Qatar celebrates its National Day tomorrow, marking the grand finale of the week-long programme, with an impressive parade, classic car show, entertainment events and fireworks on the Corniche.
The National Day is observed in commemoration of December 18, 1878 when Sheikh Jassim, the founder of the State of Qatar, succeeded his father, Sheikh Mohamed bin Thani, as a ruler and led the country towards unity.
The day’s events are organised by the State National Day Celebrations Organising Committee, with a vision to strengthen solidarity, loyalty and pride in national identity. 
The country’s historical and cultural legacy and military prowess are to be showcased in the hour-long parade starting at 8am from Al Rumaila Park.
At 4pm, classic cars will go on display near the Orry, Sheraton Park will host children’s games, and the light show will begin.
Also at 4pm, the best 10 entries in the National Day Schools Painting Competition will have their art projected on to the Doha Corniche with the winner announced and their painting displayed at 7pm.
The events conclude with a fireworks display beginning at 8pm. It will tell the stories of Qatari life through fireworks and music.
The Doha Corniche, from Emiri Diwan Roundabout to the Sheraton Roundabout, will be closed to traffic. 
A total of 10 parking bays have been earmarked around the area for thousands of vehicles expected to head out to the Corniche Bay, from where visitors will be able to get on shuttle buses by the state-run Mowasalat.
Lakhwiya, the Traffic Department, Al Fazaa and other security agencies will handle the security at the Corniche. 
Al Doha TV, the official National Day television station, will be offering live broadcasts of National Day activities plus cultural, entertainment and documentary series through December 18.

 The Al Dana saving scheme 2009 monthly millionaire draw was conducted earlier this month, with Abdul Sherief being declared the ninth winner of the monthly scheme.
Officials from Doha Bank attended the draw.

Upon receiving his cheque from the executive assistant of the CEO’s office, Mohammed bin Hamad al-Thani, Sherief expressed his delight and said that the scheme would “change his life forever.”
Group CEO of Doha Bank, R Seetharaman, said: “We would like to thank our customers through this scheme and assure them that there are many more prizes and surprises in store for them in 2010.”

Customers who invest QR1,000 in an account ensure a place in the draw, and children can also be entered into the draw if their parents invest QR500 in a young saver account for them, explained the spokesperson. The last date for investment is December 31.

 Security arrangements are being put in place for the National Day celebrations on Friday.
According to senior government officials, the Doha Corniche, from Emiri Diwan Roundabout to the Sheraton Roundabout, will be closed to traffic. 
“It won’t be a blanket call though. We will start restricting the traffic as it intensifies,” Internal Security Force (Lakhwiya) official Ali Salman al-Mohannadi said yesterday.
A total of 10 parking bays have been earmarked around the area for thousands of vehicles expected to head out to the Corniche Bay, from where visitors will be able to get on shuttle buses by the state-run Mowasalat.
“This is an open event,” al-Mohannadi told Gulf Times when asked if bachelors of all “income levels” would be allowed to take part in the festivities.
However, authorities will ensure that those with families are able to park in a parking lot closest to the Corniche.
“There will also be information terminals dotting the stretch (of the Corniche). These information tents will provide the latest on the National Day celebrations,” Ministry of Interior (MoI) official Abdullah Khalifa al-Muftah said.
Lakhwiya, the Traffic Department, Al Fazaa and other security agencies will handle the security at the Corniche, officials said. 
The National Day Parade starts from Al Rumaila Park at 8am.
At 4pm, classic cars will go on display near the Orry, Sheraton Park will host children’s games, and the light show will begin. Also at 4pm, the best 10 entries in the National Day Schools Painting Competition will have their art projected on to the Doha Corniche with the winner announced and their painting displayed at 7pm.
“The National Day events conclude with a pyrotechnic show beginning at 8pm … it will tell the stories of Qatari life through fireworks and music,” the official said.

 The Qatar Armed Forces have moved into what is essentially civilian territory by agreeing to be the main sponsors of the 24th Qatar Open amateur golf championship next month.
The tournament will be played from January 7-9 at the Doha Golf Club and will witness the participation of more than 130 players from all over the world.
Qatar’s Armed Forces have a long history of sports with several of the country’s top athletes and footballers employed with them, and although they have sponsored several local squash, tennis and athletics events in the past, this is the first time they have stepped in to support an international golf tournament.
“We are pleased to announce our support for the Qatar Open golf tournament which is one of the few prestigious amateur events in the region,” Brigadier Dahlan al-Hamad told reporters yesterday.
“With this sponsorship we have once again demonstrated our commitment towards sports in the country,” he added.
Brigadier Dahlan has been involved in sports for a long time. He was president of the Qatar Athletics Federation from 1996 to 2008 and is an International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) council member since 2003. Qatar Golf Association president Hassan al-Nuaimi thanked Brigadier Dahlan for his support, saying the armed forces’ sponsorship was a historic occasion.
“We are grateful for the armed forces support,” said al-Nuaimi. “The 24th edition of the tournament is an historic occasion for the Qatar Open because this will be the first time when global amateur ranking points will be awarded to the players based on their performance.”
As reported by the Gulf Times last week the Qatar Open has been approved by Royal and Ancient as a World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) event. As a result the tournament will be now played over 54 holes over three days, instead of the earlier two-round 36-hole format.
The recognition by the Scotland-based prestigious body means players taking part in the tournament can now be officially assessed and ranked according to a worldwide system launched by the R&A in 2007. The ranking system monitors competitions all over the world and awards ranking points appropriately. For 2008, in recognition of WAGR’s consistency in highlighting the world’s best emerging players, the PGA European Tour offered exemptions into the second round of qualifying school for the three highest ranked WAGR top-ten players who wished to enter the professional ranks.  The R&A is the ruling authority of golf everywhere, except the United States and Mexico, where this responsibility rests with the United States Golf Association (USGA). It works in collaboration with national amateur and professional golf organisations in more than 100 countries.
“The fact that the Qatar Open has been approved as a ranking tournament by the prestigious Royal and Ancient proves its importance,” al-Nuaimi said.
“Over the years we have had some top amateurs play in the tournament, but now they will be even more motivated to do well because of the international recognition they will get in the form of improved rankings.”

 Qatar Telecom (Qtel) executive director Adel Al Mutawa, has urged people not to disclose personal and financial information over the phone and urged people to report suspicious calls after scam artists have succeeded in fooling many clients into provide confidential information about their accounts.

Al Mutawa said his company is working around the clock to locate the culprits behind this scam.

Just this week a Bangladeshi man living in Qatar received a call from a Pakistani number revealing that he had won thousands of Riyals in a lucky scheme, according to a report published in Gulf Times, a Qatar-based newspaper.

The scam artist even conveyed a congratulatory message, purported to be from the Qtel chairman himself, to make the call sound real and then asked him to provide the secret numbers of his Hala prepaid card, to the tune of QR 11,400.

  Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir signs a ceasefire deal in Doha with a key rebel group, in what could be a key step toward ending the conflict in Sudan’s western Darfur region

Sudan and Darfur’s main rebel group signed a ceasefire agreement and a framework accord for a final peace deal in Doha yesterday. Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) leader Khalil Ibrahim signed the accord, which took effect at midnight in Darfur (2100 GMT).
HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno and Eritrean President Issaias Afeworki attended the signing ceremony.
Bashir, who arrived in Doha on Monday night, said earlier that the deal between his government and the JEM marked “the beginning of the end of the war in Darfur”.
“God willing, by the next elections, Darfur will be in a state of total peace,” Bashir said.
For his part, Ibrahim said: “I call on my brothers in the other movements to (come together) in an overall partnership in the service of our country and say, let us unite and commit ourselves together and at the same time to
peace.”
On Saturday, government and JEM representatives had signed a framework agreement in Chad proclaiming a “ceasefire” in the seven-year-old conflict.
The 12-point provisional deal offered the JEM, long-seen as Darfur’s most heavily armed rebel group, a power-sharing role in Sudan, where presidential and legislative polls are to be held in April.
Article three stated that the Sudanese government and the JEM agreed on “the participation of the JEM at all levels of power...”
It was not immediately clear if that, and other provisions, were mentioned in the Doha accord.
The two sides also agreed on Saturday that the JEM would become “a political party as soon as the final agreement is signed between the two parties” by March 15.
The conflict has claimed about 300,000 lives and displaced 2.7mn people, according to UN figures, since it broke out in February 2003. Sudan puts the death toll at 10,000.
But it has also seen a splintering into small factions of rebel groups, fighting against the marginalisation of their region, making efforts to seal a lasting peace in the troubled region a massive task.
A ceasefire with the JEM would close the most active front in Darfur, but smaller rebel groups such as the faction of the Sudanese Liberation Army of France-based exile Abdelwahid Nur have refused to enter talks with Khartoum.
However, yesterday four of the smaller groups announced that they were merging to form the Liberation Movement for Justice and hoped to come to an agreement with Khartoum.
The framework accord calls for the JEM and Khartoum to “launch immediate discussions to reach a (final) agreement”.
In an address to the gathering, the Emir praised the “sincere” efforts made by President Bashir and his Chadian counterpart Deby “which contributed to achieving their common interests and realise stability in Sudan especially and the region in general”.
The Emir hailed the role of neighbouring countries and the Arab-African Ministerial Committee, expressing at the same time his thanks to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi for his support to pushing forward the peace process in Darfur. He also praised the role of Eritrean President Afwerki and the efforts of the Joint Mediator Djibril Bassole.
The Emir said that he was certain that the availability of strong determination and goodwill of all would achieve the desired solution and overcome the past and its pains.
He stressed that the agreement was a step for reaching the desired solution.
HH the Emir announced that the signing of the agreement coincided with the success of some of the movements to integrate into one body under the name Liberation Movement and Justice in preparation to enter the current negotiating process. Agencies
 

                                                                The QatarDebate Center signed an agreement on Sunday to host the 22nd World Schools Debating Championship (WSDC) in February with 15 prominent educational institutions in the country.

The country has recently begun preparations for the hosting of the WSDC, under the auspices of Sheikh Dr Abdullah bin Ali Al Thani, Vice President for Education at Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development. Around 58 countries are expected to participate in the championship.

Last week the Center organised a journalism training session in debates to hone skills and enhance journalistic capacities in preparation for the WSDC. The session contributed significantly in providing an atmosphere conducive to journalistic innovation and creativity in debates.

The QatarDebate Center—a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development—received the honour of organising the WSDC in Washington last year, after a strong competition with a number of world capitals. The 23rd WSDC is scheduled to take place in Scotland in 2011.

Dr Hayat Maarafi, executive director of the QatarDebate Center, expressed her great confidence in the capabilities of the different educational institutions in Qatar, saying, “The Mini-WSDC that took place in Doha last November contributed in strengthening the capacity of schools in organising and hosting rounds of debates.” She also pointed out that the Mini-WSDC was a “real test” to measure Qatar’s organisational abilities and has proven to be a resounding success.

There WSDC Doha rounds will be held at the following institutions: Weill Cornell Medical College - Qatar, Qatar University, the Academic Bridge Programme, Qatar Academy, College of the North Atlantic in Qatar, Al Bayan Educational Complex for Girls, Al Wakra Independent Secondary School for Boys, Abu Bakr Al Siddiq Independent Secondary School for Boys, Omar Bin Al Khattab Educational Complex for Boys, Doha Independent Elementary School for Boys, Amna Bint Wahab Independent Elementary School for Girls, the Indian School, Debakey High School for Health Professionals in Qatar, Aspire, and Qatar Islamic Cultural Center “FANAR”.

The representatives of educational institutions expressed their pride in hosting the rounds of WSDC and the WUDC (World Universities Debating Championship). Educators have unanimously agreed on the importance of debate in developing students’ abilities, and confirmed that the WSDC will encourage students in Qatar to engage in debate clubs and to acquire opportunities to achieve personal development.

 Education City Charity Trust (ECCT) is concluding its 2009 activities with a flourish by raising QR21,308 through their recent four-day ‘Build A Well Campaign,’ to fund a total of four clean water wells in Indonesia through Qatar Charity.
Stands selling 500ml Rayyan water bottles and bags of chocolate at QR5 each were put up at all five branch campus buildings as well as at the Qatar Academy Primary and Senior Schools.
The Rayyan Bottling Company had donated 1,000 water bottles and Blue Saloon donated QR1,000, which was used to buy the chocolates, packaging and printing materials, and an iPod shuffle as a raffle draw gift.
A photo exhibition, run alongside the fundraising stands, featured a series of photographs accompanied by an important fact to raise awareness about the water crisis taking place in the world today.
“What brings me the greatest joy is knowing that the Education City community is the reason that many people will be able to smile because of access to clean water,” ECCT founder and president Abdullah Mohamed Firoze said.
ECCT public relations officer Nawal al-Kindi recalled it was a nice experience for the students. “It also made us realise that it’s not just about academics always, it’s also about giving a helping hand to those who are less fortunate,” she said.
ECCT, an official Qatar Foundation Student Organisation, has student representatives and members from the different branch campuses in Education City.
The primary goal is to allow university students to form small groups and contribute as little as QR20 per month in order to sponsor an orphan through ECCT’s collaboration with Qatar Charity.
ECCT has been successful in bringing together 150 students to sponsor a total of 40 orphans from 14 different nationalities worldwide.
It has also raised a total of QR4,000 for Gaza through their event “Live from Gaza” in March 2009, whereby guests got the opportunity to speak live via Skype to some of the orphans and their families that ECCT was sponsoring, via their Orphan Sponsorship Program, about their lives during the War on Gaza. 
Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar’s student forum, “Development Solutions Organisation”, helped ECCT to run some of the stands on different campuses for the latest campaign.
The Student Council of Qatar Academy’s Primary School was able to raise an impressive QR7,201 alone.
Based on the success of the recent campaign, ECCT is looking to future events that may involve fundraising for building a school in a developing country as well as hosting a week of volunteering activities in collaboration with Qatar Charity during the annual Education City Spring Break in early 2010.

 HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani receiving Sudan’s Ummah Party leader, Sadiq al-Mahdi, who is on a visit to Doha.

Qatar yesterday announced that the Darfur peace talks would resume in Doha next week with the “wide participation” of all relevant parties. HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed bin Abdullah al-Mahmoud told reporters that Qatar hoped to see an “effective participation” of the government and the conflicting groups. The minister said that invitations would be extended to all.

 HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani yesterday received a letter from US President Barack Obama related to bilateral relations and issues of mutual concern. The letter was handed over by US Ambassador Joseph LeBaron when HH the Emir received him at the Al Wajbah palace yesterday morning.

 HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani confers upon Comoros President Ahmed Abdallah Sambi the Collar of Independence in the capital Moroni yesterday. HH the Emir also received the Comoros Green Crescent Order. Later the Emir attended a popular celebration held on the occasion of his visit to the Union of the Comoros. Meanwhile, Qatar National Hotels Company and the Comoros Tourism Ministry signed a $70mn contract to set up a tourist resort in Moroni. 

 HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, along with other GCC leaders, attended the inauguration ceremony of the Gulf electricity linkage yesterday. The leaders of Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and Oman signed documents virtually at computer screens in Bayan Palace, marking the launch of the first phase of the ambitious project.

The first phase includes Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain. It will ultimately hook all six GCC countries though a single network in the second quarter of 2011.

The full construction of the $1.6bn grid is expected to be completed by 2012, said Yousif Janahi, chairman of the Gulf Co-operation Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA). Gulf Arab countries hope the project will help them meet rapidly rising power demand and avoid outages.

Earlier, Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah opened the 30th GCC summit by voicing full support for Saudi Arabia in its fight against Yemeni rebels and calling on Iran to comply with international legitimacy.
“We renew our strong condemnation of these aggressions (against Saudi Arabia) and declare full support for whatever actions Saudi Arabia takes to defend its territory,” Sheikh Sabah said in his speech.

During the two-day gathering, GCC leaders will explore ways to boost and integrate their economies. Agencies
 

  Consumers Protection Department at the Ministry of Business and Trade will launch early next year an intensive awareness campaign against the sale and use of spurious automobile spare parts.
Director of the department Sheikh Jassim bin Jabor bin Hassan al-Thani said the ministry had drawn up a plan to fight the scourge of counterfeit spare parts in the local market.
He said the official distributors were to be blamed as they do not inform the ministry about the fake spare parts being sold in the market.
Sheikh Jassim was speaking at a meeting with local distributors at the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The official explained that the new campaign would include disseminating information on warranty terms.
The campaign will also include distributing pamphlets detailing the risks of using fake spare parts.
He said the ministry’s role was to maintain competition, noting “we cannot completely ban non-genuine spare parts.”
“However, the ministry has signed an agreement with the Customs Department and dealers under which traders who deal in counterfeit spare parts will be blacklisted,” he said.
The distributors complained the ministry had been too lenient in granting rights to the consumers at the cost of the distributors, who according to them,  also had been bearing the brunt of many “defects in the laws” regulating the market.
One dealer complained “the ministry ignored the hardships we face,” adding “we are going through hell.”
He said genuine spare parts were very expensive due to many factors, including the high warehouse rents, as well as the employees’ cost of accommodation.
Though the rents have started falling, they are still high, some of them said.
“One room used to cost QR3,000; it has now dropped to QR1,000, but it is still too high,” one of the dealers said.
The media also came under criticism for being too aggressive on the dealers over the high cost of the spare parts and after-sales services.
“The high prices are linked to the transportation, customs, storage, showroom, as well as the accommodation and salaries of the employees,” the dealer said.
Abdul Rahman al-Ansari, a trader, said the shopkeepers have not benefited from the drop in rents as warehouses still continued to be costly.
The agents said the market was flooded with counterfeit spare parts, some of which are sold as genuine. They blamed the ministry for not launching a crackdown on people committing such frauds.
They also slammed the consumers for lack of knowledge about free after-sale services and the safety provided by costly but genuine parts.
The dealers also pointed out to a lack of co-ordination between them and the ministry.
“The ministry also fails to take action against people who sell non-genuine spare parts. If a case is filed, it could take years to get a verdict,” an agent said.

  DOHA: The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has come out heavily against Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for his recent comments on the Qatari media being biased towards Hamas.

Meshaal reiterated the Hamas’ view on the steel wall being constructed by Egypt along its borders with Gaza, saying that the wall had nothing to with Egypt’s security concerns.

“The allegations that Qatari media is biased towards Hamas is incorrect. No free media will support a blockade of starving people or take a position against legal resistance. This is an expected stance from the Qatari media and other independent media outlets in the Arab World,” said a Hamas spokesman, replying to a query about the comments made by Abbas during his visit to Qatar.

Meshaal, however, shied from answering the question himself, passing it on to a member of Hamas’ media team. He termed the controversial steel wall as the “wall of death.”

“Egypt’s concerns about its national security do not justify the construction of the steel wall — the “wall of death”. If there are any security concerns, Egypt should have built the wall across its long border with Israel on the Sinai desert, not on the 14km border with the Gaza strip,” he said.

The issue came up during a press meet here yesterday attended by a top delegation from Hamas led by Khaled Meshaal, chief of its political bureau.

The new building of HSBC premier branch here on Al Matar Street, considered as the largest in the Middle East, was formally opened yesterday with Sheikh Abdullah bin Saoud Al Thani, Governor of Qatar Central Bank and Abdul Hakeem Mostafawi, Chief Executive Officer for HSBC Qatar, gracing the event.

At over 1,600 square meters, the new building is fully furnished with state-of-the-art facilities and an entirely new ‘look and feel’ which is designed to raise the customer experience to a higher level. With world class customer service, unrivalled international banking capabilities and a network of over 8,500 branches in 86 countries, no bank is better positioned to serve customers with high expectations and cross-border banking needs.

HSBC is the largest international bank in Qatar and offers a full range of financial services tailored for corporate and personal customers. The new branch will serve as a one-stop-shop for both conventional and tailored solutions and affords the convenience of a 24-hour Express Banking service, ATMs for cash withdrawals and deposits as well as Internet and Phone Banking services. The branch features one of the largest Premier Centres anywhere in the HSBC Group with dedicated relationship banking and lounge facilities for HSBC’s most valuable customers.

“HSBC is enormously proud to have served Qatar since 1954 and to have been among the first banks to operate in the country. Our commitment to the development of Qatar as a major player in world financial markets is unquestioned,” said Abdul Hakeem Mostafawi during a short address.

He added the economic forecast for Qatar in 2010 is very positive and with HSBC’s international expertise and local knowledge and experience, they are looking forward in supporting the growth envisaged by the leaders of the country.

The new building also features a Corporate Services Branch located on the first floor. The dedicated space for corporate customers is testimony to HSBC’s commitment to its partners in the local community, ranging from small businesses to large corporates and multinationals. It also supports HSBC’s Leading International Business proposition, enabling the bank to serve international corporate clients who wish to establish themselves in Qatar.

HSBC has always been a leader in providing innovative corporate services solutions in Qatar, having been the first bank to provide ATMs, Fund Administration Services as well as Payments and Cash Management Services, and will continue to develop new means to serve its customers diverse needs.

DOHA: An innovative water-free car wash service is slowly catching on in Doha. The convenient spray-and-wipe system cleans a car in just 15 minutes.

Launched recently, the waterless wax car wash, the first of its kind in the country, uses a natural product as against the chemicals and large quantity of water used by traditional car wash centres.

The “All Without Water Mobile Car Wash & Wax Service”, introduced by “Hi Wash Company”, is currently being offered in various malls, including Villaggio and Hyatt Plaza, besides LuLu Hypermarket. The company also offers its services on call at the location required by the customer.

Going by the traditional calculations of green groups, washing a vehicle with a standard garden hose can use up to 100 gallons of water in 10 minutes. Thus the new system saves a huge quantity of water. The service is expected to get a big boost in view of the Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation’s (Kahramaa) standing orders prohibiting washing of vehicles at home using a hose.

“The immediate response to our service was really exciting. As of now, we have 500 permanent members and we get nearly 2,000 orders on a daily basis. We have also reputed corporate members like Qtel”, said Vincent Achimobosi, the mark-

eting executive of the company.

Achimobosi said the membership numbers is going up daily. The company charges QR15 for a single body wash. For the members, the service is offered for QR120 for two washes a week totalling eight washes a month.

The hard yellow-brown wax used by Hi Wash comes from the carnauba palm tree (Copernicea cerifera), which is found only in the northeast of Brazil in the states of Rio Grande do Nortem, Ceara and Piaui.

The wax is obtained from the film that coats the tree’s sword-shaped leaves to protect them from the severe climate of that region. The protective compounds in the wax bond to the car’s painted surface to create a high-gloss finish that protects the surface from sunlight, acid rain, bird droppings, grime and other environmental contaminants, Achimobosi said.

“The waterless wax washing gives your car natural shine and helps to protect the paint from the harsh environment. When applied, the wax forms a thin transparent layer over the car paint. This layer covers minor scratches, stone chips and other damage, making them less visible”, claimed Achimobosi.

DOHA: A section of parents and students of secondary schools are worried over the first semester examination schedules being announced by the Evaluation Institute under the Supreme Education Council (SEC).

The exams, scheduled to begin from January 22, 2010, do not have a gap in between other than the weekends. The parents say the tight schedules would affect the performance of the students.

They want SEC to reschedule the exams giving at least a gap in the middle of the week enabling the students to prove their best in the exam. The continuous examinations will put immense pressure on the students that would prevent them from delivering their best in the examinations, the parents argued, reported Al Sharq.

Meanwhile, the principals of all secondary, preparatory and primary Independent, semi-Independent, and private Arabic Schools, Religious institutions, business and evening school have received the Evaluation Institute’s exam schedule.

First semester timetable for all streams of schools from Grades 1 through 12 in day schools, (general and private), home school students, evening students, semi-Independent students with slight difference in timing and the length of the session.

The main examinations will be conducted throughout this month until the beginning of February 2010.

The exams will begin on January 12, 2010 with Arabic language, which includes spelling and Quran recitation in all the Independent, semi-Independent, private Arabic schools, religion institutions (secondary and preparatory), and business(secondary).

  Qatar central bank had indicated that it was monitoring capital inflows carefully and was ready to adjust interest rates if needed, the International Monetary Fund said in its report yesterday.

The world’s largest natural gas exporter did not join a wave of rate cuts by central banks in the region, Europe and the United States in 2008, keeping its main repo rate at 5.55 percent since May, 2008. The IMF said in the report it warned Qatar that the Gulf country could attract speculative inflows as investors re-evaluate global risks in discussions that ended in November.

“QCB indicated that it was monitoring inflows carefully and was ready to adjust interest rates if needed, while managing credit growth with its macro-prudential instruments,” the IMF report said.

The deputy governor of the central bank said in December that the bank was likely to keep key rates unchanged for now to maintain a positive differential against the US benchmark rate in order to prevent capital outflows.

Fed’s benchmark overnight interest rates stand in a range of zero to 0.25 percent.

The IMF said it had completed the staff report within the Article IV Consultation on January 22.

The global lender also said Qatar reiterated that the country’s currency would continue to be pegged to the dollar for the time being, although various options could be explored after the formation of the planned Gulf monetary union.

The central bank is targeting the exchange rate as a nominal anchor with the riyal pegged at 3.64 a dollar.

The IMF also said Qatar signalled its intention to contain fiscal spending at a moderate level to stave off demand pressures, even if both hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon revenues increase rapidly. The fund forecasts fiscal surplus of 8.9 percent of gross domestic product for 2010.

The Qatari economy is expected to largely outperform its fellow Gulf oil producers in the coming years due to massive expansion of its gas facilities and the IMF warned against a risk of potential overheating. “The authorities and staff agreed on the need to manage a potential overheating of the economy over the medium term,” the fund said.

 Consumers in Qatar are the most optimistic in the Middle East and Levant region and 19% of them plan to save more than 50% of their total income in the next six months, according to Mastercard survey.
“The overall index score of 89.2 shows that consumers in Qatar are more optimistic about regular income, employment, stock market, the economy and quality of life,” said Raghu Malhotra, area business head, Mastercard Worldwide, Middle East (Gulf countries).
The average score for the Middle East was 75; while it was 71 in the case of Kuwait, 83 (Saudi Arabia) and 86 (the UAE), the index of consumer confidence revealed.
Released twice a year, the index is based on a survey which measures consumer confidence on prevailing expectations in the market for the next six months. It is based on five economic indicators: economy, employment, stock market, regular income and quality of life. The index score is calculated with zero as the most pessimistic, 100 as most optimistic and 50 as neutral.
The overall positive consumer sentiment is reflected by the five economic factors that make up the overall index score: regular income (91.8 against 80 in the previous six months), quality of life (91.8 against 68.4), economy (90.8 against 82.5), stock market (86.3 against 52.7) and employment (85.2 against 73.3).
In Qatar, males were more upbeat than females and those in the 30-44 years age group were more optimistic than those less than 30 years and those more than 45 years
On saving priorities, the survey said 52% of the respondents said they plan to save more in the next six months against the Middle East average of 31%; while 34% maintained that the savings level will remain the same (48%) and only 14% said they would save less (21%).
In terms of proportion of savings; 19% of respondents in Qatar said they plan to save more than 50% of their total income against the Middle East average of 4%; 49% said they plan to save 21%-50% of income (27%) and 26% said they plan to save less than 20% (66%).
Across the Middle East and Levant, 70% of the consumers intend to save for precautionary reasons compared to 71% in Qatar alone.
On the discretionary spending in the next six months, the survey found that 56% of respondents in Qatar said it will remain the same against the Middle East average of 58%, while 30% said it will decrease (16%) and only 14% said it will increase (26%).
Regarding purchasing priorities, Malhotra said it was interesting that in Qatar, buying property, fashion and accessories and dining and entertainment emerged among the top spending categories for consumers.

Qatari Diar and Germany-based global logistics and passenger leader Deutsche Bahn (DB) yesterday launched the Qatar Railways Development Company (QRDC), a joint venture which will build an integrated national railway network at an expected cost of $25bn, in about 16 years.

The proposed 651km network with 98 stations across the peninsula is set to change the urban landscape of Qatar. “We would like to have the best system in the world to support our economy,” Qatari Diar managing director and CEO Ghanim Saad al-Saad told Gulf Times.
The first stage of the “extremely complex” project will begin from the West Bay-end of Doha with the metro and is likely to cost more than $2bn, according to al-Saad. The metro system will have a length of 300km.

The 51-49 joint venture (Diar 51%) QRDC will be the sole entity responsible for developing various models and integrating them into Qatar’s railway network which, in addition to the metro system, includes freight transport as well as long-distance passenger travel.
“Work on this (network) began 18 months ago. The QRDC will control a planning budget of 700mn euros and will have an initial operational budget of QR50mn. How we will finance the project is still being worked out,” al-Saad said.

Al-Saad signed the joint venture agreement with DB chairman and chief executive officer Ruediger Grube at the Emiri Diwan in the presence of Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani and high-level delegations from both countries.

Officials said yesterday QRDC had already completed an initial study and agreed on the design for the integrated railway network.

The project will boost Qatar’s prospects to host the FIFA 2022 World Cup.
DB International regional director Stefan Herzberg told Gulf Times: “If preparatory work is launched in 2011 and construction can begin in 2012, we believe by 2021, 60-70% of the metro system and the Bahrain link can be completed.”
The first train service could be launched as early as 2016-17, he added.

 Ras Laffan will be home to the world’s largest helium plant with Qatar awarding an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the $500mn project to Paris-based Air Liquide.
A joint venture between Qatargas 2, 3, 4 and RasGas 3, the project – Qatar Helium 2 will extract crude helium, a by-product during LNG production at the North Field, and purify it for sale in the global market.
Qatar Helium 2 would have a “sale capacity” of 1.3bn cu ft a year.
The first production from the world-scale plant was targeted for 2013, HE the Deputy Premier Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah said yesterday.
Under the EPC agreement, Air Liquide had been entrusted with building the world’s largest “liquefier helium refiner unit” to purify and liquefy crude helium gas recovered from Qatar’s North Field.
The JV partners - Qatargas 2, 3, 4 and RasGas 3 have also signed sale and purchase agreement (SPA) with Air Liquide for lifting 50% of the total production. Two other firms- Linde Gases and Iwatani Corporation would lift the remaining quantities.
Under the SPA, Linde Gases would lift 30% of Qatar Helium 2 output and Iwatani Corporation (20%).
Chiyoda Al Mana Engineering Company will also play a key role in the project as the EPC management services provider responsible for constructing the extraction units that will feed the Helium Recovery Unit (HRU) to be built by Air Liquide.
Qatar Helium 2 will be the second helium project to be built in Qatar. The country’s first helium facility, which cost $115mn, came onstream in 2005 with a capacity of 700mn cu ft per year.
The project will recover the crude helium by-product from the joint venture partners - Qatargas 2, 3, 4 and RasGas 3. About one-third of the crude helium by-product would come from RasGas 3 (Trains 6 and 7) and the remainder from Qatargas LNG trains 4, 5, 6 and 7.
Al-Attiyah highlighted the project’s significance for the country and said: “The Qatar Helium 2 project represents another important milestone under the vision of HH the Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, to ensure the optimal utilisation of the country’s enormous resources by creating development opportunities for the welfare and prosperity of Qatar and for future generations.”
Helium has numerous commercial and industrial uses.
HE Yousef Hussein Kamal, Minister of Economy and Finance, also RasGas chairman; HE Ibrahim B.Ibrahim, RasGas vice-chairman; Francois Darchis, Air Liquide Group senior vice-president; Faisal M al-Suwaidi, Qatargas CEO; and Hamad Rashid al-Mohannadi, RasGas CEO, were among those present.
Second largest helium producer in two years
Qatar is set to become the second largest helium producer within two years with a sale capacity of about 2bn cu ft a day, HE the Deputy Premier Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah has said.
The country will also become the operator of the largest helium plant in the world with the start-up of Qatar Helium 2 in 2013, he said yesterday.
The current global demand for helium is estimated at about 6bn cu ft a year. This means, Qatar’s targeted production will account for about a third of global demand for helium. The country’s North Field with gas reserves in excess of 900tn cu ft has huge helium reserves.

   DOHA: The tangible growth Qatar witnessed last year despite the world financial crisis has given the nation a strategic importance, according to the President of Slovenian Republic, Dr Danilo Turk. A Slovenian Delegation of almost 70 members led by the President visited Doha yesterday and signed two key agreements with the country.

The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and the Slovenian President witnessed the signing of an agreement on avoidance of double taxation and prevention of financial evasion and another agreement on economic cooperation between the two countries, at Emiri Diwan yesterday. The agreements were signed for Qatar by H E Yousuf Hussein Kamal, Minister of Economy and Finance, and H E Dr Khaled bin Mohamed Al Attiyah, Minister of State for International Cooperation who is also Acting Minister of Business and Commerce. On the Slovenian side, the agreements were signed by Samuel Zbogar, Foreign Minister, and Dr Franc Krizanic, Minister of Finance. The Qatari- Slovenian talks featured ties of joint cooperation and means of enhancing them in all fields in addition to reviewing a set of other regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Prior to the meeting at Emiri Diwan, the Slovenian President hailed the overall advancement witnessed by Qatar at a business networking session of Slovenian delegates with Qatari entrepreneurs and Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI). Addressing the working gathering, Dr Turk voiced appreciation to the role Qatar plays at the partnership agreement between the European Union and the GCC states.

“Our visit is aimed at exploring various sectors for joint cooperation, bolstering economic relations and reviewing the investment opportunities available between the two countries. Some of the key areas we would like to stress are health services and tourism, and financial cooperation,” he said.

He stressed that the relations in health sector should be looked into with a vision to develop. Apart from various healthcare services like hospitals, laboratories, equipment manufactures, pharmaceutical companies, Slovenian spas are of wide interest in the world.

“We will look at the opportunities here and work together for long-term mutual advancements. With the recession ending, this is the best time to look out for partnership opportunities”

Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, Chairman, QCCI, said that the large amount of cash liquidity in the Qatari economy, due to a surplus in the country’s balance of payments in previous years, is helping it to deliver growth despite the global slowdown. “Qatar has committed itself to move forward in implementing the country ambitious development plans, despite the crisis and the subsequent economic recession which has affected, almost, the entire world economy. This will pave the way for the Qatari businessmen to have good economic and trade relations with their counterparts from different countries, especially from Slovenia which has the necessary expertise to establish a sound cooperation beneficial to all,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Ivan Ierzn, Minister of State for Health Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia met with Abdullah bin Khalid Al Qahtani, Minister of Public Health and the Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Health. He presented programmes and services provided by the Republic in the field of education and medical research through pioneer universities in the field.

For his part, Dr Ahmed Kamal Naji, expert at the Ministry of Health Office for Health Affairs, presented the various medical services provided by Doha in different areas health, curative and rehabilitative, and medical education and medical research.

 Qtel will soon provide the fastest high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) network for Qatar with the completion of the next phase of its mobile broadband network upgrade next month.

The upgrade process sees base stations all over the country being replaced and enhanced connectivity being introduced across the network. As result, users of 3G-enabled mobile phones, USB modems and data cards will all benefit from improved data download speeds and enhanced quality of services.

In parallel, Qtel has initiated a major trial process for new network devices capable of benefitting from massive download speeds of up to 14.4Mbps. Working with customers, Qtel is preparing to offer some of the highest 3G download speeds currently available in the near future.

Qtel has been working with Nokia Siemens Networks, which is supplying its latest generation Base Stations and all-IP backhaul solution to increase Qtel’s network capacity and enable a smooth transition to higher speed data access.

The base station upgrade will make an important contribution to enhancing outdoor coverage, while work is ongoing to provide a superior indoor experience.

Customers will benefit from an immediate improvement in the average speed offering as the upgrade becomes available, although speeds will be determined by the distance from the nearest base station and the number of customers using that station. However, the addition of new towers will also enable more people to use mobile Broadband in Qatar.

The enhanced capacity is necessary as the community of mobile Broadband customers continues to grow in Qatar. The increasing ubiquity of 3G enabled phones is one factor driving demand for bandwidth, while Qtel’s provision of both prepaid and post-paid mobile Broadband packages in Qatar has rapidly enhanced the number of people accessing the network.

As an additional benefit, the upgrade process will have a positive environmental effect, by ensuring the base towers consumer less energy and reduce the total cost of operation.

Qtel offers special 30-day, 10-day and three-day prepaid packages, delivering unlimited Internet access for the duration. With the higher download speeds, people will be able to watch movies, access educational material and enjoy a world of entertainment online faster and more effectively.

Customers will not need to apply for the speed upgrade, and the service enhancements are being provided for free for all customers.

DOHA: As reports of changes in weather patterns fill the global media, a group of experts revealed here yesterday that Qatar, along with the region, was experiencing unprecedented and rapid climate change. There has been a visible shift in climatic conditions and in the rain pattern over the last few years, they told The Peninsula.

The database with the Meteorology Department of Qatar Civil Aviation Authority shows that the recent climate patterns seen in the country are not compatible with the pattern witnessed over the past four decades, a top official with the Aviation Authority said.

“In Qatar, we have been witnessing quick and rapid climatic changes. We have a database spanning over the last 40 years and the results of a recent analysis of this data are not exactly matching with the current climatic situation in the country”, Ahmed Abdullah Mohammed, Director of the Meteorology Department, Civil Aviation Authority, said while speaking on the sidelines of a meeting on the Quality of Meteorology Services.

Citing the warm temperatures being experienced this winter as one of the symptoms of the changing climate pattern of the country, he added: “According to the data bank, winter should be much colder than what it is at present, especially during the December and January months. Qatar is much warmer than it was in the last few years; so the changes are fast.”

Ahmed Abdullah said a group of experts and scientists were working on a project to unravel the mystery of Qatar’s fast changing weather pattern.

The Meteorology Department recently revealed that the quantity of rainfall that Qatar received in two days in December was equal to the rainfall the country used to get in a whole year. The country has been experiencing rather warm weather since the rains.

“Qatar should be getting rains during the seasonal transitions, which would be in October or November, prior to winter. However, the rains this time came in late December. January and February are months of dry winter in Qatar, which has also changed slightly and, as per schedule, we should be having showers in March and April. These clearly show a shift in climates which is very rapid and beyond the expertise of common people,” Ahmed Abdullah said.

Similar differences were pointed out by an expert from Kuwait. “By the end of December, the temperature in Kuwait can reach much below the freezing point. However, this winter the lowest temperature recorded was only six degrees Celsius. With this shift in temperature, there is also a fluctuation in the rainfall. We get severe rainfall in a reduced period,” said Hassan A Al Dashti, head of the climate section of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Kuwait.

Qatar has set up a committee under the Ministry of Environment to closely monitor the country’s changing weather pattern.

 Arab leaders yesterday ruled out renewed Middle East peace talks unless Israel halts all settlement building and urged US President Barack Obama to keep up his opposition.
At the end of a two-day summit in Libya, they called for Obama to remain loyal to his “initial and key position” to work to halt Jewish settlement on Palestinian land that posed a “dangerous obstacle” to peace.
The summit was dominated by Israel’s decision this month to build 1,600 settler homes in mainly Arab East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians see as the capital of their future state.
US efforts to broker indirect “proximity” talks between Israel and the Palestinians were stymied by the move, which came just days after the Arabs had agreed to give negotiations another chance.
Arab leaders also agreed on “a plan of action that includes political and legal measures to confront Israel’s attempts to Judaise Jerusalem”,  and pledged to raise $500mn in aid to bolster the Palestinian presence there.
“The resumption of Palestinian-Israeli negotiations demands that Israel implements its legal commitments by stopping all settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, including east Jerusalem,” the final resolution read.
The statement insisted “on the need to have a timeframe for these negotiations and that they resume from where they left off and on the basis of what has been agreed upon in the peace process.”
The Islamist movement Hamas criticised the summit for failing to go far enough in response to Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip, which the Palestinian group rules.
“The positions taken by the Arab summit were not at the level demanded and did not match the aspirations of the Palestinian people to lift the siege, end their suffering and protect their holy sites,” Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhum told AFP.
“Waiting to test the intentions of the occupation is a waste of time... The summit should have used every means of Arab pressure to isolate the Zionist occupation.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has vowed no let-up in plans to build new settler homes in East Jerusalem, yesterday blamed the Palestinians for blocking peace talks, suspended since December 2008.
“We continue to see that the Palestinians are hardening their positions. They do not show any sign of moderation,”  claimed Netanyahu.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas already on Saturday ruled out new talks with the Jewish state until it halts settlements, despite agreeing earlier this month to US calls to enter into indirect negotiations with Israel.
“We cannot resume indirect negotiations as long as Israel maintains its settlement policy and the status quo,” the Fatah leader told the summit.
Arab League chief Amr Moussa, who said ahead of the summit that talks with Israel had become “pointless”, urged Arab leaders to mull their options in case of a total collapse of the peace process.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon, in an address to the summit’s opening day, sought Arab support for US-brokered indirect talks while stressing Jerusalem must emerge as the “capital of two states”.
The international community has never recognised Israel’s annexation of East Jerusalem after the 1967 Middle East war, when it occupied the West Bank, and considers all settlements illegal.
The leaders also decided to meet again before the end of October at an “extraordinary summit” to discuss a proposal to reform and transform the Arab League into an “Arab Union” and another to set up an “Arab Neighbourhood Zone” open to non-Arab countries such as Turkey and Iran.
“We invite Turkey to join us but we will hold discussions with Iran before inviting it,” Moussa said yesterday, citing some “points of difference” with the Islamic republic. AFP

DOHA: As rumours continue to circulate about a steep hike in traffic fines, a senior official of the Traffic Department has clarified that such reports are totally baseless and there is no change in the traffic law.

Over the past month, e-mail messages have been circulating about a new “traffic violations law” with a detailed list of new fines for different violations. Though the messages appear to be a fraud at the very first look, they have been widely circulated, causing confusion among the public.

“The Traffic Department is dealing with all violations as per the current traffic law, without any change or amendment,” said Brigadier Mohammed Saad Al Kharji, Director of the Traffic Department, while denying the reports spreading through mobile phones and the Internet.

The email message about the “New traffic violations law — October 2009” gives a comparative list of the “new” and “existing” fines. Anyone who is aware of the current law would immediately realise that the message is fake, since many of the existing fines mentioned in it are incorrect.

For instance, it says that the “fine for using a mobile phone while driving” has been raised from QR3,000 to QR10,000, whereas the existing fine for this violation is QR500. Similar is the case with most of the

other violations.

Only a naïve person would believe this message when it says that the fines for most violations have been raised from QR10,000 to an incredible QR50,000.

Despite all this, the message has been circulating fast as people forward it to others without thinking much about the content. The Peninsula has received a number of calls from people seeking a clarification on this matter.

A resident said he had seen the same message displayed prominently at a work site in the Industrial Area a few weeks ago.

An expert from the Traffic Department told The Peninsula yesterday that he had been receiving a number of queries from people about the issue.

“It is surprising that people go by such rumours. Anyone would know that if there is a major change in the traffic law it would be announced through the media by senior officials,” he added.

It has been pointed out that many residents don’t have easy access to authentic information about the traffic law since an official English version of the law is still not available.

 Members of a delegation - comprising leaders of the field of infrastructure in Qatar - who had gone to the US on a week-long tour were yesterday welcomed back at a reception at the US ambassador’s residence.
The tour to the US was part of plans to develop a “smart infrastructure” system in Qatar, ranging from architecture and design to road construction, resorts and water-related projects.
The delegation members included directors and senior executives from the ministry of municipality and urban planning, Ashghal (Public Works Authority), Qatar Projects Management, Dohaland, Qatari Diar and Barwa Building Materials who were extended certificates by US Ambassador to Qatar Joseph LeBaron at the reception.
“Qatar has a very exciting story to tell and the members of this delegation are particularly well-equipped for that. The next step is to bring these American companies here that have interest in Qatar,” LeBaron said.
“During the culminating moments of the delegations’ stay in the US, (representatives of) over 100 American firms gathered to listen to what the Qataris were doing.
“Earlier, the visitors held consultations in Washington DC, Virginia, and in Florida,” LeBaron noted.
Organised by the US embassy’s Commercial Affairs Office, with the support of the US Chamber of Commerce, the US-Qatar Business Council, Bilateral US-Arab Chamber of Commerce, and the National US-Arab Chamber of Commerce, the visit included roundtable discussions, delegate presentations, high-level consultations with federal government agencies, and business development opportunities in the form of one-on-one sessions.
During the tour, Ashghal also signed an agreement with the US Federal Highway Administration for assistance in conducting a national road safety audit.
“This agreement is just a beginning of a closer, direct relationship that will help Qatar develop an intelligent road system,” LeBaron said.
Another development was Ashghal joining hands with the US’s National Highway Institute for its staff’s development and training.
The embassy officials also appreciated the “generous support” of Qatar-based American firms such as Bechtel and Honeywell, without without “whose support the tour would not have materialised”.

 With World Cup fever spreading across the globe, football lovers in Qatar are preparing to watch the sporting competition over the next month.
Luckily for fans in Doha, there are plenty of venues which will be screening the matches with most of the hotels offering the chance to watch the action live.
The Grand Hyatt Doha is celebrating the upcoming tournament in conjunction with the South African embassy.

A massive tent is being set up at the Souq Waqif to show World Cup matches live. PICTURE: Jayaram

South African Ambassador Vincent Zulu will celebrate the opening ceremony of his nation’s World Cup at the hotel on Friday afternoon.
The ambassador said: “On this day, we will reflect on and celebrate the journey that we have embarked upon.  This epic achievement is an opportunity for all Africans to show the world and share with other nations the humanity, heritage and beauty, not only of South Africa, but also of the entire continent.”
“The celebration will pay homage to the Rainbow Nation and be attended by several diplomatic missions in Qatar,” explained a spokesperson, adding “it will also feature the flavours of South African food with authentic barbecued fare and savoury finger food celebrating the country’s rich cultural heritage.”
Grand Hyatt Doha and Sony have co-operated to erect screens and Rocca will show the matches with commentary in English, whilst Biscotti will feature coverage with Arabic commentary.
The Doha Marriott Hotel has transformed its pool and beach area into the ‘Marriott World Cup Gaming Zone,’ to mark this special occasion, where it will be showing the matches on large screens and hosting a variety of activities.
The zone opens up an hour ahead of the first kickoff of every day, and the specially-erected air-conditioned tent will feature both a VIP section, as well as another area open to the public for free.
“The VIP section offers you the chance to watch the games in the comfort of a private booth for six people on your own big screen and served by your own butler,” explained a spokesperson, adding “the general section has been designed to make you vibrate as if you were in the stadium, feeling the vibrations of excitement from the crowd.”
She explained that the zone has much more to offer than just the live matches, as the area will also include a football pitch and a goals wall with prizes, as well as a gaming section giving customers the chance to replay the matches on the games consoles, or the old fashioned way, on foosball tables.
The hotel’s beach has also been modified to provide guests with an alternative to football by hosting a beach volleyball court.
Food and beverage manager of the Marriott, Tony Altuntas said: “The World Cup is a long-awaited event watched by millions in so many countries, so we wanted to offer our guests a culinary worldwide experience too. Our team will prepare everyday succulent and tasty specialties from all around the world, making everyone discover new tastes and cuisines.”
The Ramada Plaza will also be showing every match throughout the competition.
“To celebrate we are showing every single match live across three venues, making sure that you don’t miss out an any of the action,” said a spokesperson, adding that Shehrazad will become a ‘fan zone’ during the competition, with all games kicking off at 5pm and 9.30pm being screened.
Key matches will be shown in the Qube, while games kicking off at 2.30pm will be screened in Picasso’s Tapas restaurant.
The representative explained that the semi-finals and finals will also be shown at each of the three locations.
The Ritz-Carlton Doha will be hosting a ‘World Cup Bonanza’ at the Admiral’s Club where it will be showing all matches live.
Matches in the evening will also be shown outdoors by the hotel’s pool, where snacks and drinks will be available on order.
An official from the Sheraton hotel explained that the hotel will be showing the matches in all the guestrooms, as well as at the Waterhole and the Irish Harp.
A spokesperson for the Sharq Village and Spa stated that a special event will be held at the hotel on Friday to mark the opening ceremony of the World Cup.  She noted that although the opening ceremony is an invitation only event, the second match will be open to the public in the Al Sharq arena.
She added that all the matches throughout the entire competition will be shown at three locations in the hotel: the cigar lounge, Al Qareb and the Sharq Arena.
W Doha Hotel and Residences is also ready to welcome guests to watch the World Cup over the next month, with a spokesperson claiming that “W will be infusing their playful take on contemporary luxury into your football viewing experience, creating a world where guests can cheer on their favourite team while lounging in W’s chic environment.” 
Matches will be shown at Wahm and on 3D screens at the Crystal Lounge, whilst private viewing experiences are also available in rooms with butlers.
The general manager of W Doha Hotel, Safak Guvenc, said: “People in Doha have a great sense of style and they love to entertain and be entertained in imaginative and exciting surroundings.  The World Cup is the perfect opportunity for us to showcase our creativity by thinking of the smallest details and making every football fan feel like a VIP.”
“Our guests can enjoy the excitement of feeling like they are actually there, while enjoying the comforts of our luxurious hospitality and interiors too,” he said, claiming “this event will make W Doha the most memorable and happening venue at which to watch the World Cup football with family, friends or clients.”
Crystal Lounge will feature three 3D screens, as well as private rooms with two plasma screens, butler service and Nintendo Wiis included, whilst both Crystal Lounge and Wahm will have a number of promotions, including happy hours from 5-7pm, he added.