tag

The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) is facilitating "constructive dialogues" with the global institutional investors to better enhance investment appeal as it showcased listed companies in New York as part of measures to increase the visibility of the country's capital market in the international arena.In this regard, the QSE successfully concluded its New York roadshow, hosted at Bank of America in New York City this week, showcasing leading blue-chip listed companies to a high-profile audience of global institutional investors, resulting in more than 80 one-on-one meetings with major buy-side firms. "By collaborating with Bank of America, the QSE continues to facilitate constructive dialogue between listed companies and global market participants, supporting greater visibility for Qatar’s capital market across major financial centres," said its spokesman.The delegation highlighted the depth, resilience, and diversity of Qatar’s equity market, reinforcing the competitiveness of the nation’s publicly listed companies, which now stands at 53 with a combined market capitalisation of about QR634bn. The roadshow provided a platform for participating companies to showcase their performance, growth outlook, and market fundamentals. Over the course of the event, investors held a series of one-on-one and group meetings with Qatari corporates, reflecting strong international interest in Qatar’s capital market.The New York Roadshow forms part of QSE’s broader efforts to enhance international investor engagement in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the objectives of the Third Financial Sector Strategy, which emphasise deeper financial markets, stronger global connectivity, and diversified economic development.The event also underscored the close alignment between the QSE and its listed companies, demonstrating a shared commitment to transparency, effective engagement, and long-term market development.The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the country's sovereign wealth fund, had entered into a strategic partnership with Fiera Capital to launch the $200mn Fiera Qatar Equity Fund, a landmark initiative aimed at enhancing market liquidity, increasing the free float of Qatari equities, and attracting new institutional capital to the Qatari market.The collaboration with Fiera Capital marks another important milestone in expanding market participation and supporting the long-term growth of Qatar's financial ecosystem. QIA has been instrumental in strengthening Qatar’s capital markets through a series of targeted programmes, including the market making initiative, the securities lending and borrowing framework, and the active asset management initiative launched in 2024. These efforts have already delivered tangible results, including the $200mn Qatar-focused equity fund launched in partnership with Ashmore Group.Qatar’s financial markets continue to demonstrate strong and consistent performance, reflecting sustained growth driven by the resilience of the national economy and effective collaboration among key stakeholders of Qatar’s financial markets to advance market infrastructure and regulatory development. This momentum is supported by a combination of structural strengths, including market depth, a diversified investor base, strategic product innovation, enhanced liquidity, and evolving regulatory frameworks.

Qatar Museums has opened two exhibitions as part of its 2025 Ruwad in Residence programme, at Fire Station Artist in Residence (AIR), featuring the work of two Qatar-based established artists. The first, titled "And Then, A Return," features Qatari artist Fatma al-Naimi, while the second, "What Remains to Be Seen," showcases Palestinian artist Dr Aissa Deebi. Both exhibitions will be on view until December 13. **media[382688]** Artist Fatma al-Naimi told the Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the residency experience has been positive and enriching, allowing her to exchange experiences with participating artists, engage in dialogues about art, and participate in various activities at Fire Station's AIR, including cultural forums, lectures, and art exhibitions. She also highlighted the opportunity to utilise the open studio's diverse resources and techniques. **media[382689]** Al-Naimi explained that her year-long experience culminated in this exhibition, reflecting on personal moments, memories, and experiences, which she translated into artworks using various mediums, including printmaking, painting, and video art, employing diverse techniques and media. Palestinian visual artist Aissa Deebi, praised the excellence of the artist residency programme and its role in promoting creative and cultural work. He emphasised that it provides an opportunity for reflection, contemplation, research, and presenting artistic experiences to the public, especially given Qatar's ongoing artistic renaissance and its focus on the impact of art on building society and the national economy. He said his works in the exhibition are inspired by the circumstances of the aggression against Gaza and aim to highlight the role of art during times of war, fostering hope, and affirming the importance of creativity in strengthening Palestinian cultural identity. **media[382690]** Launched in 2021, Ruwad Residency supports and fosters dialogue between Qatar-based established and emerging artists. By providing time, space, and resources, the programme reinforces the Fire Station's role as a hub for artistic exchange and innovation. The residency also ensures the Fire Station's continued connection to local artists and creates meaningful exchanges through mentorship. Nominated by the Fire Station, Ruwad artists participate for up to two years, gaining access to studio space and the opportunity to engage with the wider community through public programmes such as talks and workshops.

The third Arab Cultural House "Al Diwan" Book Fair has wound up in Berlin, Germany. The three-day event brought together around 100 Arab and foreign publishing houses. The final day featured a panel discussion titled "From the Sands of Seleen to the Sidewalks of Berlin", highlighting poetic dialogues between Modern Standard Arabic, Nabṭī, and German. The panel delved into the art of poetry, particularly the nuances of translating verse with fidelity to meaning and intent and explored the impact of machine translation on literary works. Another panel discussion revolved around the contemporary Arabic novel in the Gulf region, with women writers in the spotlight, as well as the Qatari novel model. It focused on the evolution of Gulf literature, emphasizing the progressive stages of the Qatari novel, the underlying influences, and the leading role of women in shaping the Gulf literary scene. The Arab Cultural House in Berlin, affiliated with the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Germany, organizes this annual book fair as part of its cultural activities aimed at realizing the vision of forging connections and mutual understanding among nations.

Adviser to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE Dr Majed bin Mohammed al-Ansari has participated in a session titled "Beyond Sharm El-Sheikh: The Gulf Amidst Conflicts in the Middle East," as part of the Mediterranean Dialogues 2025 Forum, held in Naples, Italy. Dr al-Ansari addressed the most prominent political and security challenges facing the region in the wake of recent developments, stressing the importance of the Gulf role in consolidating regional stability and promoting dialogue and diplomacy. He said that the Israeli attack on Doha last September marked a turning point in the GCC states' approach to collective security, prompting a reassessment of regional and international partnership priorities and enhanced security co-ordination in the face of growing threats. Regarding the situation in the Gaza Strip, following the signing of the ceasefire agreement during the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit, Dr al-Ansari stressed that any future political or security arrangements must be based on international legitimacy and reflect the will of the Palestinian people, within the framework of a comprehensive vision for a two-state solution as the only path toward a just and comprehensive peace. He said that Qatar, despite security challenges, continues to uphold its role as a peacemaking force and effective mediator in the region, placing at the top of its priorities the promotion of political dialogue and support for the humanitarian response, particularly in the Palestinian issue. He highlighted the importance of Qatari-Gulf, American, and European partnerships in enhancing regional security, noting that the current phase requires multilateral co-operation to confront crises and prevent their escalation, in a manner that maintains regional stability and serves the interests of the people.

In the framework of the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Mexico and Qatar, as well as the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Embassy of Mexico in Qatar and the Embassy of Qatar in Mexico, Gulf Times had the privilege of sitting down with former Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency José Antonio Meade, a respected Mexican leader who has served as Secretary of Finance, Foreign Affairs, Social Development, and Energy. A Yale and ITAM graduate, Meade is recognized for his deep commitment to public service and his work toward economic stability, social development, and international diplomacy.During the conversation, Meade shared valuable insights on the collaborative work being carried out to strengthen ties between Qatar and Latin America, highlighting the opportunities for deeper economic, cultural, and political engagement. He also reflected on the evolving future of the Middle East, emphasizing the region’s role as a dynamic hub for dialogue, innovation, and international cooperation.This interview was made possible thanks to the support of Universidad Panamericana in Mexico City, whose commitment to fostering academic and diplomatic dialogue continues to enrich global understanding.