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 HE Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah, a distinguished statesman, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Industry, and one of the most influential figures in the country’s modern economic transformation, passed away yesterday.Al-Attiyah devoted more than four decades of his life to public service, playing a central role in shaping Qatar’s energy strategy and laying the foundations for its emergence as a global leader in liquefied natural gas (LNG). Widely regarded as one of the key architects of Qatar’s gas industry boom, he earned respect as a visionary who helped transform the nation from a modest oil producer into one of the world’s largest LNG exporters.His career began in 1972 at the Ministry of Finance and Petroleum, where he steadily rose through positions linked to international relations and energy policy. In the early 1990s, as Minister of Energy and Industry, he spearheaded a pivotal national shift toward the development of the North Field, one of the world’s largest natural gas reserves. Under his leadership, Qatar invested heavily in LNG infrastructure, long-term export partnerships, and industrial development.He was instrumental in the establishment and expansion of major energy enterprises, including Qatargas and RasGas, and played a leading role in the development of Ras Laffan Industrial City, which became one of the world’s largest hubs for gas processing and export. These efforts positioned Qatar as a cornerstone of global energy security and a key supplier to both Asian and European markets.Throughout his tenure, he maintained an active presence in international energy diplomacy, including within OPEC and other global forums. He was also a key contributor to the establishment of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, headquartered in Doha, reinforcing Qatar’s leadership role in global gas co-operation.Beyond his governmental service, he served as a media and institutional figure, contributing to national discourse and development initiatives. After leaving ministerial office in 2011, he continued his work in energy and sustainability through the Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Attiyah International Foundation for Energy and Sustainable Development, advocating for innovation, diversification of energy sources, and the importance of natural gas as a transitional fuel in the global energy mix.His legacy also extends to sports and community life. He was closely associated with Al Sadd Sports Club, where he served as a guiding figure and is widely remembered as an early architect of the club’s success and identity. His contributions to sports administration reflected the same vision and dedication that defined his national service. Colleagues and contemporaries remember him as a decisive yet humble leader, deeply committed to Qatar’s progress and international standing. His work helped shape the foundations of the modern Qatari economy and strengthened the country’s reputation as a trusted global energy partner.He was also the board member and Managing Director of the Gulf Publishing and Printing Company, the publisher of Gulf Times and Arrayah newspapers.He is remembered as a policymaker, strategist, and one of the principal figures behind Qatar’s “gas era,” whose vision continues to influence the nation’s development trajectory. 

The Al-Attiyah Foundation, in its latest sustainability research paper, has outlined how geoeconomic fragmentation is no longer a future risk but a defining feature of the renewable energy transition. Titled ‘Geoeconomic Fragmentation: Risks to Renewable Energy Supply Chains’, the paper examines how trade tensions, export controls, supply-chain concentration, and regulatory divergence are reshaping the economics of renewables across minerals, manufacturing, finance and infrastructure. The Al-Attiyah Foundation noted that despite clean energy investment surging to record levels, the foundations of the global energy transition are coming under increasing strain. Supply chains, capital flows and critical technologies are no longer governed by efficiency alone, but by geopolitical rivalry and strategic competition, it also pointed out. The report highlights the growing concentration of critical mineral supply chains. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the top three refining countries now account for 86% of global refining capacity for energy-related minerals, while China dominates the refining of 19 out of 20 key transition minerals and controls more than 90% of global rare-earth separation capacity. The paper notes that an IEA stress test found that removing a single major supplier would leave insufficient capacity to meet projected 2035 demand for battery metals and rare earth elements. These vulnerabilities are increasingly feeding into project costs. Offshore wind costs have risen by 30–40% since 2022, while higher freight costs, tighter credit conditions and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have added new pressure across renewable supply chains. The report finds that borrowing costs for utility-scale solar projects in emerging markets remain more than twice those in advanced economies, slowing deployment precisely where future energy demand is expected to grow fastest. At the same time, global investment in clean energy continues to accelerate. The IEA estimates that global energy investment surpassed a record $3.3tn in 2025, with $2.2tn directed toward renewables, grids, storage and other clean technologies, which is double the level of fossil-fuel investment. Solar alone is expected to attract approximately $450bn in 2026. The paper also notes that renewable energy overtook coal as the world’s leading source of electricity generation in 2025, marking a historic milestone in the global transition. However, despite this momentum, the IEA expects renewable capacity to double rather than triple by 2030 due to persistent bottlenecks in grids, permitting and finance. For the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the findings are particularly significant. The region remains central to global energy markets while simultaneously expanding large-scale solar, wind and green hydrogen projects. Yet, execution capacity (not procurement or target-setting) has become the primary constraint on delivery, the paper noted. Recent Gulf disruptions have further exposed the vulnerability of interconnected energy and shipping systems, increasing costs across commodities used in renewable manufacturing, it stated. A rapidly expanding compliance also burdens energy firms. Measures such as the EU Critical Raw Materials Act, Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, sustainability disclosure standards and AI governance rules are creating overlapping obligations that are raising costs and increasing operational complexity across global supply chains. Despite these pressures, the report concludes that the long-term strategic case for renewables continues to strengthen. Clean energy is increasingly viewed not only as a climate imperative, but as a cornerstone of energy security and economic resilience in an increasingly fragmented global system.To read ‘Geoeconomic Fragmentation: Risks to Renewable Energy Supply Chains’ and explore the Al-Attiyah Foundation’s Sustainability Research Series, visit abhafoundation.org.  

Qatar’s Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah and his Spanish co-driver Candido Carrera won all six demanding special stages to move into a commanding lead after the first leg of the Jordan Rally.The Autotek Motorsport Skoda Fabia RS driver was in a class of his own on the third round of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) and had built up an advantage of 1min 12.8sec at the night halt.Al-Attiyah said: “It was a good feeling all day and we won every stage. We have a good gap now, a good lead. Now we try to keep going like this. We pushed from the morning and we took a good time. We managed the times this afternoon and will try and do the same tomorrow. We sent the data to the engineer just to check everything is okay.”Stages were held in the Jordan Valley and Dead Sea areas, but Oman’s Abdullah al-Rawahi and Ata al-Hmoud admitted that their choice of medium tyres was a mistake for the opening loop of three stages in their Oman Rally Team Skoda Fabia RS. The Omani trailed al-Attiyah by 51.4 seconds at the midday regroup and was unable to grab any time back in the afternoon.Saudi Arabia’s Hamza Bakhashab is tackling a first full programme of MERC rallies in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 supported by Jameel Motorsport. He and Irish co-driver Lorcan Moore settled into a comfortable third position.Jordan’s Shaker Jweihan was the dominant force in MERC2 at the first two rounds in the winter and opened his account on home gravel in similar fashion with Mustafa Juma in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X. He managed his pace perfectly to conserve the car, avoided rocks thrown on to the racing line by the Rally2 cars running ahead and held fifth place.One of the drives of the day came from Palestine’s Hamadeh Uda. He teamed up with Zeid Abu Zeid in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X and climbed to seventh place.Mohammed al-Marri had the bragging rights over Qatari team-mate Rashid al-Muhannadi in the battle between the two Peugeot 208 Rally 4s entered by the QMMF. Al-Marri finished the day eighth ahead of the Jordanian duo of Shadi Shaban and Samer Issa. Al-Muhannadi was 11th.Saturday’s schedule consists of two runs through the Panorama (16.95km), Suwayma (11.12km) and Rawda (26.97km) specials before the ceremonial finish takes place in the HoverUp Park to the north of the Dead Sea. The second pass through Rawda will also act as the Power Stage with additional points available for the fastest crews. 

HE the Minister of Municipality Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah al-Attiyah met Tuesday with a host of fishermen to explore the challenges facing the fishing sector and ways to advance this sector in pursuit of increasing domestic production and achieving self-sufficiency. The ministry highly prioritizes the fishing sector as part of its strategy to achieve sustainable development and is working to execute integrated plans and programs to optimize fishermen's working environment, in addition to having infrastructure and services in place to back these activities, al-Attiyah highlighted. Al-Attiyah further outlined that the ministry has been committed to constantly reaching out to fishermen and listening to their suggestions and feedback onsite to ensure the enforcement of practical solutions that help elevate domestic production efficiency from fish and enhance the quality of national products in alignment with the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030. The meeting was part of a series of the ministry's meetings with a variety of partners in the food security system within an all-hands-on-deck approach that promotes integration between public and private sectors to achieve self-sufficiency from farm, livestock, and seafood products.

The Al-Attiyah Foundation was a ‘Knowledge Partner’ at the Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) Qatar 2025, held on at Georgetown University in Qatar Saturday.Organised under YOUNGO, the youth constituency of the UNFCCC, the event gathered students, activists, and experts to channel youth-driven messages into the COP climate process.As part of its contribution, Al-Attiyah Foundation hosted a high-level panel discussion that explored the complex and urgent transition facing energy-producing nations.The session was attended by young delegates from across Qatar and beyond, and featured dynamic exchanges between experts from industry, academia, and policymaking.The distinguished panel included Adil Mohammad, Deputy CEO of MBK-Global; Michael Wood, Partner, Mena EY Sustainability; and Dr Marcello Contestabile, Chief Economist at QEERI.Together, they addressed pressing issues such as the balance between energy security and climate goals, the role of natural gas as a transition fuel, and the opportunities presented by emerging technologies including carbon capture, green hydrogen, and energy storage solutions.The discussion also examined the financing and policy frameworks needed to accelerate renewable energy deployment, with a particular focus on how sovereign wealth funds and state-owned enterprises can lead the way in diversification.Importantly, the panel emphasised the role of youth in driving innovation, awareness, and advocacy for a just and ambitious energy transition.The session drew on Qatar’s unique position as a global leader in LNG production and its growing investments in renewable energy, situating the Mena region at the heart of global climate and energy debates.The conversation underscored both the opportunities and challenges for countries reliant on fossil fuel revenues as they seek to align with the Paris Agreement and the global net-zero agenda.Through the event, the Al-Attiyah Foundation reaffirmed its role as a bridge between policymakers, industry leaders, and the next generation, highlighting the importance of youth voices in shaping pragmatic yet ambitious pathways to sustainability.The outcomes of the session will contribute to the official LCOY Qatar 2025 statement, ensuring that the perspectives of young people in the region are heard on the global stage.

Qatari rally legend Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah added another golden chapter to his illustrious career by securing a record-breaking 20th FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) title, following a gripping second-place finish at the Rally of Lebanon. Despite missing out on a potential victory in one of the most thrilling finales the Lebanese rally has seen in recent years, the veteran’s runner-up finish behind local hero Roger Feghali was enough to mathematically seal the championship with one round remaining in Cyprus. It was Feghali, the undisputed king of Lebanese tarmac, who ultimately claimed his record 18th Rally of Lebanon win after a titanic two-day battle with al-Attiyah. Driving his Toyota Yaris GR, Feghali trailed al-Attiyah by 6.7 seconds overnight but clawed his way back to within 1.4 seconds heading into the final stage. Al-Attiyah, competing in his Skoda Fabia RS run by Autotek Motorsport, looked set to edge out his rival until a slow right-rear puncture on the final stage dashed his hopes of a maiden Lebanon win. Feghali capitalised, clocking the fastest time on the final test to clinch victory by 9.2 seconds. “This is always a fantastic rally and it was a tremendous battle between myself and Roger,” said al-Attiyah. “We pushed hard all the way. I was obviously disappointed to have the puncture on the last stage, but it’s a great feeling to have won the championship now for the 20th time.” Crucially, Feghali was not registered for MERC points, allowing Al-Attiyah and his Spanish co-driver Candido Carrera to collect maximum regional points for a fifth consecutive rally. Carrera had already sealed the Co-drivers' Championship before the start of the event. This landmark title also marks a personal triumph for Autotek Motorsport’s Ken Skidmore, who has engineered all 20 of Al-Attiyah’s MERC titles. Skidmore's record also includes championship wins with the late Misfer al-Marri and the shared 2023 crown between al-Attiyah and Oman’s Abdullah al-Rawahi. Elsewhere, Qatar’s presence was felt across multiple categories in Lebanon. Mohammed Al-Marri, a graduate of the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) Academy, continued his impressive MERC4 campaign, finishing ahead of India’s Payyakkal Panikkaveettil. With teammate Rashid al-Mohannadi having already secured the MERC4 title in absentia, al-Marri is now poised to complete a Qatari 1-2 in the championship. Veteran Nasser Khalifa al-Atya sealed the FIA Master MERC Driver title, finishing 15th overall alongside Lebanese co-driver Ziad Chehab in a Ford Fiesta. The pair also scored valuable points toward al-Atya’s push for a top-three finish in the overall standings. Chehab remains in contention for second in the Co-drivers’ Championship, behind Carrera.