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The Ministry of Transport (MoT) highlighted its Public Bus Infrastructure Programme at the Autonomous e-Mobility Forum that concluded on Wednesday. The programme assumes significance as it supports the strategy for the gradual and comprehensive electrification of public buses to reach 100% by 2030. Also, it provides an integrated, sustainable public transit network that covers all urban areas across the country and forms a coherent transportation unit that includes public buses, Doha Metro and tram networks.MoT’s pavilion displayed the key features of the programme such as improving the mobility of individuals while supporting innovation in transportation, delivering environmentally sustainable transportation networks and enhancing traffic safety.The pavilion also highlighted the key initiatives as part of the programme and the progress of the transition of public transport into a more sustainable way. The programme consists of eight bus stations in Al Sudan, Msheireb, Al Gharrafa, Lusail, Al Wakra, Education City, Industrial Area, and West Bay Central. Also, there are four bus depots in Lusail, the New Industrial Area, Al Wakra and Al Rayyan. All these facilities are supported by electric charging infrastructure. The programme also includes four Park and Ride parking locations in Al Qassar, Al Wakra, Lusail, and Education City, that can accommodate over 1,000 vehicles.Developed in an area of more than 400,000 sqm, the Lusail Bus Depot is recorded on the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest e-bus depot, with a capacity of 478 buses. It is the first in the Middle East to be relying on solar energy; as it includes some 11,000 PV solar panels generating 4-6MW of power daily to feed its buildings, in line with Qatar's National Environment and Climate Change Strategy (QNE) and the goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030.

The Ministry of Transport (MoT) is planning big to ensure the standards of electric vehicles (EVs), intensifying Qatar’s race to be a major regional hub in Mena in this regard.“MoT will soon set up a centre specialised in inspecting and testing how far EV specifications conform and comply with those approved in Qatar as well as releasing their certifications,” HE the Minister of Transport Jassim Saif al-Sulaiti said on Tuesday.Opening the two-day Autonomous e-Mobility Forum at Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC), he pointed out that Qatar has made remarkable strides in electrifying public transportation while continuing its race to implement a zero emission transition in transportation.These are as part of the ongoing efforts to ensure sustainability and combat carbon emissions. Electrified public buses in Qatar reached 73% in the first quarter of 2024. “The plan is right on track to reach a 100% electric public bus fleet by 2030, placing Qatar among the top countries worldwide in terms of achieving zero emission transition in transportation in step with Qatar National Environment and Climate Change Strategy,” HE the Minister noted.The inaugural ceremony was attended by HE the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Dr Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie, HE the Minister of Education Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr al-Nuaimi, HE the Minister of Municipality Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah al-Attiya, Mowasalat chairman and Public Works Authority (Ashghal) president Dr Eng Saad bin Ahmed Ibrahim al-Mohannadi, Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) president engineer Issa bin Hilal al-Kuwari and officials from transportation industry and government entities.“Under the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Qatar will continue developing coherent, sustainable, integrated and eco-friendly transportation system in a fashion that enhances the country’s leading position on the world map of green and smart transportation, in addition to sharing its expertise in the field with the rest of the world through its real-life experiences of hosting major continental and international events, where transportation is a key success factor,” HE the Minister said.This vital sector, he recalled, had successfully provided a safe and seamless mobility experience during the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, where nearly 3.4mn fans were transported by buses and about 6.5mn fans used the Doha Metro and Lusail Tram. During the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, around 18.2mn people were transported by the Doha Metro and Lusail Tram and over 7mn passengers by public buses.“MoT continues its efforts related to the Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Strategy by facilitating autonomous vehicles’ operations, managing their fleet, and ensuring operator and vehicle safety by establishing an AV fleet operations centre and unlocking economic opportunities in the area. Making every effort to enhance the transportation system, promote investment in the field, support other industries and leave a legacy for generations to come,” the minister explained.HE al-Sulaiti inaugurated the accompanying exhibition and joined the other dignitaries onboard an autonomous e-bus, which is equipped with sensors, high-definition cameras, laser sensors and ultrasonic radar to ensure the highest safety and security.The first day of the forum witnessed several panel discussions on numerous topics such as designing smart cities, empowering the acceleration of innovation in autonomous mobility, and balancing mobility, energy, and environment, in addition to introducing the first eco-friendly trucks in Qatar.

Qatar has achieved the indicators of SDG 6 while ensuring the availability of drinking water and sanitation for all, president of Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) president Eng. Issa bin Hilal al-Kuwari has said. While delivering the opening speech at the 15th Gulf Water Conference on Sunday, al-Kuwari noted that this was achieved by leveraging the latest technology in water desalination plants including reverse osmosis technology. “This helps the production of approximately 30 per cent of Qatar's desalinated water while significantly improving water use efficiency,” al-Kuwari said.He said Kahramaa is implementing a slew of measures to ensure sustainability in water consumption noting that 75% of the waste water is used for irrigation, agriculture, cooling and other purposes while sticking to the efficiency standards. Through the National Programme for Conservation and Energy Efficiency (Tarsheed), al-Kuwari said, awareness about the rational use of water is raised and regulations are applied.Al-Kuwari, who noted that water scarcity poses a threat to the world, said roughly 2.5 per cent of earth's water is drinkable at a time when groundwater water, the largest freshwater source, is overused and depleted. While drawing attention towards the climate change impact al-Kuwari noted about 4 bn people across the world live in areas hit by water scarcity, with UNESCO expecting that global demand for freshwater would surpass the supply by 40 per cent by 2030. “Climate change impacts including rising sea levels, changing rainfall patterns, and intensifying water cycle, lead to floods and droughts and exacerbate the global water security. Lack of international water policies and measures to ensure water sustainability and expand water treatment projects using green technology leaves the crisis worse,” he said.Eng Abdelrahman Mohamed al-Mahmoud, chairperson of Board of Directors, Water Sciences and Technology Association (WSTA) said GCC states are pioneering in keeping up the technological advancements and utilizing the innovative technology appropriate for promoting the levels of water production in terms of water quality and rationalised consumption of water.Dr Mahmoud Abu-Zeid, president of Arab Water Council (AWC) said the conference themes will be able to discuss topics of integrated water resources management, including the expansion of the use of non-traditional water resources, developing water conservation and improving its quality.Eng Khaldon Khashman, general secretary, Arab Countries Water Utilities Association (ACWUA) and Dr Hammou Laamrani from United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) also addressed the opening ceremony.The opening ceremony marked the honouring of the dignitaries.Under the theme ‘Gulf Water: Embracing Technological Progress’, the three-day conference discusses integrated water resources management, desalination sector management, surface water and groundwater management, wastewater management (treatment and reuse), domestic water management and agricultural water management. The conference features 20 speakers and several sessions.

A prominent diplomat has hailed Qatar for its efforts to encourage women's representation in diplomacy and international relations.“Qatar has been at the forefront of promoting women's representation at the global level,” said ambassador Androulla Kaminara, inaugural Distinguished-Diplomat-in-Residence at Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q).She was speaking to Gulf Times on the sidelines of GU-Q’s ‘Gender in Foreign Policy’ Hiwaraat conference, which discussed the role of gender-informed strategies and gender diversity within international institutions to drive better and more equitable foreign policy and outcomes.“Qatar has been the key promoter of the idea of the UN having its first woman secretary general. Qatar has been active in the initiatives to ensure the presence of more women in the UN General Assembly,” she noted adding that several such initiatives are spearheaded by Qatar at the global level. “These are very important and Qatar has a competent representative in the UN,” she explained.She called for efforts to give women the possibility to be at the table of international relations and diplomacy. “Let them express their opinions and listen to them. If that takes place, the condition will be improved. The selection should be based on excellence not based on gender,” she said.Kaminara, who noted the presence of women in UN agencies and governments is too low, said the condition is improving and better.“The scenario is getting better, but is not fast enough,” she said. Despite evidence that women's full participation makes peacebuilding much more effective, the number of women in decision-making roles is falling, she said.“At the current rate of change, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will take 170 years, including SDG 5 - gender equality, integral to all SDGs,” she said.“There are challenges. But, things are getting better. We still have to talk about the issue. Women should be given better allocation. Some countries are allocating quotas for women to make the changes fast. Whatever the means change needs to happen,” she said.

A fundraising drive for QR11.65mn, under the aegis of Qatar Charity (QC), for the treatment of four-month-old Malkha Rouhi has taken an active turn, with organisations, institutions and individuals stepping in to support.Malkha, an Indian national, has been diagnosed with Type 1 Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), an inherited disease that affects nerves and muscles, causing muscles to become increasingly weak.Daughter of Risal Abdul Rasheed and Nihala Nizam, Malkha is undergoing treatment at Sidra Medicine.Doctors have suggested a gene replacement therapy and certain drugs which, according to Rasheed, are expensive and beyond the family’s reach.The QC has urged all to donate for the treatment of Malkha.“Our campaign has started to evoke response from benefactors. Active support from organisations and individuals can help us achieve the goal. We are calling for all to participate in the campaign to help the ailing kid,” Khalid Abdulla al-Yafie, director of the Customer Service Department at QC, told *Gulf Times, adding that joint efforts can make an impact.The QC, on its website, has set a goal of QR 11,654,028.75 with case number 206863 under licence: LC2023QTCH07-000032.Contributions can be made through the official website www.qch.qa/Malkha“Our daughter needs urgent care as doctors have suggested the treatment at the earliest,” Risal said pinning hopes on the kindhearted.Type 1 SMA is severe and causes respiratory muscle weakness and respiratory failure.Community organisations and collectives have joined hands to support the cause.Convened by Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF), a recent meeting of organisations and institutions across Qatar decided to launch a slew of measures to support the QC initiative to help Malkha.“In co-operation with various organisations, we are taking up efforts to support this humanitarian initiative. Our efforts are yielding results and we see many organisations and kindhearted persons stepping in while announcing donations,” ICBF secretary Mohamed Kunhi TK said, expressing his confidence in achieving the goal soon.Qatar Malayalees, a Facebook collective of Keralites, is planning to launch a “Biriyani Challenge” campaign to support the QC drive. To be held on May 10, the aim of the campaign is to reach more than 5,000 benefactors across Qatar.The idea, according to Qatar Malayalees functionaries, is to distribute biriyani on pre-order to the benefactors who will make donations to the drive.“We plan to cook biriyanis with the help of sponsors. Volunteers are all set to help us distribute them,” said one of the functionaries of Qatar Malayalees.

The Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa), represented by the Creativity, Innovation and Scientific Research Incubator, launched Innovation Week 2024 Sunday. The ceremony was held in the presence of Kaharamaa president engineer Essa bin Hilal al-Kuwari, other dignitaries and representatives from the Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation Council (QRDI) and global companies such as Microsoft and Google.Under the theme of 'Digital Creativity and Its Applications in the Fields of Electricity and Water', Innovation Week 2024 is held until April 24 to coincide with World Creativity and Innovation Day.The objective is to promote a culture of creativity and innovation among Kahramaa’s employees, encouraging them to adopt and develop innovations that enhance work efficiency and performance across all departments.In his opening address, engineer Rashid al-Rahimi, head of the Creativity, Innovation and Scientific Research Incubator, said that over four years, the incubator will explore new opportunities together, learn from past experiences and seek ways to collaborate with partners in the field of digital technologies, Microsoft Qatar and Google Qatar.“We will focus on how to apply these technologies to enhance our electricity and water services, ensuring the highest quality for our subscribers while preserving the environment and achieving sustainability,” he said. “We live in an era full of challenges and opportunities, and innovation is the key to success in facing these challenges, especially concerning business development.”The Creativity, Innovation and Scientific Research Incubator at Kahramaa aspires to play a significant role in supporting the state’s strategy in scientific research.It aims to be a supportive destination for all innovators and researchers within the corporation’s specialised fields.The four-day Innovation Week programme is diverse.Yesterday, employees had the opportunity to hear from speakers including representatives from Kahramaa, other institutions, and key partners such as the QRDI, Microsoft Qatar, and Google Qatar and supporting partners such as Siemens, Schneider, EY, Deloitte, and Elev 8.There was a presentation on Qatar’s Innovation Strategy, as well as discussions on the utilisation of artificial intelligence (AI) in the fields of electricity and water, along with insights into modern technologies.The second and third days of the Innovation Week, dedicated to pre-selected employees, will include workshops conducted by Microsoft and Google focusing on digital innovation, specifically linking it to operational processes in Kahramaa.The fourth day features the Hackathon Competition, aimed at fostering a culture of creativity and innovation among 100 Kahramaa employees representing various departments.The participants will collaborate in teams to propose tangible ideas that can be applied across different operational processes.A panel of expert judges will select the top three ideas, and the winning teams honoured.The Creativity, Innovation, and Scientific Research Incubator, established by Kahramaa in 2017 and restructured in September 2021, now integrates both innovation and scientific research under one umbrella, previously separate entities.The accomplishments include conducting 42 scientific research projects within the corporation and collaborating with universities and various research institutes, adopting seven new creative ideas, which were transformed into impactful and distinguished projects in collaboration with the QRDI and other institutional partners, executing initiatives with different institutions across the country and organising competitions to inspire school and university students, in partnership with active business accelerators.

Prayers, fervour, festivities, social gatherings, family reunions and festive meals marked Eid al-Fitr celebrations across Qatar Wednesday.A total of 642 mosques and prayer grounds witnessed the faithful converging from early morning. Chants of Eid Takbeer, expressions of praise to God, filled the air at mosques and prayer grounds showing devotion and resonating with spiritual elevation.Eid congregational prayer started at 5.30am followed by the special sermons, in which the clerics asked the faithful to keep the spirit of Ramadan intact and celebrate the delight of Eid al-Fitr with piety and righteousness. The sermons also had special prayer for the war torn Gaza.The Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs, in co-operation with the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and the Ministry of Municipality, made essential arrangements to facilitate the prayer at mosques. MoI deployed traffic and security personnel to ensure smooth traffic movement for the convenience and safety of the faithful.The Grand Mosque, Msheireb Downtown Doha (MDD), Education City Stadium, Al Arabi Sports Club Stadium and Al-Wukair Grand Mosque along with numerous prayer grounds received thousands of worshippers.After the prayer, the faithful exchanged Eid greetings with warm hugs. “This congregation beautifully portrays the unity that transcends creed and colour. While standing in the crowd, one can feel the tranquility descending. This is the spirit and delight of Eid,” said Abdul Rasheed, after offering Eid prayer at Al-Wukair Grand Mosque.“We are blessed to have the opportunity to gather here and attend the prayer. The congregational prayer helps feel God's love and brings feelings of peace and joy,” said Mohamed Jaseem, who offered prayer with his family at the Grand Mosque. Kids were given gifts by Awqaf as part of its ‘Eid Joy’ initiative after the prayer at various prayer grounds.With exciting activities, festivities and events, the tourist places, beaches and public parks received visitors from the afternoon.

With Qatar readying to mark Eid al-Fitr, shops are offering a range of Eid gifts to help spread joy.Shops and online platforms are luring buyers with gift ideas that range from chocolates and food hampers to greeting cards.“Eid is the occasion of fervour and glee, and many express their joy by gifting,” said Tomas Avila, who runs the Royal Classic shop at Matar Al Qadeem. “Ahead of Eid al-Fitr, we have started to see more customers picking gifts for loved ones.”His shop offers different types of gifts: food hampers, gift boxes, cards, sweet treats, wooden plaques, toys, sweets, cakes, toffees, tea and coffee sets, perfumes, stickers, nuts and thermos flasks.Sporting greetings and Eid decorations, boxes and trays are available in different sizes as per the requirement and budget.Prices normally range between QR100 and QR1,000. There are boxes sold for as much as QR10,000.“We customise the gift boxes after adding the items chosen,” Avila said. “We wrap them beautifully and adorn them with greetings. They can be also bought empty and filled accordingly.”Made of wood or cardboard, these boxes contain different types of chocolate and candy along with toys, perfumes, oud and greeting cards.Some customers opt to place cash within the boxes.Qataris, according to Avila, make up the majority of the buyers, and they start to flock to the shops during the last ten days of Ramadan.Oriental sweets remain favourites, with many opting to have their boxes filled with date cake, saffron cake, baklava, goulash, Ghariba and basbousa in addition to petit four confectionery and basima.Some, according to shop owners, go for the mix of oriental sweets with Western flavours.The shops also feature collections of bouquets of fresh flowers.Displayed in glitter netting and wrapped elegantly, these bouquets are gifted along with the boxes.Online platforms are also seeing demand for gift boxes.Sharmeena Fazil says her page “Our_momentz” is receiving orders to prepare customised gift boxes.She takes orders both from Qatar and abroad.“In Qatar, there has been a trend where the residents order gifts to be sent to relatives abroad to share the joy of Eid,” Fazil said. “Personalised boxes are prepared here and shipped.”

With Ramadan having entered the final ten days, mosques across the country are witnessing the faithful thronging to perform the Qiyam-ul-layl (voluntary night prayer).“The last ten days of Ramadan is a divine opportunity to achieve the greatest benefit from Ramadan. Also, it’s the opportunity for those who got less engaged in worship during the first two parts to benefit from the holy month.Attaching yourself to the mosque during the night lends a spiritual elevation,” said Jabir bin Abdulrahman.Mosques host special night prayers. Named Qiyam-ul-layl, the prayer is considered by the faithful as one of the best acts of worship that bring one closer to Allah. “To stand in front of the almighty with devotion and dedication and listen to the Imam sweetly reciting the Qur’an make your nights worthwhile and filled with fervour,” said Abdul Rasheed.The last ten days of Ramadan are blessed by Allah with unique virtues. Among such virtues is that Laylat Al-Qadr (the Night of Decree) is among them. Many prefer to remain in the mosques to perform I’tikaaf (staying in mosque) and recite the Qur’an while expecting Laylat Al-Qadr. “I opt to stay some hours inside the mosque where I can draw myself close to Allah and gain such immense feeling about him,” Jabir said.The Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs has allocated 189 mosques in various regions across Qatar for I’tikaaf (staying in the mosque) during the last 10 days of Ramadan. Awqaf published the list of the names of the mosques where worshippers can practice I’tikaaf. Awqaf has published a set of guidelines and urged the worshippers to follow them while going for I’tikaaf.Meanwhile, scholars have urged the worshippers to make use of the last ten days of Ramadan and engage in good deeds.Ali Mohyi al-Din al-Qaradaghi, president of the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), while talking to Qatar TV, urged the believers to increase good deeds and charity. “Islam recommends Muslims to pay Zakat al-Fitr during the last ten days of Ramadan to ensure that Zakat is paid properly,” he said.

After attracting more than 4.2mn visitors, setting new records and hosting a slew of exciting events and activities, Expo 2023 Doha concluded tonight at Al Bidda Park.The valedictory ceremony was held in the presence of HE the Minister of Municipality Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah al-Attiyah and other dignitaries including Expo 2023 Doha commissioner general ambassador Bader Omar al-Dafa, Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) president Alain Berger, International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) president Leonardo Capitano, ambassadors of various countries and representatives of various government entities.HE the Minister of Municipality noted that Expo 2023 Doha marked a historic milestone at the international level to be the first AI-generated expo while receiving the largest number of visitors and sponsors. HE the Minister noted that the event attracted more than 4,200,000 visitors throughout 179 days with participation of countries from across the world.“Expo 2023 Doha has set a new record while surpassing the figures of such previous events. The exhibition discussed the innovations and the ways to combat desertification and the threat being posed by climate change,” HE al-Attiyah said noting that the successful organisation of the expo has underscored Qatar’s commitment to support the efforts to preserve the environment and achieve the objective of becoming a sustainable country.Berger noted that Expo 2023 Doha was successful in organising and showing the world innovations. Capitano hailed Qatar for its efforts to host a successful event. The ceremony also marked a cultural gala and fireworks.Under the theme 'Green Desert, Better Environment', Expo 2023 Doha focused on modern agriculture, technology and innovation, environmental awareness and sustainability. The event promoted sustainable innovations and ways to combat desertification through activities and celebrations.In addition to introducing innovative new products to global markets and sports events, the expo hosted workshops, educational activities and discussions with leading experts to concerts and theatrical performances at its International, Cultural and Family zones.The Doha Expo 2023 was not just a showcase of horticultural wonders; it was a testament to Qatar's commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. The Expo site itself was a marvel of green design, featuring sustainable architecture, renewable energy solutions, and innovative water management systems.Visitors were not only treated to breathtaking displays of flora from every corner of the world but also educated on the importance of preserving our planet for future generations.

Special goody bags for kids with glamorous traditional artistic touches have turned out to be favourites of Garangao purchases at Souq Waqif. The bags, painted with images of festivities, draw the kids who flock to the Souq to grab their Garangao gifts.“This year, the special bags with gitfs in them, are the favourites of kids. The bags have nuts, sweets, toys, chocolates, toffies and lights that are gifted during the festival,” said one of the shop owners Mohamed Ali. The price for the bags ranges between QR 70 and QR140 at Souq.Grangao, which falls on the night of Ramadan 15, is an occasion for children to celebrate. Wearing traditional clothes, children take to the streets and they are received in houses with gifts. House premises are lit up with lights and decorated with Garangao decors while sweets, nuts, gifts and toys are given to each other after Maghrib prayer. The idea behind the festival is to gift the children for their efforts while fasting during the first half of Ramadan and encourage them to continue the spirit during the second half.Garangao kits at Souq Waqif are available from QR 50 to QR 600, according to the features and quantity. There are special toys that sing special Garangao songs. Children use these during Garangao celebrations while walking on the streets.Souq Waqif is recording a huge turnout from Qatar families that flock to the market to buy sweets and gifts for their children. The sales have gone up manifold for the past few days with preparations going on to welcome the festival. Souq receives huge crowds after Iftar.To suit the options of the buyers, shops at Souq Waqif offer a wide range of gift kits. “Customised kits are available for buyers to meet their budget and requirements,” said another merchant adding sales have gone up. “Due to this, we offer kits at reduced prices,” he said.Also, Garangao clothes are displayed from the beginning of Ramadan until the middle of the night. Some opt to make preorders for the dresses and they are prepared as per the requirements and size of the children. Children’s dresses are available from QR50.

Customs officials are capable of identifying drug traffickers from their body language, a senior official at the General Authority of Customs (GAC) has said.Head of the Main Passenger Terminal Department at Hamad International Airport (HIA) Hassan al-Hajri, told Qatar TV in an interview that the officials are trained to detect passengers carrying drugs in a professional and sophisticated manner.“HIA Customs plays an important role in combating the ongoing smuggling while keeping pace with new developments in detecting drug trafficking,” he said while explaining that GAC is equipped with the most important customs training centre regionally and globally.“The centre provides the GAC officials with special training courses to identify and detect drugs and monitor the methods of smuggling. The officials with their expertise and by using advanced devices monitor passengers and luggage to detect violations and smuggling of forbidden objects. They seize prohibited goods and materials. This is achieved through continuous efforts by HIA, which improve and develop new methods to thwart drug trafficking,” al-Hajri said.The process of raising the efficiency of employees, according to al-Hajri, requires hard and continuous work. This is attained by providing them with the latest training courses to detect smuggling. GAC, al-Hajri added, is making greater efforts and working more to combat and detect smuggling operations by working to use new technologies and new methods to thwart smuggling by checking travellers and goods quickly and smoothly.Regarding the country's multiple ports, al-Hajri said that GAC spares no effort to provide training, expertise and tools to customs officers at all land, air and sea ports to prevent the entry of any harmful material to the country.

Specially abled students from across Qatar came together Saturday at the American School of Doha for an event full of excitement and learning. The students marched, staged performances and took part in competitions at the Riyadtee sports events for children with disabilities, organised by HOPE Qatar Centre for Persons with Disabilities together with the Department of Educational Centres in the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE). Parents watched with pride as their children took part in the activities, while teachers and volunteers lent a helping hand to the specially abled participants, keeping their spirits up. The special sports event was aimed at providing an inclusive platform for 86 students from 11 special needs educational centres across Qatar. Riyadtee, which means “My Sport”, witnessed the participation of students with autism, as well as wheelchair athletes from 26 nationalities engaging in 27 athletic and modified sports competitions. HOPE Qatar founder and managing director Dr Rajeev Thomas said the initiative offers tailored sporting opportunities to children with disabilities in Qatar, emphasising its adaptability to the unique abilities of each participant. "Our goal is not only to foster inclusivity but also to provide a platform for these remarkable children to showcase their sporting abilities,” he said. Dr Thomas said that the event was conducted according to Special Olympic Guidelines with all awards and prizes based on these guidelines. Independent judges monitored each event and the conduct of each contest in line with strict published rules and regulations. MoEHE Educational Services Centres Department director Eman Ali al-Naimi said that caring for people with disabilities is one of the ministry’s priorities to ensure that people with disabilities obtain the rights that Qatar has ratified in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The meet began with a march, followed by a cultural demonstration by students of the host institution HOPE Qatar. Mohamed Jamisha, a senior student of HOPE Qatar, led the oath-taking on behalf of all participating athletes. Undersecretary for Shared Services at the MoEHE, Mohamed Ali Kareeb, Indian ambassador Vipul, Bangladesh ambassador Mohamed Nazrul Islam, local sports enthusiast Khalid Fakhroo, former Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) president PN Baburajan, and American School of Doha director of operations David Finney were present.

Mexico is looking to prospect investment and co-operation with Qatar by streamlining the mutual relations, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Dr Victor Manuel Villalobos Arámbula has said.“The relationship between the two countries is showing an upward trend in various sectors and we are looking to further strengthen it by initiating steps to encourage cooperation and knowledge sharing,” Arámbula told Gulf Times during an exclusive interview.“Mexico’s agriculture sector is growing while integrating many innovations to fight climate change, ensure sustainability and increase production. Several forestry projects and agricultural initiatives are being implemented across the country to help the rural area grow. The country has left an impressive model in agriculture, especially in developing the arid lands. These models can be adopted by Qatar and GCC countries as a sustainable practice to achieve the development goals in the agriculture sector,” Arámbula said noting that Mexico held 12th rank in food production with with a quantity of up to 301.3mn tonnes of production last year. The country, he said, is one of 17 highly diverse countries, being home to about 10 per cent of the world's registered species and it has established exporting relations with 190 countries across the world.Citing sustainability is among the top priorities of his country, Arámbula said efforts are put into implementing effective water planning models. “This has become an essential part of water resources management and we have developed strategies that are worth implementing in GCC with water scarcity,”Mexico has implemented six priority social programmes to promote farming under the supervision of Arámbula. These include fertilisers for wellbeing, production for wellbeing, guaranteed prices, the programme to provide direct economic aid to fishermen (Bienpesca), rural supply and social supply of milk, through which support has been provided directly to vulnerable families, benefiting more than 2mn small farmers, cattle ranchers and coastal fishermen every year.The Mexican minister hailed Qatar for promoting sustainability pointing out that ventures like Expo 2023 Doha contribute to the global efforts to materialise the idea of a green future. The Mexico pavilion at Expo Doha highlights Mexixo’s sustainability and bioeconomy initiatives and the country’s approach towards making use of technological resources.Qatar’s investment in sports also earned praise from Arámbula, who said the country showed the world its ability to successfully host mega events while making FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 a memorable event. “The country transformed the mega tournament into a reality and made it a unique event while leaving a lasting legacy,” he said.

While giving vent to creativity through his art oeuvre and book trove, Jordanian artist Hussein Alazaat has left a mark at the ongoing ‘Arab Design Now’ exhibition, held within the programmes of the first edition of Design Doha Biennial at M7 of Msheireb Downtown Doha (MDD).Named ‘Memories of the Coming Day’, Hussein’s exhibition puts the focus on multi-dimensional Arab art, calligraphy and typography while shedding light on the vividity of styles and techniques. The exhibits are the testaments of how Alazaat’s artistic journey from a young age to mastery evolved while learning and showcasing his artistic skill.“As a child, I exhibited a fascination with creativity and engaged in drawing with an obsession with Arabic calligraphy, design and Islamic art. I am blessed with a love for the world of archaeology and a sense of history, personal initiatives, and enlightened collaborations. It’s a great honour to mark my journey of creativity at ‘Arab Design Now’. To design the letters and calligraphy on the banknotes of my country is a dream that came true,” Alazaat told Gulf Times.‘Memories of the Coming Day’ resonates with the idea of preserving memory, which, according to Alazaat, is the oldest and best weapon. “Memory is also our gateway to tomorrow. Without the past, there is no future; this is the simple reality,” the Amman based designer and calligraphy artist said. Known for the multi-dimensional approach, Alazaat’s works incorporate design, calligraphy, and visual identity to highlight the Arabic identity.‘The Beautiful Books Trove’ at ‘Memories of the Coming Day’ is a homage to modern-era graphic design and typography from the Arab world. Originally housed at Alazaat’s Elharf House in Amman, ‘The Beautiful Books Trove’ at the exhibition offers a curated selection of reproductions of children's publications from the 1960s, '70s and '80s. It reflects his passion for typography, illustration and literature.Alazaat started to collect books and printed matter from a young age. He has a penchant for skimming through bookshops, flea markets and warehouses in search of rare books and printed matter, which he calls the hidden gems. “My journeys helped me secure the exquisite collection of rare books,” he said. At the exhibition, Alazaat has earned praise from the visitors for his relentless efforts to add rare books to his collection. For many book lovers, most of the books here lend a feel of nostalgic old good days of reading.Alazaat runs ALAZAAT Studio in Amman to activate the Arabian identity in design, cultural experiences and contemporary art practices through the integration of innovative interaction concepts. It’s a place of creative consultation services that allows him to keep the charm of Arabic art intact.

LuLu Hypermarket has unveiled the ‘Taste of Poland’ promotion in its branches across Qatar. To run until March 1, ‘Taste of Poland’ is a unique cultural and culinary celebration that features numerous Polish foodstuffs ranging from fruits to dairy products.The Poland-themed decor adds colours to the festive atmosphere. The inauguration ceremony, held at the LuLu Pearl Island outlet, was led by Polish ambassador Janusz Janke in the presence of LuLu Group International director Dr Mohamed Althaf and a Polish delegation.There was live cooking and sampling of traditional Polish dishes at the kiosk of Polka restaurant, the first Polish restaurant in Qatar. While addressing the inaugural ceremony, ambassador Janke thanked LuLu Group for initiating steps to organise the ‘Taste of Poland’ promotion that gives a boost to Polish products in Qatar.“The promotion underlines the cooperation between Poland and the LuLu Group. The promotion assumes significance as it unveils the rich vividity of Poland’s food and farming sectors. Poland is known for its quality dairy products and taste. Poland features many of these at LuLu. With its potential of attracting buyers and easily reaching the customers Lulu is the best place to sell Polish products,” the envoy told Gulf Times.The first of its kind initiative in Qatar, Janke said, Taste of Poland lends the visitors an opportunity to explore Polish cuisine. Exuding confidence that the Taste of Poland promotion will open a new door for Polish products to Qatar and the Middle East, Janke said Poland is keen to further strengthen its ties with LuLu in the region to find a market for the food products. "Qatar is an important market for Poland and it’s the gateway to the regional market. We are looking to bring in more products to the region and expand the areas of cooperation with LuLu Group and the government entities while tapping the potential of the regional market,” he said, adding that such initiatives will be beneficial for farmers and business entities in Poland.While talking to Gulf Times, Dr Althaf said LuLu is glad to feature Polish products and Taste of Poland is a strategic steptowards Lulu’s expansion plans to the Central European Region.“Our presence is currently there in various European countries. We are stepping into the Baltic region as the first international retail chain. LuLu’s idea is to start from Poland which is an emerging hub of food production. The country is a shining star when it comes to production,” he said, adding that LuLu will host the Taste of Poland promotion in upcoming years with additions.Dr Althaf noted the promotion is the continuation of a LuLu delegation’s last year’s visit to Poland and a prelude to the upcoming ventures. “Poland is the country where LuLu is eying on further expansion, with plans to establish sourcing and export hubs. We have cooperation with several European countries where the group is setting up sourcing and food processing units. This is to ensure food availability, uninterrupted supply, and stable prices in the market.”The Lulu Group international director said Lulu is keen to support the local production initiatives and farmers in Qatar and across the world while implementing innovative initiatives. “LuLu does its utmost to ensure global food security while spreading its wings to more areas,” he stated.The promotion featured a diverse selection of products from renowned Polish brands, including exclusive items specially imported for the event. It was pointed out that LuLu Group signed two MoUs with Poland government entities, Olsztyn Mazury Airport, and the Polish Investment & Trade Agency, further solidifying its commitment to the Central European region. Under the first MoU, Lulu will establish a facility at Olsztyn Mazury Airport to source, pack, and export fresh produce, such as apples, berries, cheeses, meat, and other packed food products to the Mena, India, and Far East regions. The second MoU with the Polish Investment & Trade Agency will streamline investment and operational processes for Lulu Group in Poland, opening new opportunities in various business sectors.

In a bid to develop and implement training programmes, exchange of students and trainers, cooperation activities, joint marketing, promotion and hosting of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) courses in both countries, the Qatar Aeronautical Academy (QAA) and the Incheon Airport Aviation Academy in South Korea (IAAA) Sunday signed a memorandum of understanding.In the presence of HE the Minister of Transport Jassim Saif Ahmed al-Sulaiti and other officials from both sides, the MoU was signed by QAA director general HE Sheikh Jabor bin Hamad al-Thani and Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) vice president Hyoung-Wook Jeon.HE al-Sulaiti said the agreement assumes significance as results in refining and developing the knowledge and skills of students and members of the academy’s programmes through access to the latest means of education and training in the field of civil aviation in addition to exchanging experiences between the two sides.“The Ministry of Transport (MoT) supports all aspects of cooperation with the world’s leading educational institutions to develop the work path of QAA to build promising generations capable of meeting the requirements of the civil aviation sector in a way that serves society and meets its needs in line with achieving the objectives of the Third National Development Strategy and implementing Qatar National Vision 2023,” HE the Minister said.The QAA director general said the MoU will play a strategic role in pushing the cooperation relations between the two sides to broader horizons by providing training, marketing, and promotional programs in the field of civil aviation in the interest of developing the performance of QAA.“QAA’s membership in the ICAO TRAINAIR PLUS programme will qualify it to work alongside IIAC in the Republic of South Korea and will enable it to open a new window to view Intellectual and academic diversity between both sides,” he said.This collaboration with the Korean side is expected to bring new opportunities for work and innovation, incorporating the latest methods and practices to enhance educational and training systems for both parties. It will create an atmosphere of openness to broad fields and extensive prospects for aviation training.The IIAC vice president said: ‘’Through this collaboration, our institutions will leverage their expertise and excellence in the aviation field to utilise complementary strengths, contributing to the cultivation of global aviation professionals. We are prepared to share knowledge and experiences, broaden our mutual understanding, and open a new chapter of cooperation for the advancement of the aviation industry.‘’We are confident that this cooperation will contribute significantly to supporting the training and exchange of expertise between the two sides in the field of civil aviation, and our joint efforts will play a vital role in creating a brighter future for the aviation sector in both sides,’’ he added.

Under the patronage of HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, HE the Minister of Municipality Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah al-Attiyah Wednesday opened AgriteQ 2024 at Expo 2023 Doha premises with the participation of 80 countries.AgriteQ, in its 11th edition, features 259 local and international exhibitors at the Cultural Zone of Expo. The inaugural ceremony was in the presence of HE the Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf) Ghanem bin Shaheen bin Ghanem al-Ghanem, HE the Minister of Culture Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad bin Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani, HE the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Dr Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie, HE the Minister of Social Development and Family Mariam bint Ali bin Nasser al-Misnad, HE the Deputy Speaker Shura Council Dr Hamda bint Hassan al-Sulaiti, HE the President of the Central Municipal Council Mohamed bin Ali al-Athba and HE the Chairman of Qatar Tourism Saad bin Ali al-Kharji along with ambassadors, senior officials from government entities and representatives from international agricultural bodies.HE the Minister of Municipality, while addressing the inaugural ceremony, said Qatar is committed to enhancing and supporting the agricultural sector and improving its productivity to strengthen food security in the country in line with the Third National Development Strategy, which represents the final phase towards achieving the goals of Qatar's National Vision 2030.“The exhibition is annually held within Qatar's commitment to providing an important platform for showcasing the latest global agricultural technologies and innovations, stemming from the significant interest the state places in this vital sector under its wise leadership,” he noted.“Qatar has made qualitative leaps in agricultural, animal, and fish production in recent years as a result of the continuous support provided by the wise government,” HE the Minister said. Since 2017, Qatar has been supporting agricultural producers in addition to the projects and initiatives implemented by the Ministry of Municipality as part of its strategic plan over the past five years. These are aimed at achieving food security while ensuring efficient resource management and maintaining strong food safety standards.HE the Minister pointed out that the support provided by the state, alongside the efforts of agricultural producers, has resulted in a significant increase in productivity in recent years. The sector marked a nearly 98% increase in vegetable production compared to the previous five years.The area under greenhouse cultivation rose to about 700 hectares with an increase of nearly 35% compared to 2019. This has led to an increase in the self-sufficiency rate of local vegetables from 24% in 2017 to 42% in 2023 with an overall 75% increase. These are in addition to achieving full self-sufficiency of 100% in fresh dairy and poultry products. The increase in the self-sufficiency of egg production reached 37% in 2023 from about 14% in 2017 with an increase rate of over 164%. The self-sufficiency rate of fresh red meat rose from 13% in 2017 to about 19% currently.AqriteQ 2024, which features events and activities covering agricultural, animal, educational and entertainment fields, will conclude on February 27.