, Best Airline Lounge in the World (Al Mourjan Lounges, DOH), and Best Airline Between Europe and the Middle East. Qatar Airways Chief Commercial Officer Thierry Antinori said: "We are honoured to receive these prestigious accolades that reflect our unwavering commitment to excellence. Being named World's Best Airline, alongside recognition for our Business and Economy Class cabins, loyalty programme, and lounges, is a testament to our dedication to delivering unparalleled experiences, to our customers at each travel touchpoint. These awards reaffirm our position as a global leader and top innovator in the industry, and inspire us to continue setting new leading standards for comfort, connectivity and service." Ink Global Chief Commercial Officer Michael Keating said: "Qatar Airways performed outstandingly well in this year's Business Traveller Awards, winning five of the seven global airline categories and six awards in total. From its industry-leading Business Class product to exceptional inflight service and innovations such as free Starlink Wi-Fi, Qatar Airways is a truly deserving winner. We were delighted to celebrate their success at the Global Awards ceremony in London, and Business Traveller looks forward to seeing how the airline continues to pioneer world-class travel in the years ahead." These recognitions mark another milestone in what has been an outstanding year for Qatar Airways, as the airline continues to expand its global network of over 170 destinations globally, elevate its product offerings, and drive innovation in service excellence. As the national carrier of the State of Qatar, Qatar Airways remains committed to delivering world-class hospitality, elevating the passenger experience, and earning the trust and loyalty of travellers across the globe.

Qatar University’s (QU) College of Business and Economics continues the Business Mastery Programme—Fall 2025, organised by the Learning Support Section in collaboration with the Centre for Entrepreneurship. The program is designed to equip third- and fourth-year students with the practical skills in entrepreneurship and management necessary for a seamless transition from academic study to the professional environment, while enhancing their preparedness to meet the demands of the labour market through an integrated approach combining theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience. For this academic year, the programme consists of four comprehensive workshops, three of which have been conducted so far. This year, the emphasis is on the development of skills in entrepreneurial thinking, entrepreneurial marketing, psychological resilience and adaptation in entrepreneurship, and innovation management. The interactive workshops are led by members of the Centre for Entrepreneurship: Maisoun Sewailem, Faten Ramadan, and Hamza al-Sioufy. Fatema Khalil Hasan, head of the Learning Support Section at the College of Business and Economics, emphasised the holistic educational value of the programme, currently in its third edition and enabling students to acquire core personal and professional skills.

Legal Perspective Understanding the reasons for corporate business failures and the ways and means of stopping or rectifying such failures, is always of top paramount importance. Corporate business here means any kind of business including companies, SMEs, and startup entrepreneurs. Some of the reasons that could cause corporate business failures may include issues that relate to the equity ownership of the corporation, directorship and management of the corporation, structural issues, lack of experience and know-how... etc. The equity ownership of business, as a matter of fact and law, takes different ways and forms, such as, family ownership or partnership or equity shareholding or SMEs or the like ownership. Each of the mentioned categories has got, if we could say, its pros and cons. Regarding family ownership, we have to mention that, many companies diminish or disappear from the scene after the first or the second generation establishing or starting the business. Failures could occur in family business due to lack of capital, business information shortage, lack of vision, conflict of interest or other reasons. With reference to partnerships, the failure could happen to differences between partners regarding business activities, lack of industry or good market, etc. The partners may face some financial or logistical problems that affect their role or involvement in the business. Equity shareholding companies are not free from such instances and they face difficulties regarding ownership of the company. This is obvious from the fact that we seldom notice the involvement of most shareholders in the affairs of the company. Many shareholders are completely ignorant about what is happening in their company and this attitude, in certain cases, was the cause for failure. In some instances, with reference to SMEs, startup entrepreneurs, the owners or the management could be the direct cause for the failure of the business. This happens when they are not exercising or performing their duties properly and there is no body or authority to question them due to the absence of corporate governance rules. The management of any business activity requires leadership with vision and mission. This vision and mission should be maintained in all cases, being companies or SMEs or the like. Proper management of business includes good planning for present and future operations in a satisfactory method that leads the business to add real and material value for its owners and stakeholders. The law, almost in all places, includes certain specific provisions that should be followed all through the life span of the business. These provisions, will safeguard interests of concerned entities and could help in escaping risks causing failures. The laws include some provisions regarding the required mandatory disclosure by the management of the business to holders and authorities, as a continuous legal requirement that should always be implemented. Disclosure enables required parties to take appropriate steps in the appropriate time. There are many other legal duties, such as, employing auditors and their role in safeguarding the interests of the business. Auditors are required by law to report in certain cases where there are clear unattended serious violations. Moreover, the competent authorities could intervene at any time and take the required appropriate actions to safeguard the interests of the concerned. We believe that, the legislator gave such legal authority to them so as to be able to take corrective actions to escape, avoid or mitigate corporate business failures. The law includes many ways to help in implementing corporate governance, to help in avoiding corporate failures. However, we believe, owners of each business should take positive actions to improve the affairs of their business and this could lead to positive progress to keep away from failures. All are required to take care, you and others are morally and legally responsible. Dr AbdelGadir Warsama Ghalib is a legal counsel. Email: [email protected]

The Indian Business and Professionals Council (IBPC) has announced its partnership with the Earthna Centre for a Sustainable Future for ‘Qatar Sustainability Week’ (QSW) 2025, taking place from November 1-8. Now in its 10th year, QSW is led by Earthna, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and Qatar Foundation. The event will see the participation of Qatar’s community, NGOs, and the private sector in advancing sustainability-focused initiatives and practices. As part of QSW 2025, the IBPC Qatar Sustainability Forum will organise a series of activities designed to promote awareness, collaboration, and innovation in sustainable development across the business and education sectors. IBPC president Thaha Muhammed stated: “As the Indian community, we reaffirm our commitment to adopting sustainable practices within the corporate and business sectors while inspiring the wider community, including school students, to take meaningful action.”

The Business Continuity and Resilience Conference (BCRC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with PwC Middle East in Qatar as its Knowledge Partner for the 2025 edition of BCRC.The collaboration supports Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy (NDS3) by enhancing business continuity and resilience across key sectors, including banking, healthcare, energy, and government. It combines BCRC’s convening power with PwC’s regional and global expertise in Digital Trust and Business Continuity (BCM), enabling organisations to safeguard growth, protect services, and reinforce long-term competitiveness.Engineer Abdullatif Ali al-Yafei, chairman and conference president, said: “The agreement reflects the commitment to shaping a stronger, more resilient economy by elevating the standards of business continuity in Qatar and beyond.Bassam Hajhamad, Qatar Country senior partner and consulting leader, said: “Through our cross-sector BCM and Digital Trust expertise, we will bring frameworks and tools that enable leaders to anticipate risks, protect value, and achieve outcomes that matter to their organisations and Qatar’s future.”In a related development, BCRC and PwC Middle East co-hosted a workshop titled ‘BCM Practices in Qatar’.The workshop provided participants with the practical knowledge and skills necessary to build a resilient organisation by establishing an integrated business continuity governance framework. The framework relies on a proactive approach to testing, updating, and continuous improvement to ensure the effectiveness of plans and foster a culture of continuity within the organisation.Al-Yafei said the joint workshop marks the first step in a long-term capability-building journey that will empower leaders in government and semi-government sectors and practitioners in the field of BCM.

Sidra Medicine, a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Qatari Business Women’s Association (QBWA) to promote collaboration in areas that support women’s advancement, leadership, and health.Through this partnership, both organisations will share best practices, exchange expertise, and collaborate to create opportunities that empower women in business, healthcare, and the broader community.The MoU was signed by Dr Iyabo Tinubu-Karch, CEO of Sidra Medicine, and Aisha Hussein Alfardan, vice-chair of QBWA, in the presence of QBWA members and Sidra Medicine’s leadership.Tinubu-Karch said: “We firmly believe that as a healthcare entity that caters to women’s health, our commitment should extend beyond clinical care. This strategic partnership with QBWA reflects our holistic approach to women’s wellbeing and empowerment to become leaders, innovators, and changemakers across all sectors of society.”QBWA is an independent non-profit entity working under the umbrella of the Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA). QBWA’s mission is to provide a platform to empower business and professional women and to unlock the potential of future generations in support of the Qatar National Vision 2030.Alfardan said: “We are proud to partner with Sidra Medicine as a Healthcare Partner, whose dedication to women’s health and wellness aligns with our mission to empower women professionally and socially. Together, we aim to inspire new collaborations that strengthen Qatar’s ecosystem for women’s advancement.”Following the MoU ceremony, the QBWA delegation also attended a tour of several clinics and wards related to women’s services. For more details about Sidra Medicine’s women’s services, visit https://www.sidra.org/services/womens-services

A delegation from the Qatar Chamber has concluded a visit to several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain, aimed at strengthening ties with regional chambers of commerce and business leaders. The Chamber's delegation was headed by Board Member Eng. Ali bin Abdullatif Al Misnad, and included meetings with the Bahrain Chamber, Riyadh Chamber, Dubai Chamber, and Sharjah Chamber. In a Qatar Chamber statement Saturday, the discussions focused on mechanisms for forming sectoral committees and developing their work plans, as well as discussing successful practices, performance evaluation methods, and digital systems used to manage committee operations. During a meeting with Chairman of the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce Eng. Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman Al Obaikan, Al Misnad emphasized Qatar Chamber's commitment to strengthening cooperation with GCC chambers of commerce and businesspeople. He highlighted the importance of enhancing collaboration between the committee departments of Qatar and Riyadh chambers through the exchange of experiences and successful practices that can further develop the work of commercial chambers, increasing their contribution to supporting the private sector and representing its interests. He further noted that sectoral committees in commercial chambers are among the most effective tools, as they work on identifying challenges facing various economic sectors and contribute to addressing them in cooperation with relevant authorities. For his part, Director of the Department of Committees and Business Councils Affairs Hamad Ali Al Marri said that the main objective of the visit was to learn about the leading experiences in the functioning of sectoral committees in Gulf chambers and to benefit from the best practices in this field.

Alfardan Group, one of Qatar’s most distinguished family-owned conglomerates, has announced a strategic evolution of its corporate identity.As part of this transformation, local operations within Qatar will now be managed under the newly branded Alfardan Corporation while international operations will be consolidated under Alfardan International, marking a clear distinction between domestic and global business activities.This pivotal change comes as the company continues to build on its rich heritage while accelerating its regional and international expansion plans.The rebranding reinforces the company’s ambition to build on its longstanding legacy and position itself for future growth across diverse industries.“Our new identity reflects both where we come from and where we are headed,” said Omar Hussain Alfardan, Managing Director of Alfardan Corporation and Alfardan International.He added: “Alfardan Corporation and Alfardan International mark a new chapter in our journey - one rooted in tradition yet driven by excellence, innovation, and global partnerships”.Despite the change in name, Alfardan’s core values and dedication to the highest standards of service, quality, and integrity remain unchanged.Alfardan has built a strong reputation over the decades through its diverse portfolio, which includes jewellery, exchange, property, automotive and heavy machinery, hospitality, investment, marine services, medical, and agriculture.This transition aims to strengthen the company’s unified brand identity within Qatar while amplifying its position in international markets.Furthermore, all existing operations and contracts under Alfardan Group will continue without any impact on business activities, ensuring the same distinguished standards of quality and service that the Group has long been known for.The new company identity will be gradually introduced across all official platforms, marketing materials, and communications, with full implementation in October 2025.

Board Member of Qatar Chamber, Ibtihaj Al Ahmadani, affirmed that Qatari-Czech relations are gaining momentum across various fields, noting that the volume of trade between the two countries reached QR 577 million in 2024, with several Czech companies actively operating in the Qatari market. This came during a meeting held by the Qatar Chamber on Wednesday with a Czech business delegation headed by Otto Hrdlicka, Deputy Director of the Brno Regional Chamber of Commerce, in the presence of a number of businessmen and Qatari companies' representatives. The meeting reviewed economic and trade relations between Qatar and the Czech Republic, the business and investment climate in both countries, and opportunities for cooperation in the biomedical sector. Al Ahmadani emphasised that this sector is among the most vital and significant globally, stressing that the State of Qatar attaches great importance to it within its national strategy for economic diversification and its Qatar National Vision 2030. She underlined that cooperation between Qatar and the Czech Republic, particularly with leading institutions and companies in Brno, could open broad horizons for fruitful partnerships in areas such as research and development, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and advanced medical technologies. She also called on Czech companies to take advantage of Qatar's attractive investment climate and the vast opportunities available across various sectors, highlighting the country's world-class infrastructure and advanced economic legislation. For his part, Otto Hrdlicka said that the delegation includes a group of leading Czech companies in the field of biomedicine, expressing his hope to strengthen cooperation with Qatari companies in this sector. He also delivered a presentation highlighting the key features of the Czech economy, the investment climate, available opportunities, and the main incentives and facilities offered to foreign investors, in addition to an overview of the Regional Chamber in Brno Province. Hrdlicka noted that the Czech Republic is distinguished by its strong manufacturing, engineering, automotive, mining, glass and beverage, technology, and life sciences industries. He further pointed out that Brno, located in Central Europe, is the second-largest city in the Czech Republic, hosting more than 300,000 companies and economic activities, and is considered a hub for industry, innovation, and trade in the country.

Business confidence among major Japanese manufacturers improved for the second consecutive quarter after a deal to lower US tariffs, but the outlook was clouded by caution over the impact of the levies, the Bank of Japan's Tankan survey showed Wednesday. The sentiment index measuring confidence among companies such as those in the auto and electronics sectors rose to 14 in September from 13 three months earlier, falling slightly short of the average market forecast of 15. The index for large nonmanufacturers, including the service sector, was unchanged from the previous survey in June at 34, as they benefited from passing higher costs on to customers but were pressured by rising prices that prompted consumers to tighten their belts. Looking ahead, however, big manufacturers' sentiment is projected to worsen to 12, and that of large nonmanufacturers is expected to fall to 28, according to the central bank's quarterly survey. The latest Tankan was the first released since US President Donald Trump eased duties on Japanese goods after a bilateral trade deal in July, with the auto tariff reduced to 15 percent from 27.5 percent in mid-September. Among manufacturers, sentiment in the motor vehicle sector climbed to 10 from 8 in June, but is forecast to return to 8. Confidence among shipbuilding and heavy machinery makers jumped to 36 from 27, as they were able to pass rising costs on to customers through higher prices, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) said.