His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani issued on Wednesday Amiri Decision No. 17 of 2026, reconstituting the Board of Directors of the Free Zones Authority.The decision stipulates that the Board of Directors of the Free Zones Authority be reconstituted under the chairmanship of HE Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al-Thani, with HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Thani as Vice Chairman, and HE Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Jamal, Hamad Ali Al Khater, Sheikh Ali bin Al-Waleed Al-Thani, Saleh Majed Al Khulaifi, Ahmed Saeed Al Amoudi, and Abdullah Ali Al Kuwari, as members of the board.The decision stipulates that the Prime Minister may add other experienced and competent members to the membership of the Authority's board of directors.The decision also stipulates that the term of membership on the board shall be four years, renewable for one or more similar terms.The decision is effective starting from its date of issue and is to be published in the official gazette.

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change announced on Wednesday the start of the marine turtle nesting season in the State of Qatar, which runs from April 1 -August 1.This announcement comes as part of the country’s strong commitment to protecting endangered species and monitoring rare terrestrial and marine wildlife, which represent a national treasure for current and future generations.In this context, Director of the Wildlife Development Department at the Ministry Khalid Jumaa Al Mohannadi said in a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the Ministry is monitoring all nests of hawksbill sea turtles along the northern coasts and islands of the country. He added that relocating nests threatened by high tides and monitoring their temperature helps ensure successful hatching.Regarding the main challenges, Al Mohannadi said that climate change and human activities pose the greatest risks, and that efforts are underway to address them through continuous field monitoring programs and raising public awareness about the importance of protecting this endangered species.The Director of the Wildlife Development Department also stressed the importance of taking DNA samples to help study the embryonic composition of the turtles and improve protection plans. He explained that these measures have resulted, over recent years, in the release of more than 60,000 hatchlings back into the sea, reflecting the success of the programs and contributing to enhancing ecological balance along Qatar’s coasts.The hawksbill sea turtle has been classified as an endangered species since 1982 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Qatar launched a protection project for this species in 2003, making it one of the leading initiatives in safeguarding endangered marine species in the country.The project aims to preserve hawksbill sea turtles along Qatar’s northern coasts, including the beaches of Ras Laffan, Al Huwailah, Al Jassasiya, Al Maroona, Fuwairit, Al Ghariyah, and Al Mafyar, in addition to the islands of Umm Tais, Ras Rakan, Shraoh, and Halul.

The Ministry of Social Development and Family has unveiled a unified digital platform consolidating all its public services into a single mobile application, marking a significant step in the country's broader drive towards e-government.The app, now available on Apple and Google app stores, allows users to browse, apply for and track ministry services in real time, without visiting offices in person. Officials said the platform had been designed to the highest digital accessibility standards, with particular attention to ease of use for the elderly and people with disabilities.Speaking at a press conference in Doha Wednesday, Assistant Undersecretary for Social Development Affairs Fahd Mohammed al-Khayarin said the launch demonstrated the ministry's commitment to accelerating digital transformation and adopting the latest technological solutions across government services.A key feature of the platform is a digital social security card, allowing beneficiaries to access and present their credentials through the app without requiring a physical card. The platform also incorporates an AI-powered assistant to handle user queries and guide applicants through its services.The ministry said the rollout would be phased, with around 24 core services in the areas of housing and social security available at launch. Coverage is set to expand throughout the year to include services related to associations, private institutions and family affairs, with full digitalisation the stated end goal.The platform also provides a complete record of previous applications, a direct channel for submitting complaints and suggestions, and real-time visibility into the status of pending requests — measures the ministry said would enhance transparency and reduce processing times.Ahmed Khalil Abdullah, Director of the Information Systems Department, described the launch as a pivotal step towards delivering an integrated, user-centred experience as Qatar presses ahead with its digital transformation agenda.