An exciting new dawn has come to one of Qatar's most historic cities, which sits close to Doha on the way to beautiful desert landscapes. The gateway to the desert opened its doors to the world on 18 December 2020 with a spectacular debut that included the Amir Cup final. Al Rayyan, where Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium is located, is known for its love of traditions and local culture, as well as its hugely popular football team, Al Rayyan Sports Club. The close-knit community here is deeply committed to the team, whose new arena will host up to 40,000 fans at FIFA World Cup 2022™ matches. Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, built on the site of a venue with the same name, incorporates symbols of Qatari culture into its spectacular undulating façade. The facilities surrounding the stadium also mirror the country, with sand dune-shaped structures recalling the beautifully wild lands to the west. Al Rayyan welcomes football fans from around the world with open arms, eager to show them the rich culture of Qatar. Thanks to its location on the edge of the desert, preserving nature and its gifts has long been a priority in resilient Al Rayyan – and this arena is no different. The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy has delivered the venue using environmentally friendly building materials and practices. Every part of the stadium district has been designed with sustainability in mind. After the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ has come to a close, almost half of the stadium's 40,000 modular seats will be removed and given to football development projects abroad. The smaller post-tournament arena will enable Al Rayyan to maintain the intimate, neighbourly character it's famous for.

Eight countries will participate in the first Qatar International Open Parachuting Championship, which will be held in the first week of February.Eight countries will participate in the first Qatar International Open Parachuting Championship, which will be held in the first week of February.Eight countries will participate in the first Qatar International Open Parachuting Championship, which will be held in the first week of February. The unique championship to be held from February 5-8 at the Doha Sealine Dropzone will see teams from Austria, Denmark, Germany, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Slovenia and Qatar taking part. In a post on social media, Qatar Air Sports Committee, organisers of the championship invited all to attend the first Qatar International Open Parachuting Championship, which will be held at the Sealine area between 7am and 5pm. There will be two competitions in men’s category – 4-way formation skydiving and accuracy landing. The opening of the championship will be on Friday, February 5 at 4pm in Sealine.

The State of Qatar has again retained its global distinction in safety as Doha, the capital of Qatar, has been declared as the second safest city in the world. In 431 cities covered in the report, Doha has been placed at number 2 in terms of safety and low crime rate. Doha secured 87.96 in safety index while its crime index is just 12.04, according to Numbeo’s Crime Index by City 2021. Numbeo, the world’s largest database of user contributed data about cities and countries worldwide, provides current and timely information on world living conditions including cost of living, housing indicators, health care, traffic, crime and pollution. According to the classification rules of the report, cities have been ranked in reverse order that the city that occupies 431st place is the city with the lowest crime rate and ranks first in terms of safety and security. Doha scored a total of 12.04 points in crime index, being the second lowest scorer of the points starting from zero to hundred points. According to this classification, Doha becomes the second safest city (at 430 position) out of 431 cities covered in the report with a score of 87.96 points in safety index. The top 10 safest cities included Abu Dhabi, UAE; Taipei, Taiwan; Quebec City, Canada; Zurich, Switzerland; Sharjah, UAE; Dubai, UAE; Eskisehir, Turkey; Munich, Germany; and Trieste, Italy. Qatar had also retained its position as the ‘Safest Country’ globally as per the 2020 mid-year Crime Index by Numbeo released in July last year. The Numbeo database publishes its annual reports since 2009, based on the measurement of the crime rate in the countries of the world. The index of crimes in countries is measured according to the laws of those countries as it considers that there are acts that constitute crimes in some countries dissimilar to other countries, which gives a real measure of the rate of crime in countries in accordance with applicable laws. The placing of Doha at top of safest cities in the world reflects overall security and safety situation in Qatar thanks to the continuous efforts of the Ministry of Interior in its vision of achieving maximum security and stability in society and protecting people's lives and property.

UAE-budget carrier flydubai will resume services to Doha on January 26, with a double daily service from Dubai International to Doha’s Hamad International Airport. It is the third UAE airline to re-launch services to Qatar in more than three years after Air Arabia and Etihad Airways. Qatar Airways on Wednesday announced that it would resume flights to the United Arab Emirates, starting with services to Dubai on January 27 and to Abu Dhabi the next day. The announcements comes after the historic Al Ula declaration signed by Qatar and an Arab quartet of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt. The agreement marked the beginning of the end of a three-and-half year travel and trade blockade imposed on Qatar by the quartert. The agreement paved the way for the reopening of airspace by the four Arab countries and resumption of flights. While Qatar Airways has already resumed services to Saudi Arabia and Egypt, it is expected to re-launch flights to Bahrain soon.

In a statement posted on Twitter Qatar Airways cautioned prospective job seekers against fake employment offers. “Prospective employees are being targeted with fake employment emails/advertisements, that appear to be from Qatar Airways or Qatar Airways Group subsidiaries, sent by unauthorised employment agencies and unknown domains asking for personal information and in some cases money to proceed with a job offer,” the airline said. Some other big corporations have also recently warned people against fake employment offers and scamsters try to make quick money from unsuspecting job hunters. All emails should be checked for their authenticity and cross verified. The airline also mentioned that they do not request payment from candidates during the recruitment process. “All emails relating to employment opportunities will only be sent from a verified Qatar Airways email address (@qatarairways.com.qa or @.<>.qatarairways.com), and all job postings are only available on the Qatar Airways official website and official social media channels. Qatar Airways does not request payment from candidates during the recruitment process. “If you suspect that you are being scammed, please advise Qatar Airways immediately on reportfraud@qatarairways.com.qa. Our official vacancies can be seen at https://careers.qatarairways.com,” the airline said in the statement.

Al Khor Carnival 2021 The 18-day festival will have fun rides, cultural activities, inflatable park and shopping. Visitors can also enjoy mouth-watering food by the many food outlets and food trucks at the venue. Where: Al Bayt Stadium Park Al Khor When: 23 January 2021 - 6 February 2021; 12pm-10pm International Art Exhibition at Doha Festival City Celebrate international art works by artists from around the world at International Art Exhibition, representing Qatar, Russia, Denmark and India among others. Where: Ground Floor, Doha Festival City When: 15 January 2021 - 28 February 2021 Scientific Applications in Cultural Heritage Forum Qatar National Library is organizing the first edition of the forum which begins from January 25 to 30. Held virtually, the forum will feature lectures and presentations on pigments and dyes in manuscripts and heritage objects by leading experts in the field. Damascus, Levant Exhibition - Katara In cooperation with the Embassy of Syria in Doha, “Damascus, Levant” Exhibition by The Artist/ Salah Eddin Al Bizri Where: Building 18, Gallery 2 Doha When: 17 January 2021 - 29 January 2021; 10am-10pm Marmi Festival 2021 The festival, organised by Qatar Al Gannas Society, Marmi Festival is considered one of the important features of the original Qatari culture. It presents various aspects of tradition and heritage, and this festival is aimed at reviving them among the new generations. Where: Mesaieed (Sealine) When: 1 January 2021 - 31 January 2021; 4pm-8pm Mal Lawal 3 Cars Classic cars edition is exhibited at Mal Lawal 3, a unique platform that celebrates collecting and bringing together private collectors from Qatar to showcase their collectibles. This time the exhibition has cars from two established local car collectors. When: On until August 1; 9am to 7pm (Friday 1:30pm to 7pm) Where: National Museum of Qatar Torba Farmers Market The popular market is back at Ceremonial Court in Qatar Foundation with the Covid-19 precautionary measures in place. Offering a wide range of products including freshly-baked goods, fruits, vegetables, homemade preserves, syrups, and handicrafts, the market is a hit among the community. Where: Ceremonial Court in Qatar Foundation. When: Only on Saturdays from 8am to 5pm, until April Tasty Street Tasty Street Qatar, a drive-thru food festival organised at Katara with over 300 food kiosks. The event will be held until March 2021. Where: Katara Shakespeare Street When: Ongoing until 31 March 2021, (3 pm – Midnight) If you know of any other event we missed out please inform us and we will get it listed. Source : @peninsula_qatar

Qatar Airways Holidays has announced the final extension of its Travel Bubble Holidays packages to the Maldives, providing travellers with more flexibility to plan a last-minute, quarantine-free gateway to the tropical paradise island. The travel period is extended until February 20 for bookings with minimum three-night duration and last outbound date from Qatar on February 17. To celebrate the success and mark the end of the very popular Travel Bubble Holidays between Qatar and the Maldives, Qatar Airways Holidays will offer customers free upgrades, including use of additional resort facilities, water sports activities — such as canoeing, laser sailing, snorkelling and windsurfing — as well as special food and beverage offerings for all new bookings made before February 15, all at no extra cost. In November 2020, Qatar Airways Holidays announced the creation of its Travel Bubble Holidays package allowing Qatar citizens and residents to holiday safely with no quarantine or self-isolation requirements on return for citizens and no exceptional entry permit, quarantine or self-isolation requirements on return for residents of Qatar. Even though the Maldives is no longer part of the Green List countries published by the Ministry of Public Health, the Travel Bubble Holidays are unaffected. All packages include return flights between Qatar and the Maldives on Qatar Airways’ exclusive flights for Travel Bubble Holidays customers, accommodation on a full board basis, return airport transfers, and all taxes. Travel Bubble Holidays’ packages are available to book on the Qatar Airways Holidays website or from a local travel agent. Three high-end luxury properties including the Sandies Bathala Maldives 4-star resort, Diamonds Thudufushi Beach 5-star resort and Amaya Kuda Rah 5-star resort — each situated on their own private island — are exclusively available for guests travelling from Qatar. For the safety of themselves and fellow travellers, Travel Bubble Holidays guests mustt take a PCR test in Doha and get a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate issued no more than 72 hours before departure. This is a requirement of the Maldives government and sign a release form committing to the terms and conditions of the exclusive Travel Bubble Holidays. Take a rapid PCR test at Hamad International Airport. Results will be available within 15 minutes, and passengers will be allowed to travel if negative. Arrive in the Maldives, where no additional tests are needed, and take a transfer by speedboat directly to the resort. Return to Maldives airport via speedboat transfer on the day of departure. Take a rapid PCR test upon arrival into Doha. If negative, return home without the need to quarantine or self-isolate. Qatar Airways has become the first global airline in the world to achieve the prestigious 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating by international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax. It also provides assurance to passengers across the world that airline health and safety standards are subject to the highest possible standards of professional, independent scrutiny and assessment. Source: @peninsula_qatar The Peninsula Newspaper @QATARAIRWAYS

Doha: The country witnessed a decrease in visibility due to a sandstorm which occurred in some parts of Doha. On Twitter, QMD stated: "We are observing a decrease in the horizontal visibility in most regions of the country, and currently reaching 2 KM in the capital Doha." In the same statement, QMD also urged everyone to take extra precaution during this weather condition. To ensure safety in the event of exposure to waves of dust, QMD advised citizens and residents the following: 1. Avoid direct exposure to dust and dirt. 2. Take care by washing the face, nose, and mouth frequently. 3. Keep wearing a mask to avoid dust from entering your respiratory system. 4. When dust gets into the eyes, avoid rubbing them, and rinse immediately with water. On Tuesday, QMD stated that strong winds are likely to continue until Friday, January 22. QMD also issued a marine warning as current sea states range between 7-11 ft rising to 14 ft at times. The northwesterly wind speed also ranges between 22-32 KT gusting to 40 KT. Due to this weather condition, QMD advised people of Qatar to avoid all marine activities including: 1. Free swimming 2. Boat trips 3. Scuba diving 4. Free diving 5. Surfing 6. Fishing tours 7. Windsurfing Source @peninsula_qatar

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that 22 national teams from the Arab region have signed up to participate in the FIFA Arab Cup, which will be staged from 1 to 18 December 2021. Speaking during a visit to Lusail Stadium, which will host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Final, the FIFA President stated that he expected the regional tournament in 2021 to unite millions of football fans from across the Middle East and Arab world. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said: “We are delighted that all 22 teams from across the Arab world have agreed to take part in the FIFA Arab Cup 2021, which will be held in FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 stadiums, and we are looking forward to seeing the region’s best teams battle it out to see which nation will become champion. Through football, this tournament will unite over 450 million people from across the region, and we are confident that the FIFA Arab Cup will help to build excitement across the region as we edge ever nearer to hosting the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East and Arab world in 2022.” The tournament will be delivered by FIFA, the Qatar Football Association, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy and the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC. Seen as a vital opportunity to test operations and facilities ahead of Qatar 2022, the tournament will take place in the same timeslot as the FIFA World Cup. The finals of both the FIFA Arab Cup and FIFA World Cup will take place exactly one year apart – each on 18 December, Qatar National Day, which is a public holiday.

Doha, Qatar, November 2020: Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles, the authorized general distributor of Mercedes-Benz in Qatar, launched the all-new E-class in a special event held at Nasser Bin Khaled showroom on Slawa Road. The launch event was attended by HE Sheikh Faleh Bin Nawaf Al Thani, Mangaing Director- Auto, Nasser Bin Khaled group, Ihab El-Feky, Director, Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles, NBK Automobiles executive management,  selective local media, and influencers. It comes under NBK Automobiles strategic plans to showcase its steady growth in the market. HE Sheikh Faleh Bin Nawaf Al Thani, Mangaing Director- Auto, Nasser Bin Khaled group, said: "NBK Automobiles is proud to launch the all-new Mercedes-Benz fascinating cars as part of our strategic plans. We will continue to bring Qatar the best and latest innovation from the reputable international brand. Qatar is one of the main target markets for Mercedes-Benz, and the position of the brand indicates the close relations we have." E-Class Sedan: The all-new E class shines with its fascinating design and state-of-the-art features. the entry-level model already comes with the sporty Avantgarde Line exterior. As a result, the base model of the E‑Class Sedan features a central star at the front for the first time. The new front end with increased chrome content plays a role in the fresh appearance. The E-Class Sedan features all-LED headlamps as standard. MULTIBEAM LED headlamps including ULTRA RANGE high beam are available as an option. The three new paint colours available as part of the refresh are high-tech silver metallic, graphite grey metallic and mojave silver metallic. The wheel line-up has also been expanded and now includes aero wheels, which also contribute to saving fuel and thus to sustainability. New upholstery colours and materials upgrade the interior. The new E-Class Sedan is equipped with the latest Mercedes-Benz driving assistance systems providing cooperative support to drivers. This results in an especially high level of active safety: the E-Class Sedan reacts if the driver does not. The new E-Class Sedan is equipped with the latest generation of the MBUX multimedia system (Mercedes-Benz User Experience). As standard for the region, it includes two large 12.3 inch/31.2 cm screens that are arranged side by side for a widescreen look. The information in the instrument cluster and on the media display is easily legible on the large, high-resolution screens E Class Coupe: With its expressive coupé proportions, clear and sensual design and long-distance comfort for four people, the new E-Class Coupé combines the beauty and classic virtues of a grand tourer with state-of-the-art technology. It also offers the intelligence of the E-Class family with full Smartphone Integration, Widescreen Cockpit and the latest driver assistance systems with the option of, among other things, partially automated driving. Based technically on the Saloon, the sporty and exclusive Coupé marks a next step in the evolution of the Mercedes-Benz design idiom. The interior of the E-Class Coupé embodies the synthesis of sporty emotion and luxurious intelligence. As the key design element, the Widescreen Cockpit emphasizes the width, as does the fascia-spanning trim, which terminates with a dynamic sweep in the door panel. A decidedly sporty touch is provided by the air vents, whose design in silver shadow is inspired by turbine blades. The E-Class Coupé provides long-distance comfort for four persons on four fully-fledged seats with a coupé-specific design.

QNTC held an awareness workshop in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) on measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in hospitality establishments throughout Qatar. The workshop was attended by senior representatives from across the hospitality sector. The session was led by Dr. Salam Sharrab from MoPH who explained the core measures hospitality employees should take to protect themselves and their guests, the most important of which is washing hands thoroughly with any type of soap. He also stated that any staff member or guest exhibiting symptoms of the virus should be quarantined as a precautionary measure, and that MoPH can be reached any time by calling 16000. The workshop addressed the importance of using alcohol-based antiseptics with 70% concentration to clean toilets, surfaces and public places like gyms, restaurants, lobbies and guest rooms. Several of the hotel managers that took part in the workshop stated that they have already taken a number of precautionary steps such as asking staff to limit their interactions outside the workplace, checking employees for fever on a daily basis before they enter the hotel, using sanitizers in accordance with MoPH standards, and sterilizing all tables, chairs and gym equipment after every use. Some hotels are offering their guests sanitizer upon arrival, and taking additional steps to ensure to the cleanliness of facilities like spas or pools. QNTC has launched a task force that has been assigned to work around the clock in coordination with the MoPH and other concerned entities to make sure that a steady flow of information and directives is communicated to all hospitality establishments and attractions in Qatar.

The Ministry of Public Health announced in a press conference today that it recorded 238 new confirmed cases of coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19) in the State of Qatar for expatriates from contacts of the three cases that were announced to be infected with the virus last Sunday who reside in one residential complex. The ministry explained that the new cases that were registered were those who were subject to quarantine as a precautionary measure since the discovery of the injury of the three arrivals, which prevented them from contacting other members of society, bringing the number of confirmed cases of Corona infection in the country to 262 cases so far. The Ministry of Public Health stated that the number of people infected with the virus is likely to increase among contacts of previously announced patients, who are subject to quarantine ... calling on community members to be reassured that all declared cases enjoy a very good health condition and receive medical care at the Center for Transitional Diseases. The Ministry of Health urges all parties and individuals to follow preventive measures to ensure their safety and that of their community, and refer to the website of the Ministry for all the latest information and developments about the virus (Covid 19) available in several languages, or call the toll-free number (16000).