tag

Marking its 30th anniversary year, Qatar Foundation (QF) has unveiled The QF Generation: an immersive storytelling platform that sees 30 people whose lives have been shaped by QF relive their personal journeys, and how they are now making a difference in their fields and their communities. Over the past three decades, QF has nurtured a local, regional, and global community of people who are confident in their identity, open to the world, and equipped to lead and to drive positive social change. Many began their journeys in QF classrooms and research spaces; others connected with QF later in life through opportunities that shifted their path. Together, they represent a generation that embodies why QF was created 30 years ago. The QF Generation includes a limited-edition commemorative coffee table book and a digital platform containing 30 stories of how QF touches and changes lives. It features students, educators, researchers, innovators, and changemakers who grew, discovered, and found their purpose because of QF, and are now creating impact in many different ways across sectors, borders, and disciplines. Visitors can explore personal narratives that span early education, university life, research breakthroughs, entrepreneurial ventures, and unexpected moments of inspiration. Each story offers a different perspective, yet all reflect how QF has influenced their growth and how they, in turn, are shaping the world around them. Among those featured are Fatma al-Khater, the founder of Torba Market; Qatari filmmaker Amal al-Muftah; and Ousman Camara, a QF alumnus inspired by his Education City experience to create his own nonprofit organisation in Sierra Leone to support young people’s education and mental health. "In this very special year for a truly unique organisation, The QF Generation celebrates the people whose journeys have been shaped and guided by Qatar Foundation,” said Yousif al-Naama, chief executive officer, QF. “Their stories remind us that the true legacy of Qatar Foundation is not reflected in buildings or programs, but in the lives it has touched and the difference those it has empowered and inspired continue to make in the world.”

Lesha Bank LLC (Public) announced its investment in an energy platform in partnership with a leading energy and infrastructure manager. Lesha Bank has invested approximately QAR 540 million through an entity managed by the Bank, the bank said in a statement published on the Qatar Exchange website. The Bank achieved a net profit of QAR 82.436 million for the first half of 2025, marking a 52.3% increase compared to a net profit of QAR 54.131 for the same period in the previous year.

The Ministry of Labour announced the launch of the pilot phase of the Moawen Platform—a pioneering digital system designed to redefine domestic worker recruitment, bolster transparency, and safeguard the rights of all stakeholders. This was unveiled during the meeting of Her Excellency Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour Sheikha Najwa bint Abdulrahman Al-Thani with licensed recruitment offices. Discussions focused on enhancing cooperation with recruitment offices, supporting and developing their operational capacity, and addressing the sector's key challenges—particularly in workforce management and recruitment procedures. The Moawen Platform streamlines every stage of domestic worker recruitment. Recruitment offices can orchestrate applications through a unified digital portal, while employers can select workers and licensed offices with full transparency, based on service quality and pricing. Simultaneously, the Ministry receives comprehensive, real-time data on recruitment office activity, enabling rapid analysis, identification of bottlenecks, and timely, evidence-based interventions—strengthening sector stability. Key features of the platform include: submission and management of recruitment offers; conducting job interviews; worker and office selection; contract finalization; payment of recruitment fees and wage transfers; and management of end-of-service entitlements and processing of refunds in disputes. During the pilot phase, the platform will register recruitment offices and available workers to create verified, comprehensive profiles; enable offices to manage applications, submit feedback, and refine processes; and allow select clients to test end-to-end application submission and tracking. This trial ensures the Ministry can rigorously evaluate Moawen's effectiveness and readiness ahead of its full launch, while providing recruitment offices the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the system and adapt it to practical operational needs.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that progress had been made on many issues, including trade and the approval of a TikTok deal with China.In a post on the Truth Social platform, Trump said that he had a "very good" phone call with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. He said: "We appreciate the TikTok approval, and both look forward to meeting at APEC."Trump also indicated that he will visit China "early next year" and that the Chinese president will visit the US "at a later date."For his part, the Chinese president said that his country and the US can achieve mutual success, but he stressed that the US side must avoid unilateral trade restrictions. He called on the US to provide an open, fair, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies.He added that the Chinese government respects the will of companies and is pleased to see them conduct trade negotiations in accordance with market rules and reach solutions that comply with Chinese laws and regulations and a balance of interests.

The Hayya platform has recently been recognized for its outstanding achievements in technology and innovation, securing two regional accolades. Hayya was named Winner in the Travel Technology - Business Services category at the Middle East Technology Excellence Awards 2025 and received the Best Use of Digital by Sector - Travel Industry title at the MENA Digital Awards 2025. Commenting on the achievement, Director of Hayya Saeed Al Kuwari said: "We are proud that the Hayya platform has been recognised by two distinguished regional awards for its digital innovation. This achievement reflects Hayya's evolution into a world-class platform that continues to set new standards for travel and tourism services.Our focus on integrating advanced technologies ensures visitors enjoy seamless, secure and efficient experiences, while reinforcing Qatar's position as a leading global destination. With these recent awards, we have not only delivered the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ successfully but also fulfilled our vision of establishing Hayya as a lasting legacy that supports Qatar's tourism sector. We remain committed to its ongoing evolution, ensuring the platform continues to drive innovation and excellence in line with Qatar's tourism vision." Originally designed to manage fan entry during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Hayya has since transformed into a comprehensive e-visa ecosystem, offering five distinct visa categories: the Tourist Visa (A1), GCC Resident Visa (A2), Visa with ETA (A3), Companion of GCC Citizen Visa (A4), and Visa-Free for US Citizens (F1). Hayya's continuous innovation has transformed visitor experiences through advanced B2C technologies, including Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for automated document extraction, the upcoming Arabic OCR implementation to improve accessibility for Arab nationals and NFC-based passport scanning for instant passport data entry. On the B2B front, Hayya provides secure API integration enabling real-time ticket validation and identity-linked QR codes for seamless access across stadiums, hospitality venues, and transport services. The platform has successfully supported some of Qatar's largest international events, including the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the AFC Asian Cup 2023, the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix, and the Web Summit Qatar 2024. Operated by Qatar Tourism, Hayya serves as Qatar's official e-visa digital platform. As Qatar's central digital gateway, Hayya streamlines access to the country through integrated visa processing and event access, all within a single, user-friendly interface. The platform is designed to facilitate e-visa services while integrating events, domestic tourism, transport, lifestyle experiences, and everyday services into one unified solution for living, traveling, and connecting. Beyond enabling smooth entry via airports and land borders, it encourages visitors to explore Qatar's cultural landmarks, natural attractions, and vibrant year-round events. The platform also supports major events by delivering tailored digital solutions for organisers, delegates, and attendees.