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Qatar

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Qatar. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Doha

Head of State

Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani

Head of Government

Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani

last updated:

29 November, 2024

Qatar players celebrate after successfully defending their Asian Cup title with victory in the final against surprise-package Jordan. Photo: AP

AFC Cup

Qatar’s continental defence, Saudis named World Cup hosts in big 2024 for Asia

The past 12 months saw the continent awarded another crack at welcoming the globe’s biggest footballing event.

31 Dec 2024 - 12:28AM

Benjamin Netanyahu

Israel’s PM Netanyahu to undergo prostate removal surgery, his office says

29 Dec 2024 - 6:14AMvideocam

AFC Asian Cup 2023

Asian champions Qatar sack coach Lopez after poor World Cup qualifying campaign

11 Dec 2024 - 8:22PM

Formula One (F1)

F1: McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull vie for constructors’ title in Qatar

McLaren, who lead Ferrari by 24 points with Max Verstappen’s Red Bull a further 29 back, could seal their first crown since 1998 on Sunday.

30 Nov 2024 - 7:03AM

McLaren driver Lando Norris leads his team’s push to win the constructors’ title in Qatar this weekend. Photo: EPA-EFE

Fifa

Fifa launches 2022 World Cup legacy fund for initiatives with WHO, WTO, UNHCR

Football’s world governing body had announced after the Qatar event it would use its proceeds to help the world’s ‘most vulnerable people’.

28 Nov 2024 - 3:00AM

Israel-Gaza war

Qatar drops out of Israel-Gaza talks, warns Hamas over Doha office

It will not return as a mediator until both sides show ‘a sincere willingness to return to the negotiating table’.

10 Nov 2024 - 12:48AM

ONE Championship

MMA promoter ONE Championship makes ‘few dozen’ job cuts in bid for profitability

Lay-off plan comes soon after reports Group One Holdings, which backs the mixed martial arts brand, had raised at least US$50m from investors.

17 Oct 2024 - 7:51PM

ONE chief executive Chatri Sityodtong said in an email to staff that the job cuts were made despite the company being “on the verge of profitability”.

ONE Championship

Qatar fund reportedly part of US$50m funding round for ONE Championship backers

The injection gives Group One – a rival of the company behind Ultimate Fighting Championship – a valuation of at least US$1.35 billion.

16 Oct 2024 - 2:54PM

Israel-Gaza war

US believes Gaza ceasefire deal unlikely in Biden’s term, report says

Mediators have sought for months to secure a truce between Israel and Hamas, but a final agreement remains elusive.

20 Sep 2024 - 7:57AM

Israel-Gaza war

Biden, in call with Israel’s Netanyahu, stresses urgency of Gaza ceasefire

The two leaders spoke after US Secretary of State Blinken’s whirlwind Middle East trip ended without a deal between Israel and Hamas.

22 Aug 2024 - 9:31AM

Palestinians react after a school sheltering displaced people was hit by an Israeli strike in Gaza City on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

Israel-Gaza war

Blinken wraps up Middle East trip with Gaza ceasefire deal still elusive

Mediators have pinned their hopes on a US ‘bridging proposal’ to narrow gaps between Israel and Hamas.

21 Aug 2024 - 8:46AM

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to the press in Doha, Qatar, on Tujesday. Photo: Reuters

Fame and celebrity

Meet Janet Jackson’s ‘abusive’ ex, Qatari billionaire Wissam Al Mana

The pop icon and her billionaire ex-husband Wissam Al Mana co-parent their seven-year-old son Eissa today, but the couple split just months after she gave birth

14 Aug 2024 - 8:11AM

European Union

Qatar Airways passengers ‘pass out’ on runway in Athens heat after cooling fails

Qatar Airways flight 204 was delayed in Athens on Monday due to technical issues, when temperatures reached 35 degrees Celsius and reports of the air conditioner malfunctioning.

13 Jun 2024 - 12:57AM

Israel-Gaza war

‘It’s time’: Blinken says US will try to bridge Israel-Hamas gaps on Gaza truce

The US Secretary of State said the onus was on Hamas, describing the rest of the world as united in seeking an end to the eight-month war.

12 Jun 2024 - 11:35PM

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken gives a joint press conference with his Qatari counterpart in Doha on Tuesday. Photo: AFP/Pool

Israel-Gaza war

Israel says Hamas rejects key elements of US ceasefire plan for Gaza

Israeli official says Hamas response to US proposal had ‘changed all of the main and most meaningful parameters’.

12 Jun 2024 - 10:09AM

Israeli soldiers on a military truck near the Israel-Gaza border. Photo: Reuters

Israel-Gaza war

US expects Israel to accept plan to end Gaza war if Hamas agrees

‘This was an Israeli proposal. We have every expectation that if Hamas agrees to the proposal then Israel would say yes.’

2 Jun 2024 - 11:40PMvideocam

Israel-Gaza war

Biden presents new Israel ceasefire plan, calls on Hamas to accept it

The US president said the three-phase proposal, which includes the release of hostages, was the best way to begin winding down the deadly conflict in Gaza.

1 Jun 2024 - 10:06AMvideocam

Semiconductors

US slows AI chip exports to Middle East over concern on China access

Washington has delayed the issuing of export licences to Nvidia and AMD, partly over worries that Chinese companies could access AI chips through data centres in the Middle East.

31 May 2024 - 12:23PM

The skyline of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The US is delaying the issuing of AI chip export licences to Nvidia and AMD to the Middle East. Photo: EPA-EFE

Ireland

12 injured after Dublin-bound Qatar Airways plane hits turbulence

The incident lasted less than 20 seconds and took place during food and drinks service. Flight QR017, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, landed safely at Dublin Airport.

27 May 2024 - 7:20AMvideocam

Middle East

As West grows colder and Middle East heats up, Chinese companies look to Qatar

Qatar is emerging as a potential destination for Chinese businesses and investment looking to find a way into the Middle East or Africa, with more companies showing interest in setting up a foothold in the Persian Gulf.

23 May 2024 - 2:35PMvideocam

Israel-Gaza war

Israel to return seized Associated Press camera, end block on Gaza live feed

The confiscation of the news agency’s equipment was condemned by the US, journalism organisations and Israel’s opposition leader Yair Lapid, who called it ‘an act of madness’.

22 May 2024 - 4:44AM

In this image from video, Israeli officials seize AP video equipment from an apartment block in Sderot, Southern Israel, on Tuesday. Photo: AP

China-Middle East relations

More direct flights from China to Middle East as post-Covid tourism takes off

Saudi Arabia and Qatar set to increase services to Hong Kong and mainland China as tourism rebounds after pandemic.

16 May 2024 - 7:00PMvideocam

It is hoped the number of direct flights between Middle Eastern countries and mainland China and Hong Kong will increase as tourism picks up again after the pandemic. Photo: AFP

Asia travel

How Qatar plans to keep growing its post-World Cup tourism

Qatar, which hosted the 2022 Fifa World Cup, wants to have 6 million international visitors annually by 2030 – and it plans on attracting them by hosting sports, arts, fashion and other events.

15 May 2024 - 2:10PM

Israel-Gaza war

Qatar says truce talks at ‘stalemate’ after Rafah operation, aid not reaching Gaza

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed said the fundamental difference between the two parties was over the release of hostages and ending the war.

14 May 2024 - 7:15PM

Banking & finance

Hong Kong, Qatar agree to cooperate, strengthen ties between financial hubs

Hong Kong is expanding its market outreach in the Middle East by linking up with investment authority in oil-rich Qatar, paving the way for future cooperation and alliances.

7 May 2024 - 2:07PMvideocam

Back row: (left) Daniel Fung, vice chairman of the FSDC and Joseph Chan, Hong Kong Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury. Front row: (left) Yousuf Mohamed Al-Jaida, CEO of Qatar Financial Centre and Dr King Au, Executive Director of the FSDC. Photo: Handout

Israel-Gaza war

Gaza ceasefire uncertain, Israel vows to continue Rafah operation

Palestinian militant group Hamas agreed to a Gaza ceasefire proposal from mediators, but Israel said the terms did not meet its demands.

7 May 2024 - 1:19PM

A bombardment east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday. Photo: AFP

Israel-Gaza war

As Israel menaces Gaza’s last holdout of Rafah, apathy and resignation abound

Tens of thousands have been killed. Yet domestic politics are as much a factor as any looming humanitarian disaster for Western and Middle Eastern governments involved in peace talks.

4 May 2024 - 6:00PM

China economy

The View | To call the likes of China and India ‘developing’ is, frankly, insulting

Given the prosperity and world-leading innovations of so-called emerging economies, from China and India to South Korea and Qatar, the ‘developing’ label is outmoded, outdated and patronising.

2 May 2024 - 3:30PMvideocam

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