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The Qatar Stock Exchange Thursday fell about 11 points on selling pressure especially in the banks, consumer goods and insurance sectors.The Gulf institutions were increasingly net sellers as the 20-stock Qatar Index was down 0.1% to 10,712.82 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,792 points.The local retail investors’ weakened net buying had its influence on the main market, whose year-to-date gains truncated to 1.34%.More than 44% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose capitalisation melted QR0.5bn or 0.08% to QR639.65bn, mainly on microcap segments.However, the domestic institutions turned net buyers in the main market, which saw as many as 0.07mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank) valued at QR0.15mn trade across 26 deals.The foreign institutions were increasingly bullish in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the rise.The Islamic index was seen making gains vis-à-vis declines in the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The Arab individuals were seen net buyers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index was down 0.1% and the All Share Index by 0.14%; while the All Islamic Index was up 0.04% in the main market.The banks and financial services sector index fell 0.24%, consumer goods and services (0.16%), insurance (0.12%) and industrials (0.1%); while transport gained 0.16%, real estate (0.15%) and telecom (0.14%).As many as 18 stocks gained, while 23 declined and 11 were unchanged.Major shakers in the main market included Ahlibank Qatar, Industries Qatar, Doha Insurance, Qatar Industrial Manufacturing, Qatar Islamic Bank, Lesha Bank, Dlala, Widam Food, Mekdam Holding and Qatar Electricity and Water.In the junior bourse, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value.Nevertheless, Qatar Cinema and Film Distribution, Inma Holding, Al Mahhar Holding, Qamco, Qatar Oman Investment, Aamal Company, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Ezdan, Vodafone Qatar and Milaha were among the movers in the main market.The Gulf institutions’ net profit booking increased substantially to QR45.33mn compared to QR0.4mn on December 3.The local retail investors’ net buying decreased marginally to QR5.81mn against QR6.98mn the previous day.However, the domestic funds turned net buyers to the tune of QR19.43mn compared with net sellers of QR2.61mn on Wednesday.The foreign institutions’ net buying strengthened significantly to QR16.74mn against QR0.23mn on December 3.The Arab individuals were net buyers to the extent of QR2.15mn compared with net sellers of QR3.17mn the previous day.The foreign retail investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR1.35mn against net sellers of QR0.41mn on Wednesday.The Gulf retail investors’ net profit booking eased perceptibly to QR0.14mn compared to QR0.62mn on December 3.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the second straight session.The main market saw an 11% jump in trade volumes to 105.91mn shares and 35% in value to QR365.49mn on almost doubled deals to 29,567.In the venture market, a total of 0.03mn equities valued at QR0.06mn changed hands across 13 transactions. 

Her Excellency the Minister of Education and Higher Education Lolwah bint Rashid AlKhater met, separately, with ambassador of the Republic of Ukraine Andrii Kuzmenko; ambassador of the Republic of Italy Paolo Toschi; ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt Walid Fahmy El Feki; and Charge d'Affaires of the United States Embassy Stephanie Altman Winans.**media[381440]**Discussions during the meetings, focused on prospects for co-operation in education, higher education, and research, as well as ways to strengthen and expand partnerships between academic institutions in Qatar and their counterparts in the respective countries.

The 25th Congress of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) concluded Friday in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.The three-day congress saw the participation of a delegation from Qatar, headed by HE President of the State Audit Bureau Abdulaziz bin Mohammed bin Ahmed al-Emadi.The "Sharm El Sheikh Declaration," issued at the conclusion of the Congress, emphasized the importance of strengthening the independence of supreme audit institutions, adopting artificial intelligence technologies in auditing, and expanding international cooperation to achieve more efficient and sustainable governance.The Congress is held every three years under the auspices of INTOSAI, with the participation of heads and representatives of supreme audit institutions from around the world and relevant regional and international organizations. Its aim is to discuss ways to enhance co-operation and exchange experiences among leaders of the international audit community, and to support efforts toward transparency, integrity, and the protection of public funds.

Under the auspices of HE the Minister of Interior, Commander of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya), and Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Police Academy Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the 14th Conference of Heads of Arab Security Training and Rehabilitation Institutions kicked off in Doha Wednesday. Hosted by the Ministry of Interior, represented by the Police Academy, the two-day conference is drawing broad participation from representatives of the ministries of interior in the Arab countries, alongside representatives of relevant regional and global organisations and institutions. These organisations are UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), UN Human Rights Training and Documentation Centre for South‑West Asia and the Arab Region, Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions (ANNHRI), International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law (IIJ), Naif Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS), Arab Interior Ministers’ Council-General Secretariat of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers. The opening ceremony was attended by HE Legal Adviser to HE the Minister of Interior and General Supervisor of the Police Academy Major General Dr Abdullah Yousef al-Mal, Secretary-General of the Arab Interior Ministers Council Dr Mohammad Ali Kuman, and President of the Police Academy and Chairman of the conference Brig. Gen. Abdul Rahman Majid al-Sulaiti. Addressing the conference, Dr al-Mal said the Police Academy is proud of hosting this event with the participation of a distinguished group of leaders and experts from across the Arab world, alongside partners from specialized international organiSations, convened to exchange expertise and bolster collaboration in training and capacity-building, a fundamental pillar of security and stability. The contemporary security challenges have become more intricate and interlinked, making persistent outstanding training indispensable for capacity-building and helping security personnel keep up with developments and confront risks by proactively leveraging state-of-the-art techniques, Dr al-Mal said. Under the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Qatar has given foremost priority to the advancement of education and security training systems, in its belief that enduring security begins from the highly qualified human, he underlined. For his part, Ali Kuman affirmed that the conference convenes in Doha Thursday as part of the tremendous interest Qatar gives to the rehabilitation of Arab security apparatuses to be further capable of fully discharging their duties. He heaped praise on the initiative proffered by the Ministry of Interior in Qatar to allocate two annual scholarships at the Police Academy in the name of the late Arab security luminary HRH Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, for students from member states. This move is a gesture that embodies fidelity to the legacy of the architect of Arab security cooperation and reflects an unflagging commitment to providing member states with access to the academy’s elevated level of training and professional excellence, Ali Kuman underlined. Ali Kuman further added that hosting this conference by the academy, along with the field visit to its premises, would be an invaluable opportunity to have a glimpse of this premium level, as long as the academy abounds with outstanding scientific programs. The constructive discussions of the agenda would yield consequential outcomes that strengthen Arab cooperation in the areas of security training and rehabilitation, in support of building the capabilities of Arab security apparatuses to deal with a variety of criminal threats, he highlighted. On the first day, the conference explored a flurry of critical subjects on the agenda, including advancing the technological skills of police and security personnel to combat cybercrimes, a benchmark model plan for preventive security training and qualification, alongside a benchmark model plan for security training and qualification in crisis and emergency management. The Police Academy presented a primer on the Virtual Security Operations Center (vSOC), in implementation of the recommendation issued by the Board of Trustees of the Prince Nayef Arab Security Award to present the award-winning pioneering security programs at the relevant meetings convened under the auspices of the General Secretariat of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers. The Police Academy's vSOC in Qatar was awarded first place in the category of pioneering security programs for 2024. The vSOC performs a critical role in conducting virtual security exercises based on advanced simulation systems that mimic realistic and complex security scenarios. It also innovates unconventional remediation solutions, in addition to developing the mechanisms of operationalizing the joint operations chambers among different stakeholders to foster security integration and elevates the readiness of the national response system.

His Excellency the Minister of Finance Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari participated in the meeting of Finance Ministers, Central Bank Governors, and Heads of Regional Financial Institutions from the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. The meeting was chaired by Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF), and was held on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank Group Annual Meetings, now being held in Washington, DC. The meeting discussed key strategic issues related to economic growth in the region, in addition to future outlooks and fiscal policy requirements to combat inflation. It also addressed sustainable financing strategies, ways to stimulate economic growth, and the promotion of innovation in financial development.Regional and global challenges were also reviewed, particularly the risks of rising inflation rates and food insecurity. The participants stressed the importance of continuing efforts to adapt to the current financial and economic developments.The meeting was held within the framework of enhancing regional cooperation and the exchange of insights among financial and economic policymakers, with the aim of supporting economic stability and achieving sustainable development across the region.

The Reformatory and Penalty Institutions Department at the Ministry of Interior (MoI) has welcomed a group of students from the Police Sciences Diploma Programme at the Police Institute, as part of efforts to strengthen academic and practical co-operation between security agencies and educational institutions within the ministry.According to a post by MoI on X, the student delegation was received by Major-General Nasser Mohammed Isa al-Sayed, the director of the Reformatory and Penalty Institutions Department, who stressed the importance of such visits in reinforcing professional values among them, and familiarise them with the nature of work within the reformatory and penal institutions and their role in the overall security system.During the visit, Colonel Youssef Bilal al-Abdullah, the assistant director of the department, delivered an introductory lecture outlining the department’s role in the rehabilitation and reform of inmates.He reviewed its responsibilities and assigned duties, in addition to its efforts to provide a safe and motivating environment that encourages positive change.The students undertook a field tour of facilities within the institution, and were briefed on the services provided to inmates and the resources available to support rehabilitation and reform programmes.

QNB Group, one of the largest financial institution in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, has posted a nine-month net profit of QR12.8bn, up 1% on the same period last year.Net profit before ‘Pillar Two Taxes’ reached QR13.9bn in nine months that ended on September 30, which is an increase of 9% compared to September 2024.Operating income increased by 9% to reach QR33.3bn, which reflects QNB Group’s “ability to maintain successful growth” across a range of revenue sources.Total assets (as on September 30, 2025) reached QR1,389bn, an increase of 9% on September 30, 2024, mainly driven by growth in loans and advances (by 11%) to reach QR1,001bn.Customer deposits increased by 6% to reach QR963bn (as on September 30, 2025) from the same period last year.QNB Group’s efficiency (cost to income) ratio stood at 23.3%, which is considered “one of the best ratios” among large financial institutions in the MEA region.The ratio of non-performing loans to gross loans stood at 2.9% (as on September 30, 2025), which is “one of the lowest” amongst financial institutions in the MEA region.This, QNB noted, reflects the “high quality” of the Group’s loan book and the effective management of credit risk.In addition, loan loss coverage ratio stood at 100%, which reflects the “prudent approach” adopted by QNB Group towards non-performing loans.Total equity (at the end of September this year) increased to QR121bn, up 7% on September 2024.Earnings per share reached QR1.31 in September this year.QNB Group’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) (as on September 30, 2025), amounted to 19.5%. Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) and Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR - as on September 30, 2025), amounted to 151% and 105% respectively.These ratios are higher than the regulatory minimum requirements of the QCB and Basel III reforms requirements.Group statistics: QNB Group’s presence spans some 28 countries across three continents operating from approximately 900 locations, over 5,000 ATMs supported by more than 31,000 staff.

The Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) signed 13 new agreements with United Nations agencies, international financial institutions, and humanitarian organizations, with a total value exceeding US$133 million. The agreements reflect the State of Qatar's steadfast commitment to multilateralism and international cooperation as indispensable pillars for achieving sustainable development and shared prosperity worldwide. According to QFFD, these commitments are expected to benefit more than 8.3 million people globally, advancing progress in health, education, youth empowerment, food security, climate resilience, and economic development. The signing took place on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80), held under the theme "Better Together: 80 years and more for peace, development, and human rights." The agreements encompass both long-standing and new partners, including the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Gates Foundation, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations Development Coordination Office (UNDCO), the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UNICEF in support of the Generation Unlimited (GenU) initiative, the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UNOHRLLS), the International Rescue Committee (IRC), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the Inter-American Investment Corporation. The signing ceremonies were attended by HE Chairperson of the Board of Directors of QFFD, Sheikh Thani bin Hamad Al-Thani, and HE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Vice-Chairperson of QFFD's Board of Directors Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad, alongside senior representatives from partner organizations. Through these agreements, QFFD reiterated its firm belief that international solidarity represents the most effective path to addressing pressing global challenges. By providing flexible contributions, QFFD strengthens the institutional capacities of leading UN agencies and expands their reach to the most vulnerable. At the same time, targeted programs supported by innovative financing mechanisms will enhance women's health, strengthen food stockholding systems, sustain essential public services in conflict-affected countries, rehabilitate critical infrastructure for displaced communities, and create new opportunities for young people through education, skills development, and entrepreneurship. QFFD also prioritizes the needs of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), in line with the Doha Programme of Action (2022-2031), focusing on resilience-building and strengthening systems in communities most exposed to fragility. On the sidelines of UNGA80, HE Sheikh Thani bin Hamad Al-Thani met with HE Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group Amina J. Mohammed. The meeting reaffirmed the strong partnership between the State of Qatar and the United Nations and their shared commitment to advancing a just, inclusive, and sustainable future. A series of additional high-level meetings were also held with development leaders to explore ways of enhancing cooperation in addressing global priorities. Speaking on the occasion, Director General of QFFD Fahad Hamad Al Sulaiti stated: "QFFD believes that transformative change can only be achieved through collective action. These agreements reaffirm our commitment to work hand-in-hand with governments, the private sector, and international partners to build a just, inclusive, and sustainable future. They also underscore the importance of high-impact partnerships and innovative financing mechanisms in addressing persistent gaps and global challenges, ensuring solutions that are locally driven, scalable, and sustainable." These efforts align with the State of Qatar's strategy for international cooperation, whereby QFFD aims to address urgent humanitarian needs while simultaneously promoting long-term resilience, guided by the principles of multilateralism, solidarity, and shared responsibility.

The State of Qatar stressed the importance of consolidating national unity, strengthening trust, building institutions, establishing security, promoting development, and moving forward with a comprehensive political process led by Syria, with broad participation from all components of the Syrian people. This came in a statement by the State of Qatar delivered by the Second Secretary of the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to Geneva, Abdullah bin Ali Bahzad, during his participation in the Item 4 General Debate, within the framework of the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Bahzad emphasized that Syria today stands at a historic crossroads, indicating that after 14 years of devastating conflict and decades of authoritarian rule, the decisions and policies taken by the state will have a significant and direct impact on stability and social peace. He pointed out that the establishment of the Syrian National Commission for Transitional Justice, the National Commission for the Missing, and the two independent national commissions of inquiry into the events in the coastal and Suwayda, as well as positive cooperation with the Independent International Commission of Inquiry, represent an important step by the state toward acknowledging its responsibility to investigate crimes and violations committed against Syrians and ensuring justice and accountability. He voiced the State of Qatar's welcome of the roadmap agreed upon by Syria, Jordan, and the United States to resolve the crisis in Suwayda, enhance stability in southern Syria, and consolidate security and peace in the region. He urged all parties to refrain from any actions that could fuel tensions and destabilize the situation to ensure the success of these efforts. The Second Secretary of the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to Geneva reiterated Qatar's call to the international community to continue providing humanitarian and development support, lift sanctions, and take all necessary measures to halt Israeli attacks and end its occupation of Syrian territory.