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His Highness the late Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, died at the age of 74, leaving behind a legacy that is difficult to describe in a few words. During his tenure, which lasted from 1995 to 2013, he turned Qatar from a small Gulf state into a popular destination for media, entertainment, sports, and technology. Here are some significant turning points in his legacy from the perspectives of sports, technology, art, and culture. A Revolution in Communications and Media: From Censorship to Al JazeeraOnly a few months after assuming power, in October 1995, HH the late Father Amir removed restrictions on the local press. In order to promote press and expression freedom, the Ministry of Information was completely dismantled in 1998. However, the most important event occurred in 1996 when the Al Jazeera news channel was established. This media innovation altered the rules of the game throughout the entire area and eventually developed into a comprehensive media network with numerous channels. It wasn't just traditional media that underwent this change. In order to create a knowledge-based society and an advanced technological infrastructure, HH the late Father Amir founded the Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology in 2004. In 2010, he started the e-government project to digitise government transactions, which was a step ahead of many other countries in the region. A Renaissance in Culture and Art That Changed the Map of DohaThe biggest initiative to revitalize Qatar's cultural identity took place during HH the late Father Amir reign. From the 1920s-era Souq Waqif's restoration to the 2005 founding of the Qatar Museums Authority, which oversaw an unparalleled museum revival: One of the most significant architectural features in the area is the Museum of Islamic Art (2008), which was created by renowned architect I.M. Pei. The historic palace of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani serves as the focal point of the National Museum of Qatar, which was designed by architect Jean Nouvel and inspired by the desert rose flower. The Arab Museum of Modern Art, Mathaf (2010).The Katara Cultural Village (2005) developed into a crucial venue for important cultural events and artistic talent. Qatar also started commemorating its founder, Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin-Thani, on National Day in 2007, which strengthened the country's pride in its legacy and identity. Qatar as a Sports Capital: From the Doha Asian Games to the 2022 World CupThe World Table Tennis Championship (2004), the World Weightlifting Championship (2005), the 15th Asian Games "Asiad 2006," the World Indoor Athletics Championship (2010), the AFC Asian Cup (2011), and the 12th Arab Games (2011) are just a few of the international sporting events that Doha has become a major hub for. Together with Aspetar, the sports medicine facility, which was recognized by FIFA as a Medical Center of Excellence in 2008, the Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence was founded in 2008 to develop talent in a variety of sporting disciplines and fulfill Qatar's local and international sporting aspirations. The most noteworthy accomplishment, however, occurred in 2010 when Qatar became the first Arab and Middle Eastern nation to win the bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022. This event permanently altered Qatar's reputation in the world of sports. Top-Notch Healthcare and EducationSports, entertainment, and the media weren't the only areas of advancement. With the formation of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development in 1995, education grew in tandem. In 2003, branches of top international universities were drawn to Education City, and in 2010, Hamad Bin Khalifa University was established. The number of hospitals in the healthcare industry increased from 4 in 1998 to 13 in 2012. This was accompanied by the introduction of comprehensive health insurance in 2011, the opening of prestigious medical facilities like Hamad Medical Corporation and Weill Cornell Medical College (2002), and the start of the Sidra Medicine and research project. A Social Aspect That Established the Basis for WelfareAlongside all of this, HH the late Father Amir reign had a significant social component: in 1996, social security benefits for priority groups were increased by 50%, Qatari women were given the opportunity to run for office and cast ballots for the first time in the nation's history during the 1999 municipal elections, and salary and pension payments increased steadily until they peaked in 2011. When considered collectively, these achievements demonstrate that HH the late Father Amir was more than just a ruler who established institutions; rather, he was the creator of a vision that made Qatar's name visible everywhere, from news broadcasts to museums, from football fields to academic lecture halls.Source: Amiri Diwan https://www.diwan.gov.qa/ar-qa/about-qatar/qatars-rulers/father/achievements 

The Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) held a meeting with a delegation from Syria as a follow-up to QBA’s meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who was in Qatar for the recently concluded Doha Forum 2025.The delegation was headed by Dr Hazem al-Sharaa, vice-president of the Syrian Supreme Council for Economic Development. He was accompanied by Talal al-Hilali, director general of Syria’s Investment Authority, and Safwat Raslan, director general of the Syrian Development Fund.Sunday’s meeting comes as a continuation of QBA’s meeting last week with President al-Sharaa, aimed at discussing potential investment opportunities in Syria, even as a number of QBA members have already launched concrete economic projects there in the fields of energy, electricity, and real estate.The Syrian delegation was received by QBA chairman His Excellency Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani, in the presence of board member Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser al-Thani, and QBA members Sheikh Mansour bin Jassim al-Thani, Khaled al-Mannai, Mohammed Moataz al-Khayyat, Ramez al-Khayyat, Nabil Abu Issa, Faisal al-Mana, Yousuf al-Mahmoud, and Ihsan al-Khaimi, as well as representatives of Abdulrahman Al Mana Companies, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad al-Thani, Mekdam Holding Group, and other member companies, in addition to QBA general manager Sarah Abdallah.At the beginning of the meeting, Dr Hazem al-Sharaa stated that Qatar was among the first countries to invest in Syria, following the directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and the Qatari Government, to place Syria on the international investment map by strengthening international relations and attracting major companies to participate in the reconstruction of Syria.Al-Sharaa noted that the Supreme Council for Economic Development aims to achieve economic stability in the country, revitalise and develop the economy, and establish a comprehensive economic map covering the entire Syrian geography.He said this will be achieved through full supervision of several economic authorities, organisations, and institutions operating within the framework of the state’s economic plan. He also confirmed that Syria will launch a completely new currency in the market at the beginning of the new year, in line with the requirements of the current phase.The council, chaired by the President of the Republic, is responsible for approving general strategies and plans related to investment. Its membership includes the ministers of economy and industry, energy, finance, tourism, communications and information technology, public works and housing, and agriculture, in addition to the head of the General Authority for Land and Sea Ports, among others. Several economic entities are affiliated with the council, most notably the Syrian Investment Authority, the Sovereign Fund, and the Development Fund.During the meeting, al-Sharaa focused on current economic projects in Syria that contribute to reconstruction and the development of infrastructure and vital sectors, with particular emphasis on energy, transport, tourism, real estate, health, education, and key industrial sectors such as pharmaceuticals and construction materials.He also praised the significant investments by Qatari and Saudi companies in the development of power generation stations, as well as the signing of memoranda of understanding to modernise the electricity sector in general. This is in addition to the development of Damascus International Airport and the Damascus Metro project, in cooperation with Qatari and Turkish companies.For his part, al-Hilali spoke about the development of the legislative framework to attract and guarantee direct investments through the adoption of the best international laws, allowing foreign investors to own 100% of their projects.He explained that, in this new phase, the state has adopted measures to fully exempt investors from taxes in the health sector and agricultural projects related to food security, in addition to full tax exemptions for factories that export more than 50% of their production.Meanwhile, Sheikh Faisal stated that Syria represents an investment bank of projects and golden opportunities for investors. He stressed the need to develop joint Qatari–Syrian projects through the establishment of institutions specialised across various sectors, such as industrial, health, tourism, and real estate, among others, given that the state’s objective is to create job opportunities and stimulate economic growth. He emphasised that the private sector in both countries can play a prominent role in this direction.Qatari businessmen affirmed that Syria is currently witnessing a major economic transformation across various sectors, noting that most of them have already begun working on productive projects in Syria. They also announced that a delegation of Qatari businessmen will visit Syria at the invitation of the Supreme Council for Development, following an official invitation from President al-Sharaa to Damascus to explore investment opportunities. 

The State of Qatar participated in the 47th meeting of the Supreme Council of Islamic Financial Services Board, which was held in Marrakesh, Morocco, reports QNA. Qatar was represented at the meeting by Deputy Governor of the Qatar Central Bank Sheikh Ahmed bin Khalid bin Ahmed bin Sultan al-Thani. The meeting discussed a number of topics on the agenda and made appropriate decisions regarding them.

Qatar participated Sunday in the preparatory ministerial meeting for the 46th session of the GCC Supreme Council, held in Manama, Bahrain. The Qatari delegation was headed by His Excellency the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi. 

The Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held an extraordinary session Monday in Doha, chaired by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.The session was attended by Vice President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Personal Representative of King of the Kingdom of Bahrain; Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud; Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman Shihab bin Tarik bin Taimur Al Said; Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi.The GCC Supreme Council discussed the repercussions of the Israeli aggression against the sisterly State of Qatar and the blatant violation of its sovereignty by Israeli occupation forces, which targeted residential facilities housing members of the negotiating delegation from the political bureau of Hamas. This occurred during the current round of negotiations and the mediation undertaken by Qatar to reach an agreement regarding Gaza. The attack resulted in the martyrdom of Badr Saad Mohammed Al Humaidi Al Dosari, a member of the security services, and caused civilian casualties.he attack also endangered the lives of civilians in a residential area crowded with schools, diplomatic missions, and kindergartens. This constitutes a flagrant assault on the efforts of the international community and its organisations aimed at achieving a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages and detainees, and is a blatant violation of international law.Here is what they agreed upon: 1. The Supreme Council condemned in the strongest terms the Israeli aggression and the flagrant violation of the sovereignty of Qatar, affirming that this act of aggression represents a dangerous and unacceptable escalation, and a grave breach of the principles of international law and the Charter of the UN.2. The Supreme Council affirmed the complete solidarity of the GCC states with Qatar in all measures it takes to confront this aggression. It stressed that the security of the GCC states is indivisible, and that any attack on one of them is an attack on all, in accordance with the Basic Statute of the GCC and the Joint Defense Agreement, and the readiness of the member states to harness all capabilities to support the sisterly State of Qatar and protect its security, stability, and sovereignty against any threats.3. Proceeding from the principle emphasised by the Basic Statute of the GCC that the security of the Cooperation Council is indivisible, the leaders have directed the GCC Joint Defense Council to hold an urgent meeting in Doha, to be preceded by a meeting of the Higher Military Committee. The purpose is to assess the defense posture of the member states and the sources of threat in light of the Israeli aggression against the sisterly State of Qatar, and to direct the Unified Military Command to take the necessary executive measures to activate joint defense mechanisms and Gulf deterrence capabilities.4. The Supreme Council affirmed that the brutal Israeli aggression against the sisterly State of Qatar constitutes a direct threat to joint Gulf security and to regional peace and stability. The council believes that the continuation of these aggressive policies undermines efforts to achieve peace and the future of existing understandings and agreements with Israel, due to the serious repercussions this carries for the stability of the entire region.5. The Supreme Council warned that Israel's persistence in its criminal practices and its flagrant disregard for all international norms, laws, and the Charter of the UN, will lead to serious repercussions that threaten regional and international peace and security. The Supreme Council called on the Security Council, the international community, and influential nations to assume their full responsibilities and take firm and deterrent measures to stop these violations, which have undermined the prestige of international law and the authority of its institutions. The Supreme Council underscored that these actions represent a dangerous precedent that should not be overlooked or allowed to pass without the imposition of deterrent international sanctions.6. The Supreme Council stressed the necessity for the international community to fulfill its moral and legal responsibilities and to act urgently to deter Israel and put an end to its repeated violations of international law and international humanitarian law, which constitute a direct threat to the security of the region and to international peace and stability. It called on all countries and international organisations to condemn this sinful aggression and to take deterrent measures that ensure respect for the sovereignty of Qatar and the protection of civilians, both citizens and residents.7. The Supreme Council commended the efforts made by the security authorities, the Civil Defense, and the competent agencies in Qatar for their immediate handling of the incident, containing its repercussions, and safeguarding the safety of citizens and residents.8. The Supreme Council affirmed that this attack obstructs the tireless efforts undertaken by Qatar and its role in mediating a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the release of hostages and detainees, and the alleviation of the suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people. It underlined that the repeated Israeli aggressions against several countries in the region constitute a serious obstacle to international and regional efforts aimed at establishing security, peace, and stability.9. The Supreme Council stressed the necessity of adhering to the foundations and principles stipulated in the Charter of the UN, international treaties and agreements, the principles of good neighbourliness, respect for the sovereignty of states, non-interference in their internal affairs, resolving disputes by peaceful means, and refraining from the use or threat of force.10. The leaders expressed their thanks and appreciation to the brotherly Arab and Islamic nations, and to friendly countries in the international community, which were quick to condemn the brutal Israeli aggression and declare their solidarity with Qatar. They affirmed that these positions reflect a collective commitment to rejecting the violation of states' sovereignty and to supporting efforts aimed at protecting regional and international security and stability.11. The Supreme Council called upon the peace-loving nations of the world to condemn the brutal Israeli aggression against Qatar and its attempts to obstruct international efforts and diplomatic solutions aimed at stopping Israeli attacks and the crimes of genocide it practices in the Gaza Strip. These crimes, the Supreme Council underscored, include systematic policies of displacing and starving the population, disrupting the work of international relief and humanitarian organisations operating in the Gaza Strip, and killing journalists, medical and ambulance crews, rescue teams, and humanitarian workers. The Supreme Council stated that this requires the consolidation of all international efforts to deter these criminal acts.