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QNB Group and the Qatar Chamber have signed a sponsorship agreement for the Seventh Gulf Businesswomen Forum, under which QNB will sponsor the event as a Strategic Partner.The agreement was signed by Qatar Chamber acting general manager Ali Bu Sherbak al-Mansouri and QNB Group executive vice-president of SME Banking Ismail Mohamed al-Emadi, in the presence of Federation of GCC Chambers (FGCCC) secretary-general Saleh bin Hamad al-Sharqi and Qatar Chamber board member Ibtihaj al-Ahmadani, who is also chairperson of the Qatari Businesswomen Forum.Organised by the FGCCC, in co-operation with the Qatar Chamber and with the support of the General Secretariat of the Gulf Co-operation Council, the forum will be held under the slogan ‘Entrepreneurship and Investment Sustainability’ on November 12-13 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Msheireb, Doha.The forum aims to strengthen entrepreneurship and promote sustainable investment among businesswomen in GCC countries. It will highlight mechanisms for supporting women’s participation in sustainable investment and explore ways to transition from traditional business models to more innovative, digital, and knowledge-driven approaches, in line with the GCC’s collective vision for a knowledge-based economy.Al-Mansouri said, “We highly value QNB Group’ s sponsorship of the forum, which reflects the bank’s steadfast commitment to supporting Qatari and Gulf women, enhancing their participation in driving economic transformation, and representing the private sector in regional and international arenas.”He emphasised that the partnership with QNB represents a significant contribution to the success of the forum, reinforcing its position as a leading Gulf platform for dialogue and networking among businesswomen, as well as a venue for exchanging expertise, exploring investment opportunities, and fostering co-operation on future projects.QNB Group’s sponsorship represents a strategic platform for the economic empowerment of female business owners in GCC countries, reflecting its commitment to supporting their role in accelerating the transition towards a knowledge economy in the region.The sponsorship also supports the ongoing partnership with Qatar Chamber, reflecting joint efforts to promote women’s business entrepreneurship to more innovative and digital-based approaches, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the sustainable development strategies of GCC countries.

The Ministerial Committee for Standardization Affairs of the GCC countries, has adopted 14 new draft Gulf technical regulations and converted 25 existing technical regulations into Gulf standard specifications. It also withdrew 34 technical regulations to keep pace with international developments and technological advancements in the markets.This occurred during the Committee's tenth meeting yesterday in Kuwait, chaired by the Kuwait's Minister of Commerce and Industry, and attended by ministers, heads of national standardization bodies, and delegations from member states.At the beginning of the meeting,Chairman of the GCC Standardization Organization, Engineer Nawaf bin Ibrahim Al Mana, presented the organization's progress report for the period from April to September of last year. The report highlighted key achievements and projects implemented in the fields of standardization, conformity assessment, and metrology, as well as strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening Gulf economic integration and supporting the competitiveness of Gulf industries.The esteemed committee also approved the Gulf Standardization Organization's budget for the fiscal year 2026, along with adopting the updated organizational structure and strategic plan for the period 2026-2030.These decisions come within the framework of ongoing efforts to develop the Gulf standardization system and enhance its institutional integration, contributing to the realization of the GCC Standardization Organization's 2030 vision, which aims to raise the efficiency of the legislative framework supporting Gulf products and improve their competitiveness in regional and global markets.These results also reflect the commitment of the Ministerial Committee and the GCC Standardization Organization to continue joint Gulf action in the fields of standardization, quality, and conformity assessment, and to consolidate the GCC system's position in regional and international forums, in line with the GCC Vision 2030, which aims for sustainable industrial and commercial development and enhanced economic integration among member states.

The School of Social Sciences and Humanities at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, in partnership with the Asian Association of World Historians (AAWH), inaugurated on Saturday 25 October 2025 the 6th Congress under the title "The Gulf and the World".The two-day event is being held with the participation of an elite group of scholars and historians from Asia, Europe, the United States and the Arab region.It comes as a continuation of the Association's previous conferences held in Osaka (2009), Seoul (2012), Singapore (2015), Osaka (2018) and New Delhi (2022), thereby affirming the Association's leading role in advancing research and education in world history with a special focus on Asia and enhancing south, south scholarly dialogue.The conference program includes four keynote lectures and thirteen academic sessions, in which approximately fifty research presentations will be delivered in a hybrid format combining in-person attendance and online participation.President of the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies Dr. Abdelwahab El Effendi affirmed that holding this conference for the first time in the region represents an important step toward understanding the interconnection between Asia and global history.El Effendi said that Asia is not just a part of the world; one could say it is the world itself, as the great beginnings of humanity originated here.He added that the fragmentation of identities, Arab, Indian, Japanese, and others, has led each to view itself as an independent world, and this is the essence of the challenge to the historical unity, stressing the need to value our shared history and to restore awareness of the united destiny of the peoples of Asia and Africa.For her part, President of the Asian Association of World Historians Sucheta Mahajan said: "Holding the 6th Congress of the AAWH at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies marks a milestone in the Association's trajectory, which has sought since its establishment to institutionalise studies in global and transcontinental history in Asia." After noting that East Asian cities had hosted the event for years, she continued: "Its convening in Doha, in West Asia, embodies the Association's inclusive Asian dimension and strengthens the scholarly dialogue from the Gulf to the eastern part of the continent."Mahajan added: "We have received a wide range of papers that transcend the traditional conference themes, to highlight world history from a new Gulf and Asian perspective. The hybrid format of the conference also enables wide global participation, making it truly an international event anchored in a solid Asian base."Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Humanities at the Doha Institute Amal Ghazal said: "The congress brings together a distinguished group of researchers and historians from Asia, Europe, the United States and the Arab region to discuss historical issues from a perspective that places the Gulf region and the Asian continent at the heart of global economic, cultural and political transformations."She added: "This event is the fruit of an academic collaboration between the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies and the Asian Association of World Historians, aimed at enhancing south-south academic dialogue and expanding the horizons of comparative historical research. The congress constitutes a platform for dialogue among historians from diverse backgrounds and historiographical schools and is an opportunity to re-centre the history of the Arabian Gulf within the context of Asian and world history."Following the opening session, parallel sessions began. Led by Issam Nassar (Doha Institute for Graduate Studies), a session titled "The Gulf in the World" convened, during which papers on national identity, Gulf diplomacy and the comparative history of regional relations were discussed. At the same time, two other sessions were held: "Late-20th Century Transformations", chaired by Shigeru Akita (Osaka University, Japan), and "Techniques of the Past and Future", chaired by Hong Liu (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore); these addressed energy transformations, political economy and technologies in modern and contemporary history.

Al Rayyan were held to a 1-1 draw by Oman’s Al Nahda in the second round of the Gulf Club Champions League at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Musacat Wednesday.The hosts took the lead through Cameroonian striker Olomo in the 55th minute, but Rodrigo Moreno restored parity for Al Rayyan ten minutes later with a fine header. Despite dominating the closing stages and missing a penalty opportunity, Al Rayyan had to settle for a point from their second outing of the tournament.Al Rayyan had won their opening match in emphatic fashion 5-0 against Yemen’s Al Tadamun Hadramaut.

Al Rayyan will look to maintain their perfect start to the Gulf Club Champions League (GCCL) when they face Omani side Al Nahda this evening at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Muscat in a Group B clash.The Qatari giants come into the second round of the group stage brimming with confidence after a dominant 5-0 victory over Al Tadamun Hadramaut in their opening match. Now topping the group, Al Rayyan are aiming to consolidate their lead with another strong performance.Speaking ahead of the game, Al Rayyan head coach Artur Jorge underlined the importance of the fixture and his team’s ambitions. “We are heading into another match in the Gulf Championship against Al-Nahda, and we are aware of the importance of this match, which will not be easy,” said the Portuguese tactician during the pre-match press conference Tuesday.“Our goal is to continue winning in this tournament. We must do our best and perform at the level Al Rayyan is known for. We have great ambitions in this tournament, through which we hope to achieve the best results and reach the final. This requires all players to exert their utmost effort in every match.”Spanish forward Rodrigo Moreno, one of the standouts in the opening round, echoed his coach’s sentiments, stressing the team’s commitment to continuing their strong form. “Our preparations were good for this important match, through which we hope to continue our victories and achieve the desired result that will help us advance further in the tournament,” said Moreno.“We respect our opponents greatly, and we will play to continue our victories and achieve the three points we seek. This is an important tournament for us, and we seek to compete. We are ready for the challenge. We must maintain the same level we showed in the last match and play with the same enthusiasm in order to achieve victory.”

Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AbbVie Biopharmaceuticals Gulf Levant to bring the Clinical Research Advancement Integrated Signature Programme (CRISP) to HMC.The programme is designed to give clinical research professionals access to world-class training, internationally recognised certification, and ongoing professional support.AbbVie, in partnership with the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP), the only non-profit dedicated exclusively to supporting clinical research professionals globally-will offer a structured learning programme for HMC's researchers and healthcare staff. Through this collaboration, participants will benefit from a structured learning pathway and also have the opportunity to earn ACRP certifications.Training will cover areas such as good clinical practice, patient safety, research ethics, protocol design, inspection readiness, and the use of new models.By adopting CRISP, HMC aims to further strengthen the quality and impact of its clinical research, supporting safer, more effective treatments and better outcomes for patients.HMC seeks to build stronger research capacity and ensure its work meets the highest global standards. Ultimately, this will benefit patients and help position Qatar as a leader in medical innovation.CRISP will help set new benchmarks in education, certification, and patient safety-empowering clinical research professionals to advance healthcare outcomes and raise the standards of care at HMC and beyond.

Qatar Museums (QM) announced that it has been recognised among the region's leading institutions in sustainability at the Gulf Sustainability Awards 2025, held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. QM was awarded the Gold Award for Best Sustainability in Tourism and Hospitality, distinguishing it as a benchmark institution in advancing responsible cultural tourism and sustainable visitor experiences. It was also awarded the Silver and Bronze Awards in the Green Building category, recognising its commitment to sustainable architecture, energy-efficient infrastructure, and environmentally conscious operational practices across its museum network. Competing against more than 50 prominent organisations from across the Middle East, QM achieved multiple distinctions that reflect its leadership in integrating sustainability into every aspect of its cultural and operational mandate. These accolades reaffirm Qatar Museums' alignment with the goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030, particularly its environmental development pillar. By embedding sustainability into design, operations, and community engagement, QM continues to set new regional standards for institutional responsibility and cultural leadership. This year, Qatar Museums is celebrating its 20th anniversary. This milestone year is marked by Evolution Nation—an 18-month campaign honouring Qatar's cultural journey, since the founding of the National Museum.

Qatar participated Saturday in the 88th meeting of the Gulf Health Council of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) and the 11th meeting of the GCC Health Ministers Committee in Kuwait.Qatar delegation was headed by HE the Minister of Public Health, Mansoor bin Ebrahim al-Mahmoud.The two meetings reviewed topics related to joint Gulf health co-operation and action.The 88th meeting of the Gulf Health Council focused on significant issues, including an update of the unified Gulf Health Strategy 2026-2030.The 11th meeting of the GCC Health Ministers Committee addressed several key topics, notably the GSS Strategy for Combating Drugs 2025-2026, health insurance, the outcomes of unifying the classification and registration procedures for health specialities, healthy cities, and the Gulf Virtual Health Platform.Speaking during the 11th meeting of the Committee of GCC Health Ministers, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi affirmed that the Gulf health system has achieved great development in recent years by upgrading its health systems, qualifying national cadres to be at the highest levels of efficiency, elevating their capabilities for disease prevention and control, as well as expanding the scope of initiatives aimed at improving the quality of medical services, thereby surpassing the regional and global averages in the health index.Albudaiwi affirmed that the GCC countries are moving with confident steps towards completing the process of Gulf health integration by unifying common health standards and protocols and building strategic partnerships with international organisations and leading countries in the health field.“The GCC countries are working in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the project to accredit the Healthy Cities Programme, which seeks to achieve the highest level of health and well-being in sustainable and socially effective cities,” he pointed out.Albudaiwi underscored that health represents the fundamental pillar of comprehensive development and the most important investment in the future of man and society, saying: “The GCC countries have been keen to transform this belief into a tangible reality that is reflected in the lives of Gulf citizens and residents.”The GCC secretary-general mentioned that there are many gains achieved by the GCC countries in the health field, including that more than 204,000 Gulf citizens benefited from government medical services in the GCC countries outside their home countries during 2023, in implementation of the principle of equal treatment among citizens of the GCC countries.“The total number of hospitals in the GCC countries has exceeded 863, with an average annual growth of 1.5%, and the number of health centres and complexes has exceeded 3,400 health facilities, with an average annual growth of 2.5%,” Albudaiwi added.He added: “The General Secretariat, in co-ordination with the Ministries of Health and relevant authorities, also implemented the experimental indicative classification programme for 783 male and female doctors from GCC countries working outside their countries during 2025, in support of national competencies and to strengthen an integrated Gulf health system. The statistics of these gains are living proof of the depth of health integration among the GCC countries and of our common determination to build a solid health sector that guarantees a better life for our citizens.”

Saudi Arabia have been crowned champions of the AGCFF U-17 Gulf Cup Qatar 2025, after claiming a 2-0 win against the UAE in the final match held at Grand Hamad Stadium in Doha.The tournament brought together young football talents from the region to compete for the coveted trophy. This was the first time that the competition was held under the auspices of the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation (AGCFF).“Over the past two weeks, we witnessed the phenomenal talents of young players from the Arabian Gulf. The successful delivery of this tournament once again showcased Qatar’s commitment towards supporting emerging football talents from the region, while uniting fans to celebrate our shared passion for football. Congratulations to all the players who took part, and to Saudi Arabia for clinching the trophy,” said Jassim Sultan al-Rumaihi, AGCFF Secretary General.The AGCFF U-17 Gulf Cup is a precursor to a spectacular line-up of tournaments scheduled for this winter. Hosts Qatar, along with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 that will take place from November 3-27 at the state-of-the-art Competition Complex at Aspire Zone. This will be followed by the second edition of the FIFA Arab Cup from 1-18 December. Fans can purchase tickets for both tournaments at www.roadtoqatar.qa. In addition, Qatar is also set to host the AGCFF U-23 Gulf Cup Qatar 2025 from December 4-16, and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025, which will take place on December 10, 13 and 17.

Al Rayyan made a perfect start to their Gulf Club Champions League campaign with a resounding 5-0 victory over Yemen’s Tadamon Hadramaut in their opening match at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium Wednesday.Brazilian forward Roger Guedes set the tone with a brace in the first half, scoring in the 17th and 28th minutes. The third goal came early in the second half when Yemeni defender Ayoub Tlili turned a cross into his own net (49th minute). Rodrigo Moreno (68th minute) and Aleksandar Mitrovic (90+6th minute) added further strikes to complete the rout.The home side dominated from the outset, pressing high and creating chances with sustained attacking pressure. Guedes broke the deadlock after a corner slipped past the defence, before doubling his tally with a thunderous strike from outside the box.After the restart, Tlili’s own goal widened the gap, and Moreno converted from a Mitrovic cross to make it four. Mitrovic then capped the night in stoppage time with a powerful header off a Wesley delivery.The emphatic win secured Al Rayyan’s first three points and a direct passage to the semi-finals of the competition. Al Rayyan midfielder Jassim Jaber hailed the team’s performance, calling the victory an “important motivation” for the squad moving forward.“We performed well and pressed from the start with the goal of winning, and that’s what we achieved,” Jaber said. “I thank the players for their great effort. The team has proven it has strong starters and substitutes who can maintain a high level.”

The Gulf Railway Authority has announced that the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries are continuing their efforts to complete the Gulf Railway Project according to the specified timetable, with December 2030 as the final date for completion.Director General of the Gulf Railway Authority Mohammed bin Fahad al-Shabrami said in remarks Tuesday, on the sidelines of the second edition of the Global Rail 2025 Exhibition and Congress, which began yesterday in Abu Dhabi, that the railway project is one of the strategic projects that will connect the six GCC countries across a network extending approximately 2,117km.He noted that the GCC countries are currently working in an integrated manner to complete the linkage phases, as the Gulf project integrates with national projects within each country to form a pivotal part of the regional transport system, enhancing connectivity between the GCC countries and the wider region.He pointed out that the project will be linked to ports and logistics centres in the GCC countries, which will positively impact the economy by enhancing the movement of goods and increasing the flow of people between member states.

Substitute Mohammed al-Khalaf scored a goal and made an assist as Saudi Arabia beat hosts Qatar 2-1 in the semi-finals of the U-17 Gulf Cup in Doha Tuesday.Despite an early goal from Qatar’s Adam Friakh in the 28th minute, Saudi Arabia, reduced to ten men after a red card, fought back. Al-Khalaf, coming as a sub in the 77th minute, scored and assisted, securing the win.