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Tuesday, May 05, 2026 | Daily Newspaper published by GPPC Doha, Qatar.

Tag Results for "paris" (34 articles)

France’s Christo Popov reacts after defeating Japan’s Kodai Naraoka during their semi-final at the BWF Badminton World Tour Finals at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China, Saturday.(AFP)
Sport

Popov becomes first French player to reach title match in World Tour Finals

Christo Popov became the first French player to reach the title match at the World Tour ‌Finals where he faces world champion Shi Yuqi ‌Saturday, while Paris ‍Olympics gold medallist An Se-young set up a women's showpiece clash ⁠with holder Wang Zhiyi.Popov, making ⁠his tournament debut as a singles player, overwhelmed Japan's ‍Kodai Naraoka with his speed and power to win 21-19 21-8 in the semi-finals in Hangzhou."The first game was very important, being very long and winning that made me confident for the second game, and I got more aggressive," Popov said."One thought was ‌getting out of the group stage, which would be a huge thing for me. Now I’m into the final, so ‍I'm happy."Popov is trying to ⁠become the ‌third European to clinch the men's singles title after Danes Anders Antonsen and Viktor Axelsen, with the latter winning a record three times.China's Shi, who is looking to equal Axelsen with a third straight World Tour Finals title, beat Thai world number one Kunlavut Vitidsarn 21-16 21-13 in the second semi-final.In the women's semis, South Korean An took just 38 minutes to beat Japan's Akane Yamaguchi 21-15 21-12.Bidding ​for a second title ‌at the season-ending championships, An came at the world champion with power and ⁠pace but Yamaguchi ‍repelled the attacks with pinpoint accuracy from the front court.An's pressure eventually told, however, and she kept Yamaguchi off balance to take the match with quick rallies.In the second women's semi-final, Wang, 25, dropped the first game to Ratchanok ​Intanon, who caused the Chinese player all sorts of problems with the variety of her shots.The Thai defended well on the back court but Wang ticked up the aggression to take the second game.Wang's superior fitness began to tell in the third as the 30-year-old Ratchanok tired and the Chinese player emerged with a 15-21 21-17 ⁠21-11 victory to reach the final. (Reporting by Karan Prashant Saxena and Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford ) 

PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safonov with the Intercontinental Cup trophy.
Sport

Immense Safonov earns praise for penalty prowess

When a penalty shootout comes around, teams rarely take the win with a narrow 2-1 victory. However, the final of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025 between Paris Saint-Germain and Flamengo at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium was settled by such an anomaly.The reigning European champions and their opponents were locked in a stalemate, and the French club feared that their dream of further title success would slip away in a penalty shootout, but then an unexpected hero emerged in the shape of Matvey Safonov.No one saw him coming to the rescue, especially after the French press expected Lucas Chevalier to return between the Parisian sticks. After all, Jorginho expertly converted a penalty in the 62nd minute past the Russian, and nothing at that point suggested that he would cause such an upset for the Flamengo players by literally getting inside their heads.While he failed to deny Nicolas de la Cruz's opening spot-kick in the decisive shootout, leaving PSG trailing, Safonov, named the player of the match, went on to save attempts from Saul Niguez, Pedro, Leo Pereira and Luiz Araujo in quick succession in what was a truly outstanding performance."He had a great match and of course we all thanked him," said Portuguese defender Nuno Mendes, who had nothing but praise for his goalkeeper after the match. "We're really pleased for him and for the team. I think he showed how good he is today. We've been practising penalties, and thankfully, today he was on hand to save them. He stopped four from the spot in a great penalty shootout."After arriving from Krasnodar in July 2024, the Russian goalkeeper spent much of the following season playing second fiddle to Gianluigi Donnarumma, the architect of Paris Saint-Germain's numerous successes in recent months.While the Italian, newly crowned The Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper 2025, made the move to Manchester City in September, the Russian - remarkably born on the exact same day - saw Lucas Chevalier join the club as the presumed new number one. However, Safonov was handed his chance when the former Lille player recently picked up an injury. Suffice to say, he seized the opportunity, and was hailed as a hero by his teammates after the match."We've all congratulated him; we're very pleased with him. He was fully focused. He waited for his time to come and showed what he was capable of," said French international Warren Zaire-Emery afterwards. "He's settled in very nicely. He was quick to learn French and is always ready to listen. The team is his primary focus, and he always gives his all. We need players like him who are there to help the group as a whole."The 26-year-old shot-stopper had previously shown his worth in a penalty shootout nearly a year ago. In the last match of 2024, PSG almost got knocked out in the first round of the Coupe de France away to Lens, but Safonov, on duty in the national competition, denied them twice from twelve yards.His team emerged victorious in the end and lifted the trophy a few months later. Despite everything, the Russian still dazzled his manager Luis Enrique on Wednesday, and the coach will have no regrets about his decision to place his trust in him in Doha."I think it's the first time I've seen my keeper save four penalties in a shootout. We're extremely pleased to have won this trophy, and I believe we deserve it," said the Spanish coach, while refusing to speculate on any potential reshuffling of his goalkeeping hierarchy.Whatever the case, PSG's exceptional 2025 is coming to an end. If someone had told their fans following the win at Lens that a year on, another four saves from Safonov in a penalty shootout would secure them a sixth title in 12 months, they probably would not have believed it. Now who knows what the future holds for the club from the French capital? 

Gulf Times
Sport

PSG and France forward Dembele named FIFA men's player of the year in Doha

Paris St Germain and France forward Ousmane Dembele was named FIFA men's player of the year in Doha on Tuesday with Spain and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati winning the women's award for the third year in a row.Dembele was instrumental in PSG's first Champions League triumph when they beat Inter Milan 5-0 in the final and scored 35 goals last season across all competitions, including 21 in Ligue 1 to finish as top scorer.The 28-year-old, who won this year's Ballon d'Or in September, was part of the PSG team which also swept all before them on the domestic front last season and reached the final of the Club World Cup.**media[394351]**Bonmati, the Champions League player of the season, also won the women's Ballon d'Or for the third time in a row this year, and helped Barcelona win the domestic treble along with reaching the Champions League final.The 27-year-old also reached the Euro 2025 final with Spain, losing the decider to England on penalties, and Bonmati was named Player of the Tournament.Sarina Wiegman won the best women's coach award for the fifth time after leading England to retain their European Championship title, and Luis Enrique won the men's coach award after taking Paris St Germain to their first Champions League win.The best women's goalkeeper award went to England and Chelsea's Hannah Hampton who played a major role in the Lionesses' Euro 2025 win with her penalty shootout saves and also won the domestic treble with her club.Italy's Gianluigi Donnarumma, who now plays for Manchester City, won the men's keeper award for his role in Paris St Germain's treble win.Mexico's Lizbeth Ovalle won the FIFA Marta Award, for the best goal in women's football, for her scorpion kick for Tigres against Guadalajara in March.Santiago Montiel won the Puskas Award for the best men's goal for his overhead strike for Independiente against Independiente Rivadavia during an Argentine Primera match in May.

Gulf Times
Qatar

QNB hosts 'exclusive' events during Paris Saint-Germain's winter tour in Doha

QNB, the largest financial institution in the Middle East and Africa, hosted two special events in Doha as part of its premium partnership with the French football club, Paris Saint-Germain, during the team's annual winter tour in Qatar.The tour presents an exciting opportunity for fans and customers to engage with the celebrated Paris Saint-Germain team, who are still riding the wave of their historic 2024–2025 Treble.**media[394324]**As a prominent component of its sponsorship activities, QNB organised activities in the ICI C’EST PARIS Park Doha, an immersive fan event held at Hotel Park. QNB's football activation within the park, named "Speed Park," challenged guests to achieve the fastest ball-shooting speed.Furthermore, QNB hosted a private Paris Saint-Germain Meet and Greet workshop at the Swissôtel Corniche Park Towers Doha exclusively for a limited number of clients. This private session offered unique opportunities for the bank's customers to meet some of the players, take photographs, and receive signatures.The bank's continued engagement in high-profile sports events highlights its strategy regarding community and wellness.**media[394325]**Sports is one of QNB’s most recognised sponsorship activities, as it helps promote a healthy lifestyle and highlights the importance of physical well-being.This support also aligns with QNB's commitment to Qatar’s National Vision 2030 to work towards a dynamic society. QNB supports various sports events and teams at both local and international levels, with efforts focused on driving interest, awareness, and participation in traditional sports like camel races, as well as popular sports in the country such as football, basketball, handball, and volleyball. 

Gulf Times
Qatar

Qatar showcases efforts for climate action at COP30

Qatar's pavilion at the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30), held in Belem, Brazil, has organised a panel discussion entitled "National Communications in Support of Climate Action."The discussion featured a number of international experts and specialists in climate reporting and transparency systems. The session aimed to highlight the vital role of national communications and climate reports in enhancing transparency and improving countries' readiness to develop effective policies for mitigating and adapting to climate change, as well as aligning national efforts with the commitments of the Paris Agreement.The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change presented an overview of Qatar's efforts in updating its national reports and enhancing its readiness to comply with the requirements of the enhanced transparency framework under the Paris Agreement.The ministry emphasised the importance of exchanging experiences among countries to improve the quality of climate reports and support global climate action. During the session, participants discussed the importance of preparing national communications and periodic reports for States Parties, the role of accurate data in supporting decision-making, and highlighted the relationship between national communications, nationally determined contributions and national adaptation plans.They also reviewed the challenges related to capacity building and strengthening transparency systems in developing countries, and international cooperation mechanisms for developing climate reporting capacities.


Paris St Germain’s Joao Neves celebrates scoring their third goal against Lyon in the Ligue 1 match. (Reuters)
Sport

Neves late show sends PSG top of the table

Joao Neves’ late winner returned Paris Saint-Germain to the top of Ligue 1 as they beat Lyon 3-2 on Sunday, while Emanuel Emegha netted a brace as Strasbourg defeated Lille.PSG had gone into the weekend’s action in top spot, but were knocked off it by archrivals Marseille who beat Brest 3-0 on Saturday to edge ahead by a point.The chance to restore their lead seemed to have slipped by Luis Enrique’s side until Neves’ 95th-minute header at the Groupama Stadium.Reigning champions PSG now sit on 27 points, two clear of second-placed Marseille.“Resilience is a word I like,” said PSG coach Luis Enrique.He added: “We showed the right mentality to win this match. It’s important because in adversity, we win, and we are first in Ligue 1.”This win acted as a pick-me-up for PSG after their midweek Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich.Late defeat condemned Lyon to seventh spot, seven points off the leaders. The visitors went ahead on 26 minutes as Warren Zaire-Emery raced onto Vitinha’s ball over the top.Lacking options in the middle for a square pass, the 19-year-old instead decided to unleash a rasping drive which flew past Dominik Greif at his near post.Lyon responded four minutes later as Afonso Moreira sprung the PSG offside trap with a run from deep, before slotting past Lucas Chevalier.But the hosts’ joy turned to fury inside three minutes as PSG retook the lead via a crisp Khvicha Kvaratskhelia finish.Lyon players swiftly gathered around the referee to protest Vitinha’s challenge on Tanner Tessman to win the ball back, before teeing up the Georgian.The Portuguese seemed to go straight through the back of Tessman, but after a VAR review the strike was validated.A decision which resulted in assistant coach Jorge Maciel earning himself a yellow card for his reaction.“We need to talk about video refereeing. French football has an incredible league, but to have a real product, you need three teams on the pitch doing their job,” Maciel fumed after the match.Nicolas Tagliafico struck the PSG woodwork four minutes before the interval as Lyon went into the break bemoaning their luck.But Ainsley Maitland-Niles soothed those frustrations five minutes into the second half with a superb lofted finish from Tyler Morton’s ball over the top.The match then tightened up after that 24-minute flurry, which resulted in four goals, as both sides rang the changes.PSG suddenly found themselves on red alert on 80 minutes as Chevalier and his defence were required to pull off some last-ditch heroics to deny Lyon.Tagliafico was dismissed in injury time after picking up a second yellow for tussling with Lee Kang-in off the ball.The resulting free-kick went behind for a corner, and from that set-piece the diminutive Neves popped up to stun the hosts.After missing Strasbourg’s last five league outings with a thigh issue, Emegha returned with a bang as he fired the hosts to 2-0 victory over Lille.His goals either side of half-time lifted Liam Rosenior’s side to fourth place on 22 points.Lille dropped to fifth after falling to their fourth defeat of the campaign, and now trail Strasbourg by two points.“This match was similar to some of our recent matches,” Lille coach Bruno Genesio said.“You can’t say that we played very badly or that the opposition were superior to us. We made mistakes that cost us dearly and we lacked variety and initiative.”Emegha gave the hosts the lead three minutes after the half-hour as he adjusted well to knee home Diego Moreira’s cross which had just cleared the head of defender Nathan Ngoy.A catastrophic backpass by French 2018 World Cup winner Olivier Giroud on 62 minutes sent Emegha through one-on-one and the 22-year-old made no mistake.Elsewhere, Lorient and Toulouse played out a 1-1 draw in Brittany with both sides scoring from the penalty spot.Metz beat Nice 2-1 and bottom-side Auxerre lost 2-0 at Angers.

Gulf Times
Region

PSG’s al-Khelaifi named best president of the year at 2025 Golden Boy Awards

Paris Saint-Germain President Nasser al-Khelaifi has been named Best President of the Year at the 2025 Golden Boy Awards held in Italy on Tuesday. The awards saw PSG’s Désiré Doué win the 2025 Golden Boy Award after an outstanding season.The annual awards, organised by Italian newspaper Tuttosport since 2003, recognise excellence across European football and are voted for by a panel of 50 sports journalists from across the continent.PSG’s achievements during the 2024/25 season were a major factor in the recognition. Under al-Khelaïfi’s leadership, the club completed a quadruple that included the Ligue 1 title, Coupe de France, Trophée des Champions and their first-ever UEFA Champions League trophy.Doué, the 20-year-old forward, scored 16 goals and provided 16 assists in 61 appearances, including two goals in PSG’s Champions League final win over Inter Milan.The club’s sporting advisor, Luis Campos, was also named Best Executive for his role in shaping PSG’s football strategy and building a balanced and competitive squad.

Gulf Times
Sport

Italy's Sinner reclaims world no. 1 ranking after Paris Masters Victory

Italy’s Jannik Sinner has reclaimed the world No. 1 ranking in men’s tennis following the latest update of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) standings released Monday, which also introduced several changes within the top ten.Sinner’s return to the summit came after his triumph at the Paris Masters (ATP 1000) on Sunday, where he defeated Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime in the final to overtake Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, who slipped to second place.Among other notable movements, American Ben Shelton climbed one spot to sixth, pushing Australia’s Alex de Minaur down to seventh. Felix Auger-Aliassime rose two places to eighth, while Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti dropped from eighth to ninth, and Norway’s Casper Ruud fell to tenth.Sinner now leads the updated rankings with 11,500 points, followed by Alcaraz with 11,250 points. Germany’s Alexander Zverev holds third with 5,560 points, ahead of American Taylor Fritz in fourth with 4,735 points, and Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in fifth with 4,580 points.Completing the top ten are Shelton (6th, 3,970 pts), De Minaur (7th, 3,935 pts), Auger-Aliassime (8th, 3,845 pts), Musetti (9th, 3,685 pts), and Ruud (10th, 3,235 pts).

Gulf Times
Qatar

HEC Paris, Doha welcomes new cohort of emerging leaders EMBA

HEC Paris, one of the world’s top-ranked business schools, proudly welcomes the 2025 cohort of its Emerging Leaders Track (ELT) - a pioneering Executive MBA programme to develop the next generation of business leaders who will shape the diversified, knowledge-driven economies of Qatar and the wider region. As HEC Paris celebrates 15 years in Qatar, the launch of this new cohort reflects the business school’s commitment to cultivating purposeful leaders, fostering innovation, and advancing Qatar National Vision 2030 through education, human capital development, and transformative societal impact. Building on the success of the inaugural 2024 cohort, the Emerging Leaders Track Executive MBA continues to offer a flexible, part-time format that enables participants to balance professional responsibilities with academic advancement, equipping them to apply their learning immediately within their organisations. The 2025 intake welcomes 47 participants from six countries, including professionals from Qatar and the region. Notably, 70% are women, reflecting HEC Paris, Doha’s strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, and the development of local talent. Participants come from a variety of industries, creating a dynamic learning environment rooted in global perspectives and regional relevance. Dr Pablo Martin de Holan, dean of HEC Paris, Doha, reflected: “The Emerging Leaders Track empowers professionals to grow personally and professionally developing the technical and human skills and the ethical perspective needed drive impact within organizations and communities. The programme reflects our commitment to nurturing talent, advancing innovation and entrepreneurship, supporting Qatar’s vision for a modern, robust and sustainable economy.” Designed for ambitious professionals with high growth potential, the ELT curriculum integrates academic rigour with practical learning. Participants gain expertise in core business disciplines, including strategy, finance, operations, and innovation, while developing leadership skills through case studies, field visits, and a hands-on Capstone Project that enables them to generate tangible impact within their organizations or entrepreneurial ventures. Prof Wolfgang Amann, academic experience manager of the Emerging Leaders Track Executive MBA at HEC Paris, Doha, said: “The Emerging Leaders Track goes beyond business education - it’s a transformational experience that develops both mindset and capability. By integrating global insights with local relevance, participants learn to turn strategic vision into action and to lead with clarity, agility, and purpose. The programme challenges them to think differently, act decisively, and create lasting impact within their organisations and across the region.”

Gulf Times
Qatar

Doha Forum, QFFD partner with 8th edition of Paris Peace Forum 2025

Doha Forum and Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) reaffirmed their joint commitment to advancing peace, dialogue, and sustainable development through their renewed partnership with the 8th edition of the Paris Peace Forum, held under the theme "New Coalitions for Peace, People and the Planet." The Paris Peace Forum convened global leaders from governments, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society to deliberate on collective responses to growing global fragmentation, mounting development challenges, and escalating geopolitical tensions. Within this framework, the Doha Forum and QFFD co-hosted a high-level session titled "New Coalitions for Peace and Development: How Can We Address the Funding Gap" The discussion highlighted the urgent need for innovative, inclusive, and sustainable financing mechanisms to support peacebuilding and development efforts, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. The session was moderated by Head of Regional Development Dynamics Division at the OECD Development Centre, Sebastian Nieto Parra, and featured the participation of Deputy Director General of the Planning Sector at Qatar Fund for Development Sheikha Haya Al Thani; Humanitarian Director and Deputy Director-General for Stabilization, Humanitarian Assistance and Peace Building at the Ministry of External Affairs, Germany Ina Heusgen ; Deputy Director of the Crisis Support Center at the French Ministry of External Affairs Fanny Demassieux; and Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Yonsei University Chung-in Moon. With only 17% of the Sustainable Development Goals currently on track, the discussion emphasized the urgent need for a broader and more adaptive financing ecosystem — one that engages non-traditional donors, leverages private capital, strengthens public-private collaboration, and channels philanthropic investment toward long-term stability and resilience. General Manager of the Doha Forum, Maha Al-Kuwari, highlighted the Forum's commitment to driving meaningful partnerships, stating: "With the world facing multiple, overlapping crises, we must move beyond pledges to tangible outcomes. Our collaboration with QFFD at the Paris Peace Forum reflects Doha Forum's belief that innovative partnerships — across governments, philanthropy, and the private sector — are key to advancing sustainable peace and development." Deputy Director General of the Planning Sector at Qatar Fund for Development, Sheikha Haya Al Thani, emphasized: "At Qatar Fund for Development, we believe that the complex challenges facing our world today cannot be addressed in isolation. They require collective action, bold partnerships, and innovative financing that bridge divides and drive meaningful impact. Our trilateral partnership between the Doha Forum and the Paris Peace Forum reaffirms our shared commitment to advancing constructive dialogue, strengthening international cooperation, and accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals." This year's engagement marks the third consecutive year of the strategic partnership between Doha Forum, QFFD, and the Paris Peace Forum. This ongoing collaboration reaffirms the State of Qatar's steadfast commitment to reinforcing effective multilateralism, grounded in inclusive dialogue and collective action to advance global peace, stability, and prosperity for all.

Russia’s Daniil Medvedev serves to Spain’s Jaume Munar during their Paris Masters match Tuesday. AFP
Sport

Medvedev eases past Munar into second round

Former world number one Daniil Medvedev kickstarted his campaign at the Paris Masters Tuesday with a comfortable 6-1, 6-3 win over Spaniard Jaume Munar.The 2020 Paris Masters champion began briskly on the vast centre court of the event’s new La Defense Arena home, claiming the opening set in under half-an-hour. Eleventh seed Medvedev then secured the crucial break in the sixth game of the second set and served out to set up a second-round meeting with Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov.Earlier, Canadian ninth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime kept alive his hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals in Turin with a comeback 6-7 (2/7), 6-3, 6-3 victory over Argentinian Francisco Comesana.Auger-Aliassime is ninth in the race for the eight-place tournament and needs a deep run in the French capital to make his second career appearance at the season-ending tournament. Shock Shanghai Masters winner Valentin Vacherot raised the roof on the 17,500-capacity centre court as he continued his remarkable form in the opening match of the day.The Monegasque wildcard beat Czech 14th seed Jiri Lehecka 6-1, 6-3 in under an hour, and will next meet his cousin Arthur Rinderknech in a repeat of the Shanghai final earlier in October. Canadian Gabriel Diallo beat Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands 6-3, 6-4 and France’s Corentin Moutet fought past American lucky loser Reilly Opelka in three sets.Earlier, Grigor Dimitrov returned to action by beating Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 in the first round as the event made its debut in its new La Defense Arena home.After being held for nearly 40 years at Paris’ Bercy Arena, the tournament has moved across the city to set up shop in the cavernous multi-purpose arena.Opened in 2017, the venue is best known as the home ground of French Top 14 rugby club Racing 92 and for having played host to the swimming events at the Olympics last year. It also welcomes concerts and political rallies. Now in its current guise as a tennis venue, La Defense Arena boasts the second largest showpiece court on the current global tennis circuit - second only in size terms to the US Open’s Arthur Ashe Stadium.It was the scene of a triumphant comeback for former world number three Dimitrov as he played his first match since having to retire injured from his fourth round match at Wimbledon in July when leading two sets to love against eventual champion Jannik Sinner. “Winning or losing this match today would have been a win for me, I’m just so happy to be able to compete again,” 34-year-old Dimitrov said on-court.“I had to be extremely patient with myself... clearly I’m playing against such an amazing player but I’m just grateful (to win).”Dimitrov overcame fervent home support in the night session to grind out the first set on a tie-break against big-serving Frenchman Mpetshi Perricard.Bolstered by his lead, the Bulgarian swiftly secured the first break of the match in the opening game of the second set as he glided through to the round of 32.

Gulf Times
Qatar

HEC Paris Doha catalysing purpose-driven entrepreneurship in Qatar

HEC Paris, Doha, a partner university of Qatar Foundation (QF), is increasingly influencing Qatar’s entrepreneurial landscape. The rise of startups focusing on health and sustainability reflects more than just a shift in lifestyle trends, but rather a broader movement led by a new generation of purpose-driven entrepreneurs committed to building visionary, impact-oriented businesses. Among them are three successful HEC Paris, Doha alumni – Layla al-Dorani, Nuwaid Pocker, and Ghanim al-Sulaiti – each defining what it means to lead with impact. Al-Dorani, founder of Raw Middle East – a plant-based food and beverage factory – credits HEC Paris, Doha with transforming her approach to innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership. “It gave me the confidence to take calculated risks and view challenges as opportunities for transformation,” she said. Her journey in HEC Paris, Doha “wasn’t just about learning frameworks, it was about building the mindset to create impact through business” not only in Qatar but in the Middle East. Al-Dorani said that her network from the university has been instrumental to her growth and her business. It’s more than a professional network, she said, “it’s a community of thinkers, innovators, and leaders who relentlessly inspire and support each other”. As consumer awareness around health and sustainability grows in Qatar and the region, al-Dorani’s company is increasingly emphasising on education, accessibility, and familiar flavours. Sustainability is central to its operations, from food waste composting to a goal of 100% sustainable packaging by 2027, to exploring local farm partnerships to reduce carbon footprint, while strengthening local supply chains. For Pocker, founder of Dieture – a leading diet centre in Qatar – and now the driving force behind FoodCare, which is a data-driven ecosystem that integrates meals, diagnostics, and guidance, HEC Paris, Doha transformed how he thinks about scale, innovation, and disciplined execution. During his capstone project, he was challenged to design strategic paths to scale Dieture, which pushed him to move beyond good ideas into structured, testable business theses. This structured approach helped transform Dieture from a meal subscription concept into FoodCare – a scalable ecosystem integrating clean food, diagnostics, and personalised health insights. He pointed out that the HEC Paris, Doha network played a vital role in launching his career through mentorship, access to government and industry leaders, and early customer traction. It also accelerated his company’s evolution and helped him refine brand messaging, product validation, and market access. Pocker stressed that HEC Paris, Doha’s broader impact is raising the bar for entrepreneurship in Qatar. “This is proof that the school is shaping leaders, not just teaching frameworks,” he said. Meanwhile, Ghanim al-Sulaiti, founder of Evergreen Organics and Enbat Group, took a different path – one rooted in reconnecting people with real food. “I realised how disconnected we’ve become from what nourishes us, especially the younger generation,” he said. What started as Qatar’s first fully plant-based café has since grown up into a movement, spanning sustainable packaging through Papercut, wellness with Botany, and global reforestation via the Forest Smoothie initiative. Al-Sulaiti joined HEC Paris, Doha eight years after he had launched his business – a turning point that refined his mission. “Before HEC Paris, Doha, I was driven purely by passion; and then after completing my programme at the business school, I learned how to sustain that passion through strategy,” he said.