To celebrate Qatar’s National Sport Day and to promote a healthy lifestyle, McDonald’s Qatar (leading global fast food icon) will be conducting a mini football tournament besides various other activities at its outlets from February 7 (Friday). Kids and adults alike will have plenty to engage in, including training from a professional football trainer. Families too will also be able to enjoy a lot of fun-filled activities like face-painting, colouring, and other games.

As for the mini football tournament proper, kids and teens will be eligible to enter the main event to be held on the National Sport Day (February 11) at McDonald’s Al Sadd branch from 5pm to 8pm. McDonalds Qatar has always been celebrating the National Sport Day with great pride and vigour with the main objective being to promote a healthy lifestyle among Qatar’s population. Opining about the National Sport Day initiative, Ghada Kamal, Marketing Manager of McDonald’s Qatar said, “We have always taken pride in Qatar’s National Sport Day and each year it is an occasion for us to live up to the objective of promoting healthy lifestyle among the population. With football being followed passionately in Qatar and the region, we aim to provide kids and teens with an atmosphere of the sport to take part in with a competitive spirit, and with their families around to cheer them.

“McDonald’s Qatar wishes all our patrons a great sports week ahead and an engaging and delightful National Sport Day in advance.” It is McDonald’s endeavour to ensure that every patron gets to experience the fun of playing the most popular sport in the country which is football, catering kids and teens to participate in this fun activity which will be open for everyone. All they have to do is to register before the main celebration to be held at McDonalds Al Sadd on February 11.

McDonalds will have a life-size bouncy soccer field for the main event. Every three successful goal strikes will win a ‘player’ a prize. Registrations open February 7th till the 10th and can be done throughout the day at specific McDonald’s outlets (Markhiya, Al Sadd, Airport, Woqod Al Rayyan, Barwa Village, Town Center, Al Aziziya, 01 Mall). Those who still miss out on registrations can do so at McDonald’s Al Sadd on February 11 prior to the scheduled event.

McDonald’s invites all kids and families of Qatar to participate in the event to celebrate the sporting spirit and sport as a lifestyle in the Sporting Capital of the World!

In celebration of National Sports Day in Qatar, and to promote the social and personal benefits of sports and recreation, Oryx Rotana - the five-star luxury business hotel in Doha has launched an exclusive offer at its state-of-the-art Bodylines Fitness & Wellness Club to share with the community the fun and frolic in a series of sporting activities.

As the country prepares to mark the National Sports Day on Tuesday, February 11, the offer from Oryx Rotana aims to educate the local population about the benefits of being active and participate in recreational activities, which significantly contribute in improving the physical status of individuals and reduces fatigue resulting from the daily routine.

Starting from Saturday, February 8, 2020 of sports and physical health enthusiasts who wish to change their lifestyle for the better can avail 50% discount on Bodylines Fitness & Wellness Club annual membership. Additionally, Oryx Rotana is giving away 30 complimentary day pass for the first 30 callers or visitors who will mention the #ORDBodylinesWellness. With this offer, members will have the opportunity to be the first to discover and try out the newly enhanced wellness facilities or Oryx Rotana such as sauna, Jacuzzi and steam rooms, to provide the best relaxing experience.

Also, members can take part in a wide range of sports and health activities in the fully equipped gym that boasts of the latest equipment and ably supervised by trained coaches who will provide the needed guidance for exercise and personal training.

On this occasion, Mr. Ghassan Dalal, General Manager of Oryx Rotana said, “At Oryx Rotana, we seek to participate with our community in their events, happenings, and activities, especially during the National Sports Day. The offer launched by our hotel on the Bodylines Fitness & Wellness Club membership is to encourage sports and adopt a healthy and balanced lifestyle. The membership also allows benefiting from the hotel’s features and facilities, alongside the highest level of services in addition to the state-of-the-art fitness equipment and the outdoor swimming pool”.

“From the very beginning, we set our sights on providing the finest hospitality standards in the sector. To enrich guest experience with a renewable and modern hotel facilities and set new benchmark, we recently enhanced our Bodylines wellness club in both ladies and gents areas such as; Jacuzzi, steam and sauna rooms to meet the requirements of our clientele for relaxation, reinvigoration, and vitality to their bodies and minds, which helps them keep fit and lead a healthy lifestyle," he added.

Mirqab Mall, Doha’s world class community mall, has proven to be the one and only destination for this year’s National Sport Day for the local community to enjoy an exhilarating day of fitness activities with family and friends. From February 6th until February 11th, there will be something for all ages to celebrate the country’s most energetic holiday. 

Throughout the campaign, Mirqab Mall will be action-packed, hosting a massive Human Foosball activation in the food court location, free yoga and Zumba classes, as well as a pop-up soft-play obstacle course area where children can test their physical skills alongside a vast bootcamp obstacle course for children to showcase their dexterity.

Mirqab Mall also offers a popular range of sports brands under its roof, where shoppers have a chance to find all their sporting gear at specialty shops like Go Sport, HMV and Courir, which offer items ranging from workout clothing and trainers, to special equipment for indoor and outdoor activities. Healthy dining is another promotional focus of Mirqab Mall on National Sports Day. From specialty fresh juices at Ladies & Gents Caffe on the mezzanine floor to the refreshing favourites of Lokmana on the ground floor, the Mall hosts an array of dining offerings, where healthy eating is encouraged, and meals are cooked to the highest standards.

Rony Mourani, General Manager of Al Mana Malls, commented “We have built Mirqab Mall with the Doha community in mind. We are delighted to be offering the public a wide range of events in line with National Sport’s Day as part of Qatar’s 2030 Vision.” 

Keep an eye on their website to know more details and offerings coming up from retailers during February for National Sports Day.

Event Listing Details:

The Amazing Race

February 6 - 11

Event Timings: 4pm-9pm  

Location: Dome by Busaba Bangkok            

Ages 5 and above

Free of Charge

Free Zumba For All

February 7 & 11

Event Timings: 7.30 am                

All ages welcome

Location: Atrium

Free of Charge

Bootcamp Obstacle Course

February 6 - 11

Event Timings: 4pm-9pm

Location: Atrium        

Ages 5 and above

Free of Charge

Human Foosball

February 6 - 11

Event Timings: 4pm-9pm  

Location: First Floor, Food Court            

Ages 5 and above

Free of Charge

Free Yoga in the Mall with Mousa Zeidan

11th February

7 PM & 8 PM    

Location: Mezzanine Level by Go Sports            

Ages 15 and above

Free of Charge

The Kitchen Restaurant is now open today at Hilton Doha the Pearl Residences, the largest Hilton property in the Qatari capital.

Renowned for using the finest and freshest ingredients, The Kitchen caters to guests at all times of day and night and serves up scrumptious culinary delights curated by award-winning Hilton chefs and their team. “This is as good as it gets. A team of skilled chefs; a diner that caters to people at all hours; and a menu that presents the guests with the dilemma of many options,” said Hassan El Wahidi, General Manager, Hilton Doha The Pearl Residences.

Apart from providing its Guests with an authentic contemporary setting, The Kitchen is truly multidimensional and offers the best of all worlds. From the cosy and fresh interior to the beautiful and expansive Terrace which leads out to the pool and overlooks Porto Arabia. There's no better way to start off the day than gorging on the signature Kitchen Breakfast. The breakfast buffet is specially designed serving high-quality cold and hot items, along with a fresh French pastry selection and egg specialties served as a-la-carte.

Breakfast is served every day from 7 am to 11 am - its diverse menu offers a wide range of healthy and fresh options. The Nordic is a current favourite smoked salmon and poached egg, served on French toast, a bed of spinach and salmon roe, complemented by a delicious and light hollandaise sauce. The mood at The Kitchen picks up through the day, and the place really livens up during lunchtime thanks to a scintillating menu which offers a wide range of truly exquisite dishes. The à la carte dining experience is sure to be an absolutely mindboggling one in addition to being a gastronomical delight, it can be enjoyed throughout the day inside the restaurant or on the terrace by the pool.

And there's something for all age groups at The Kitchen, and the little ones are not to be denied. The kids club for children aged between 4 to 9 years old is yet another attraction of this dining outlet.

With regards to the menu, some of the notable items include the delightfully succulent Duck Breast, made from citrus, hibiscus, turnip and Thai basil; Saffron Risotto - an exotic preparation of parmesan, chive and chickpeas using the best quality spices acquired from Souq Waqif; and Linguini All’amatriciana - curated from tomato sauce, beef bacon and Pecorino Romano, a hard and salty Italian cheese.

For more information about The Kitchen call +974 4492 4610 or send an e-mail to thekitchen.doha@hilton.com. You can also check out the website thekitchendoha.com. The restaurant's Instagram account is @thekitchendoha.

Doha Festival City, Qatar’s one and only choice for shopping and entertainment, has announced a number of fantastic new brands to open including Aura, Hera, Mahdi Al Ajmi, Luxury Signature, Flormar, Butterfly Design, List Roma, and Alvira, among others.

Doha Festival City is always diversifying its shopping and entertainment offerings bringing more exciting experiences and creating special moments to the people of Qatar. It is currently home to many first to market and exclusive brands in Doha, providing the widest selection of retailers under one roof. Hera, the high-end modern luxurious fashion boutique, opened its doors last month to cater to those who are looking for occasion dresses, specifically bridal wear, haute couture, and night dresses. The name is inspired by the Greek Mythology icon ‘Hera,’ symbolizing women and marriage.

Another exciting store to join the mall is Mahdi Al Ajmi. The Kuwait-based perfume house is gaining regional popularity and has now come to Doha, exclusively at Doha Festival City. Luxury Signature, the famous luxury concept store, opened in DHFC, offering its guests the opportunity to experience some of the most luxurious items, including jewelry, watches, and artifacts. Other stores that have started welcoming shoppers in January 2020, in Doha Festival City, are Alvira, the world-renowned luxury accessories brand, and Aura, a fresh new brand ready to meet the expectations of the extravagantly exquisite Qatar market with bridal, evening wear, and accessories.

Last but not least, Butterfly Design, a Qatari company delivering homeware and furniture of some of the most celebrated global brands, is expected to open this upcoming month to provide expert advice in Interior Design and Fittings.Robert Hall, General Manager of Doha Festival City, said, “We realise the importance of embracing new brands and outlets at Festival City to continue to provide the best in shopping and retail experience for our customers. The arrival of these new brands only adds to our profile as a unique caterer to the whole family, bringing the ultimate shopping experience under one roof. It also reflects the confidence that regional, local and international retailers have in us as their partner of choice.”

Doha Festival City has more than 420 Stores featuring iconic brands such as Qatar’s only Harvey Nichols- Doha, Charlotte Tilbury, Kiehl’s, Dior Beauty Boutique, ACE, and the country’s IKEA which has been open since 2013. Doha Festival City is the largest mall in Qatar, with a gross building area of 433,000sqm, and a Gross Leasable Area of 249,000 sqm, the QAR 6 billion mixed-use development is one of the largest entertainment and retail developments in the Gulf with the best offerings for family and kids. The gigantic shopping mall houses over 100 places to dine in and unwind including restaurants, cafés and casual dining outlets, from brands that are unique to Qatar such as Jamie’s Italian, Café Coco, 800 Degrees and Aimee’s Cafe.

La Bodega Negra, the celebrated Mexican restaurant originally from Soho in London, launched its very first Middle East outlet yesterday at the iconic St. Regis Hotel, Doha. The recently opened restaurant offers guests a unique Mexican dining experience, with an outstanding atmosphere, food and beverages available in the cosy setting inside or the beautiful outdoor terrace.

The opening celebration was attended by VIP guests, local celebrities and the social elite of Doha’s vibrant dining scene, media and loyal customers. The restaurant was alive with music and entertainment by Lannka, a musician well known for incorporating folkloric sounds and ancient rhythms, bringing them into an electronic realm of deep house music. 

Guests savoured the La Bodega Negra menu, featuring favourites from authentic Mexican cuisine, alongside a fine selection of beverages specifically created for the evening. A selection of canapés complemented the night’s sensational celebration. The whole restaurant was transformed for the evening to allow the guests to indulge in a complete La Bodega Negra ambience, as they explored the interiors of the Hacienda-style designed rooms. Guests enjoyed the authentic atmosphere, viewing the variety of unique and interesting art pieces including sculptures, paintings and pottery. The restaurant also includes an expansive leafy garden terrace, where many people relaxed and enjoyed their evening.

Will Ricker, Owner of La Bodega Negra, said: “We are thrilled to have finally opened the first La Bodega Negra in the Middle East here in Doha. I look forward to welcoming more guests in our Mexican home at the St. Regis Hotel. We promise exquisite Mexican favourites, cooked using ingredients sourced specially for us.” Ian Hunt, Operations Director at La Bodega Negra Doha added: “It was a fantastic night. The feedback was amazing, and we are very happy that everyone enjoyed the music and evening in a laid-back environment, which is the essence of Mexican culture. We look forward to fantastic times ahead with great entertainment, food, and beverages to be offered to our guests.”

La Bodega Negra is located in key international locations including New York and London, while an Ibiza branch is scheduled to open in 2022. La Bodega Negra opened in London in 2012 and re-shaped the concept of dining in London, combining a diverse clientele with theatre, bonhomie and outstanding Mexican food and beverages. It has quickly built up a reputation of being a prominent celebrity attraction, and one of the city’s best night-outs.

The restaurant is owned by Al Fardan Hospitality and is open from Sunday to Friday, the restaurant opens from 6 pm to 11.30 pm, bar open from 5 pm – 12 am Sunday to Tuesday and 5 pm – 1 am Wednesday to Friday. For reservations, call: +974 4424 4871 or email: reservations@labodegadoha.com

Mannai Corporation hosted Qatar national sports day celebration for Mannai Group Associates on Tuesday, 11 February 2020 at the Vichy Celestins Spa Resort, Retaj Salwa.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Khalid Mannai, Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee addressed the overall significance of integrating a healthy lifestyle into Mannai’s corporate culture. He said, “The physical and mental health benefits of our health & wellness program through sporting activities is one of the fundamental objectives of our Corporate culture known as Mannai Way” He added, “The tournaments we conduct prior to Qatar national sports day aims to allow everyone in the company to be involved. We believe that the individual games and team activities that we conduct during our tournaments build camaraderie, sportsmanship and fitness while we are all having fun at the same time. By committing to promote health awareness activities, we are supporting a healthier work environment”.     

Tournaments were held for cricket, football, bowling, badminton, basketball and volleyball in addition to the other games that were held at Mannai Staff Recreation Centre including table tennis and billiards. This year, Mannai also added triathlon as part of the offsite sports line up. The employees participated to do the individual and team relay race that was held at Qatar Foundation. As part of the sport day’s program, Mannai also recognized the employees who have reached the milestone of celebrating their 25 years of service with Mannai Group during the year. Service awards were given to the long serving employees from Mannai companies.

Mannai Group appreciated their commitment, loyalty and hard work significantly contributing to the company’s growth over the years.

The Westin Doha Hotel and Spa has recently announced the appointment of Ammar Samad as General Manager. In his new role, Ammar will oversee the management and operations of the five-star property located in the heart of Doha.  Ammar brings 19 years of international experience from several Marriott International brands including Sheraton, St Regis and The Westin. 

Ammar graduated with a degree in Marketing, Business Studies and Finance from La Roche College, Pennsylvania, USA, and continued his studies at Georgetown University in Washington DC, in International Politics and Economics. He is Six Sigma qualified and has worked on key projects across departments to improve productivity, cost management, and overall operating efficiency.

With over two decades of experience in the hospitality industry in various fields including Front Office, Food & Beverage, Human Resources, Sales, Revenue and Housekeeping Management, Ammar will focus on maintinaing high standards of quality and service at the property and look into ways to enhance overall guest experience. “It is a great honor to be appointed by H.E. Sheikh Ghanem Bin Ali Al Thani as General Manager of The Westin Doha Hotel and Spa. I have worked at the property since its pre-opening and I am excited to be part of the passionate and dynamic team. We are all motivated to take the hotel to the next level and deliver  outstanding guest experiences,” said Ammar Samad.

The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa is a true urban oasis in the center of Doha conveniently located close to the main tourist attractions such as Souq Waqif, The Museum of Islamic Art and Aspire Zone. Set amid a stunning landscape of lush gardens, the hotel features 364 guest rooms, suites and pool villas uniquely designed to enhance relaxation and rejuvenation. The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa’s signature wellness programs are designed to enhance well-being when guests need it the most, ensuring they can be the best version of themselves.

The hotel has 5 dining options available around the property ranging from its international and signature restaurant ‘Seasonal Tastes’ to the award-winning authentic Thai restaurant ‘Sabai Thai’ and the modern steakhouse Hunter’s Room and Grill restaurant. The hotel’s other attractions include the city’s first Heavenly® Spa and WestinWORKOUT® Fitness studio and four swimming pools.

Qatar Finance and Business Academy and its partnership with Northumbria University celebrated National Sports Day in collaboration with College of North Atlantic Qatar (CNA-Q) with a series of sports related festivities.

The event was celebrated with a day filled with various athletic programs from 8:00AM to 1:00PM, including a fun race, gym sessions, tennis and swimming, with the participation of QFBA faculty, departmental heads, students and their families. The celebration further solidified the power of sports in building communities of different cultures and nationalities to further develop the progression of Qatar’s society.  The event witnessed the attendance of Dr. Khalid Al Horr, president of Qatar Finance and Business Academy.

The celebration of Qatar National Sports Day came into fruition of a part of QFBA and its partnership with Northumbria University’s corporate social responsibility effort to support young and talented youth to in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030, and to raise awareness to the importance of sports to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.

On this occasion, Dr. Khalid Al Horr, president of Qatar Finance and Business Academy said: “Fitness and maintaining an active lifestyle is an integral element of our students and members of QFBA.  We are proud to have the capacity to provide high level educational and professional training opportunity and also build a well-rounded experience for our students.” In addition he commented: “We would also like to thank College of North Atlantic Qatar for this partnership and chance to host the celebration of our national sports day, in addition to Stenden University Qatar and all the students, faculty, and families that made the celebration a success. Our hope is that we begin to understand that sports play an integral role in our daily lives and can change ones overall well-being.”

Qatar Finance & Business Academy (QFBA), has been established under the auspices of Qatar Financial Centre Authority (QFCA), to build capacity in and to raise the financial services industry standards and thus support the Qatar 2030 vision of creating a modern, knowledge-based economy. We are a national organization providing Finance, Banking and Business focused international academic degree programs along with learning and development solutions for Qatar’s finance and business sectors.

Doha Festival City, Qatar's one and only choice for shopping and entertainment, celebrated the National Sports Day, in flare and style.

Thousands of shoppers and visitors from across Qatar flocked to Doha Festival City who are committed to creating unique experiences that are aligned with the Qatar National Vision 2030. Participants were able to enjoy a fun-packed day of sports and fitness activities alongside family and friends, with something for all ages and skills available, both indoors and outdoors.

Visitors started the day with a number of running and cycling marathons for adults and children on Festival City’s Outdoor Track, before moving on to Angry Birds World Outdoor Area to enjoy the Obstacle Course on Bird Island and the wide range of activities set for children, while adults got a chance have a quick health checkup. Snow Dunes opened its doors to welcome everyone who spent the day on the snow slides and other fun rides. Video games lovers had a fantastic experience trying the ‘Virtual Reality’ at Virtuocity.

Sports Activities continue in Doha Festival City for the rest of the month, so that everyone can enjoy the outdoor track, the ‘Sports for All’ zone on the “Bird Island” located in the ‘Angry Birds World’ outdoor area, the Xbox and Computer stations, as well as the F1 racer simulator in Virtuocity. On 28 February, the Doha Festival City CrossFit Championship 2020 will take place in collaboration with CrossFit Oryx sponsored by GO Sport , from 9am to 3pm, for all Crossfit fans across all ages and levels of experience. The competition will be held outdoor by main entrance.

Moreover, Doha Festival City retailers are offering many promotions and discounts, while some are hosting special activities during the month. On Mondays, from 9am to 10am, and Wednesdays, from 2pm to 5pm, Technogym will be hosting a variety of yoga classes or sessions on healthy food habits, detox, ways to enhance exercise and make the best out of it. Robert Hall, General Manager- Doha Festival City, said: “I am very happy with the massive turnout we witnessed during Sports Day. And I am looking forward to welcoming more people to enjoy our line up of sports events throughout the month of February. We promise everyone an experience like no other at the one and only choice for entertainment and shopping.”

With over 420 retail outlets and 100 food and dining options, Doha Festival City is the number one choice for everyone to enjoy the events and offerings of Sports month. The mall is known to be home to the best local, regional, and international brands, some of which are exclusive to Festival City with no other branches anywhere else in the country.

For more information, visit us: www.dohafestivalcity.com

The Investment Promotion Agency of Qatar, the State of Qatar’s national FDI promotion agency, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Swiss-based sustainable tech giant iQ International AG (iQ) to introduce its eco-friendly energy-generation pyrolysis technology to Qatar, through a 365 Million Qatari Riyals investment.

The 2-year agreement was signed on Monday by Investment Promotion Agency's CEO Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al-Thani and iQ’s Director of Operations Mr. Nick Crawley, at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Under the terms of the MoU, Investment Promotion Agency will support iQ in establishing its subsidiary in Qatar, where the latter is set to allocate a 365 Million Qatari Riyals investment fund for building and operating new facilities to produce value-added products from end-of-life tires (ELT) and other municipality waste. The agreement could potentially put Qatar on the map of the multi-billion-dollar pyrolysis industry, while supporting the Swiss company in claiming a bigger share of a rapidly growing market. Areas of support will include providing the iQ subsidiary with valuable market insight, assisting in the company incorporation process in Qatar.

Commenting on the occasion, Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al-Thani said: “Our agreement with iQ marks another fruitful step in bringing innovative technologies across a wide spectrum of industries and sectors to Qatar’s robust market, all while developing export capabilities and facilitating integration with global value chains for all parties involved. iQ’s presence in Qatar not only aligns perfectly with our long-term vision for the region’s future and its sustainable development, but to the country’s FDI roadmap and the prospects of further bolstering our economic ties with Switzerland as well. We look forward to supporting our newest partner to build a second home in Qatar and achieve our mutual long-term goals.”

For his part, Mr. Nick Crawley said: “iQ’s subsidiary is honored at the opportunity to collaborate with Qatar, Qatari businesses and the Qatari people in order to invest in, and ensure that, Qatar remains at the forefront of environmental sustainability and responsibility.  The introduction of our ELT technologies and municipal waste solutions for generating new value from previous end-of-life goods will represent our first step in contributing towards Qatar’s long term environmental and economic goals.”

The Agency’s recent outreach efforts are undertaken in the framework of connecting investors around the world to sustainable, high-value investment opportunities in Qatar.

Bringing the value of digital services to more people and organizations in Qatar, Mannai Trading Co. WLL—the largest systems integrator in Qatar—has teamed up with Huawei Intelligent Computing to jointly explore intelligent computing and the development of innovative cloud, artificial intelligence (AI), and knowledge-sharing projects.

The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to initiate their cooperation during a ceremony attended by Juan Leon, Group General Manager of Mannai ICT, and Ni Wenfeng, CEO of Huawei Intelligent Computing in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region.

Through this cooperation, Mannai and Huawei will build, market, and deliver industry solutions with the combination of their technologies and services for both telecommunications and enterprise IT markets. The collaboration will also see the establishment of joint labs with Mannai and Huawei in Qatar, which will aim to display intelligent computing solutions for government, telecommunications, education, energy, banking, and other industries. Additionally, Mannai will capitalize on Huawei’s unique intelligent computing offerings as the only vendor in the industry capable of providing a full-stack, all-scenario AI solution portfolio. This includes access to Huawei FusionServer Pro Intelligent Servers for bolstering the intelligent transformation of data centers, the Huawei Atlas AI Computing Platform for enabling all-scenario AI infrastructure solutions for device-edge-cloud networks.

Juan Leon, Group General Manager of Mannai ICT, said: “Intelligent computing is now a key pillar to advancing our economy and society, driving the development of our connected world. Cooperating with Huawei through this memorandum will ultimately enable us to accelerate the digital transformation efforts of local businesses. We are confident that together with Huawei, we will help our partners in Qatar to fully benefit from AI and intelligent computing.” Ni Wenfeng, CEO of Huawei Intelligent Computing (MEA), noted: “We are looking forward to working with Mannai to unlock the ultimate computing power and support a fully connected, intelligent world. Through our joint innovation efforts, we can also create bespoke solutions for organizations in Qatar that are in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030’s approach to development.”

With a focus on AI-powered solutions, the MoU recognizes the considerable investments Huawei has made in the AI field in recent years. The company is rapidly advancing AI research to build data efficiency, lower computing and power consumption, and develop machine-learning capabilities in domains such as computing vision, natural language processing, and decision-making inference. Huawei has also built a full-stack, all-scenario AI solutions portfolio that gives businesses a full pipeline of efficient and easy-to-use services. As seen through the latest MOU, Huawei is further investing in an open ecosystem and talent cultivation with academia and industry partners. Such initiatives will enable AI thinking to be weaved into existing IT products and services, as well as applying AI to massive volumes of routine business activities for better efficiency and quality.

Doha Festival City, Qatar's one and only choice for entertainment and shopping, announced as platinum sponsor of the much popular SUPER SLAM II pro-wrestling event by Qatar Pro Wrestling. The sponsorship integrates within Doha Festival City’s “Be Active” Campaign carried out during the month of February in celebration of the country’s sports vision.

As Entertainment Partners, Doha Festival City is the official host of the exclusive pre-event Public Meet and Greet where 500 lucky fans can get up close with their favourite international wrestling legends such as Kevin Nash, Mark Henry, and Alberto del Rio, Brian Cage, and Nzo. The superstars will be at Birds Island, located in Angry Birds World at 6pm on the 20^th February for an exclusive live appearance in the theme park. Registration is available daily from 4pm, on first-come first-served basis, at the Doha Festival City Sports Booth located in the Atrium at Angry Birds World.

The sponsorship has seen Doha Festival City extend a massive marketing campaign in support SUPERSLAM II, which is considered the biggest gathering of pro-wrestling legends to ever take place outside of the US. This comes as part of Doha Festival City’s commitment to creating unique experiences and moments to the people of Qatar as their one and only choice destination for entertainment and shopping. Robert Hall, General Manager of Doha Festival City, said: “As the official platinum sponsor of the event, we are very excited to welcome the wrestling superstars to Qatar. I look forward to seeing fans meet their favourite star live here in Doha Festival City. We are committed to creating more and more unique experiences for our shoppers and visitors as the one and only choice for entertainment.”

SUPER SLAM II is expecting an exciting line up of  international wrestlers  featuring world legends Eric Bischoff, The Great Khali, Kevin Nash, Mark Henry, "Road Warrior" Animal  as well as favourites Alberto del Rio, Rob Van Dam, PJ Black, Brian Cage, Nzo, Matt Sydal, Chris Raaber, Alofa, Caprice Coleman, Brian Pillman Jr, Apolo, Carlito, Chris Masters, Matt Cross, Johnny Storm, Jody Fleisch, Apolo Jr, Dos Caras, White Eagle, Tristan Archer and Mil Muertes. Tickets are selling out fast and can be purchased from the dedicated ticketing booth at Doha Festival City, located on ground floor opposite to Toys R Us. The four Championship Belts are on display at the booth giving guests an exclusive chance to see them up-close. Tickets are also available online via the QPW-wrestling.com website.

With 430 retail outlets and 100 food and dining options, the mall is known to be home to the best local, regional, and international brands, some of which are exclusive to Festival City with no other branches anywhere else in the country.

On the evening of February 22nd, The Luxury Network International Awards 2020 will be celebrated this year in awarding the world’s finest brands for their luxury products and exceptional services. This most sought-after annual occasion will be hosted at the exquisite Mondrian Doha in Qatar, where the evening will see over 300 invited VIP delegates from the world’s leading brands, that will gather to be recognized on stage for their outstanding efforts.

The Luxury Network International Awards is an international awards event recognizing luxury companies and brands across all the luxury sectors for their initiatives and achievements. The global team’s mission is to honour well-established companies and recognize emerging luxury brands on international and local levels, as well as to create a networking platform providing new business opportunities. This year’s gala dinner will be presented by Ola Al Fares and Mohammed Al Hamadi, both are reputable personalities from the Al Jazeera channel. For this year, The Luxury Network International Awards Charity Partner is Qatar Cancer Society and the official Automotive Partner is Lexus, while Mondrian Doha is the exclusive Hospitality Partner.

Mondrian Doha, brings guests to a world where anything can happen, and around each corner lies another surprise. Featuring 211 bedrooms and 59 suites over 24 floors, the region’s very first ESPA, and a spectacular 2000-square metre ballroom with its own 24K gold elevator, Mondrian Doha redefines lifestyle in the city. For booking ease, special room rates were graciously provided by the hotel for the busy and jet-lagged guests. Awards selected by The Luxury Network’s distinguished board of judges will be presented to luxury brands and individual achievers in over 20 categories on a country, regional, continent and global basis.

“The Luxury Network wishes felicitations to all of the award winners of the year 2020, who through their immeasurable passion and pure hard work to deliver their topnotch services, have received these honour tonight. An authentic luxury brand is not easy to achieve, it takes a dedicated team of highly trained staff willing to fail in order to learn, grow, and succeed. This is what it takes to be recognized as a bona fide The Luxury Network International Awards winner,” says H.E. Fares Ghattas, Global CEO of The Luxury Network International.

Wael Maatouk, General Manager, Mondrian Doha, said: “At Mondrian Doha, our guests experience a fairytale environment and a celebration of moments, people and luxury in its pure essence. As an emerging luxury brand in Qatar ourselves, we are delighted to be the Exclusive Hospitality Partner for The Luxury Network International Awards, as it recognizes those that have made an extensive contribution to the luxury industry, and celebrates those who have continuously shown dedication and outperformed others in their field.”

The gala dinner itself will be a one-of-a-kind celebration where attendees from all over the world will be welcomed by a grand red carpet entrance and will be dazzled with bubbly drinks. Fine dining will be set to perfection by the world-renowned executive chefs of Mondrian Doha, who will be preparing a decadent 3-course meal for the guests to savor while being entertained by world-class performers. A glamorous victory party will be hosted by The Luxury Network International at RISE, which is located at the 27th floor of Mondrian Doha. With an open bar, live music and incredible city views over Doha, the guests must expect a night to remember in RISE.

The Luxury Network has vowed for the gala dinner to be an evening of affluence, celebration, and one not to be forgotten soon. For more information about the event, please email info@tlnint.com

The Philippine Department of Trade and Industry – Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB), in coordination with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center – Middle East and Africa, will conduct an Outbound Business Matching Mission (OBMM) in Doha from February 21 to 24.

The Philippine business delegation is composed of representatives of 11 Philippine companies mainly in the food and beverages industry. The OBMM aims to develop and expand relationships with business, government and multiplier organisations in Qatar and enhance local understanding of the current economic conditions and business opportunities. It will be headed by DTI-Trade Promotions Group (TPG) Undersecretary Abdulgani M Macatoman and include Philippine Commercial Attaché for the Middle East and Africa Charmaine Mignon S Yalong, DTI-EMB’s Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialist Myrtle Faye L. Solina and Trade and Industry Development Specialist Al-Mahdi I Jul-Ahmad.

The mission is also anchored in Exporting Marketing Bureau’s aspiration to engage with high-level promotion, targeted market intelligence and business matching, and focused training and capacity building for both large companies and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which also echoes the thrust of Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion Act (PHEDP). The project supports the Export Promotion for Philippine Food Sector, which endeavours to bring Philippine cuisine, ingredients, and beverages overseas.

The programme’s strategy will build on Strategy No 3 of PEDP 2018-2022, which is to design comprehensive packages of support that will be able to mainstream the Philippine food, food ingredients and beverages sectors, and encourage innovations in major Philippine commodities and niche products. The featured products for the Doha mission are food items, sauces, spices, mixes and condiments whereas the services include cargo and logistics. Among the participating Philippine companies are Mother’s Best, a Philippine brand known for its line of prepared and ready-to-use condiments, marinades and sauces, as well as manufacturer and distributor of quality snack foods Jocker’s Food Industries.

Also part of the delegation is one of the Philippines’ leading food companies San Miguel Foods and Marikina Food Corporation, a food manufacturing company engaged in the development and production of high quality and cost efficient noodle products. Other participants are Lipa Fresh Coconut, Magic Melt, Marigold Manufacturing Corporation, PasciolcoAgri Ventures, PinesVill, Sagrex Foods Inc and LBC. DTI-TPG Undersecretary Macatoman reiterated the need for more Philippine brands to enter the Middle East markets to cater to the demand of Filipinos living there and to penetrate the mainstream market. He added that the mission also seeks to promote Philippine bananas in the Middle East markets, among others.

The mission will kick off with a seminar on Basic Exporting and Doing Business in the Philippine to be held at the Philippine Embassy Doha on February 21. The delegation is also set to have business matching events, market scanning, store visits and meetings with government authorities in Qatar.

First Finance announced the winners of the promotional campaign that was launched in conjunction with the celebrations of Qatar National Day 2019, for which awards were allocated for 18 iPhone 11 Pro devices.

The campaign, which lasted from December 17, 2019 to January 31, 2020, witnessed great customer interaction. The winners were chosen through a random drawing process in the presence of representatives of the First Finance Company and the Ministry of Economy and Trade.

During a special celebration held on this occasion, the names of the winners were announced: Hala Ibrahim Al-Khoury, Haifa Attia Allah Nasser Al-Hayy Al-Nuaimi, Mahmoud Mohamed Abdo Al-Sayed Atwa, Emily Klimako Ario, Lamia Jassem Abdullah Muhammad Al-Jassem, Mahmoud Ahmed Mahmoud Al-Bataineh, Ammar Yasser Amer Muhammad Khalaf, Bashir Ameeran, Gash Ayed Al-Fuhaidah, Walid bin Abbas Awori, Fatima Muhammad Al-Husseini, Hamad Ali Muhammad Al-Hamr Al-Azbah, Ihsan Bin Abdul-Raouf Al-Turki, Wesal bint Abu Zaid Al-Yaqoubi, Felix JR Cannonjo Bakyut, Hani Ali Salem Al-Awadi, Ayman Amin Hassan, Muhammad Rashid Safar Abdullah al-Khunji, and Ahmad Ahmad Shafiq Malik Ashfaq Ahmad measured.

First Finance is the first financing company in Qatar subject to the supervision of the Qatar Central Bank since 1999, and it has a great legacy in providing a wide range of financial solutions through which it serves a wide customer base. The company, which is proud to be a member of Barwa Bank Group, focuses on meeting the financial needs of its individual and corporate clients through a comprehensive package of financial services that comply with the provisions of Islamic Sharia.

The Luxury Network International Awards 2020 has successfully celebrated this year in awarding the world’s finest brands for their luxury products and exceptional services. This most sought-after annual occasion was hosted at the exquisite Mondrian Doha in Qatar, where the evening saw over 300 invited VIP delegates from the world’s leading brands, which gathered to be recognized on stage for their outstanding efforts.

The global elite group had the pleasure to celebrate this year’s The Luxury Network International Awards in Doha, the capital city of Qatar, which has the world’s fastest growing economy. The Luxury Network is a private membership club, within which, premium companies work together for mutual business development. Our goal is to create new business partnerships between luxury brands and facilitate their joint marketing activities. In the year 2007, they have launched their headquarters in London, United Kingdom.

During his speech on the awards night, The Luxury Network Global CEO H.E. Fares Ghattas stated, “I believe that one of the best decisions I’ve done for our group is conceptualizing  The Luxury Network Awards and bringing this momentous annual event to life. The Luxury Network International Awards is an international awards event recognizing luxury companies and brands across all the luxury sectors for their initiatives and achievements. Our global team’s mission this evening is to honour well-established companies and recognize emerging luxury brands on international and local levels, as well as to create a networking platform providing new business opportunities to our esteemed guests.”

Through The Luxury Network Awards, all of the attendees were able to give back to the world through the fundraising drive for some philanthropic organizations such as the Qatar Cancer Society, the membership group’s chosen charity partner for this year’s awards. This year’s gala dinner was presented by Ola Al Fares and Mohammed Al Hamadi, both are reputable personalities from the Al Jazeera channel. “This beautiful evening will never be possible without the team who dedicated their time to work day and night to make our gala dinner look flawless. I would like to acknowledge The Luxury Network representatives from all over the world, thank you for being with us tonight,” H.E. Fares added.

The Luxury Network commended their official partners, Mondrian Doha – official Hospitality Partner, Lexus – Official Automotive Partner, Pro TV – Media Partner, Brilliance Weddings and Ya Hala Events – Event Management Partner. The night was also supported by a number of ambassadors and the embassy representatives in Doha.

Here is the list of The Luxury Network International Awards 2020 winners:

• Luxury Automotive Lounge of the Year, Sakura Lounge
• Luxury Mega Yachts of the Year, Benetti Yachts
• Luxury Watch of the Year, Bovet
• Luxury Aesthetic Clinic of the Year, Este World
• Luxury Influencer of the Year, Amal Ameen
• Luxury Wedding Planner of the Year, Brilliance Weddings
• Luxury Car Customizer, IDEM Works
• Business Woman of the Year, Asma Sckali
• Luxury Furniture Designer, Ceylan Ates
• Luxury Private Jet of the Year, Qatar Executive
• Luxury Development of the Year, Yasmeen City
• Luxury Design In F&B, GEM Business Solutions
• Luxury Trainer, DISS Training
• Luxury Real Estate Developer, Montazure
• Luxury Interior Designer, AV Arreda
• Luxury Marina of the Year, Porto Montenegro
• Luxury Fashion Innovator, Ezra Tuba 
• Luxury Supercar Club of the Year, Elite Supercars Club
• Luxury Floating Villas, Pegasus Global
• Appreciation Award Events Management Company, Ya Hala Events

The Luxury Network International congratulated all the award-winners of the year 2020, who through their immeasurable passion and pure hard work to deliver their top-notch services, have received those distinctions. Being awarded as an authentic luxury brand is not easy to achieve, it takes a dedicated team of highly trained staff willing to fail, to learn, grow, and succeed – this is what it takes to get recognized as a bona fide The Luxury Network Awards winner. The management team hopes to continue this annual event as the key to giving back to the global community through the coming years. 

For more information about The Luxury Network, please email info@tlnint.com

Qatar Finance and Business Academy launched a new Zakat Accounting Certification Program, the first of its kind in Qatar to empower working professionals to obtain internationally accredited certificates utilizing corporate, legal, and modern financial frameworks. The certification program aims to develop professionals to implement modern practices and frameworks of corporate zakat and zakat accounting within a globalized modern world.

The certification program is split into two primary phases. The first phase aims to introduce the legal foundations of contemporary forms of corporate zakat, while the second phase pertains to the accounting practices within zakat. The program is expected to commence on the 14th of March over a period of 5 days amounting to total of 27 training hours. QFBA will start accepting application beginning March 2 and onwards. 

On this occasion Dr. Khalid Al Horr, CEO of QFBA said: “We are delighted to launch the Zakat Accounting Certification Program that came as a part of QFBA’s key efforts to raise proficiency levels of professionals in the field of zakat finance. The essence of the program aims to provide an accessible outlet for professionals to build upon their knowledge taking into consideration new modern technologies used in corporate zakat financing. It provides a balance between theoretical and case study analysis that creates a realistic training model for monitoring, calculating and analyzing zakat accounting for companies and individuals under the guidance of 2 experts in the field Dr. Riyad Mansour Al Khulaifi and Dr. Osama Younis.”

In addition he commented: “Many professionals in the zakat accounting field face difficulties in how to apply current calculation techniques due to an overlap and discrepancy between zakat calculation and tax calculation. Our aim was to deliver a program tailored for professionals from a diverse range of financial backgrounds and experience levels that facilitates the growth of human capital capabilities in line with the pillars mandated by the Qatar National Vision 2030.” 

QFBA will be offering a 15% discount to working professionals that register for the certification program early. For more information please contact 4496 8333.

A rare 525carat “paraiba suite” by BFT Gems, featuring 17 gemstones and pegged at $50mn, is currently on show at the 17th edition of Doha Jewellery & Watches (DJWE) exhibition. A “suite” refers to multiple pieces of jewellery.

“This one is not only one in the world but will only be the one in the world because the gemstones have such a rarity define it and unmatched,” gemologist William Boyajian told Gulf Times on the sidelines of DJWE 2020. He was joined by BFT Gems president Peter Delisi.

Boyajian is the designer of the piece who was fully responsible for the design and manufacturing, with over 5,000 hours spent on completing it. “It is extremely rare to find all those stones to match so this particular ‘suite’ represents probably the earth’s finest pairiba,” he said. There are a total of 17 stones with six matched pairs. Two matched pairs in the earrings, and four matched pairs in the necklace. A matched pair in gemstones is also very rare. In this case, a once in a lifetime event, according to Boyajian. The “suite” consists of an 18carat ring, 72carat earrings, and the main necklace is 435carat. As the only paraiba suite in the world in terms of colour, stone size, and weights, it cannot be reproduced at any cost.

While saying that “all beautiful pieces have a name,” he said that this paraiba suite, displayed at the Alfardan pavilion, has no name yet. “We are waiting for the person who is interested in it to put the name on it because anybody who is going to buy this is really gonna be about them,” he stressed. “But it wouldn’t be just anybody. We are looking for someone who understands and appreciates things that are the rarest that you would find that the earth would make,” Boyajian said. “It took tremendous amount of time for the earth to make this so understanding the rarity, understanding that anybody could make this necklace because of the quantity of stones necessary and that they wouldn’t even be available unless somebody took the risk of putting it all together,” he explained.

Boyajian said that this nature-inspired “paraiba suite” is a museum piece and not like a jewellery anyone would see in a regular jewellery store. “The uniqueness about it is that all the parts of it are interchangeable, so the earrings can become individual pendants, and the necklace can be converted into a collar to a dropdown necklace and the tops of the earrings can be worn separately so that you can have a lot of versatility in wearing it, enjoying it,” he said.

Created as an object of art, Boyajian said this “suite” took about a year to create, manufacture and design: cutting of the gemstones took several months to do. “If anything went wrong through the minor cutting then it would be millions of dollars to find a replacement, might be a $4-5mn mistake,” he added. While participating at the DJWE for the first time, Boyajian said they already “heard a lot of wonderful things about Qatar.” “We came because we had something that is very important. You go where you know people can appreciate fine things and that is why we’re here,” he added. He describes DJWE as “a very beautiful and world-class exhibition: “it lives up to the name of being world-class.” “I’ve been to a lot of shows, some shows are big, a lot of people but DJWE is very elegant and it also has all the finest jewellery.”

The Investment Promotion Agency of Qatar (IPA Qatar), on the 24th of February, participated in the QADRAN Forum – a Qatari-French association that promotes the two countries’ mutual economic interests. As one of the main sponsors of the event, the Agency engaged in productive exchanges with distinguished entrepreneurs, economists, and experts taking part in the forum.

On the sidelines of the forum, IPA Qatar signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with its French counterpart Business France to enhance cooperation between enterprises of both countries, support each other’s research on investment attraction, and exchange expertise on investment promotion best practices, among other areas of collaboration. Marking the first step towards partnership between the two parties, the LOI was signed in Paris by IPA Qatar’s CEO Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al-Thani and Business France’s CEO Mr. Christophe Lecourtier, on Tuesday, February 25, 2020, in the presence of Qatar’s Ambassador to France His Excellency Sheikh Ali bin Jassem Al-Thani.

Commenting on the occasion, Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al-Thani said: “The LOI signed with Business France is set to advance the efforts of both parties in bolstering Qatar and France’s status as exceptional investment destinations, explore opportunities to enhance business synergies between the two agencies, and further strengthen partnerships between relevant enterprises in both countries. As we celebrate the Qatar-France Year of Culture 2020, the agreement offers a fantastic opportunity to strengthen the longstanding economic exchanges between Qatar and France and bring us one step closer to achieving our sustainable mutual interests.”

For his part, Mr. Christophe Lecourtier said: “Qatar is an important partner for France. Business France is proud to help more French companies take advantage of Qatar’s infrastructure projects and domestic growth. That means investments in Qatar, public-private partnerships, subcontracting, or partnerships with local companies. I am pleased to deepen the collaboration between Business France and IPA Qatar.” As part of their visit, the IPA Qatar delegation also had a positive engagement with a number of French companies representing various sectors and explored a wide range of business opportunities with industry experts.

Furthermore, IPA Qatar visited the ‘Station F’ Business Incubator in central Paris. The Incubator gathers a whole entrepreneurial ecosystem under one roof, with more than 30 startup programs and 40 VC funds that support SMEs.