• Hamas leader’s family killed in Gaza strike as truce talks drag on

    The strike came as talks in Cairo aimed at a ceasefire and a hostage release deal dragged on without signs of a breakthrough. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Haniyeh, who is based in Qatar, suggested the strike was an attempt to shift Hamas's negotiating stance, but insisted it would not work.
  • Qatar real-estate trading volume in January stands at US$521m

    Doha, Qatar--The volume of real estate trading in sale contracts registered with the Real Estate Registration Department at the Ministry of Justice in January amounted to $521 million. The data of the real estate analytical bulletin issued by the Ministry of Justice revealed that (362) real estate transactions were recorded...
  • Aamal net profit up 5.7%

    Its gross profit jumped 3.1% to US$137.25m in 2023.
  • Prospects dim for truce as Israel rejects calls to spare Rafah

    Mediator Qatar acknowledged that separate ceasefire talks had also hit an impasse after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected some Hamas demands as "ludicrous". Israel has concentrated its military operations in Khan Yunis, the hometown of Hamas's Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar, whom it accuses of masterminding the October 7 attack.
  • Prospects for Gaza truce ebb as Israel prepares to storm Rafah

    Truce efforts intensified this week as Qatar and fellow mediators Egypt and the US scrambled to secure a ceasefire before Israeli troops enter Rafah, the last major population center in Gaza untouched by Israeli ground troops. Despite a direct appeal from US President Joe Biden earlier this week, Netanyahu insisted...
  • Hamas chief says group seeks complete truce in Gaza

    Palestinian Territories - Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh on Saturday reiterated the group's demand of a complete ceasefire in Gaza, a day after US President Joe Biden called for a "temporary truce" to secure the release of hostages. High-level negotiations to pause the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza were held this week...
  • Indian PM Modi seeks enhancing of ties in Qatar visit

    Doha, Qatar - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday committed to strengthening ties with Qatar during his first visit to the gas-rich Gulf emirate since 2016. During a meeting with Qatar's ruler, Modi gave a "commitment to further expanding and deepening bilateral cooperation with Qatar", a statement from India's foreign...
  • QEWC 2023 net profit US$426m

    QEWC market share in supply of electricity was 61 percent.
  • UCC Holding signs contracts for seven Kazakhstan projects

    Doha, Qatar -- UCC Holding, a Qatari company, has signed two energy contracts for seven projects in Kazakhstan. The first contract with QazaqGas comprises two gas treatment plants:1 BCMA Gas Processing Plant Project and 2.5 BCMA and the construction of a New Compressor Station CS-14 and Main Gas Pipeline CS-14...
  • Israeli delegation departs Cairo after truce talks: media

    The UN and many governments across the world have expressed alarm about the possible civilian toll of an Israeli assault against the southern city of Rafah. The negotiations, which also involved Qatar's prime minister and Egyptian officials, were part of an intensifying effort to secure a ceasefire.
  • Qatar’s ties with Iran closer than ever: Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad

    Doha, Qatar-- Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has affirmed that the ties between Qatar and Iran have never been closer. The emir stated this in a meeting with Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Doha. During the meeting, Amir-Abdollahian conveyed the greetings of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi...
  • Israel faces growing pressure over Gaza ceasefire as toll hits 28,473

    CIA director William Burns met with Mossad chief David Barnea in Cairo for a new round of talks on a Qatari-brokered plan to temporarily halt fighting in exchange for Hamas freeing hostages. The two intelligence chiefs were joined by Qatar's prime minister and Egyptian officials, Egyptian media reported -- two...
  • Mesaieed 2023 net profit down 39%

    The company's net profit in 2022 was QR 1.76 billion ($482m).
  • In Middle East, ‘manufacturing’ is a new buzzword

    From Saudi Arabia to the UAE and Qatar to Kuwait, governments across the region compete to jumpstart industrial sector but doubts remain whether it can be pulled off.
  • India says Qatar freed eight ex-navy personnel

    "The Government of India welcomes the release of eight Indian nationals working for the Dahra Global company who were detained in Qatar," the foreign ministry said in a statement. "Seven out of the eight of them have returned to India," it added, thanking Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al...
  • In Middle East, ‘manufacturing’ is a new buzzword

    Form Saudi Arabia to the UAE, Qatar to Kuwait, governments of the region compete to jumpstart an industrial sector. But doubts remain whether it can be pulled off.
  • Saudi hosts Arab diplomats for Gaza talks after Blinken tour

    Saudi Arabia, home to the holiest sites in Islam, has never recognised Israel, though officials were considering doing so before the Hamas' October 7 attack. Israeli ground offensive has killed at least 27,840 people, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza health ministry.
  • Palestinian official says Hamas still seeks truce despite Israeli denial

    "We expect the negotiations to be very complex and difficult but Hamas is open to discussions and the movement is keen to reach a ceasefire," added the official, who is familiar with the negotiations. "The two parties will hold several rounds of negotiations indirectly," he said on condition of anonymity
  • Qatar eyes second successive Asian Cup in final against Jordan

    Doha, Qatar - An Asian Cup full of late goals and surprises reaches a climax on Saturday when hosts and holders Qatar face a Jordan side looking to make yet more history. The 88,000-capacity Lusail Stadium, where Lionel Messi's Argentina beat France in the World Cup final 14 months ago, will...
  • Blinken in Israel voices hope for Gaza truce deal to free hostages

    "There's a lot of work to be done, but we are very much focused on doing that work and hopefully being able to resume the release of hostages that was interrupted" after a week-long truce in November, he said. The US top envoy, on his fifth Middle East tour since...
  • New round of Gaza negotiations to start in Cairo: Egypt source

    Cairo, Egypt -- Egypt and Qatar are sponsoring a new round of negotiations to start Thursday in Cairo aimed at achieving "calm" in Gaza as well as a hostage release deal, an Egyptian official said. A Hamas source with knowledge of the matter confirmed the Palestinian group had agreed to the...
  • Qatar and Egypt discuss ways to boost economic, trade ties

    Doha, Qatar-- Qatar and Egypt are looking to boost trade and economic ties between the two countries, besides exploring ways to encourage investors from Qatar to widen their investment in Egypt. In this regard, Qatar Chamber First Vice-Chairman Mohamed bin Ahmed bin Twar Al Kuwari's met with Vice President of...
  • Israel says studying Hamas response to truce deal

    Last week, a Hamas source said the truce deal calls for a six-week pause to fighting as Hamas frees hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel and more aid for Gaza. On Monday, Netanyahu said Hamas had presented "demands that we will not accept" for an exchange involving...
  • Hamas hands response to Gaza truce deal to Egypt and Qatar

    Hamas has for more than a week mulled the deal drawn up in its absence at Paris talks, as international pressure mounts to end the four-month war. Hamas said the proposal was aimed at "ending the aggression against our people, securing relief and shelter, reconstruction, lifting the siege on the...
  • QatarEnergy signs LNG deal with Petronet

    QatarEnergy will supply 7.5m tons of LNG per year to Petronet.
  • Investment in Qatar free zones reaches US$1.3bn, says QFZ chairman 

    DOHA, QATAR - Minister of State and Chairman of Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ) Dr. Ahmad bin Mohammed Al Sayed revealed that QFZ has attracted nearly 500 companies spanning diverse sectors with estimated investments at about US$1.3 billion (QR5 billion). The QFZ Chairman held a meeting with a delegation from...
  • QatarEnergy, Mitsui ink pact

    The agreement provide for a rise in condensate volumes.
  • Blinken to arrive in Middle East to press for truce

    The US secretary of state is expected to discuss a proposed truce hammered out in a Paris meeting in January of top US, Israeli, Egyptian and Qatari officials. The diplomatic push has become more urgent with the surge in attacks by Iran-backed groups in solidarity with Hamas, triggering counterattacks by...
  • Hamas weighs Gaza truce as fighting nears fifth month

    The Gaza health ministry said that at least 127 people were killed in Israeli strikes in the previous 24 hours in the territory. A kindergarten where families were sheltering was hit in Rafah, which is teeming with Palestinians displaced by the war, ahead of another visit to the region by...
  • Number of visitors to Qatar rises 31.9 percent in December, says report

    DOHA, QATAR - The total number of inbound visitors to the country reached about 519 thousand in December 2023, recording a monthly increase of 31.9 percent (compared to November 2023), and an annual decrease by 15.4 percent (compared to December 2022). The new issue of Qatar Monthly Statistics bulletin, released...
  • Israel forges buffer zone inside Gaza at risk to civilians: experts

    Since Hamas fighters stormed across the border on October 7, Israeli forces have targeted structures in Gaza within a kilometre (0.6 miles) of the border, said Adi Ben Nun, a professor at Hebrew University of Jerusalem who has carried out an analysis of satellite imagery.
  • Jordan defeats Tajikistan to reach first Asian Cup semi-final

    DOHA, QATAR - Jordan set up a semi-final against South Korea or Australia after ending Tajikistan's fairytale Asian Cup run with a nervy 1-0 win on Friday. In a cagey quarter-final, a deflected second-half own goal was just about enough to see Jordan reach the last four for the first time....
  • Qatar records real estate deals worth $100 million in five days

    Doha, Qatar -- Qatar has recorded real estate transactions worth 378 million QR ($100 million) during the 21-25 Jan 2024 period, according to the emirate's Department of Real Estate Registration at the Ministry of Justice. Also, total sales contracts for residential units for the same period were QR 21.36 million,...
  • Qatar Central Bank issues treasury bills, sukuk worth US$686m

    DOHA, QATAR - The Qatar Central Bank issued treasury bills and sukuk with maturities of one week, one month, three months, six months and nine months totaling US$686 million (QR 2.5 billion). In a statement posted on the social media platform "X" on Thursday, QCB said that the issuance was...
  • Hosts Qatar embrace ‘positive pressure’ of Asian Cup title defense

    Doha, Qatar -- Qatar coach Tintin Marquez said Friday they relish the "positive pressure" of trying to retain their Asian Cup title on home soil, on the eve of a quarter-final with Uzbekistan. The hosts and holders won all three of their games in the group phase without conceding a goal...
  • Hamas gives ‘initial’ approval to plan for Gaza war pause

    A Hamas source had told AFP the three-stage plan would start with an initial six-week halt to the fighting that would see more aid deliveries into Gaza. Only "women, children and sick men over 60" held by fighters would be freed during that stage in exchange for Palestinian captives in...
  • GCC central banks mimic Fed, hold interest rates steady

    Abu Dhabi, UAE--In a significant move that underscores the interconnectedness of global monetary policies, central banks across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have announced decisions to hold their interest rates steady, mirroring the recent actions of the US Federal Reserve. This collective stance reflects a cautious approach to navigating the...
  • The DCO Council announces multilateral initiatives to bridge digital divide

    Manama, Bahrain - The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), a global intergovernmental organization dedicated to fostering digital prosperity for all by accelerating the inclusive growth of the global digital economy, has announced the launch of new initiatives to bridge the global digital divide. The DCO Council also announced the joining of...
  • Saudi football chief brands Mancini penalty walkout ‘unacceptable’

    Doha, Qatar - The president of Saudi Arabian football said Roberto Mancini's disappearing act before the end of the penalty shootout in the team's Asian Cup exit was "completely unacceptable". The Italian did not stick around to see South Korea's Hwang Hee-chan eliminate his Saudi side in the last 16 in...
  • Qatar awards $6bn in contracts for Al-Shaheen oilfield expansion

    The four engineering, installation and procurement contracts will increase production at the Al-Shaheen oilfield -- the country's largest -- by 100,000 barrels per day, according to QatarEnergy. "By awarding these contracts, we are taking an important step towards realizing the full potential of Al-Shaheen field, which produces around half of...
  • Iran ‘following dreams’ in trying to win first Asian Cup since 1976

    Doha, Qatar - Iran are "following our dreams" in trying to win the Asian Cup for the first time in 48 years, winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh said on the eve of Wednesday's last-16 clash with Syria. Three-time champions Iran face Syria in Qatar with a quarter-final against Bahrain or pre-tournament favorites Japan...
  • Qatar says Gaza truce proposal to be sent to Hamas as war rages on

    Sheikh Mohammed confirmed that the framework -- which he said might lead to a permanent ceasefire -- includes a phased truce that would see women and children hostages released first, with aid also entering besieged Gaza. A senior Hamas official, Taher al-Nunu, said it wanted a "complete and comprehensive ceasefire,...
  • We want complete ceasefire, not temporary truce: Hamas

    Taher al-Nunu, a senior Hamas official, said his group wanted a "complete and comprehensive ceasefire, and not a temporary truce." Speaking to AFP, he said that once the fighting stopped "the rest of the details can be discussed" including a hostage release. Qatar, Egypt and the US have led mediation...
  • Qatar’s foreign merchandise trade surplus $5.13 billion in Dec 2023

    Doha, Qatar - Qatar's foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 18.7 billion ($5.13 billion), a decrease of about QR 9.5 billion, or 33.7 percent, compared to December 2022. The trade balance showed an increase by nearly QR 2.0 billion,...
  • US, Egypt, Qatar and Israel officials in Paris talks for Gaza ceasefire

    French authorities were also in touch with these four countries with the aim of negotiating a halt to hostilities between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the besieged territory, the sources said. A security source on Friday told AFP that CIA chief William Burns would meet his counterparts...
  • Qatar and Nepal discuss boosting economic cooperation

    Doha, Qatar--Qatar and Nepal have held talks to enhance commercial and economic relations between the two countries, explored the investment climate, numerous opportunities available in both countries, and identified the most important sectors for cooperation and partnership In this regard, the acting general manager of the Qatar Chamber, Ali Saeed...
  • Skipper Battat leads Palestine on and off pitch at Asian Cup

    Doha, Qatar - Musab Al-Battat has led Palestine on the pitch with his all-action performances and off it as the voice of a team who have battled the odds to reach the Asian Cup knockout rounds for the first time. The 30-year-old captain will be the man his team look to...
  • Biden talks to Qatar’s emir on efforts to free Hamas hostages

    The exchange came as the head of the CIA is to meet in Europe with his counterparts from Israel and Egypt and the prime minister of Qatar with the goal of negotiating a truce and the release of the remaining hostages in the Israeli-Hamas war, US media reported. Biden also...
  • End to war: World reacts to Gaza-Israel ruling

    The reactions to the top UN court's ruling Friday in the Israel-Gaza case were split along the lines of the war raging in the Palestinian territory. Saudi Arabia welcomed the ICJ's decision and called for the international community to "hold Israel accountable" for "violations" of international law.
  • Son faces Saudis, Palestine make history in Asian Cup last 16

    The knockout phase begins on Sunday when Australia play Indonesia, followed the same day by the United Arab Emirates against tournament debutants Tajikistan. At 146 in the world, Indonesia are the lowest-ranked team left in the tournament and squeezed through with one win and two defeats from their three group...
  • CIA chief heading to Europe for Gaza negotiations: US media

    According to Axios, Israel has offered Hamas a two-month pause in fighting in Gaza in exchange for the release of all hostages. Vowing to crush Hamas, Israel has launched a relentless military campaign that has killed at least 25,900 people in the Palestinian territory, mostly women and children, according to...