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Among the Ramadan tales told in Majlis (gatherings), there is a story of a man nicknamed al-Asam (Arabic for "deaf") who worried about his wife's hearing, believing it had deteriorated and that she was no longer hearing as she once did. He didn't know how to approach the subject with her, so he consulted a wise hearing specialist. The wise man advised him to test her hearing by standing 10 metres away and ask her in a normal voice about dinner. If she didn't answer, he should move two metres closer, then another two metres, decreasing this distance by two metres each time until he heard a reply.That evening, the wife was busy in the kitchen preparing food for Iftar (meal for breaking the fast), and the man, standing 10 metres away, began the test. He said to her, "What is our dinner tonight, my love?" The wife remained silent and didn't answer.The man moved two metres closer and asked again, "What is our dinner tonight, my love?" Silence prevailed, and he received no answer from her. He continued to move closer to the kitchen food preparation platform and asked her again, but still no answer. Then he moved even closer inside the kitchen, but the silence remained. Finally, he stood directly behind her and asked for the fifth time, "What's for Iftar tonight, darling?" His wife replied clearly, "My dear, I'm telling you for the fifth time, we're having soup and Machboos!"The man finally understood: the problem wasn't with his wife's ears, but with his own! He needed to see a doctor, but he didn't need to test his wife; he needed to test himself. We often hear this saying about one of the teachings of patience in the holy Ramadan: "Sometimes the problem isn't with others, but with us. What we sometimes need is to examine ourselves before blaming others." 

The government is positioning itself not only as a regulator but also as the first customer in Qatar’s innovation ecosystem, according to an official of the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation (QRDI) Council.Nejoud M al-Jehani, executive director of Strategy & Programmes at the QRDI Council, said this dual role is critical to building confidence in new technologies and enabling startups and corporates to scale.Al‑Jehani explained at the ‘Ibtechar Majlis’ panel discussion that public institutions must lead by example, adopting innovative solutions to address national challenges. By defining problems clearly and piloting solutions, she emphasised that government entities create demand and demonstrate viability.“Government must be the first customer. When we adopt solutions, we give the market confidence to grow,” al-Jehani told her fellow panellists Eman al-Kuwari, director of Digital Innovation at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT); Dr Georgios Dimitropoulos, professor and associate dean for Research at the College of Law, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU); and Hissa al-Tamimi, director of Governmental Innovation Department at the Civil Service and Government Development Bureau (CGB).Engineer Nayef al-Ibrahim, co-founder and CEO of Ibtechar, moderated the discussion, which explored the development of a Public Innovation Lab (PIL) ecosystem that would help to improve efficiency, service delivery further, and encourage greater citizen participation.During the discussion, al-Jehani also underscored the importance of government adoption in shaping the innovation landscape, signalling to entrepreneurs and investors that “new technologies are credible and worth pursuing.”Beyond adoption, al-Jehani emphasised the enabling role of government - setting standards, operating partnerships, and ensuring regulatory frameworks evolve alongside technology. She said, “Our role is not only to regulate but to enable - by setting standards, opening partnerships, and creating space for collaboration.”According to al-Jehani, this approach helps create a fertile environment where startups, corporates, and researchers can collaborate with confidence. She noted that it also ensures that innovation is not confined to internal reform but extends across the ecosystem, creating value for society at large.Al-Jehani’s statements were also complemented by al-Kuwari, who described how the Tasmu Innovation Lab provides controlled sandboxes for testing emerging technologies before full rollout.Al-Tamimi, meanwhile, highlighted the role of government accelerators in embedding an innovation culture and improving Qatar’s standing in global innovation rankings. Similarly, Dimitropoulos stressed the importance of academia-government collaboration in building credibility and accelerating the adoption of advanced technologies.

QNB Group continues its participation as a main sponsor of ‘Al Majlis’, a sports programme broadcasted on Al Kass Sports Channels, during the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025, hosted by Qatar across six world-class stadiums with the final due to be held on December 18, which also is Qatar National Day.This partnership reflects QNB’s commitment to sponsoring major events hosted by the nation, confirming its status as the Arab and global sporting capital. The exceptional hosting of the Arab Cup is another significant occasion.This step highlights the bank’s role as a strategic partner in promoting global and regional championships in line with Qatar’s sustainability strategy and its National Vision 2030, supporting sports tourism sector to drive economic diversification.The sponsorship provides a unique opportunity to showcase QNB brand during this exceptional football event through Al Majlis programme, which attracts millions of viewers and enjoys great popularity throughout the Arab world.Al Majlis provides an interactive platform, which brings together prominent media personalities who engage in passionate match analyses and discussions in a unique TV show which combines traditional Arabic style hospitality and football passion.Within this sponsorship, the bank organised ‘Guess the Winner’ contest via its social media platforms offering eight iPhone 17 Pro max for the lucky winners who successfully predict the result of the games for the Arab Cup quarter-finals, semi-finals, third place playoff, and the final.