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Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ) and Kingdee International Software Group Company have officially announced the inauguration of Kingdee’s regional headquarters at Ras Bufontas Free Zone in Qatar. The two parties also signed a strategic cooperation agreement to strengthen collaboration in developing digital solutions and supporting Qatar’s innovation ecosystem. This milestone marks the Chinese technology leader’s strategic entry into the Middle East market, further positioning Qatar as a strategic hub for investment in emerging technologies and innovation. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Abdulla Hamad Al-Binali, Acting Chief Operating Officer at QFZ; Jason Zhang, President of Kingdee Group; and senior representatives from key public- and private-sector stakeholders. Founded in 1993, Kingdee is a global leader in enterprise management cloud SaaS solutions. With over 7.4mn customers globally and operations in some 172 countries, Kingdee brings a wealth of domain expertise and deep technological capabilities. The launch of its regional headquarters in Qatar is in line with the company’s strategy to strengthen its international footprint. In December 2023, Kingdee signed an agreement with the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), under which QIA committed to invest approximately QR728mn ($200mn) in the company, establishing a strategic partnership that supports Kingdee’s expansion in the region. As part of this partnership, a strategic cooperation agreement was signed by Kingdee and QFZ during the ceremony to expand opportunities for developing advanced digital solutions in Qatar and the wider region. The agreement also, outlines plans to conduct a feasibility study for establishing an innovation ecosystem and a center of excellence in Qatar, encourage Kingdee’s partners and suppliers to establish a presence in the free zones, and collaborate with research and academic institutions to support national capacity building and engage Qatari talent. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Bin Faisal al-Thani, CEO of QFZ, stated: “We are pleased to welcome Kingdee to our free zones. Kingdee’s decision to establish its regional base here is a strong validation of Qatar’s ability to attract pioneering international companies at the forefront of modern technology. With access to cutting-edge infrastructure, unparalleled connectivity, and the investment opportunities that Qatar’s free zones provide to expand across regional markets, Kingdee is well-positioned for growth and success. “Their presence will further strengthen our technology sector and contribute to Qatar’s thriving innovation ecosystem.” Jason Zhang, President, Kingdee Group, said: “Qatar is an economic hub in the Middle East and a crucial node of the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’. The open policies of QFZ, the global perspective of QIA, and the strategic efforts of Invest Qatar have created tremendous opportunities for us to ‘base in Qatar, radiate across the Gulf region, and go global.’” Zhang added: “We will embrace an open and inclusive mindset that integrates global digital technologies with management wisdom to empower local enterprises as well as those going global with world-class products and services to achieve extraordinary results.” The establishment of Kingdee Qatar will strongly support the strategic goals of Qatar’s National Digital Agenda 2030 by delivering “AI-driven + cloud-native” digital transformation solutions, enabling local enterprises to accelerate their progress from “digitalization” to “intelligentization”. Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ) continues to attract global companies in the fields of technology and cloud computing, strengthening its position as an advanced, future-ready investment destination. This enables companies to expand locally, regionally, and globally from Qatar, benefiting from a flexible business environment and state of the art infrastructure. This is part of supporting the realization of Qatar National Vision 2030 and strengthening the pillars of the Third National Development Strategy.

The State of Qatar participated in the Geneva PeaceTalks 2025, held on the sidelines of the International Day to Protect Education from Attack, with the presence of prominent thought leaders and decision-makers.HE Minister of Education and Higher Education Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater delivered a keynote address at the event, which is marked by the United Nations each year on September 9.In her speech, Her Excellency emphasized the devastating impact of conflicts on children and stressed the importance of enabling them to continue their education so they can fulfill their aspirations and contribute to rebuilding their communities.She highlighted the role of education in fostering resilience in conflict zones and supporting peace-building efforts.She also addressed the recent attack on the State of Qatar, despite its ongoing efforts to promote peace and mediate conflicts through peaceful means, pointing to the troubling double standards evident in global responses.Concluding her remarks, Her Excellency reaffirmed Qatar's unwavering commitment to international efforts aimed at protecting education in conflict-affected areas, supporting peace processes, and promoting justice and equality as essential foundations for global stability and security.

Around 270 bcm of approved or under construction LNG liquefaction capacity is currently in the pipeline to be commissioned by 2030, primarily driven by projects in the US and Qatar, according to International Gas Union (IGU).This marks a new growth phase following a prolonged period of stagnation, reflecting the inherently cyclical nature of the liquefaction sector, IGU said in its ‘Global Gas Report 2025’.These cycles are driven by the capital-intensive nature of projects – typically costing around $0.75bn per bcm – and long development timelines, often spanning four to five years from Final Investment Decision (FID) to operation.To manage market risk, developers usually secure most of their capacity through long-term contracts. Due to these factors, the LNG market is expected to remain broadly balanced, with limited opportunity for new developments in the short term and ample supply by 2030.Amid rising demand, there is indication of growing LNG supply reinforcing natural gas’ role as a reliable fuel to meet expected shortfalls, IGU noted.Despite tightness in the near term, the global LNG market is expected to gradually ease over the next few years, and move into surplus as new supply comes online toward 2030.According to IGU, uncertainty surrounding the timing of LNG supply persists despite the expected surge associated with the next wave of LNG projects.In October 2024, TotalEnergies revised its forecast, now anticipating that the next wave of LNG supply will only come to market from 2027, two-years after the previously projected 2025 timeline.The supply outlook remains uncertain due to potential delays as well as regulatory, technical and financial risks to projects. While there is a potential for increased project FIDs as a result of US import tariffs, policies such as the sanctions on Russian LNG are set to strike a blow to global LNG supply as upcoming projects’ ability to acquire necessary equipment, secure vessels and find buyers is becoming increasingly limited.Disruptions to key LNG transit routes, such as the Strait of Hormuz, increase shipping times and costs, undermining project economics and investor confidence. This may lead to slower FIDs for projects dependent on long-distance or chokepoint-exposed routes.IGU noted gas has also proved itself a vital component of global energy security. LNG trade has historically offered cross-border flexibility to respond to shifting demand-supply dynamics during market uncertainties.For instance, the 2022-2024 European energy crisis following the reduction of Russian piped gas supply was stabilised using LNG imports from the US and Qatar.Similarly, East Asian countries like Japan and South Korea rely on spot LNG purchases to balance seasonal fluctuations, establishing natural gas and LNG as geopolitical tools for preventing deeper economic or social fallout through resilient and diversified supply, IGU said.

HH the Amir and President of the UAE held a meeting at the Amiri Diwan, where they discussed the close fraternal relations between the two countries & ways to support them across various fields, the regional & international developments & efforts to achieve peace & stability.

The State of Qatar said that the Israeli violations and crimes did not stop at the brotherly Palestinian people, but rather extended to the cowardly targeting of residential buildings housing several members of the Hamas movement's political bureau in Doha, stressing that this criminal attack constitutes a flagrant violation of all international laws and norms, and a serious threat to the security and safety of the State of Qatar and its people. This came in the State of Qatar's statement delivered by HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar in Geneva Dr. Hend bint Abdulrahman Al Muftah, during her participation in the General Debate with the High Commissioner for Human Rights, for item No. 2, within the framework of the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Her Excellency said that the brutal Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, the massive destruction of infrastructure and homes, the starvation and deliberate murdering of civilians, journalists, and humanitarian aid workers, as well as the forced displacement and migration of the population, and the planning to occupy the entire strip, is not self-defense. It is a crime of genocide committed by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) against the Palestinians, in flagrant violation of all international laws and agreements, and a blatant challenge to international appeals, resolutions, and rulings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Dr. Al Muftah continued. Her Excellency said that history records everything, pointing out that all nations must ask themselves how they will justify their positions, inaction and inability to stop this genocide, to future generations. HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar in Geneva Dr. Hend bint Abdulrahman Al Muftah called on the international community to take serious and urgent measures to compel Israel to end the occupation, halt its crimes and grave violations against the Palestinian people, hold all those responsible accountable, and support the establishment of an independent Palestinian State on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem (Al-Quds) as its capital.

HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani led well-wishers to welcome President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan upon his and the accompanying delegation's arrival at Doha International Airport, on a fraternal visit to the country.Also present to welcome the President of the United Arab Emirates was Personal Representative of the Amir Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani.HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al-Thani, HE Minister of Interior and Commander of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, HE Chief of the Amiri Diwan Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Khulaifi, and a number of Their Excellencies senior officials were also present.The President of the UAE was accompanied by Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and a number of their ministers, members of the official delegation.

RB Mary Lylah, fresh from her breakthrough at the top level in the Gr.1 (PA) Liwa International Stakes at La Teste, confirmed her excellent form by winning the Gr.3 (PA) UAE President Cup at Istanbul Veliefendi in Turkey on Sunday. The race, run over 2000m, was the 12th leg of the Arabian Purebred Classic Series.Trained by Alban de Mieulle, ridden by Daniel Tudhope, and carrying the colours of Wathnan Racing, the 5-year-old mare showed once more her consistency and toughness, securing the 12th win of her career.In a race led by Kocek, RB Mary Lylah travelled in fifth, racing two wide. Positions remained unchanged until the final bend, where she began to improve. Turning for home, she was carried out wide by Tuncer, who drifted left, but she was still travelling easily, her jockey yet to ask for any effort. Once given the signal, she quickly surged to the front inside the final 300m and went clear under a hands-and-heels ride, scoring by a dazzling seven lengths margin. Kati Zamani finished second, while Kralkarinka took third.Bred by Diane Waldron (USA), RB Mary Lylah comes from a rich family. She is out of Rich Kinkga, a triple winner in the United States including the Gr.3 (PA) Arabian Stallion Stakes and twice runner-up in the Gr.2 CRE Run Oaks Arabian Distaff Stakes. She is a half-sister to RB Kindle, an eight-time winner in the USA including the Gr.3 (PA) Delaware Park Arabian Juvenile Filly Championship and runner-up in the Gr.1 (PA) Buzz Brauninger Arabian Distaff Handicap, and to RB Kinetic, a dual Gr.3 (PA) winner in the USA. She is also a half-sister to RB Kinkie, a triple winner in the USA including the Gr.3 Arabian Stallion Stakes.

Doctors Michele Ghielmini, Brenno Balestra, Alessandra Guaita and Marco Franzi sit outside the Swiss Parliament building (Bundeshaus) at the start of their hunger strike over Gaza, calling on their government to apply targeted sanctions on Israel over its alleged violations of international law and to recognise a Palestinian state, in Bern, Switzerland.

The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) has announced the opening of registration for the 6th International Primary Health Care Conference (IPHCC) Qatar 2025, which will be held from November 27 to 29 under the patronage of HE the Minister of Public Health Mansoor bin Ebrahim bin Saad al-Mahmoud.The conference is expected to attract around 1,000 participants, including distinguished speakers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, researchers, educators, students, and stakeholders from around the world, reflecting its position as one of the leading specialised medical events in the region.This year’s conference enjoys diamond sponsorship from Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar Armed Forces, Ooredoo, and QNB, alongside the participation of the Ministry of Public Health as an official partner. This highlights the commitment of various national entities to supporting the health sector and strengthening its vital role in serving the community.Dr Mariam Ali Abdul Malik, managing director of PHCC and chair of Conference Organising Committee, affirmed that the 6th IPHCC represents a leading scientific and professional platform that enables the exchange of expertise and knowledge and promotes collaboration between healthcare and academic institutions, contributing to the development of primary healthcare systems in Qatar and globally.She invited all physicians, healthcare professionals, researchers, students, and stakeholders from inside and outside Qatar to actively participate in this distinguished medical event, benefit from its scientific programmes and specialised workshops, and take the opportunity to present scientific research abstracts.

HE the Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ibrahim bin Ali Al Mohannadi has lauded the Arab League Council of Ministers' unanimous approval of the State of Qatar's proposal to establish the Permanent Arab Committee for International Humanitarian Law.This move represents an Arab milestone and a significant advancement in boosting cooperation to promote the values of humanitarian law and compliance with the tenets of international humanitarian law in the Arab region amid the challenges besetting the region, HE Al Mohannadi underlined.He lavished praise on the efforts made by the National Committee for International Humanitarian Law, chaired by HE the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Justice and Chairman of the National Committee for International Humanitarian Law Saeed bin Abdullah Al Suwaidi, along with its success in the productive coordination with national committees in the sisterly Arab nations to develop a draft proposal for establishing the committee in a manner that meets the aspirations of the Arab states.Having praised the support given by the General Secretariat of the Arab League and the Legal Affairs Sector to adopt this draft proposal, HE Al Mohannadi stated that Qatar's proposal in this respect underscores its enduring commitment to essentially respect the tenets of international humanitarian law, promote the provisions of this law on the Arab stage, as well as the efforts aimed at enforcing it at multiple national levels, in accordance with the provisions of the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the two Additional Protocols of 1977, and the regional action plans of the relevant Arab national committees.For his part, HE Al Suwaidi hailed the approval of Qatar's proposal, emphasizing that the national committee took the initiative with this proposal, stemming from the State of Qatar's belief and its unwavering commitment to international humanitarian law embodied by the nation's leading initiatives to craft national legislations and establish a national committee related to international humanitarian law.He extended his gratitude to national committees in the Arab countries and the Arab League's Legal Affairs Sector for their support, applauding their efforts to approve this proposal.This approval honestly ushers in a new era in the march of joint Arab action, as the committee operates under the supervision of the Arab League's council at the ministerial level to coordinate this action among the national committees in the area of international humanitarian law as the competent apparatus in connection with the topics of international humanitarian law at the Arab League, Al Suwaidi underlined.He pointed out that the committee ought to contribute to beefing up collaboration among the Arab national committees, spreading the culture of international humanitarian law, capitalizing on diverse experiences, and setting technical support plans and programs, as well as holding professional training sessions, seminars, and workshops in collaboration with the relevant regional committees and organisations.

Hamad International Airport has crossed a "record-breaking milestone" this August, serving over 5mn passengers in a single month for the "first time" in its history.This surge was achieved while maintaining the quality of every passenger’s journey, showcasing the airport as a bustling and rapidly growing hub that is resilient and steadfastly passenger centric.Hamad International Airport’s performance in August represents a 6.4% increase in passenger traffic compared to August 2024.Nearly 1.3mn of the 5mn passengers were point-to-point travellers, marking a 12% year-on-year growth in this category. This highlights the rising demand for direct travel from/to Qatar and showcases the strength of aviation as a key driver of the national diverse economy.The achievement for Qatar’s Hamad International Airport comes shortly after the release of the 2025 World Airport Traffic Dataset by Airports Council International (ACI) World, ranking the airport firmly among the world's busiest international airports.Drivers of Growth: Capacity expansion and strong airline partnerships have been central to this record. Qatar Airways increased frequencies to over 15 key destinations worldwide, providing enhanced connectivity through its hub.Other airlines partners also played a key role, with Virgin Australia launching new services to Doha, while Philippine Airlines and Air Arabia increased their capacity, offering even more travel options across regional and long-haul markets.Together, these developments have made traveling through Hamad International Airport smoother and more convenient for both transfer and local passengers.Passenger experience performance: The historic surge in volumes was matched by elevated passenger experience and consistently positive customer feedback.In August, passenger survey responses confirmed an impressive overall satisfaction score of 98%. Additionally, 92% of the survey participants rated the overall security processes at key touchpoints as excellent.With its expanding global network, strategic capacity investments, and customer-focused approach, Hamad International Airport continues to consolidate its position as one of the fastest-rising hubs in global air transport.

On the occasion of the International Day of Charity, observed annually on September 5, Taqat for Trading and Business Solutions reaffirmed its commitment to supporting humanitarian work in its various aspects through partnerships with leading regional and international humanitarian organisations, a statement said Saturday.Through its three flagship programmes – Edama, Emdad, and Relief Center – Taqat plays an active role in strengthening charitable efforts by participating in specialised exhibitions and events, such as the DIHAD humanitarian exhibition, an international platform for exchanging expertise and enhancing co-operation among humanitarian institutions.The general manager of Taqat for Trading and Business Solutions said: “At Taqat, we believe that supporting humanitarian work requires collective efforts and integrated roles. Therefore, we are keen to build strategic partnerships with major charitable and humanitarian organisations. Innovation and modern technology lie at the core of our vision to enhance the effectiveness of humanitarian initiatives and achieve tangible and sustainable impact.”He added that Taqat’s mission is to make a meaningful contribution to supporting the most vulnerable groups while promoting a culture of giving and solidarity in both local and international communities.As one of Taqat’s flagship programmes, the Relief Centre embodies this mission on the International Day of Charity. The centre offers a comprehensive digital platform that reshapes the humanitarian response to be faster, more accurate, and more integrated — linking data to decisions, the field to analysis, and amplifying the voices of affected communities. It strives toward a smart humanitarian response for a better life, preserving dignity and celebrating the true value of giving, the statement added.