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 The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) declined 338.57 points or 3.4% to 9,682.57 vs. the previous week. Market capitalisation decreased by 3.3% to QR581.6bn from QR601.3bn at the end of the previous trading week. Of the 54 companies traded, seven ended higher, while 47 ended lower. Qatar Cinema & Film Distribution (QCFS) was the best performing stock for the week, climbing 5.3%. Meanwhile, Estithmar Holding (IGRD) was the worst performing stock for the week, declining 7.9%. Qatar Islamic Bank (QIBK), QNB Group (QNBK) and Ooredoo (ORDS) were the main contributors to the weekly index decline, shaving off 78.12, 40.25 and 36.45 points from the index, respectively. Traded value during the week declined 32.6% to QR1,732.1mn vs. QR2,570.6mn in the prior trading week. QNBK was the top value stock traded during the week with total traded value of QR192.2mn. Traded volume fell 36.4% to 611.5mn shares compared with 962.1mn shares in the prior trading week. The number of transactions rose 13.7% to 124,004 vs. 109,125 in the prior week. BLDN was the top volume stock traded during the week with total traded volume of 62.8mn shares. Foreign institutions turned bearish, ending the week with net selling of QR217.0mn vs. net buying of QR434.5mn in the prior week. Qatari institutions were bullish with net buying of QR136.9mn vs. net selling of QR430.7mn in the week before. Foreign retail investors ended the week with net buying of QR25.0mn vs. net selling of QR5.2mn in the prior week. Qatari retail investors ended the week with net buying of QR55.1mn vs. net buying of QR1.4mn. Global foreign institutions now have a net bearish position on Qatari equities of $32.0mn YTD, while GCC institutions remained net sellers by $6.1mn. The index closed lower at -3.04 % for the week and printed 9,682.57 last. The index breached below the 10,000 psychological level and thereafter witnessed heavy profit-booking, closing at its 52-week low. The downside trend is likely to continue and target 9,500, followed by 9,350, unless the index captures the 10,000 level. 

A Nepal commission has recommended the prosecution of ex-prime minister KP Sharma Oli in connection to the deadly September 2025 uprising that toppled his government, according to a leaked report.At least 77 people were killed in the anti-corruption youth uprising on September 8 and 9, which began over a brief social media ban but tapped into longstanding fury over economic hardship.Four-time prime minister and Marxist leader Oli, 74, was defeated in the polls this month by the 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah, whose Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) won in a landslide after promising to oust an ageing elite, stem corruption and fix the economy.The commission's recommendations, set out in a report leaked by Nepali media, came ahead of the swearing-in Thursday of newly elected members of parliament."It was decided to recommend to the Government of Nepal that an investigation, inquiry, and prosecution be carried out against the then executive head, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli," reads a copy of the report seen by AFP Thursday.At least 19 young people were killed in a crackdown on the first day of protests.No one has been convicted of the killings.Former interior minister Ramesh Lekhak and ex-police chief Chandra Kuber Khapung should also be investigated and prosecuted, according to the recommendations in the report.Lekhak bore "overall responsibility for home administration, security agencies, and maintaining law and order", the report said, adding that he and Oli "did not appear to have made any effort on the afternoon... to prevent further human casualties".The report said it was "not established that there was an order to shoot", but "no effort was made to stop or control the firing and, due to their negligent conduct, even minors lost their lives".The report said victims in 48 out of 63 completed autopsies died of bullet wounds, and that the majority were struck in their chest or head.The nationwide unrest in September saw the parliament and government offices set ablaze and led to Oli's ouster.Former chief justice Sushila Karki took on the role of interim prime minister and established a commission to investigate the violence.The commission's report was submitted this month and protesters have demanded that its findings be released.Commission member Bigyan Raj Sharma told reporters the team had questioned more than 200 people and submitted a 900-page report — with more than 8,000 additional pages of evidence.Karki's office said on Wednesday evening that she would release the report but the official version was not out yet.The March 5 election returned a new 275-seat lower house of parliament, with the RSP winning a commanding majority of 182.New lawmakers took the oath of office Thursday in a hall within the newly constructed parliament building.The national anthem played as RSP's president Rabi Lamichhane and soon-to-be prime minister Shah stood next to each other, before the parliamentarians were sworn in.Shah, who kept his trademark dark sunglasses on for the ceremony, has yet to give a formal speech since winning his seat.Shah, popularly known as Balen, is expected to be sworn in as prime minister around midday today. 

His Excellency the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Dr Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie launched Tuesday the State of the Environment Report for the State of Qatar 2025.The report dealt with the current environmental conditions in Qatar, highlighting key challenges and achievements, as well as environmental priorities for the coming period.In a statement on this occasion, HE Dr al-Subaie affirmed that the report's release is part of the institutional efforts to develop the environmental framework in the country and provide a database and accurate indicators that contribute to supporting the formulation of environmental policies on clear scientific foundations.He noted the report's alignment with Qatar National Vision 2030 and its support for national directions in the areas of environmental protection and achieving sustainable development.The minister emphasised the importance of this report as a supportive tool for decision-makers, helping to guide environmental policies and update relevant national plans.HE Dr al-Subaie also highlighted its role in enhancing co-ordination among stakeholders, stressing that it represents a national scientific reference that supports the preparation of national reports related to environmental commitments at the regional and international levels.He added that the report is the culmination of efforts by many experts, researchers, specialists, and academics, totaling nearly 80 participants.The preparation, analysis, and review phases took approximately one year.The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) undersecretary, His Excellency Eng. Abdulaziz bin Ahmed bin Abdullah al-Mahmoud, said that the report provides a comprehensive overview of the country's environment.This is achieved, he said, through the collection and analysis of environmental data and indicators related to various environmental components.HE al-Mahmoud noted its role in monitoring the state of the environment and related issues within a systematic framework that allows for an understanding of current conditions and changes that have occurred between 2021 and 2024.He said that the report contributes to standardising work frameworks among relevant departments, organising monitoring and follow-up processes, and linking the results to the MoECC’s existing programmes and implementation plans.HE al-Mahmoud added that the updated environmental information in the report supports improved internal co-ordination mechanisms and helps in monitoring the implementation of environmental responsibilities for each entity, according to clearly defined roles.The director of the MoECC’s Technical Office and general supervisor of the report's preparation, Eng. Hussein Saad al-Kubaisi, said that this edition is an extension of the State of the Environment Report 2021.He explained that it provides an updated assessment based on accurate environmental data covering the period from 2020 to 2024, as well as the most significant developments at the national, regional, and global levels.The report, al-Kubaisi added, comprises nine main sections covering the country's key environmental areas: biodiversity, the air environment and climate change, the marine environment, water resources, land resources, waste management and the circular economy, as well as environment and development, environmental policies and governance, and future visions and prospects.The official noted that the report was prepared in collaboration with Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar University, and Earthna Centre, with the participation of a select group of national experts and scientists.It followed the methodology adopted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)'s Development Programme on Environmental Impact Assessment (DPSIR), which allows for a comprehensive analysis encompassing driving forces, environmental pressures, the current situation, impacts, and responses.Al-Kubaisi added that the preparation phases saw broad participation from relevant stakeholders.The MoECC organised an extensive workshop last September, which was attended by representatives from 25 departments from 13 national entities. 

A global report projects that Qatar education market is poised to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.50% during 2026–2034.Report Cube, an international market research firm, in its latest edition highlights that Qatar education market is valued at $ 7.5bn in 2025 and is expected to reach $13.22bn by 2034.“This growth is supported by sustained government investment in education, rising expatriate population, increasing private and international school enrolments, and accelerated adoption of digital learning solutions,” the report says.Education remains a strategic priority under Qatar National Vision 2030, with a strong focus on developing a knowledge-based economy.Report Cube notes that continuous investments in K–12 education, higher education institutions, and vocational training programmes are strengthening the overall education ecosystem in the country. The presence of global universities and international schools has further elevated education quality and diversity.The report highlights: “The rapid integration of online and blended learning models, driven by EdTech platforms and digital curricula, is reshaping education delivery across the country. As workforce upskilling and lifelong learning gain importance, the Qatar education market is expected to maintain steady expansion throughout the forecast period.”Several developments in the last two years have helped the Qatar education market in a big way, according to the report. In 2025 there was an expansion of international school capacity to meet rising expatriate student demand and 2024 witnessed increased adoption of digital learning platforms across higher education and corporate training.Similarly, Qatar National Vision 2030 has placed greater emphasis on education quality, innovation, and workforce readiness, while the education regulatory framework ensures curriculum standards, accreditation, and private-sector participation.The report points out that the primary driver of Qatar education market is sustained government investment aimed at building a world-class education system. Strategic partnerships with international universities and education providers further enhance academic standards and global competitiveness of Qatar’s educational institutions.A key takeaway in the report is the growth of international curricula and digital learning in the country. A major trend shaping the market is the growing preference for international curricula and these programmes cater to Qatar’s diverse expatriate population. In parallel, online and blended learning models are gaining traction across K–12, higher education, and professional training, supported by EdTech platforms and learning management systems.Other findings of the report say that in Qatar, K–12 education accounted for the largest share of the market in 2025, driven by population growth and rising enrolment in private and international schools. Higher education continues to expand steadily, supported by global university campuses and research initiatives and vocational and technical education is emerging as a fast-growing segment due to workforce development needs.Another finding is that public institutions have significant share of overall enrolment, while private and international schools contribute significantly to revenue growth. EdTech providers are gaining momentum as digital adoption accelerates across education levels. On-campus education remains the primary delivery mode; however, blended and online learning models are expanding rapidly due to flexibility and scalability and these models are particularly prominent in higher education, professional training and test preparation.The report also underlines the expansion of vocational training and workforce upskilling as a major opportunity. “The growing demand for skilled labour across construction, energy, healthcare, and technology sectors presents a significant opportunity. Vocational and technical education programmes aligned with industry needs are gaining prominence. Corporate training and certification services are expected to contribute increasingly to market revenue,” added the report. 

Middle Eastern mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have demonstrated remarkable resilience and strategic focus, with deal values surging 260% to $53bn in the first nine months of 2025 compared to the same period last year.This exceptional growth comes despite experiencing its lowest levels since the Covid shock earlier in the year, according to BCG's annual Global M&A Report 2025 released Monday.The region's performance is driven by a select group of experienced dealmakers making disciplined, strategic investments amid continued global market volatility.Monthly data reveals that Middle East M&A activity over the past three years has consistently exceeded historical averages, recovering strongly from the pandemic dip.BCG's M&A Sentiment Index, a forward-looking indicator of deal activity, shows increasingly positive sentiment across all sectors, with confidence reaching its highest levels in technology and energy.While Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia recorded a 6% increase in aggregate deal value, the region continues working to surpass its 10-year average."The Middle East's M&A landscape in 2025 reflects a sophisticated approach to capital deployment, where strategic diversification meets digital ambition," said Samuele Bellani, Managing Director & Partner at BCG."We are witnessing experienced dealmakers making highly disciplined investments that simultaneously strengthen traditional energy capabilities while building new pillars of economic growth in technology and industrial services."Energy transactions remained the cornerstone of Middle Eastern M&A activity throughout 2025, as state-backed entities pursued aggressive domestic consolidation while simultaneously expanding their international footprint through strategic acquisitions.A landmark $13.4bn acquisition reinforces the UAE's ambitious international expansion strategy in the chemicals sector, while a $693mn purchase in power generation and utilities exemplified the ongoing consolidation within the sector.These strategic moves underscore sector resilience while supporting the region's gradual but determined pivot toward renewable energy sources, positioning national champions for the global energy transition.The industrial sector emerged as a central pillar of the Middle East's economic diversification strategy, with governments and sovereign wealth funds systematically building capabilities beyond traditional hydrocarbon dependencies.A $925mn acquisition highlights the accelerating consolidation of critical supply chain infrastructure across the region. This transaction reflects a broader, long-term initiative to establish the Middle East as a premier hub for industrial and logistics services, fundamentally reducing dependency on energy revenues while enhancing the region's global competitiveness across multiple sectors.Technology, media, and telecommunications gained unprecedented momentum in 2025, establishing itself as an emerging pillar of regional deal activity and signalling a fundamental shift in investment priorities.A transformative $3.5bn acquisition, representing one of the largest digital entertainment transactions globally, demonstrates the region's serious ambitions to become a global leader in gaming and digital entertainment.A $855mn acquisition strategically expanded the Middle East’s telecommunications influence into European markets. These high-profile transactions clearly demonstrate that Middle Eastern acquirers are strategically deploying substantial capital to capture growth opportunities across digital platforms, connectivity infrastructure, and entertainment services, aligning perfectly with broader national digital transformation agendas."What we are seeing is a fundamental transformation in how Middle Eastern investors approach M&A," said Samuele Bellani, Managing Director & Partner at BCG."The region's sovereign wealth funds are not just engines of deal flow—they are architects of a new economic paradigm that balances traditional energy strengths with cutting-edge technological capabilities and world-class industrial infrastructure."As 2025 enters its final months, the Middle East has distinguished itself as one of the world's most active and strategically focused M&A markets. Sovereign wealth funds continue providing an exceptionally deep pool of liquidity capable of sustaining robust deal flow regardless of global economic cycles or market volatility. Government-led strategies persistently drive consolidation across industrial and technology sectors, creating unprecedented resilience against the region's historical reliance on hydrocarbon revenues.The combination of steady foreign interest across TMT, financial services, and healthcare sectors demonstrates the region's unique dual advantage of supporting sustainable growth while accelerating economic diversification initiatives.According to BCG, the sustained momentum in Middle Eastern M&A activity reflects a mature understanding of global market dynamics, where strategic patience combines with decisive action to create lasting competitive advantages across multiple sectors and geographies. 

Weather inshore until 6:00 pm on Thursday will be modernate with slight dust to blowing dust daytime, mild to relatively cold at places by night, warning of strong wind.Offshore, it will be fine, the Meteorology Department added, warning of strong wind and high sea.Inshore winds will be northwesterly at 10 to 20 KT, gusting to 28 KT at places daytime. Offshore, winds will be northwesterly at 15 to 23 KT, gusting to 30 KT at times.Sea state inshore will range between 3 and 5 feet, while offshore it will range between 4 and 7 feet, rising to 10 feet at times.Visibility inshore is expected to range between 4 and 10 km/3km, or less at places at times. Offshore visibility will range between 4 and 7 km, rising to 10 feet at times.

Weather inshore until 6:00 pm on Monday will be hazy to misty at first at places, becoming moderate in temperature daytime with some clouds, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather report.Offshore, the weather will be hazy and will see some clouds, the Meteorology Department added.Inshore winds will be variable, mainly northwesterly - northeasterly at 5 to 15 KT. Offshore, winds will be variable, mainly northerly to northwesterly at 8 to 18 KT.Sea state inshore will range between 2 and 3 feet, while offshore it will range between 1 and 3 feet.Visibility inshore is expected to range between 4 and 10 km, or less at places at first. Offshore visibility will range between 5 and 10 km.

The 2025 Arab Scientific Journals Impact and Citation Report (ARCIF), issued as its tenth annual report, confirmed Qatar’s advancement in the field of engineering and technology within the Arab world, based on a comprehensive monitoring of scientific production across the region.Dr Sami al-Khazendar, Head of the ARCIF initiative, one of the programmes under the Ma’arefa Database headquartered in Amman, Jordan, explained that the new report crowns a decade of meticulous tracking of Arab scientific publications, noting that the ten-year results reflect steady growth in the volume and significance of research despite the challenges facing the region.The ARCIF teams examined approximately 5,500 scientific journals issued by 1,500 scientific institutions in 20 Arab countries, excluding Djibouti and the Comoros, in addition to eight foreign countries publishing Arabic-language journals. Of these, 1,272 journals met 32 internationally recognised standards approved by ARCIF, al-Khazendar noted.According to the report, data from 364,000 Arab authors were analysed, covering more than 956,000 scientific papers, with the work of 111,000 authors being cited.Comparisons with the 2016 report showed an increase of 367% in the number of journals, 870% in the number of articles, and 6,800% in the number of cited Arab authors.Dr al-Khazendar emphasised that ARCIF has moved Arab scientific production from invisible space to global recognition, stressing that the ARCIF impact factor has become a trusted reference for measuring the influence of Arab journals according to international indicators.He also highlighted the growing Arab awareness of the importance of publishing in Arabic to build knowledge and foster innovation.In the overall ranking, Algeria led the Arab countries with the highest number of accredited journals (426), followed by Egypt (364), Iraq (122), Saudi Arabia (75), and Jordan (45).In terms of the general impact factor, Egypt ranked first, followed by Saudi Arabia.At the specialised level, Qatar led in engineering and technology, while Egypt topped the fields of economics, social sciences, education, law, and media. Saudi Arabia led in Arabic language and literature, while Palestine achieved first place in the Immediacy Index through the Palestinian Journal of Open Education and e-Learning.In the index of cited authors, Algeria ranked first with 26,834 authors, followed by Egypt with 21,988, Iraq with 21,367, Saudi Arabia with 10,712, and Jordan with 6,098, with a notable increase in the number of cited Arab researchers across the region.The digital edition of the 2025 report will be available on the ARCIF website (http://emarefa.net/arcif) before the end of 2025, providing researchers and policymakers with the latest data on the Arab scientific publishing landscape.The ARCIF impact factor operates under the supervision of a Coordinating Council that includes representatives from the Unesco Regional Bureau for Education in the Arab States in Beirut, ESCWA, and the Ma’arefa Database, alongside a scientific committee composed of Arab and international experts and academics from several Arab countries and the United Kingdom.

The weather, inshore, until 6:00 pm on Saturday will be hazy to misty in places at first, and become relatively hot to hot in the daytime, mild by night, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather report. Offshore, it will be hazy at times, the report added. Wind inshore will be variable at first, becoming mainly northwesterly at 05 to 15 knots, gusting to 20 knots at places daytime. Offshore, it will be northwesterly from 05 to 15 knots, gusting to 20 knots at places at times. Sea state inshore will be 1 to 3, while offshore will be 02 to 04 feet at places at times. Visibility inshore will be 04 to 09/03 kilometers or fewer at places at first. Offshore it will also be 04 to 10 kilometers.

Qatar's Barzan project has contributed to the Middle East region's natural gas production growth last year, according to International Gas Union in its 2025 Global Gas Report.Commissioned in 2022, the Barzan facility supplies pipeline gas to local industries and Qatar’s power generation sector. It also supplies associated hydrocarbon products to local refineries and petrochemical industries and international markets.According to QatarEnergy, the facility can provide 1.4 BSCFD of sales gas to local power generation and water desalination plants as well as local industries.In addition, Barzan has the production capacity to supply ethane, condensate, LPG and sulphur for local markets and export.Further increases are expected in 2025, with Saudi Arabia’s production projected to rise by 8 bcm, as the first phase of Jafurah field – the country’s largest unconventional natural gas development – is expected to begin operations before the end of the year.The development of Saudi Arabia’s gas resources aligns with national plans to replace up to 1 mmbbl/d of oil with natural gas in the power generation sector and to support the expansion of petrochemicals, blue hydrogen and ammonia production.In the Middle East, natural gas production growth was recorded across all major oil and gas producers in 2024, with the UAE leading the increase with a gain of 7bcm, IGU noted.Natural gas supply grew by 65 bcm (1.6%) y-o-y in 2024, reaching 4,090 bcm, driven by significant production gains in the Middle East (+30 bcm, 4.4%) and Russia (+30 bcm, 5.1%).These increases were supported by marginal growth in Asia (+17 bcm, 2.5%), and North America (+5 bcm, 0.4%), which collectively offset declines in other regions.This growth was supported by a 9bcm increase in global liquefaction capacity. In the US, capacity expanded with the year-end startup of Plaquemines LNG.Congo became an LNG exporter with the commissioning of Congo FLNG, while Mexico – still a net importer – exported its first cargo to Europe from the new Altamira FLNG facility, IGU said.

OilOil prices fell on Friday as a weak US jobs report dimmed the outlook for energy demand, while swelling supplies may grow further after Opec and allied producers meet over the weekend. Brent crude futures settled at $65.50 a barrel, down $1.49. US WTI crude finished at $61.87, down $1.61.On Wednesday, Reuters reported that eight Opec+ producers would consider raising production further at a meeting on Sunday. US crude inventories rose 2.4mn barrels last week, rather than falling as analysts expected. US nonfarm payrolls increased by only 22,000 jobs last month after rising by an upwardly revised 79,000 in July, the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics said in its closely watched employment report on Friday.The weak jobs report will put pressure on the US Federal Reserve to cut interest rates. Expectations are growing that Opec+ – the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies like Russia – will decide at Sunday's meeting to push more barrels into the market to regain market share.The group would be starting to unwind a second layer of output cuts of about 1.65mn barrels per day, or 1.6% of world demand, more than a year ahead of schedule. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump told European leaders on Thursday that Europe must stop buying Russian oil. Any cuts to Russia's crude exports or other disruption to supplies could push oil prices higher.GasAsian spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices held steady last week as regional demand remained muted, while a gas supply deal between Russia and China is seen curbing future LNG shipments from the top Asian importer.Industry sources estimated that the average LNG price for October delivery into Northeast Asia was $11.30 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), up slightly from $11.15 per mmBtu the previous week. Meanwhile, following the first unloading of an LNG cargo from Russia's sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project in China, Beijing and Moscow this week signed agreements to increase gas supply via the existing Power of Siberia pipeline, and to construct the Power of Siberia 2, though they have yet to agree on pricing.China is sending a clear geopolitical signal that it is willing to receive more Russian gas, reducing LNG dependency from other sources from 2027 and influencing the profitability of other LNG producers. In Europe, the Dutch TTF hub settled at $11.02 per mmBtu, recording a weekly gain of 2.6%. Continued supply growth from the US helped to offset the decline seen from Nigeria. This also comes at a time where imports into Europe have seen slight declines as subsided heatwaves and easing fears over storage added further bearish tailwinds into the market. The US arbitrage to Northeast Asia via the Cape of Good Hope narrowed significantly last week, only marginally incentivising US cargo deliveries to Europe.This article was supplied by the Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah International Foundation for Energy and Sustainable Development.

European stocks edged lower on Friday as investors awaited key eurozone indicators and a US inflation report for signals on the timing of potential US interest rate cuts.The pan-european stock index slipped 0.2% to 552.41 points, putting it on track for its first weekly loss in a month.Markets broadly expect the US Federal Reserve to begin cutting rates in September, with traders closely monitoring upcoming economic data for confirmation of that outlook.