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Zaid Benjamin, a veteran journalist who shifted from traditional media to become one of the Arab world’s most-watched digital reporters, has long chronicled Qatar’s diplomatic agility and soft-power success. With nearly 400,000 followers relying on his real-time dispatches, he has become an authoritative voice on the country’s mediation efforts and its increasingly refined ability to host global events. His latest stop — the Arab Cup in Doha — offered him a front-row view of how Qatar continues to outgrow expectations.From training grounds to media centres, Benjamin saw a tournament shaped by an unmistakable rise in Qatari organisational talent. “This is not a feeling,” he says in his post on X. “It’s a fact supported by numbers. Qataris now form the backbone of these events — disciplined, open, and anchored in a culture that welcomes all Arabs without exception.”That openness permeates the press tribunes as well. Benjamin’s praise for Qatari sports journalists is effusive: their coverage, he notes, is bolder, richer, and more accessible than ever — data-heavy match reports, wide-ranging analysis, and commentary aimed squarely at the region’s new generation of readers. Their initiative to honour families attending matches, he says, underscores how Qatar has made the Arab Cup feel like a civic festival as much as a sporting competition.The stands tell an equally revealing story. Qatar’s public has rallied behind its national team but has been just as warm toward other Gulf sides, particularly Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, the large, passionate turnout of Sudanese supporters has been one of the tournament’s “most beautiful surprises,” offering a reminder of how football in Doha becomes a temporary home for Arab identity at large.Yet the Arab Cup’s significance lies far beyond football. For Qatar, the tournament is another stress test — and another opportunity to prove that few nations in the region can match its event-management muscle. Seamless logistics, efficient transportation, polished fan experience, and an unforced sense of hospitality have become the country’s signature. Each tournament becomes a new baseline from which Qatar pushes itself further.Benjamin believes the lesson for the region is obvious: “There is no shame in learning from Qatar,” he says. “If this is the level today, the next level will be even higher.”This year’s competition also unfolded against a turbulent geopolitical backdrop. Qatar has spent the year navigating one of its most demanding diplomatic roles, particularly in Gaza, while maintaining its international credibility and influence. Yet none of this strained the country’s ability to deliver a smooth, compelling Arab Cup — a fact that has not gone unnoticed among visiting media and fans.For Benjamin, the calm professionalism on display is itself a message: Qatar’s rise is not episodic but structural. “In truth,” he says, “this is another moment of success in Qatar’s history.”As the tournament winds down, his final sentiment is directed at the host nation and its people. Qatar, he argues, has invested deeply in Arab football — but its real contribution lies in elevating what the Arab world believes it can achieve together. 

The FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 garnered remarkable global attention since its kick off on December 1, with 1,154 representatives from local, regional and international media in attendance for the historic opening day. This is the second time that Qatar is hosting this prestigious competition, uniting Arab fans once again for a spectacular celebration of shared culture and football passion.**media[389166]**A total of 641 broadcast representatives, journalists and photographers covered the dazzling Tournament Opening that took place ahead of the Qatar v Palestine match at the renowned Al Bayt Stadium, capturing the vibrant football culture on display. The opening day also hosted the Syria v Tunisia match at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, which was covered by 157 media representatives.**media[389167]**As part of the robust media services provided by the tournament Local Organising Committee (LOC), the state-of-the-art Main Media Centre, located at the Qatar National Convention Centre, served as a pivotal hub for 345 media representatives on opening day, ensuring seamless coverage of the matches. In addition, more than 11 channels provided live broadcast of the opening day, with fans from around the world tuning in to watch the football action.A total of 16 teams are competing at the Arab Cup taking place from December 1-18, across six venues that have previously hosted matches during the historic FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The Final will be held on December 18 at the iconic Lusail Stadium.

Es'hailSat - Qatar Satellite Company - and Al Jazeera Media Network have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening cooperation in satellite communication services, ground station infrastructure, and crisis and disaster management systems.The company said in a statement that the MoU will ensure the continuity of services and the enhancement of operations. It also reflects the desire of both parties to collaborate, exchange expertise, and assess future projects, exploring and opening new horizons in television and radio broadcasting, news gathering, and other supporting services.Deputy Director General of Al Jazeera Media Network, Ibrahim Abdulla Al Obaidli, said: "This memorandum represents an important stage in the Network's ongoing efforts to remain up to date with new innovations and emerging technologies in the sector. It is an additional step towards expanding Al Jazeera's broadcast reach and reinforcing its global presence".Al Obaidli added that the memorandum will contribute to further strengthening the existing cooperation between Al Jazeera Media Network and Es'hailSat in the field of satellite and terrestrial communications, ensuring continuity and reliability of services. He affirmed that Es'hailSat is a key partner of the Network.For his part, President and Chief Executive Officer of Es'hailSat, Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, said: "We are pleased to further strengthen our partnership with Al Jazeera, bringing together the technical expertise of Es'hailSat with the pioneering role of Al Jazeera Media Network in operating and managing television and satellite channels. We fully understand Al Jazeera's need for strategic infrastructure in ground stations, crisis management solutions, and business continuity systems. Our aim is to collaborate and support this initiative, not only to improve operational management, but also to enhance efficiency and resilience".

Media City Qatar and AlRayan Bank have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance financial accessibility for Media City Qatar’s licensed companies.The agreement aims to provide comprehensive banking support to the companies and professionals operating within Media City Qatar, ensuring efficient and tailored financial services that enable growth and collaboration.Under the agreement, AlRayan Bank will explore opportunities to establish banking services for more than 300 licensed companies operating within Media City Qatar. A dedicated point of contact will support companies and employees with onboarding and account-related matters.Beyond banking, both parties will collaborate on innovation and ESG initiatives, leveraging their industry expertise to contribute to knowledge and thought leadership within Qatar’s media and technology ecosystem.Engineer Jassim Mohamed al-Khori, CEO of Media City Qatar, said: “Our collaboration with AlRayan Bank reinforces Media City Qatar’s commitment to building the right infrastructure and enabling environment for our licensed companies and professionals to succeed.“Strengthening access to financial services is a vital step in empowering businesses to grow and innovate, while contributing to Qatar’s position as a regional hub for media, technology, and creative excellence.”Fahad bin Abdulla al-Khalifa, Group CEO at AlRayan Bank, added: “This agreement reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting Qatar’s economic development and fostering innovation across key sectors.“Through our partnership with Media City Qatar, we aim to enhance access to efficient and secure banking solutions, strengthen collaboration within the business community, and contribute to the country’s broader growth and diversification goals.”The partnership builds on Media City Qatar’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the financial and operational foundations of its growing ecosystem. By working with a range of financial institutions, Media City Qatar is ensuring that its licensed companies have access to banking solutions that address their diverse business needs.Media City Qatar continues to foster innovation, collaboration, and excellence across the media industry, contributing to the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030 and advancing the country’s position as a regional hub. 

The Qatar Media Corporation (QMC) launched Monday the ‘Media Encyclopedia: Towards a New Reading of the Structure of the Media Concept’ project at a ceremony held at the Sanad Doha Club in Msheireb, in the heart of the capital.The event was attended by His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulaziz al-Thani, CEO of the QMC, along with a number of officials, editors-in-chief, journalists, experts, and researchers in the media field.This launch marks one of the most prominent pioneering Arab knowledge projects, being the first of its kind in the Arab world. The project aims to enhance the presence of Arab media knowledge and enrich digital and print libraries with rigorous, scholarly content that combines specialisation with accessibility, while restoring the value of authentic and precise media terminology.The launch of the encyclopedia comes within the framework of a comprehensive scientific vision adopted by the QMC. This vision is based on providing an objective analysis of media, its history, concepts, and institutions, drawing upon its Arab heritage and the broader spectrum of human thought.This approach aims to reformulate modern media knowledge in a sophisticated Arabic language that combines academic rigour with accessible presentation. In this context, the encyclopedia aims to support media knowledge in Arabic, meet the needs of academics and professionals, and keep pace with the rapid transformations in the digital environment.It also seeks to document media concepts, theories, prominent figures, and influential institutions within a scientific and methodological framework that enhances empowerment and aligns with the evolution of contemporary Arab media discourse.Mohammed Sal’an al-Marri, the encyclopedia’s supervisor, expressed his deep appreciation to all those who contributed to the completion of this project, including the corporation’s staff, experts, and researchers. He emphasised that the encyclopedia is the fruit of a robust intellectual collaboration aimed at producing a high-quality media resource that serves researchers and practitioners, providing them with a reliable reference that evolves step by step to meet the needs of the Arab media landscape. The launch event featured a panel discussion titled “Towards a New Reading of the Structure of the Media Concept”, which aligned with the project’s objectives of enhancing terminological awareness and developing understanding tools for specialists and those interested in the field.The session was moderated by journalist Abdulrahman al-Shammari, with the participation of Dr Mohammed al-Khatib, Professor of Linguistics at al-Azhar University and member of the Scientific Committee of the Doha Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language; Dr Hanan Ahmed al-Fayyad, faculty member at Qatar University; and journalist Ahmed al-Sheikh.The panellists discussed the evolution of media terminology over time, the importance of re-evaluating it in light of modern technological advancements, and the connection between news and its scientific context and historical reality, thus contributing to the unification of conceptual frameworks within the Arab media landscape.The QMC ensured that the encyclopedia is available in both written and audio formats via a dedicated online platform, allowing access to the content at any time.The first volume of the media encyclopedia is scheduled to be launched at the Doha International Book Fair 2026, while the foundation is preparing to release the next volume in May as part of a periodic publishing plan that maintains the project’s momentum and allows for ongoing research contributions to support its sustainability and development.

The Film Committee at Media City Qatar has signed a landmark agreement with Company 3, the award-winning global post-production and visual effects powerhouse, to establish a dedicated post-production and VFX studio in Doha. This agreement — signed during the Doha Film Festival 2025 - marks a milestone in Qatar's creative industries development and underscores Qatar's growing reputation as the Middle East's emerging media capital, offering state-of-the-art infrastructure, world-class talent, and a progressive creative ecosystem.His Excellency Managing Director of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) and Chairman of Qatar Film Committee, Hassan al-Thawadi, said that "this partnership embodies Qatar's vision to support the very best creators in Qatar, the region and the Global South." "With Company 3's world-renowned expertise in visual storytelling and our commitment to building advanced creative infrastructure, Doha is poised to become a destination for world-class post-production and visual effects," he added. As part of the agreement, the Film Committee and Company 3 will jointly research, explore, and evaluate the development of a post-production and visual effects studio operated by Company 3 in Qatar.This will be the first phase of a long-term partnership. Company 3 will provide technical, creative, and operational guidance to shape the foundation for a high-end post-production environment in the region. The Film Committee will support the collaboration through a structured funding and facilitation framework, reflecting Qatar's ambition to become the production and post-production hub for the Middle East and Africa.For his part, CEO of Company 3, Stefan Sonnenfeld, expressed his anticipation for cooperation, saying, "The Film Committee's forward-thinking approach to developing a sustainable creative ecosystem aligns perfectly with our mission to empower storytellers through technology and artistry." "This partnership represents the foundation for a new era of post-production excellence in the Middle East," Sonnenfeld added. Through this collaboration, the company will bring its global expertise and technical excellence to the region, helping to design creative workflows, develop local and regional talent, and provide access to world-leading infrastructure and tools.The Film Committee will coordinate with local stakeholders and government partners to ensure the project contributes to the nation's broader creative economy goals. Responsibilities include logistical coordination, operational support, and a funding framework for the exploration phase — ensuring that the partnership between QFC and Company 3 delivers meaningful outcomes across creative, technological, and training dimensions.The collaboration also includes consultation on the creation of a local production and post-production rebate scheme, part of Qatar's broader ambition to attract leading studios, streamers, and filmmakers to the country.

His Excellency Chairman of Qatar Media Corporation Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer al-Thani met Monday with Ambassador of the Republic of India to Qatar, Vipul. During the meeting, they discussed media relations between the two countries and ways to support and develop them.

His Excellency Chairman of Qatar Media Corporation Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al-Thani met on Monday with Ambassador of the Republic of India to the State of Qatar, Vipul.During the meeting, they discussed media relations between the two countries and ways to support and develop them.

The Shura Council's Education, Culture, Sport and Media Affairs Committee held a meeting Sunday under the chairmanship of His Excellency Khalid bin Ahmed al-Obaidan.The committee discussed the government's statement regarding the Council's proposal on the cultural legacy project associated with Qatar's hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.The committee decided to submit its report on the matter to the Shura Council.

Qatar and Kuwait have held talks aimed at boosting media collaboration between the two countries. His Excellency CEO of Qatar Media Corp Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulaziz bin Jassim al-Thani met with Minister Plenipotentiary and Charge d'Affaires of the Kuwaiti embassy in Doha, Mohammad Fahad al-Zoubi, in a meeting focused on enhancing bilateral media ties.During the discussions, the officials explored ways to exchange expertise, coordinate media initiatives, and promote joint efforts that reflect the close relationship between the two Gulf states. Both sides emphasized the importance of media co-operation in supporting broader regional and Gulf unity.

An organisation representing international media in Israel and the Palestinian territories Monday condemned attacks by Israeli settlers on journalists in the occupied West Bank, urging Israeli authorities to halt the "violence immediately".The Foreign Press Association (FPA), which represents hundreds of foreign journalists, said it was "appalled" by the recent attacks, especially during this year's olive harvest."Journalists, both local and foreign, have proven to be a clear target as they document an unprecedented level of unchecked violence against Palestinians during this year's olive harvest," the association said, citing two incidents involving journalists from international media outlets.The FPA said that on Saturday two employees of Reuters wearing clearly marked press vests and helmets were assaulted by masked Israeli civilians armed with clubs and rocks near the Palestinian village of Beita."A mob of dozens of settlers beat one of the employees, a female reporter, while she was already on the ground, resulting in severe injuries," the FPA said."They also attacked those who tried to help her. A Reuters security person was hit, and two Palestinian freelance journalists were injured while being chased." On October 10, settlers beat a veteran AFP photographer with sticks when filming the olive harvest in the same area.His car, along with a handful of others parked at a safe distance from the field, was stoned and then set on fire by the assailants."The photographer, who testified it was one of the worst attacks in his 30-year career, reported that Israeli forces at the scene refused to intervene, instead firing rubber bullets and tear gas at olive pickers and activists accompanying them," the FPA said.Several such incidents have occurred in the last few weeks, the FPA added."Israeli forces routinely harass and intimidate journalists, in some cases detaining them and threatening them with deportation," the FPA said."This is all part of a deepening climate of hostility toward the media by Israeli authorities," it added, urging the authorities to investigate the incidents and hold the perpetrators accountable."In particular, we urge central command head Major General Avi Bluth and police commander Moshe Pinchi to uphold their duties to ensure that journalists can work freely and safely," the association said."There cannot be press freedom in an environment in which journalists are threatened and harmed with complete impunity." When contacted by AFP, the Israeli military did not give an immediate response.An AFP journalist serves on the FPA's board of directors.Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, and Israeli settlements there are expanding. Some 500,000 Israeli settlers live in the Palestinian territory and some of them have also attacked farmers trying to access their olive trees almost every day this year since the season began in mid-October, according to the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority.Almost none of the perpetrators have been held to account by the Israeli authorities. Violence in the West Bank has soared since the war in Gaza broke out in October 2023.

Media City Qatar and Qatar University hosted the second edition of the Euronews Academy Bootcamp, focused on digital and mobile journalism, which took place over the course of three days at St. Regis Marsa Arabia. The program offered training sessions designed to provide participants with practical skills and insights relevant to modern journalism. Students from Qatar University's College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Mass Communication, participated in a series of interactive workshops over the first two days. Sessions covered digital storytelling techniques, mobile reporting and editing, and strategies for using social media platforms to engage audiences. The final day brought together instructors and representatives from Qatar University, Media City Qatar, and Euronews for a dedicated session, allowing participants to consolidate their learning in a collaborative environment. Director of Strategy and Excellence at Media City Qatar, Tevfik Ergun affirmed Media City Qatar's commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration within the media sector. "Through our partnership with Qatar University and Euronews, the bootcamp provides opportunities for emerging talent to explore new ideas, gain exposure to industry standards, and contribute to shaping the next generation of media professionals. Initiatives like this support Qatar National Vision 2030 by nurturing a skilled, creative workforce that strengthens the country's media ecosystem." For her part, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Qatar University, Fatima Al Kubaisi said: "This program with Media City Qatar and Euronews provides our academic community with vital global media expertise. It encourages the critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving essential for building a diversified, knowledge-based economy, aligning with our mission to cultivate individuals who can make a positive impact within society." This year's bootcamp builds on their previous Euronews Business Media Training, reinforcing their shared commitment to preparing participants for careers in a fast-changing media environment and advancing Qatar's position as a regional media hub.