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Qatar today kicked off the 2025/26 cruise season at the Old Doha Port, welcoming MSC Euribia, operated by MSC Cruises, carrying 5,000 passengers and a crew of 1,676 members. One of the newest and largest vessels in the MSC fleet, MSC Euribia spans 331m in length and 43m in width, accommodating up to 6,327 guests and powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) for cleaner, more sustainable voyages, Mwani Qatar said in its social medial handle X. Throughout the season, which runs until May 2026, the ship will make 22 scheduled calls at The Terminal, managed by Mwani Qatar — reaffirming Qatar's growing prominence as a premier destination on the global cruise tourism map. **media[379397]** Last week a coordination meeting was held as part of the preparations for 2025/26 cruise season, bringing together stakeholders, agents, and tour operators to discuss operational plans and coordination efforts to ensure a successful season and an exceptional visitor experience. Qatar has proven to be one of the most sought after luxury cruise destinations in the Arabian Gulf’s winter cruise season. To support the tremendous growth of the industry, Mwani Qatar plays key role in the redevelopment of the port and its facilities port facilities. Doha port provides wide range of passenger facilities, including seamless immigration, customs, foreign exchange, taxi and bus stands, city bus tours as well as Qatar Duty Free, cafe, waiting areas for cruise passengers and staff. It also features various tourist information services offered by Qatar Tourism. Relevant Mwani Qatar marine services within the port are offered to the vessels calling at Doha Port ensuring safe and efficient arrival and departure. Mwani Qatar works closely with Qatar Tourism and Ministry of Interior to develop the cruise industry which has seen a remarkable increase in the passenger arrivals over the years. Qatar's 2024/25 cruise season had welcomed more than 396,000 visitors aboard 87 cruise ships, marking a 5% jump in visitors and a 19% rise in vessel calls against the previous season. Doha Port’s cruise terminal is strategically located minutes away from key attractions such as the National Museum of Qatar and Souq Waqif, optimising the visitor experience by allowing cruise passengers to make the most of their time in the city. Qatar Tourism plans to strengthen its collaborations with more international cruise lines, which is vital for driving further growth in Qatar’s the tourism sector and contributing to Qatar’s economic diversification efforts. "Doha has become a prominent cruise destination with varied tourism experiences offered to visitors. From its debut in October 2023 to its grand finale in April 2024, this cruise season has exceeded all expectations breaking the records of visitors and cruise ships from previous seasons. The Grand Cruise Terminal symbolising Qatar's commitment to excellence” Saad Bin Ali al-Kharji, chairman of Qatar Tourism had said. Qatar is gaining popularity as a world-class cruise destination in the region as it showcased exceptional tourism capabilities, especially after hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. In this regard, efforts are currently underway to attract more cruise lines and travelers in the upcoming seasons. (Ends)

A stronger-than-expected US economic data rather masked the global concerns on valuation, especially of tech companies, that the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) remained positive for the third week with its key index gaining as much as 102 points and capitalisation adding about QR5bn. The transport, telecom and banking counters witnessed higher than average demand as the 20-stock Qatar Index rose as much as 0.93% this week which saw Qatar’s listed companies report net profit of QR41.08bn during the first nine months (9M) of 2025. The local retail investors’ weakened net selling pressure had its influence on the main bourse this week which saw the Qatari German Medical Devices (QGMD) sign a memorandum of understanding with Dawa Holdi Egypt and Dawa USA to strengthen its regional and global presence. However, the market was skewed towards shakers in the main market this week which saw Qatar’s maritime sector witnessed higher cargo movements through Hamad, Doha and Al Ruwais ports this October on an annualised basis. The domestic funds’ lower net profit booking had its impact on the main bourse this week, which saw Qatar’s commercial banks report 6.2% year-on-year jump in total assets to QR2.15tn in September 2025. The Gulf funds continued to be net buyers but with lesser intensity in the main market this week which saw a global credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s affirm Commercial Bank’s issuer credit ratings at ‘A-/A-2’ with a “stable” outlook. The foreign retail investors were increasingly bearish in the main market this week which saw QIIB appoint Al Rayan Investment, Bank ABC, Citi, Dubai Islamic Bank, Dukhan Bank, Emirates NBD Capital, HSBC, Mashreq, QNB Capital and Standard Chartered Bank as joint lead managers and book-runners for its US dollar denominated five-year benchmark fixed rate senior unsecured sukuk. The Arab individuals were increasingly net sellers in the main bourse this week which saw a total of 0.35mn AlRayan Bank-sponsored exchange traded fund QATR worth QR0.83mn trade across 174 deals. The Gulf retail investors saw weakened net buying in the main market this week which saw a total of 1,600 Doha Bank-sponsored exchange traded fund QETF worth QR0.02mn trade across two transactions. The Islamic index was seen gaining slower than the other indices of the main market this week, which saw a total of 10 sovereign bonds valued at QR0.1mn trade across one deal. Market capitalisation added QR4.87bn or 0.74% to QR659.61bn on the back of small and midcap segments this week which saw no trading of treasury bills. Trade turnover and volumes were on the increase in both the main and junior markets this week, which saw the consumer goods, banks and industrials sectors together constitute about three-fourth of the total trade volumes. The Total Return Index rose 0.93%, the All Share Index by 0.85% and the All Islamic Index by 0.38% this week. The transport sector index surged 2.55%, telecom (2.1%), banks and financial services (1.24%), consumer goods and services (0.27%) and insurance (0.05%); while industrials and real estate declined 0.8% and 0.07% respectively this week. The market was skewed towards shakers with as many as 26 constituents reporting declines, while 24 gained and three were unchanged this week. Major movers in the main market included Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Nakilat, Qatar German Medical Devices, QIIB, Ooredoo, Doha Bank, Meeza, Aamal Company and Gulf Warehousing. In the juniour bourse, Techno Q saw its shares appreciate in value this week. Nevertheless, QLM, Mannai Corporation, Baladna, Gulf International Services, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Inma Holding, Medicare Group, Widam Food, Estithmar Holding, Qamco and Mazaya Qatar were among the shakers in the main market this week. The domestic institutions’ net selling weakened significantly to QR56.28mn compared to QR102.18mn a week ago. The Qatari individuals’ net selling declined substantially to QR17.42mn against QR78.59mn the week ended October 30. However, the Arab retail investors’ net selling expanded noticeably to QR11.71mn compared to QR1.75mn the previous week. The foreign individuals’ net profit booking strengthened considerably to QR10.75mn against QR7.85mn a week ago. The foreign institutions’ net selling increased marginally to QR2.91mn compared to QR2.53mn the week ended October 30. The Gulf institutions’ net buying decreased drastically to QR97.94mn against QR191.29mn the previous week. The Gulf individual investors’ net buying eased marginally to QR1.12mn compared to QR1.61mn the previous week. The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the second straight week. The main market saw 7% jump in trade volumes to 588.61mn shares, 2% in value to QR1.68bn and 25% in deals to 118,262 this week. In the venture market, trade volumes more than doubled to 0.25mn equities and value also more than doubled to QR0.57mn on 2% increase in transactions to 46.

Mirroring the trends in the global markets, the Qatar Stock Exchange yesterday gained more than 52 points on the back of strong buying interests from foreign institutions. The telecom, insurance and banking counters witnessed higher than average demand as the 20-stock Qatar Index rose 0.48% to 11,053.92 points, recovering from an intraday low of 11,006 points. The Gulf individuals’ weakened net selling had its influence on the main market, whose year-to-date gains improved to 4.61%. More than 62% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors in the main bourse, whose capitalisation added QR3.66bn or 0.56% to QR659.61bn, mainly on midcap segments. The Gulf funds and retail investors continued to be bullish but with lesser intensity in the main market, which saw as many as 0.05mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank) valued at QR0.12mn trade across 32 deals. The local retail investors were seen net sellers in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the rise. The Islamic index was seen gaining slower than the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills. The Arab retail investors were seen increasingly bearish in the main bourse, which saw a total of 10 sovereign bonds valued at QR0.1mn trade across one deal. The Total Return Index rose 0.48%, the All Share Index by 0.52% and the All Islamic Index by 0.39% in the main market. The telecom sector index shot up 2.09%, insurance (1.31%), banks and financial services (0.6%), transport (0.35%), real estate (0.25%) and consumer goods and services (0.21%); while industrials were down 0.09%. As many as 33 stocks gained, while 14 declined and six were unchanged. Major movers in the main market include Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Ooredoo, Doha Bank, QLM, Qatar German Medical Devices and Gulf Warehousing. In the juniour bourse, Techno Q saw its shares appreciate in value. Nevertheless, Gulf International Services, Meeza, Qatar Islamic Insurance, Qatar Oman Investment and Mesaieed Industrial Holding were among the shakers in the main market. The foreign institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR46.42mn compared with net sellers of QR14.84mn the previous day. The foreign individual investors’ net selling declined noticeably to QR2.91mn against QR10.25mn on Wednesday. However, the local individuals were net sellers to the extent of QR27.84mn compared with net buyers of QR16.8mn on November 5. The domestic institutions’ net selling strengthened substantially to QR18.4mn against QR6.31mn the previous day. The Arab retail investors’ net profit booking expanded markedly to QR6.51mn compared to QR4.72mn on Wednesday. The Gulf institutions’ net buying weakened significantly to QR9.01mn against QR17.96mn on November 5. The Gulf individual investors’ net buying eased notably to QR0.24mn compared to QR1.36mn the previous day. The Arab institutions had no major net exposure. The main market saw 4% jump in trade volumes to 120.4mn shares, 25% in value to QR395.5mn and 56% in deals to 28,893. In the venture market, a total of 1,021 equities valued at QR2,335 changed hands across three transactions. (Ends)

Qatar took part in the recent 9th Gulf–European Business Forum, held in Kuwait, bringing together senior government officials and business leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the European Union (EU) states.Qatar was represented by Saleh bin Majid al-Khulaifi, Assistant Undersecretary for Industrial Affairs and Business Development at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, at the forum, held under the theme “Together for Shared Prosperity”.He participated in a panel discussion on trade and investment, which explored ways to strengthen GCC–EU trade relations, develop joint investment frameworks, and advance economic diversification efforts on both sides.The forum aims to deepen economic cooperation between the GCC and the EU by supporting diversification initiatives and expanding trade and investment collaboration.Serving as a strategic platform for partnership, the event highlighted new opportunities for cooperation in trade, investment and exchange of expertise.Sessions at the forum addressed key themes such as the digital economy, artificial intelligence and innovation, SME (small and medium enterprises) development, capacity-building, and the empowerment of youth and entrepreneurs.An accompanying exhibition and a series of sectoral and joint meetings between public- and private-sector representatives also take place on the sidelines, providing opportunities to explore partnerships and foster investment cooperation between both regions.

The MSCI will delete GWC (Gulf Warehousing Company) from its Qatar small cap index, effective from November 24, 2025.This was disclosed in a communique to the Qatar Stock Exchange.The MSCI Qatar small cap index is designed to measure the performance of the small cap segment of the Qatari market.The index covers about 14% of the free float-adjusted market capitalisation in Qatar.

Preparations are in full swing to welcome Qatar's 2025/26 cruise season, which has put the country on a high pedestal in the international tourism market. "A co-ordination meeting was held as part of the preparations for 2025/26 cruise season, bringing together stakeholders, agents, and tour operators to discuss operational plans and co-ordination efforts to ensure a successful season and an exceptional visitor experience," Mwani Qatar said in its social media handle X. Qatar's 2024/25 cruise season had welcomed more than 396,000 visitors aboard 87 cruise ships, marking a 5% jump in visitors and a 19% rise in vessel calls against the previous season. Doha Port’s cruise terminal is strategically located minutes away from key attractions such as the National Museum of Qatar and Souq Waqif, optimising the visitor experience by allowing cruise passengers to make the most of their time in the city. Qatar Tourism plans to strengthen its collaborations with more international cruise lines, which is vital for driving further growth in Qatar’s the tourism sector and contributing to Qatar’s economic diversification efforts. The 2023/24 cruise season had seen 73 cruise ships and more than 347,000 visitors, representing a significant milestone in Qatar’s cruise market. This marks an increase from its predecessor, the 2022/23 season which saw 54 cruise ships and 253, 191 passengers. "Doha has become a prominent cruise destination with varied tourism experiences offered to visitors. From its debut in October 2023 to its grand finale in April 2024, this cruise season has exceeded all expectations breaking the records of visitors and cruise ships from previous seasons. The Grand Cruise Terminal symbolising Qatar's commitment to excellence” Saad bin Ali al-Kharji, chairman of Qatar Tourism had said. Qatar is gaining popularity as a world-class cruise destination in the region as it showcased exceptional tourism capabilities, especially after hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. In this regard, efforts are currently underway to attract more cruise lines and travellers in the upcoming seasons. Many international cruise lines had their maiden calls to Doha Port, depicting Qatar’s increasing allure on the global stage in terms of cruise tourism. Travellers were from across the world including Germany, Italy, Russia, Kazakhstan, the US, the UK, China, Spain, France, and Uzbekistan, as well as the GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council) countries. International world-class ships including MSC Virtuosa, Seabourn Encore, AIDAprima, Artania, Mein Schiff 2, Azamara Journey, MS Riviera, MS Hamburg, and Norwegian Dawn have all previously docked in Doha. Mwani Qatar is committed to enhancing the capabilities of Doha Port in line with the Ministry of Transport's strategic plan, according to its top officials.

The Nairobi International Financial Centre (NIFC) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority as part of efforts to enhance cross-border investment, innovation and financial co-operation.The MoU was signed on the sidelines of the Second World Summit for Social Development, currently underway here in Qatar. It was signed by Daniel Mainda, chief executive officer of NIFC Authority, and Yousuf Mohamed al-Jaida, chief executive officer of QFCA.Through this agreement, the NIFC and QFC reaffirm their commitment to global best practices and to fostering sustainable, inclusive growth across Africa and the Middle East.This renewed collaboration aims to enhance cross-border investment, innovation and financial co-operation through the respective international financial centres.This partnership builds on a decade-long relationship that began when the Ministry of Finance of Qatar through Kenya’s National Treasury, provided technical support in establishing the NIFC, making Qatar a key partner present at the very inception of the NIFC’s story.The NIFC is a transformative project designed by the Kenyan government to position Nairobi as a premier financial hub in Africa. It is a key initiative under the economic pillar of Kenya’s Vision 2030 project.The NIFC aims to attract global investment by providing an efficient, conducive environment for financial services and innovation. With a focus on modern infrastructure, regulatory transparency, and strategic partnerships, the NIFC will foster economic growth and facilitate capital flow across the region through its business-friendly environment.

Reflecting the global markets' concerns on valuation, especially of tech companies, the Qatar Stock Exchange today closed in the negative with its key index losing about 21 points, even as it managed to stay above 11,000 levels.The transport and industrials counters witnessed higher than average selling pressure as the 20-stock Qatar Index shed 0.19% to 11,006.6 points, recovering from an intraday low of 10,959 points.The foreign funds were seen net profit takers in the main market, whose year-to-date gains truncated to 4.12%.The foreign individuals turned bearish in the main bourse, whose capitalisation shed QR0.97bn or 0.15% to QR655.95bn, mainly on microcap segments.The Arab retail investors were seen net sellers in the main market, which saw as many as 0.16mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank) valued at QR0.38mn trade across 70 deals.The domestic institutions continued to be bearish but with lesser intensity in the main bourse, whose trade turnover were down amidst higher volumes.The Islamic index was seen declining slower than the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The local retail investors were seen increasingly bullish in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index fell 0.19%, the All Share Index by 0.12% and the All Islamic Index by 0.13% in the main market.The transport sector index shed 1.11%, industrials (0.28%), insurance (0.18%), real estate (0.05%) and banks and financial services (0.04%); while consumer goods and services gained 0.47% and telecom 0.34%.As many as 17 stocks gained, while 33 declined and two were unchanged.About 64% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main market with major losers being QLM, Qamco, Qatar Islamic Insurance, Estithmar Holding, Nakilat, Mazaya Qatar and Milaha. In the juniour bourse, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value.Nevertheless, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Meeza, Baladna, Dlala, Medicare Group and Ooredoo were among the movers in the main market.The foreign institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR14.84mn compared with net buyers of QR6.44mn the previous day.The foreign individuals were net profit takers to the extent of QR10.25mn against net buyers of QR2.73mn on Tuesday.The Arab retail investors turned net sellers to the tune of QR4.72mn compared with net buyers of QR2.44mn on November 4.The Gulf institutions’ net buying weakened marginally to QR17.96mn against QR18.12mn the previous day.aHowever, the local individual investors’ net buying expanded perceptibly to QR16.8mn compared to QR15.96mn on Tuesday.The Gulf individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR1.36mn against net profit takers of QR0.58mn on November 4.The domestic institutions’ net selling weakened substantially to QR6.31mn compared to QR45.1mn the previous day.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure.The main market saw 10% jump in trade volumes to 115.48mn shares but on less than 1% contraction in value to QR316.54mn and 42% in deals to 18,480.In the venture market, a total of 0.16mn equities valued at QR0.37mn changed hands across 20 transactions.(Ends)

Qatar Exports has concluded its 2025 trade mission to Oman, with participation from more than 45 Qatari firms, with the value of potential deals exceeding QR223mn.The mission represented a new milestone in advancing trade and investment cooperation between Qatar and Oman.It aligns with the joint statement issued earlier this year, which reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to supporting the private sector, intensifying efforts to increase trade exchange, and enhancing economic integration between the two countries."The strong coordination and joint efforts throughout this mission reflect the depth of economic relations between Qatar and Oman, and the real potential both countries share for building meaningful regional and international partnerships grounded in mutual interests," said Khalid Abdulla al-Mana, Qstar Development Bank (QDB) Vice President of Enterprise Development and Executive Director of Qatar Exports.Through Qatar Exports, QDB is committed to promoting Qatari products in Gulf and global markets, he said, adding "we will continue to support national exporters by building their capabilities and opening doors to new markets, helping them compete globally as part of our broader strategy to grow Qatar’s export ecosystem.”The mission brought together senior Qatari and Omani officials and featured in-depth bilateral discussions between the two sides, alongside a series of meetings and an exhibition for Qatari companies that highlighted the diversity and quality of Qatari products.In total, the program included 350 bilateral meetings, the mission’s activities attracted more than 450 visitors, and the value of potential deals exceeded QR223mn.

Hamad Port – whose multi-use terminal is designed to serve the supply chains for the RORO, grains and livestock – has reported increased bulk cargoes and vehicles (RORO) handling this October. The port handled as much as 158,500 freight tonnes of bulk, which is loaded directly into ship's holds without individual units, in October 2025, registering 46.72% and 252.05% surge month-on-month and year-on-year respectively. It handled a total of 27,611 freight tonnes of breakbulk, which is non-containerised cargo loaded as individual units, this October, which however fell 77.13% and 69.68% on monthly and annualised basis respectively. Hamad Port, whose strategic geographical location offers opportunities to create cargo movement towards the upper Gulf, supporting countries such as Kuwait and Iraq and south towards Oman, saw as many as 126 vessels call (excluding military) in the review period, registering 2.33% and 15.46% decline month-on-month and year-on-year respectively. In the case of RORO, Hamad Port handled as many as 9,497 units this October, which reported 2.96% increase on a monthly basis, even as it plummeted 41.81% on an annualised basis. Qatar's automobile sector has been witnessing stronger sales, notably in heavy equipment, private motorcycles and private vehicles, according to the data of the National Planning Council. RORO ships – which are designed to transport vehicles like cars, trucks, and motorcycles -- feature ramps that allow vehicles to drive directly on and off, eliminating the need for cranes and making it an efficient way to move cargo across the seas. Hamad Port saw 171,555 freight tonnes in RORO in October 2025, which declined 3.31% and 36.1% month-on-month and year-on-year respectively. Hamad Port, which is the largest eco-friendly project in the region and internationally recognised as one of the largest green ports in the world, saw 119,877 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) this October. The container terminals have been designed to address the increasing trade volume, enhance ease of doing business and support economic diversification, which is one of the most vital goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030. With a stacking area of 176,000 sqm, the container terminal 2 or CT2 is equipped with the latest advanced technology, including remote-operated ship-to-shore cranes, hybrid rubber-tyred gantries, and electric tractors. The container and cargo trends through the ports reflect the positive outlook for the country's non-oil private sector. In line with the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030, Mwani Qatar continues to implement its ambitious strategy to enhance the maritime sector's contribution to diversifying the national economy and strengthening the county's position as a vibrant regional trade hub. (Ends)

Qatar Open Innovation (QOI) programme, an external funding opportunity funded by QRDI Council (Qatar Research Development and Innovation Council) has seen more than 80 pilots awarded and underway, making the country a “living lab for world-class innovation”, according to a top official of QRDI Council. Through QOI programme, “over 90 open innovation calls have been issued, in collaboration with 50 major enterprise and government partners, resulting in more than 80 pilots awarded and underway,” Nejoud al-Jehani, Executive Director of Strategy and Programmes, QRDI Council, told the second edition of Qatar Investment and Innovation conference. “This model accelerates startup growth while turning Qatar’s economy into a living lab for world-class innovation, where ideas are not only funded, but tested, commercialised and scaled in real market environments,” she said. To build a strong innovation economy, there is need for a full range of financing tools as grants, strategic risk capital, co-investment models, venture partnerships and innovation-driven procurement. “But financing the future is not just about increasing capital. It’s about deploying it more wisely and with purpose, targeting mission-driven mega-projects, structuring public-private vehicles that de-risk innovation, building policy frameworks that attract global founders and global investment,” she added. The region has developed world-class infrastructure, nurtured exceptional talent and built digital foundations rivalling the most advanced economies, but next chapter will be one that is written through strategic capital, she said. “Capital that accelerates entrepreneurship, fuels research and technology and unlocks new sources of value and resilience,” she added. Highlighting that innovation was once viewed mainly as a policy goal, she said: “Today, it has become an investment priority, rooted in long-term economic sustainability, national competitiveness and the belief that the future belongs to nations that invest in ideas, not only in assets.” Qatar has been embedding innovation financing at the heart of its national transformation, according to her. Under the third national development strategy, the country is committed to expanding national expenditure on research development and innovation and to significantly increasing private sector R&D participation, she said.

Qatar has developed frameworks to enhance the digital economy’s contribution to non-hydrocarbon GDP (gross domestic product) by more than QR40bn by 2030, according to a senior official of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT). “Guided by Qatar National Vision 2030, Qatar is advancing from a resource-based model to a knowledge-driven economy, powered by talent, entrepreneurship and technology,” Faraj Abdulla, Director of Digital Economy within Digital Affairs Department, MCIT, told the second edition of Qatar Investment and Innovation conference. The frameworks also seek to create 26,000 ICT (information, communication and technology) jobs and raise the R&D (research and development) expenditure to 1.5% of the GDP by 2030, he said. Investments in Qatar’s ecosystem grew by more than 130% in 2024, reflecting a strong investor confidence and the growing maturity of our innovation landscape, according to him. Highlighting that in the same year, Qatar recorded $2.7bn in foreign direct investment, Abdalla said: “Together, these achievements reflect Qatar’s strategic positioning as a gateway for investment in the region.” Making clear the priorities of MCIT in developing a strong innovation ecosystem, investing in advanced digital infrastructure and building human capital for the future; Abdulla said through initiatives and programmes like the Digital Incubation Centre, Tesmo Accelerator, ScaleNow and the National Innovation Labs, Qatar provides entrepreneurs and businesses with a pipeline of support. “Our investments in 5G cloud computing and AI (artificial intelligence) sandboxes ensure innovators have the tools they need to succeed,” he said. Stressing that Qatar is establishing a comprehensive regulatory environment for AI that balances innovation with responsibility; he said through MCIT’s strategic partnership with ScaleAI, “we are shaping policies and frameworks that promote innovation while ensuring ethical and responsible use of AI technologies”. Qatar is making strategic investments to enable AI advancement across the region, he said, adding through partnerships with global leaders such as Microsoft and Google Cloud, the country is driving innovation and integration across multiple sectors. “Beyond infrastructure, we are demonstrating AI’s transformative impact through real applications,” he said, referring to the Ministry of Municipality’s AI-powered building permit system, which now issues approvals within two hours instead of 30 days. “As we progress toward 2030, Qatar will continue to invest in technology that improves lives, implement policies that attract talent and foster partnerships that create shared prosperity across the GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council). Qatar is committed to being more than a national success story,” Abdalla said.

Qatar's commercial banks reported 6.2% year-on-year jump in total assets to QR2.15tn in September 2025, according to Qatar Central Bank data.Total domestic credit expanded by 5.5% year-on-year to QR1.36tn another end of September 2025, the central bank said in its social media handle X.Total domestic deposits were up 1.6% year-on-year to QR861.1bn in the review period.Broad money supply (M2) rose 1.6% year-on-year to QR749.2bn in September 2025.

The Qatar Financial Centre and Doha Bank have entered into a strategic partnership to accelerate fintech growth and innovation in the country.The QFC Authority (QFCA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Doha Bank, marking a major step towards strengthening Qatar’s financial services landscape through strategic collaborations in fintech development and digital innovation.The MoU outlines a collaborative framework in three strategic areas as driving growth in Qatar’s fintech and digital asset ecosystem through joint research, prototype development, and the introduction of innovative financial solutions.It also outlines supporting fintech companies through technical guidance, facilitating secure banking relationships, and streamlining account opening processes; and establishing a programme for regular engagement, including quarterly meetings, joint workshops, and knowledge-sharing sessions, to explore new opportunities and ensure the continuous development of the ecosystem."This partnership with Doha Bank is a stride towards positioning Qatar as a leading hub for fintech and digital assets. Together, we will strengthen the foundations for innovation that enable fintech companies to grow with confidence and support the development of technological solutions that will define the future of financial services," said Yousuf Mohamed al-Jaida, chief executive officer, QFCA.Highlighting the importance of collaboration in advancing innovation, Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Fahad bin Faisal al- Thani, Group chief executive officer, Doha Bank, said, globally, the banking and financial industry is undergoing major transformations."This highlights the importance of collaboration at the institutional level to drive the development of innovative financial solutions in Qatar and keep pace with these ongoing changes. Our agreement today reflects our shared commitment to advancing financial technologies and innovation within an enabling, inclusive, and comprehensive ecosystem," he said.This collaboration signals a new chapter in financial innovation. As fintech and digital assets reshape global markets, the QFC and Doha Bank are laying the groundwork for creating solutions that will not only serve businesses today but also anticipate the needs of tomorrow’s economy.

Qatar's maritime sector witnessed higher cargo movements through Hamad, Doha and Al Ruwais ports this October on an annualised basis, according to the official data.The general and bulk cargo handled through the three ports amounted to 216,466 freight tonnes in October 2025, which soared 42.73% and 378.91% on yearly and monthly basis respectively, said the figures released by Mwani Qatar.Hamad Port -- a multi-use terminal is designed to serve the supply chains for the RORO, grains and livestock -- continues to expand its global footprint through a network of shipping lines linking it with over 100 ports worldwide. This ever-growing network offers importers, exporters, and shipping agents direct, reliable and efficient services, ensuring faster and cost-effective cargo movement.The general and bulk cargo movement through three ports amounted to a cumulative 1.56mn freight tonnes in the first 10 months of this year.The cargo and container trends through the ports reflect the positive outlook for the country's non-oil private sector, which has been growing faster, supported by robust macroeconomic fundamentals of the country.As many as 245 ships arrived in three ports, which reported 5.41% year-on-year decline, even as it rose 6.06% month-on-month in October 2025.Hamad Port’s strategic geographical location offers opportunities to create cargo movement towards the upper Gulf, supporting countries such as Kuwait and Iraq and south towards Oman.As many as 2,521 vessel calls were reported through the three ports in the first 10 months of this year.The container movement through three ports amounted to 119,003 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), which declined 9.58% and 4.6% on a yearly and monthly basis respectively in the review period.The three ports together handled as many as 1.23mn TEUs in January-September 2025.The container terminals have been designed to address the increasing trade volume, enhancing ease of doing business as well as supporting the achievement of economic diversification, which is one of the most important goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030.The three ports handled 9,566 RORO in October 2025, which registered 40.9% and 22.84% plunge year-on-year and month-on-month respectively. The three ports handled as many as 100,832 RORO in January-October this year.Qatar's automobile sector has been witnessing stronger sales, notably in heavy equipment, private motorcycles and private vehicles, according to the data of the National Planning Council.The three ports were seen handling 7,682 livestock heads this October, which plummeted 81.11% on an annualised basis but shot up 97.94% month-on-month. The ports together handled as many as 411,550 livestock heads during January-October 2025.The building materials traffic through the three ports stood at 11,362 tonnes in October 2025, which plunged 69.19% on a monthly basis. A cumulative 499,431 tonnes of building materials were handled during the first 10 months of 2025.In line with the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030, Mwani Qatar continues to implement its ambitious strategy to enhance the maritime sector's contribution to diversifying the national economy and strengthening the county's position as a vibrant regional trade hub.

The Qatar Stock Exchange today opened the week weak with its key index losing more than 26 points on selling pressure especially in the insurance, consumer goods, telecom, industrials and real estate sectors.The foreign funds were seen net profit takers as the 20-stock Qatar Index shed 0.24% to 10,930.3 points, recovering from an intraday low of 10,896 points.The Gulf institutions’ substantially weakened net buying had its impact on the main market, whose year-to-date gains truncated to 3.4%.The Arab individuals’ lower net buying had its effect on the main bourse, whose capitalisation shed QR1.96bn or 0.3% to QR652.78bn, mainly on small cap segments.The local retail investors continued to be bearish but with lesser intensity in the main market, which saw as many as 6,369 exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank) valued at QR0.01mn trade across 11 deals.The domestic institutions were seen net buyers in the main bourse, whose trade turnover fell amidst higher volumes.The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The Gulf retail investors were seen bullish, albeit at lower levels, in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index rose 0.24%, the All Share Index by 0.28% and the All Islamic Index by 0.48% in the main market.The insurance sector index tanked 1.02%, consumer goods and services (0.74%), telecom (0.69%), industrials (0.64%), real estate (0.47%) and banks and financial services (0.11%); while transport gained 0.55%.As many as only seven stocks gained, while 40 declined and six were unchanged.More than 75% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse with major losers being Mannai Corporation, Meeza, Baladna, Dlala, QLM, Inma Holding, Widam Food, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding and Qatar Insurance. In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value.Nevertheless, Qatar German Medical Devices, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Nakilat, QIIB and Doha Insurance were among the movers in the main bourse.The foreign institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR15.76mn compared with net buyers of QR30.79mn last Thursday.The Gulf institutions’ net buying decreased drastically to QR4.78mn against QR50.17mn the previous trading day.The Arab retail investors’ net buying weakened perceptibly to QR0.95mn compared to QR1.77mn on October 30.However, the domestic institutions were net buyers to the extent of QR17.8mn against net sellers of QR44.43mn last Thursday.The Gulf individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR0.25mn compared with net sellers of QR0.28mn the previous trading day.The local individual investors’ net selling decreased significantly to QR7.86mn against QR30.14mn on October 30.The foreign individuals’ net profit booking shrank considerably to QR0.17mn compared to QR7.86mn last Thursday.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the sixth straight session.The main market saw a 6% jump in trade volumes to 120.03mn shares but on 23% contraction in value to QR280.75mn and 46% in deals to 13,442.In the venture market, a total of 0.07mn equities valued at QR0.17mn changed hands across 13 transactions.(Ends)

The Qatari German Medical Devices (QGMD) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Dawa Holdi Egypt and Dawa USA, as part of its strategy to strengthen its regional and international presence.This partnership aims to introduce the company’s products to the Egyptian market to meet essential medical needs, localise their manufacturing in Egypt, and expand across the African continent through the marketing and distribution of medical products.The MoU also seeks to increase the volume of Qatari exports to European and American markets, the company said in its regulatory filing with the Qatar Stock Exchange.QGMD affirms that this step comes as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance its operational and financial performance, in a way that positively reflects on its shareholders and strengthens its position in the medical manufacturing sector at both the regional and global levels.

Scale Now, which enables Qatari founded technology companies to become global competitors, has secured deals valued at $12.9mn, positioning Qatar as a regional hub for digital innovation, according to the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT).Of the $12.9mn in deals secured, as much as $7.2mn was in B2B (business-to-business) and $5.7mn in direct investments, said a MCIT presentation made recently after roping in four more partners – Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Invest Qatar, QDB (Qatar Development Bank) and Qatar Research Development and Innovation (QRDI) Council - for the programme."Scale Now is more than a programme; it is a coordinated national platform turning digital innovation into tangible economic impact," MCIT said.About $7.2mn in B2B (business to business) transactions; the presentation said it demonstrated strong market validation and confidence in Qatar’s scale-up ecosystem.The Cycle 1 had secured $5.7mn in direct investments through a mix of private funding, grants, and investor partnerships.The participating entities from Cycle 1 reported sustained growth, validating the effectiveness of the programme’s capability-building and market access model, it said, highlighting more than 50% average revenue growth and one successful international market expansion in Cycle 1.The Cycle 1 brought together six market-ready companies delivering solutions from digital payments and marketplaces to airport operations and immersive media.It saw Mzad Qatar, providing a multi-category marketplace with a digital auction platform that connects buyers and sellers; SkipCash, enabling businesses to implement secure online payment solutions through a streamlined digital platform; and EMMA Systems, delivering airport software that improves operational efficiency and data management.The Cycle 1 also saw ADGS, offering behavioural biometrics and predictive maintenance powered by proprietary AI models; SPONIX, providing immersive video solutions and virtual advertising that enable engaging real-time content during live events; and ClassTap, offering flexible access to more than 3,000 fitness studios and classes through a subscription platform.Scale Now contributes directly to Qatar's Digital Agenda 2030's national employment target by equipping founders and creating high-value digital roles across tech sectors, aiming more than 26,000 ICT (information, communication and technology) jobs by 2030."Through its collaborative model, Scale Now is enabling Qatari-founded technology companies to become global competitors, strengthening the nation’s economic resilience, export potential, and job creation capacity," it said.By providing tailored mentorship, strategic partnerships, investment readiness and facilitating access to pilot opportunities, the programme helps high-potential companies transform proven traction into sustainable growth. It strengthens Qatar’s digital economy, aligns with the Digital Agenda 2030 and positions the country as a global hub for innovation and expansion."We will refer high-potential companies from Startup Qatar to future Scale Now cohorts, support access to funding and grants, and help shape a connected, resilient ecosystem where innovation and entrepreneurship thrive," Invest Qatar had said.Invest Qatar serves as the gateway for foreign investors and entrepreneurs, guiding them through each stage of their business journey — from exploration to expansion — by providing comprehensive insights, market knowledge and facilitating connections with key government and private sector stakeholders.