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Al Noor Center for the Blind has launched an initiative meant to strengthen the inclusion of people with visual disabilities in society, reflecting the idea that their light is among the community and highlighting those persons' capabilities and achievements.Having been launched in partnership with Qatar Media Corporation, the initiative comprises a combination of societal awareness programs, interactive experiences, media and digital content, as well as efforts to foster partnerships with a variety of community institutions.Director of the Communication and Media Office at Al Noor Center for the Blind Shaheen Al Sulaiti highlighted that the initiative is primarily part of the center's thrust toward expanding the scope of awareness and societal engagement and, at the end of the day, deepening the presence of those persons in various fields and engaging with them. The initiative is built around a fourfold set of key goals, Al Sulaiti outlined, stating that these include substantially raising awareness, strengthening inclusion, empowering people with visual disabilities, and highlighting their abilities and achievements.He noted that achieving these goals requires the substantive integration of the roles of educational, service, cultural, sports and media institutions, given that inclusion is invariably a shared responsibility that does not rest with any one entity.Al Sulaiti further pointed out that the six-month program comprises a wide range of activities and events, explaining that October events will spotlight independence through World Sight Day and White Cane Safety Day, while November programs will address topics related to children and families, along with educational visits. December events will focus on inclusion, community participation and highlighting capabilities, while January will feature activities related to Braille and its importance in education and access to knowledge, Al Sulaiti remarked, affirming that several community and awareness-raising activities will also continue throughout February and March. He explained that through the initiative, the center seeks to create an impact that extends beyond the events themselves by substantially raising awareness of the rights and capabilities of people with visual disabilities, helping dispel stereotypes, and encouraging institutions to develop their services and practices in ways that enhance accessibility and inclusion.The initiative also seeks to build partnerships whose impact can continue beyond the initiative's conclusion, Al Sulaiti elaborated.The initiative suggests that inclusion is a shared responsibility that requires sustained engagement across different sectors and continued efforts to ensure that people with visual disabilities can participate fully in society.In a separate development, the center marked World Teachers' Day, observed annually on Oct. 5, in recognition of the role teachers and educational staff play in supporting and empowering people with visual disabilities, developing their capabilities and skills, and strengthening their independence and participation across different areas of life.Overall, the center's observance of the occasion also pays tribute to the efforts teachers make to provide professional educational services that prioritize the individual needs of the center's members by employing accessible pedagogical methods and tools and leveraging assistive technologies and Braille.These efforts enhance opportunities to access knowledge and acquire skills with greater independence and effectiveness.Executive Director of Al Noor Center for the Blind Mishaal Bin Abdullah Al Nuaimi emphasized that teachers are the fulcrum of the service systems the center provides, highlighting that their roles go far beyond imparting knowledge to encompass capacity-building, fostering self-confidence and self-reliance, and helping discover and advance members’ capabilities.The center has always been committed to investing in strengthening the functionaries' professional capabilities and capitalizing on high-end assistive technologies and methods so as to keep abreast of developments in visual impairment and leave an enduring footprint through the services provided to those members, Al Nuaimi pointed out.He noted that the center seeks to integrate the roles of educators, rehabilitation staff, specialists and families into an all-encompassing support system that helps members develop their potential, strengthen their independence and participate more fully in the community.

A global alliance founded by Qatar Foundation (QF), Autism Speaks, Unicef, and the Ministry of Social Development and Family, with support from the World Health Organisation (WHO), to unite the world in advancing support for people with autism everywhere is expanding its international reach – and pinpointing a series of flagship initiatives to close crucial gaps in autism diagnosis, policy, investment, technology development, and lifelong support. The Global Autism Advocacy Coalition (GAAC), launched at a Qatar-led event at the UN General Assembly last September, is the first platform of its kind to bring together the international community to develop a unified worldwide approach to addressing autism. Following the formation of the coalition, its founding membership has grown with the Education Above All Foundation which works to ensure equal access to quality education and to harness the power of education for positive, sustainable, and inclusive change, including for the most marginalised learners; the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation, a Kazakh organisation that supports projects across healthcare, culture, and education; and the Autism Impact Fund (AIF), a first-of-its-kind for-profit venture capital fund whose mission is to revolutionise the status quo for diagnosing, treating, and living with autism. Since its launch, AIF has become the global investment and innovation arm of the autism and behavioural health community, with 20 portfolio companies and two successful exits. The coalition’s focus on Qatar is being aligned with national autism priorities through its work with the Ministry of Social Development and Family, while the Ministry of Public Health serves as the member responsible for the health dimension of the coalition’s work in Qatar, including early screening, diagnosis, and clinical services. WHO and Unicef will draw on their mandates in norm-setting, monitoring, and workforce development, together with their convening and co-ordination functions and broad regional and country-level presence, to provide strategic advice and contribute to the GAAC’s advocacy and implementation efforts. The GAAC is implementing a regional approach to autism action, with the active engagement of philanthropic organisations through a ‘hub’ model. This will see QF serve as the hub for catalysing autism action in the Middle East and North Africa region, Autism Speaks — which is also the coalition’s secretariat — lead efforts in North America, and the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation pilot this model in the Central Asia & South Caucuses region, reflecting the global expansion and reach of the coalition. Together, these hubs support regional co-ordination, country-level implementation, and the sharing of expertise to scale effective autism solutions in low- and middle-income countries. A portfolio of initiatives launched by the GAAC’s members, aimed at addressing pivotal structural gaps in global autism systems, include a global index measuring each country’s progress on autism action; a shared global autism data platform; a laboratory to develop and scale affordable autism technologies; a governance body that ensures people with autism and their families have a central role in shaping autism strategies and decisions; and catalysing an effort to build care systems and the global workforce required to effectively deliver full-lifespan autism services. The establishment of the GAAC and the realisation of a truly collective international movement focused on autism action will be emphasised once again to a worldwide audience in September when the GAAC and its members participate in the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. HE Buthaina bint Ali al-Jabr al-Nuaimi, Minister of Social Development and Family, said: “The remarkable progress of the Global Autism Advocacy Coalition reflects our shared belief that lasting change can only be achieved through collaboration. “Addressing the challenges of autism requires governments, international organisations, philanthropy, researchers, innovators, and people with lived experience to work together. By bringing these partners together, we are creating a platform that can accelerate evidence-based solutions, advance a human rights-based approach to autism inclusion, and strengthen support across the lifespan.” HE Mansoor bin Ebrahim bin Saad al-Mahmoud, Minister of Public Health, said: “The State of Qatar is committed to advancing the health, well-being, and inclusion of individuals with autism through strong partnerships at the national, regional, and global levels. By joining the Global Autism Advocacy Coalition, we reaffirm our belief that meaningful progress is achieved through collective action, shared expertise, and a shared commitment to improving outcomes across the lifespan.” “We are building a global movement where all members are valued as autism partners and active contributors in shaping future solutions and innovations. By pairing this commitment with platforms and resources that democratise innovation, we aim to lay the foundation for true equity and global impact,” added Dr Hilal Lashuel, research, development, and innovation adviser to the Chairperson’s Office and executive director of Research, Development and Innovation at QF.

QNB Group has announced the launch of card and digital payments acceptance in Syria following the recent decision by the Central Bank of Syria (CBS) to modernise the country’s financial sector. The milestone marks a significant step forward in the development of Syria’s digital payments infrastructure and reflects QNB Group’s continued commitment to supporting economic growth, financial inclusion, and secure commerce.  The launch enables eligible merchants to accept card and digital payments, improving efficiency, transparency, and customer experience. Adel Ali al-Malki, senior EVP QNB Group Retail Banking, stated: “We are very proud to become the first bank globally supporting digital payment acceptance in the Syrian market, which witnesses rapid transformation driven by the Central Bank of Syria to reduce cash reliance. We look forward to providing our customers with a seamless, secure, and instant digital payment experience that exceeds their expectations.”  The development and launch have been delivered through close orchestration between multiple parties ensuring adherence to local and international guidelines. A phased and controlled approach will be adopted supporting a sustainable rollout of acceptance services across multiple industries.  QNB Group is expanding its cards products in collaboration with International Payment schemes for Individual and businesses. QNB Group continues leading the banking product and services with deep commitment to enhance the digital payment ecosystem in the markets it operates in.

QNB Group signed an agreement with Orphan Care Centre (Dreama) to collaborate in implementing a joint programme aimed at empowering the centre’s children, enhancing their financial literacy, and promoting their social inclusion in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.The sponsorship agreement was signed by Salem Anzan al-Naimi, executive vice president - Public Relations, Group Communications at QNB Group; and Khalid al-Qadi, acting executive director of Dreama.The agreement underscores QNB’s commitment to social responsibility and its mission to empower the next generation of youth through financial education and community integration. It demonstrates the group’s dedication to the Qatari community and its belief that investing in its youth is the cornerstone of a sustainable future.Under the new collaboration, the group will provide comprehensive support for a range of impactful educational events scheduled throughout the year, opening promising opportunities for the centre’s children.The two parties will co-organise workshops designed to promote financial inclusion and empower youth to make informed financial decisions to help enhance their economic well-being and thrive in a knowledge-based economy. This support also includes funding for capacity-building programmes.The initiatives will focus on teaching the fundamentals of saving, responsible spending, and the importance of long-term financial planning. By introducing these concepts at an early age, QNB and Dreama aim to ensure that these children transition into adulthood with the confidence to manage their personal finances and contribute to Qatar’s economic growth.The collaboration comes within the bank’s continued support to Dreama, which started in 2009, to inspire the community to uphold the values of solidarity, compassion and co-operation towards sustainable development, and in supporting civil society institutions. 

Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) has been recognised with three prestigious awards at The Asset Triple A Islamic Finance Awards 2025.The bank was awarded ‘Best Islamic Bank for Digital Innovation’, ‘Best Islamic Digital Banking Solution for Car Financing’, and ‘Best Islamic Digital Banking Solution for Financial Inclusion’, reaffirming its continued leadership in digital banking.With over 83% of QIB’s retail customers now actively using the bank’s digital channels, and 99% of financial transactions completed digitally, the Bank continues to lead the industry in digital adoption.Recognised as the ‘Best Islamic Bank for Digital Innovation’, QIB has set a benchmark in digital banking through its mobile-first strategy and continuous enhancements to the award-winning QIB Mobile App.Now offering more than 320 integrated features, the QIB Mobile App enables customers to access a wide range of retail banking services, including real-time onboarding, instant personal finance, credit card issuance, and more.Additionally, this recognition highlights QIB’s customer-centric approach and commitment to enabling the bank’s corporate customers. Through a suite of tailored, Shariah-compliant digital solutions, including digital onboarding, Corporate Internet Banking, the QIB Corporate App, and co-branded credit cards with Ooredoo, QIB has simplified business banking.The bank also offers a comprehensive range of payment services, such as POS terminals, Payment Gateway, and QIB SoftPOS App, empowering SMEs to manage finances, improve liquidity, and scale sustainably.The ‘Best Islamic Digital Banking Solution for Car Financing’ award recognises the QIB Auto Marketplace, the first fully integrated, in-app car purchase and financing platform in Qatar. Accessible exclusively through the QIB Mobile App, the Marketplace features a diverse and growing selection of renowned automotive brands through an expanding network of dealer partners, enabling customers to browse vehicles, compare options, book test drives and complete financing applications digitally, delivering a fast, transparent and truly branchless journey from selection to ownership.The award for ‘Best Islamic Digital Banking Solution – Financial Inclusion’ acknowledges the QIB Lite App, Qatar’s first simplified, multilingual mobile banking experience tailored to underserved communities. Available in eight languages, QIB Lite offers a seamless, branch-free journey and enables quick self-registration, instant payments, affordable transfers, bill settlement, and intuitive account and card management. With an instant Salary Advance available for eligible customers, QIB Lite reflects the bank’s commitment to inclusive innovation and empowering every customer to manage their finances with ease and confidence.Constantinos Constantinides, QIB Chief Strategy & Digital officer, said: “We are pleased to receive these awards from the Asset, which reaffirm our leadership in digital innovation and our commitment to inclusive, customer-centric banking.“Building on the trust of our customers and the dedication of our team, we continue to expand access and deliver secure, smarter ways to bank through the QIB Mobile App, Corporate App and QIB Lite App, inviting our customers to expect more from QIB as we continually elevate their digital banking experience.”Marking its 25th anniversary, the Asset Triple A Islamic Finance Awards is highly regarded within the financial sector as one of the most prestigious recognition programmes, celebrating institutions that exemplify outstanding performance in Islamic banking.For further information, visit www.qib.com.qa