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LuLu Group, Qatar’s leading retail destination, has launched “Explore Australia”, a special in-store campaign inviting shoppers to discover the diversity, quality, and freshness of Australian products across its hypermarkets at attractive promotional prices.The campaign was officially inaugurated at LuLu Hypermarket, Giardino – The Pearl-Qatar, by Shane Flanagan, the ambassador of Australia to Qatar and his wife, in the presence of Australian football legend Tim Cahill, representatives from the Australia–Qatar Business Forum, global director of LuLu Group Dr Mohamed Althaf, and senior LuLu management.**media[408745]**The promotion will run until January 28 across all LuLu Hypermarket outlets in the region.Speaking at the launch, Flanagan highlighted Australia’s long-standing role in supporting Qatar’s food security and praised LuLu’s growing partnership with Australian producers.“It is a thrill to see so many Australian producers who have travelled to join us today,” the envoy said. “This initiative allows us to reconnect and continue the discussions we’ve had through previous engagements, including trade events and LuLu’s visits to Australia over the years.”**media[408746]**He noted the strong reputation of Australian food products for quality and safety, particularly organic offerings.“We take great pride in the exceptional standards of Australian food, from lamb and beef to fruits, vegetables, and a wide range of everyday essentials,” Flanagan said. “Shoppers will be surprised to discover how many products on LuLu shelves originate from Australia.”The ambassador added that the timing of the campaign aligns well with Australia Day on January 26, making the celebration even more meaningful in Qatar.“This ‘Explore Australia’ event comes at a perfect time, and we are grateful to LuLu for its continued commitment,” he said. “Each year, the selection grows stronger, supported by LuLu’s purchasing and distribution centre in Melbourne, which continues to gain momentum.”The “Explore Australia” campaign features a comprehensive range of products directly imported from Australia, including fresh meat, organic foods, muesli bars, plant-based milk, sauces, cake mixes, honey, grocery items, and fresh fruits and vegetables.**media[408747]**Recent industry reports point to a steady increase in Australia’s exports of livestock, fresh produce, and processed food products to Qatar.LuLu Group’s sourcing office in Australia plays a key role in ensuring a consistent supply of premium Australian products, enabling the retailer to offer high-quality imports at competitive and affordable prices across its stores.The launch event was enhanced by a live musical performance by children from King’s College, adding colour and vibrancy to the occasion.Shoppers can also enjoy chef-led live cooking demonstrations, tasting sessions, and interactive sampling counters throughout the campaign, creating an engaging and immersive retail experience. 

On 18 December, Qatar marks its National Day. While the occasion invites national pride, it also provides an opportunity to reflect on one of the country’s most defining business realities: a workforce shaped by more than 100 nationalities, operating in an economy that has transformed at exceptional speed. With a population of approximately 2.7 million, of which around 85–90 percent are expatriates, Qatar has one of the most internationally diverse labour markets in the world. This structure has enabled rapid development across sectors such as energy, aviation, construction, finance, education, media and sport. At the same time, it introduces structural and managerial complexities that directly affect productivity, governance and long-term competitiveness. In the Qatari business environment, diversity is not a corporate initiative. It is an operating condition. Most organisations depend on teams composed of multiple nationalities, educational backgrounds and professional cultures.This creates clear advantages. International teams bring speed, specialised expertise and global best practice. Research from McKinsey and Harvard Business Review consistently links well-managed diversity to improved decision-making and financial performance. However, these outcomes are not automatic. In practice, diverse teams often face challenges related to communication, accountability and alignment. Differences in attitudes toward hierarchy, time management, risk and feedback can slow execution if not addressed through deliberate leadership and clear operating models.As Peter Drucker famously observed:“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”A defining feature of Qatar’s workforce is its segmentation. Qatari nationals are predominantly employed in the public sector, while the private sector remains heavily reliant on expatriate professionals. This division has supported rapid growth, but it also raises long-term business and policy questions.For the private sector, high dependence on international talent can create risks related to continuity, institutional memory and talent turnover. For the national workforce, limited exposure to private-sector roles may slow skills transfer, innovation and entrepreneurial capacity. From a business perspective, the challenge is not substitution, but integration. Companies that successfully combine local insight with international expertise are better positioned to scale sustainably, manage stakeholder relationships and align with national development priorities.Speed of change as a management challengeQatar’s economic transformation over the past 20–25 years has been exceptionally fast. New sectors have emerged, regulatory frameworks have evolved, and organisations have scaled rapidly. While this has created opportunity, it has also increased pressure on leadership capability, workforce readiness and organisational maturity. In fast-growing environments, systems often lag ambition. Roles may be unclear, decision rights fragmented and accountability diluted across multicultural teams. Without strong management frameworks, diversity can amplify these weaknesses rather than compensate for them. This is where leadership becomes a critical differentiator. Leading in Qatar requires not only technical competence, but cultural intelligence, patience and the ability to balance speed with cohesion. As Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, once said:“Tolerance, intercultural dialogue and respect for diversity are more essential than ever in a world where peoples are becoming more and more closely interconnected.”As Qatar continues its transition toward a knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy, workforce diversity will remain a strategic asset, but only if actively managed. Businesses will need to invest more deliberately in leadership development, cross-cultural capability and inclusive operating models. National competitiveness will depend not only on attracting global talent, but on building bridges between local and international workforces, between public and private sectors, and between speed and sustainability.Diversity, in the Qatari business context, is neither a simple success story nor a temporary phase. It is a structural reality. One that requires clear-eyed analysis, capable leadership and long-term thinking.______________Fact: workforce realities in QatarPopulation: Approx. 2.7 millionNationalities represented: 100+Expatriate share: Around 85-90 percent of residentsPublic sector: Predominantly Qatari nationalsPrivate sector: Heavily dependent on expatriate talentEconomic transformation: Rapid diversification over the last 20–25 years

Msheireb Downtown Doha has become a thriving centre of football, culture, and family-friendly entertainment as it hosts one of the fan zones for the Arab Cup 2025. The fan zone offers an immersive experience for Qatar residents and visitors, including many arriving from neighbouring GCC countries. It features interactive activities that include gaming stations like PlayStation kiosks and football-themed games, among others, keeping them engaged and entertained from afternoon until late evening.A number of visitors lauded the comfort, uniqueness, and diversity of the fan zone experience, citing the welcoming atmosphere and well-designed seating areas that allow fans to enjoy matches in a relaxed setting.**media[389242]**Supporters from abroad attending the tournament also praised the sense of community and shared excitement that fills the area during match days.Imad Mohana, who travelled from Dubai to take part in the Arab Cup festivities, told Gulf Times: “The vibes here are great. “We’re here today to watch Egypt versus Kuwait, and we’re looking forward to Jordan’s match Thursday and Palestine versus Tunisia the day after.”Mohana said that while he and his group have tickets to attend some matches at the stadiums, fan zones offer a different way to experience the tournament. “We will go to the stadium for a few games, but for the other matches we prefer to watch here at Msheireb and in Lusail. The fan zones give you a different feeling,” he added.About Msheireb, he pointed out: “It’s very nice. There are a lot of activities, it’s great for families, and the seating area is very comfortable, which makes watching the games even better.”A large screen showcasing live matches has become a focal point, drawing many visitors eager to watch the tournament unfold in a shared, celebratory setting. An official Arab Cup merchandise store also allows fans to take home memorabilia.

Doha Film Festival will showcase a remarkable selection of acclaimed titles from across the world as part of its International Feature Film Competition, reflecting the festival's commitment to cinematic excellence and cultural diversity, bringing together powerful stories that resonate across borders. The competition brings together award-winning filmmakers whose impactful stories have inspired audiences around the world. Through their bold storytelling and artistic excellence, these creators continue to shape global cinema and spark meaningful cultural dialogue. Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Festival Director and CEO of Doha Film Institute, said: "At Doha Film Festival, we honour the remarkable filmmakers whose films have touched hearts, challenged perspectives, and are reshaping the global cinema landscape through courageous narratives. The films in the International Feature Film Competition share a deep commitment to authentic storytelling and reflect our shared belief in the transformative power of film. We are proud to provide a platform in Doha where powerful voices can be heard and where audiences can engage with stories that inspire reflection, empathy, and connection." Taking place from Nov. 20–28, 2025, Doha Film Festival (DFF) represents the bold next chapter in Doha Film Institute's mission to nurture regional talent and champion urgent and authentic stories in cinema. The festival will transform iconic locations across Doha, including Katara Cultural Village, Msheireb Downtown Doha, and the Museum of Islamic Art, into vibrant hubs of cultural exchange, bringing together filmmakers, storytellers, and audiences from every corner of the globe, to reaffirm art's power to inspire, to unite, and to spotlight voices that deepen our shared understanding.

Doha Forum, Qatar's flagship platform promoting diplomacy, dialogue, and diversity, co-hosted a high-level panel discussion titled "Peace and Development: A Shared Path to Stability" at the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations (UN) in New York Saturday, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly High-Level Week. The event addressed the persistence of conflicts and wars around the world that continue to devastate communities, displace millions, and erode the foundations of development. They also discussed how fragile or uneven development often fuels instability and prolongs cycles of conflict. The message is clear: there is no peace without development, and no development without peace. The event convened global leaders and practitioners to explore the deep interdependence between peace, humanitarian response, and sustainable development. Discussions highlighted how mediation efforts, humanitarian interventions, and long-term investments in education, health, infrastructure, and climate resilience must work hand-in-hand to secure stability. Speakers examined how humanitarian action can be better linked to development planning in fragile states, the role of regional organizations in bridging peace and development, how mediation outcomes can translate into tangible improvements in people's lives, and how investments in education, healthcare, and climate resilience can reduce the risk of conflict. For her part, Her Excellency Minister of State for International Cooperation Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad emphasized Qatar's long-standing commitment to mediation, humanitarian response, and international development assistance worldwide. During the opening remarks, Her Excellency said, "There can be no sustainable development without peace, and no lasting peace without development. By linking humanitarian action with long-term development, we can prevent conflict and build lasting stability." For her part, General Manager of Doha Forum, Maha Al Kuwari said, "Doha Forum is proud to co-host this timely discussion during UNGA High-Level Week. Our strength lies in convening diverse voices to advance diplomacy, dialogue and cooperation. Recent events in our region highlight the urgent need to protect civilians and uphold sovereignty, while investing in a more stable and inclusive future. These conversations will continue at Doha Forum 2025, where we remain committed to fostering collective action on the world's most pressing challenges." By convening diverse international and regional voices, the event reinforced Qatar's role as a convener of dialogue and practical solutions for global crises. The outcomes will also inform the conversations at Doha Forum 2025, taking place on 6–7 December in Doha under the theme "Justice in Action: Beyond Promises to Progress." Doha Forum is a global platform for dialogue, bringing together world leaders, policymakers, business executives, civil society representatives, and thought leaders to exchange ideas and drive solutions to the most pressing challenges of our time. Guided by the values of integrity, inclusivity, and innovation, Doha Forum promotes open dialogue and diverse perspectives to foster mutual understanding and collective progress. The most recent edition of Doha Forum, held in December 2024 under the theme "The Innovation Imperative," welcomed over 5,000 participants from 162 countries, including more than 350 speakers across two days.