Marie/Flickr

Photo for illustrative purposes only

Residents and visitors should avoid bringing banned substances or large quantities of medicines into Qatar without a prescription, Indian officials have warned after an engineer was detained at the airport and threatened with deportation for carrying undocumented drugs.

Oil and gas engineer Ankit Singhal flew to Qatar for the first time on March 1 to start a new job here.

On arrival, he was stopped by customs officers at Hamad International Airport (HIA), who found around 30 painkiller tablets believed to be Tramadol in his luggage.

The opioid medication, which is similar to codeine, is used to manage severe pain. In many countries, it can only be obtained legally by a doctor’s prescription, but it can also be bought online.

Richard Lee/Flickr

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

The drug has been linked to abuse, particularly among young people, and authorities here appear to be on the lookout for potential trafficking of large amounts of the substance into the country.

Last August, the General Authority of Customs announced it stopped a traveler crossing Abu Samra border with nearly 3,000 Tramadol pills in his luggage.

No prescription

Singhal did not have the prescription for the medication and was detained by customs officers and sent to the deportation center, where plans were underway to deport him early this week, said the president of the Indian Cultural Center (ICC), Girish Kumar.

There have also recently been other reports of travelers of different nationalities being detained for carrying medicine without a prescription.

In a circular sent to Indian nationals this week, the ICC advised extra caution when traveling with medication.

The Indian Ambassador was made aware of Singhal’s case and after negotiation with authorities he was released on Saturday, March 5, Kumar said.

Kathea Pinto/Flickr

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

Kumar told Doha News that Singhal had managed to get his doctor in India to send a copy of his prescription for the medication, which helped with negotiations to release him.

The cultural center is now warning all residents and visitors to Qatar to be aware of the regulations around traveling with medication.

“For painkillers and antibiotics, especially those with sedatives, everyone should make sure they have a prescription from a registered medical practitioner in their home country.

If possible, they should get this attested by the ministry of external affairs in their country. This is a standard requirement and will help with your easy entry into the country.”

Kumar added:

“You should not travel with more than a small amount of any medication. If you have the quantity for six months’ or one year, that could be a problem.”

New to Qatar, Singhal had been unaware of the regulations around his medication and had spent several “uncomfortable” days with the threat of deportation, the official added.

Jiseon Shin/Flickr

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

“Qatar has strict rules, like every country, and we want to make sure everyone knows about them, to avoid another case like this.

If you don’t have a prescription you could risk being deported. A lack of knowledge or information could result in problems for the passenger and also for the authorities,” he went on.

Passengers with medication should alert customs officials as they arrive in the state to avoid any misunderstanding, Kumar added.

On the Indian Embassy in Qatar’s website, there is advice for nationals traveling to the country with medicine.

“If you are under medication and if you are carrying certain prescribed medicines, you must have doctor’s prescription in original and the medicines should be carried along with its original packing and literature so that custom authorities can easily identify them,” it states.

Drug use

Last summer, authorities in Qatar were said to be considering taking a tougher line on those caught selling illegal substances to young people, in a bid to tackle a rise in drug use.

Amr Aly Al Hemeidy, assistant director of the Ministry of Interior’s narcotics department, said that the most dangerous drugs used by addicts in Qatar are cocaine, heroin and morphine.

Other more common drugs that are often misused include psycho-stimulants like tramadol, captagon and Lyrica.

The Gulf is a popular market for Captagon, a powerful stimulant that gives users a burst of energy that helps them stay awake for prolonged periods of time while suppressing their appetite.

Current penalties for drug use and dealing range from jail time to the death penalty, in addition to fines of up to QR500,000, according to Law No. 9 for the year 1987.

Thoughts?

(The post Qatar travelers with medication advised to carry prescriptions is from Doha News.)

Armed with a QR930,000 donation from energy firm Chevron Phillips, one of Qatar’s largest charities recently served 10,000 meals to blue-collar expats working on the Doha Metro, Lusail Expressway and several other major building sites around the country.

The Qatar Red Crescent said it plans to expand its efforts and use the money to distribute additional meals, as well as water, juice and hygiene kits, to thousands more expats in the coming months.

(The post Qatar Red Crescent distributes 10,000 meals to low-income expats is from Doha News.)

All images courtesy of Platinum Scotch Broth Events

Bored with Friday brunches? A food events company that offers “multi-sensory eating experiences” is launching in the Middle East this week with three events at hotels in Qatar.

Billed as “Derren Brown meets Heston Blumenthal meets Dining in the Dark,” Platinum Scotch Broth Events’ foodie nights use science to underpin their explanations and tastings.

The Scotland-based company, which has organized similar events in the UK, China and Hong Kong, holds its first Qatar event tonight with a three-course “multi-sensory science supper” at the recently-opened Westin Hotel in Bin Mahmoud.

On Wednesday, drinks night Molecularly matched molecules will be held at the hotel’s Mix Bar, delving into the technical elements behind mixing a great cocktail.

Platinum Scotch Broth Events/Twitter

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

The launch week closes with a six-course private dining event at Nobu, which markets itself at the “exclusive” end of the market, with tickets priced at QR975 per person.

These, and the firm’s other events, explore how the taste of food and drink can be enhanced – or completely changed – by triggering other senses and the surrounding environment.

This is done through music, color, texture and temperature.

‘Underpinned with science’

The events are run by Qatar-based private chef David Buchanan and Ewan Henderson, a food expert and professional events speaker based in Scotland.

“We do food and drinks events which are very different to the standard ‘cheese and wine’ of yesteryear. Everything we present our guests with is underpinned with science,” Buchanan told Doha News.

Platinum Scotch Broth Events

David Buchanan with celebrity chef Jamie Oliver

“We can prime a guest to taste something in a certain way – we put a blindfold on them, then give them a soft silk scarf to hold, which can help to give them a positive experience of the food.

“But then we use the same food while they hold something rough, which negatively impacts the way something tastes,” he added.

Buchanan and Henderson have worked with Glasgow University’s Polyomics department to study in more detail the chemical compounds found in food and drink, and to come up with unusual pairings.

They have also taken part in science festivals in the Scottish cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow.

“There are lots of foods which have similar chemical compounds and work well together but you might not think of combining – like white chocolate and caviar, coffee and garlic or banana and parsley. We explore these in some of our tastings,” Buchanan said.

While the inaugural events include alcohol, Buchanan said he is in talks with IDAM restaurant at the Museum of Islamic Art to organize a Qatar-themed event with mocktails in May.

Future events

“We want to incorporate elements from Qatar and Persian culture, which you can find in the artifacts at the museum,” he added.

They are also planning future events at other restaurants around town for later in the year ahead of Ramadan, although details of these have yet to be confirmed.

Buchanan has worked for nearly 20 years as a private chef around the world, including a stint at Holyrood House – Queen Elizabeth’s residence in Scotland. He’s currently working in Doha for members of the ruling family.

Platinum Scotch Broth Events

Blindfold tastings

While the first Doha events will make use of existing products in the Qatar market, Buchanan said he hopes to soon import luxury Scottish food and drink in the future, creating combinations such as laban with smoked sea salt from Scotland’s Hebridean Islands.

You can find more information on the events, which require pre-registration, and future events at the company’s website here.

Who’s going? Thoughts?

(The post New foodie tastings in Qatar combine science with the senses is from Doha News.)

Chris Charlston

Lightning show over West Bay

Following yesterday’s rain, forecasters said intermittent showers will continue today and may turn into thunderstorms at night. Rain is also in the forecast on Wednesday, though conditions are expected to clear up on Thursday, the Qatar Meteorology Department said.

(The post Lightning show over West Bay is from Doha News.)

All photos by Ray Toh

An “Animal Park” featuring animatronic models of dinosaurs and other large animals is being set up in Qatar and plans to open on Thursday, March 10.

The park is located on an empty lot near the Qatar Sports Club in West Bay and will remain open through April 2, according to Dubai-based organizers CAC events.

The company is working in partnership with AJ Entertainment in Doha, in conjunction with the Qatar Tourism Authority.

In addition to dinosaurs as tall as 8m (26 feet), King Kong and Godzilla, there is also an area for kids to interact with smaller robotic models, and stalls will sell food and drinks.

Speaking to media yesterday, organizers said the idea was inspired by Jurassic Park and the aim is to entertain and educate children in the Middle East.

The park has already seen success in Oman, and the team will head to Bahrain next. Organizers added that they plan to launch a larger Dinosaur Park in Qatar at the end of this year.

Tickets to enter the park are QR15/child (below the age of 12 years old) and QR25/adult. Children under the age of two years old are free.

The timings for the park are daily from 4pm to 11pm, except Saturdays, when the park will be open from 10am to 11pm.

Thoughts?

(The post Animal Park roars into Qatar on Thursday is from Doha News.)

John Taggart/Flickr

Qatar Airways existing Boeing 777-300ER aircraft

Qatar’s national carrier is upgrading its business class offerings by rolling out new seats that can be closed off with a sliding door, according to media reports.

The new “super-business class” arrangement will initially be incorporated into the design of newly-built aircraft, likely the Boeing 777-300ER, and then the Airbus A350s, by the end of this year.

The remainder of Qatar Airways’ fleet will then get retro-fitted with the design, Australian Business Traveller quoted the airline’s CEO as saying last week during a press conference for the new Doha-Sydney route.

While Akbar Al Baker is quoted as describing the cabins as “first class at a business class fare,” the move comes as the airline is reportedly looking to phase out first class in all but its A380 aircraft.

Airbus

A350 interior for illustrative purposes only.

Qatar Airways is planning an expected media launch of the new seats in November, ahead of a planned December roll-out.

This puts it in competition with Gulf rival Emirates, which is also planning to launch its new 777 business class seats in November.

The first images of what Emirates’ arrangement will look like are expected to be shown at the Berlin International Travel Trade Show, which starts tomorrow. But they will reportedly feature a fully-flat bed and a privacy panel.

Semi-private

Al Baker described the new super-business class as a cabin concept that would not be claustrophobic.

Qatar Airways/Flickr

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker

Speaking to ABT, he said: “I really feel that private suites become a bit claustrophobic, so when we are designing our new business class product we are making sure it is not.”

He continued:

“So we have decided to go for semi-privacy, in the cabin concept people slide the two doors and it becomes a cabin. It is already semi-closed and then it becomes fully closed, because people want additional privacy when they are sleeping.”

The cabin design, which the chief executive said would be exclusive to Qatar Airways, would also feature a double bed – at least for the middle seats.

After launching in the new aircraft, the remainder of the carrier’s fleet would be retrofitted with the new arrangement, at a rate of around three aircraft a month, he added.

Qatar Airways declined to comment on the media reports.

Competition

While the lux design will be good news for business travelers, it will provide little comfort to economy passengers who will still have to travel 10 across on Qatar Airways’ new 777 arrangement when it launches late this year.

The extra seat in each row will allow the airline to squeeze another 23 passengers into economy, which analysts said would boost revenue on busy European routes.

Qatar Airways/Flickr

Qatar Airways’s existing 9-across 777-300 economy cabin

However the airline said the decision was made due to “ever-increasing passenger demand” and Al Baker has previously been quoted as saying that passengers would not notice the narrower seats.

Competition between carriers in the region remains intense, particularly to attract passengers at the front end of the aircraft.

In addition to its new business class layout, Emirates joined Etihad in announcing last year a revamp of its first-class cabins, to feature “fully enclosed rooms” similar to that found on a luxury yacht, its president and chief executive Tim Clark previously said.

Etihad launched its upgraded first-class offering at the end of 2014 with what it called The Residence, which includes butler service in its three-room suite designed for two people traveling together.

Thoughts?

(The post Report: Qatar Airways to launch new ‘super-business class’ cabins is from Doha News.)

Qatar’s strong economy, strict security policies and the relative absence of refugees within the Gulf state have helped make it one of the more stable countries in the world, a new study has found.

According to the Fragile States Index, Qatar had the 36th best score out of 178 countries, one spot behind the UAE. The report also looks at a country’s provision of public services, grievances within different groups and other factors.

(The post Qatar ranked 2nd-most stable country in the Middle East is from Doha News.)

Sebastian Wilke/Flickr

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

The majority of motorists in Qatar feel their daily commute is getting longer and more dangerous, even as the country’s road infrastructure improves, a new survey has found.

In its first survey of the local market, Qatar Insurance Co. (QIC) and market research firm YouGov polled residents last month to gauge their perceptions on driving in Qatar. The sample size was small – 127 residents – but “representative.”

The good news is that motorists believe the quality of the country’s streets and highways are getting better, with 61 percent saying Qatar’s road infrastructure has improved over the last six months.

But there’s also a lot of bad news.

Slightly more than three-quarters of those surveyed said it’s taking longer for them to get to work.

And, to the alarm of surveyors, 86 percent of respondents said that in the last six months, they’ve been seeing more distracted drivers who are texting or talking on the phone while behind the wheel.

“It’s scary,” Frederik Bisbjerg, QIC executive vice-president, told Doha News. “People looking down at their phone is one of the major causes of accidents.”

Bisbjerg said he hopes that by publicizing the findings, drivers will think twice before reaching for their phone when they receive a text message or notification.

Previous public awareness campaigns, such as a video released last year that shows the potentially tragic consequences of distracted driving, have also encouraged motorists to stop using their phone while driving.

Financial incentives

Other findings from the QIC / YouGov survey included:

• 62 percent of those polled said traffic in Qatar has become more dangerous;
• 77 percent said they see more vehicles speeding; and
• 77 percent said more vehicles are changing lanes abruptly and without indicating.

Bisbjerg said he personally believes there may be a connection between Qatar’s improving road infrastructure and the driving habits of motorists.

Smooth and wide roads that are free of potholes enable people to drive faster, he said.

“Because we don’t do enough to educate drivers to cope with this, the accidents are more severe,” he said. “That’s an advantage of living in a country with bad roads – people go slow and accidents are not serious.”

Taking action

Bisbjerg said the situation is similar in other Gulf countries, particularly the UAE.

In Dubai, motorists now face the risk of additional financial penalties for dangerous driving.

Late last month, authorities in the emirate started to charge ambulance fees to the insurance provider of drivers who cause a collision. Insurance firms told The National that premiums would likely rise as a result.

A spokesperson for Hamad Medical Corp. told Doha News this week that ambulance patients in Qatar are not charged fees and that there are no plans to introduce new charges.

HMC/Facebook

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

However, QIC is considering other ways of offering motorists financial incentives to drive safely. It’s currently experimenting with an iPhone app, named How’s My Driving that tracks behavior such as rapid acceleration, harsh braking and speeding.

Bisbjerg said the eventual goal is to offer discounts to customers who use to app to demonstrate that they are driving safely.

“We want people to pay based on how they drive,” he said.

Bisbjerg said he hopes the driving survey will be repeated in six months.

Thoughts?

(The post Survey: Qatar’s roads growing more dangerous by the day is from Doha News.)

Supplied

Tiger on the loose

With reporting from Riham Sheble

Footage of a tiger cub wandering through traffic on a Qatar highway has provided an unusual diversion for motorists battling with their commute late this morning.

A 20-second film clip and still photographs showing a confused looking cub on the Doha Expressway have already been widely shared on social media.

The tiger, which has a broken chain attached to its collar and appears to be an escaped pet, can be seen running through lines of stopped vehicles, seemingly trying to find a way off the road.

On Twitter, the Ministry of Interior has said it is following up on reports of the loose tiger.

Translation: We assure everyone that the authorities are following what has been circulating (on social media) regarding a tiger being seen in specific areas of the country.

One of a series of the photographs then shows a man in white thobe and cap holding the tiger’s chain, seemingly having captured it.

Video shared by Al Watan says the same.

Although illegal, is not uncommon for residents to keep wild animals such as tigers, lions and cheetahs as pets in Qatar.

Last March the government appealed for the owners of an escaped cheetah cub, which was found in the Al Sakhama area north of Doha.

Despite repeated warnings of the dangers about this practice from the authorities including the Ministry of Interior, practical enforcement of these regulations is patchy.

The perpetrator could face a maximum of six month in prison and a fine ranging from QR1,000 to QR10,000 under Qatari law.

Did anyone see what happened?

Thoughts?

(The post Tiger found roaming loose on the Doha Expressway is from Doha News.)

Darren Martinez

Doha News turns seven

Seven years ago this week, Doha News posted its very first tweet:

Though the whole team couldn’t be in the office today to celebrate, at least their faces are on cupcakes. Happy seventh birthday to us, and thank you all for keeping us going!

(The post Doha News turns seven is from Doha News.)

Tim Reckmann/Flickr

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

As online shopping becomes more popular among residents, some members of Qatar’s influential Advisory (Shura) Council have called for stricter e-commerce regulations to protect consumers.

Speaking at a meeting yesterday, council member Rashid al-Midadi said he was particularly concerned about food and medicine being sold without the approval of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (Baladiya) and the Ministry of Public Health, respectively, according to a report in Al Raya.

However, al-Midadi was also quoted as saying that he was responding to “reliable information from specialized entities” about the sale of human organs and illegal drugs online.

According to the newspaper, al-Midadi and his colleagues agreed to invite specialists from the Ministry of Transport and Communications to the council’s next meeting with an eye on introducing new protections to keep residents safe and prevent them from being swindled online.

Online businesses

The Shura Council’s concerns come as other branches of government are working to make it easier for entrepreneurs in Qatar to launch e-commerce businesses.

Nick Olejniczak/Flickr

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

Qatar’s e-commerce consumer market is already valued at US$1.02 billion, some 40 percent of which comes from airline tickets and electronics, ictQatar said last fall.

The average resident spends $3,453 annually online, which is the highest in the MENA region, the ministry added at the time.

In October, ictQatar released an e-commerce strategy that contained several strategies to make it easier for residents to buy and sell items on the internet.

One of the first steps, it said at the time, was to permit private courier companies to compete against state-owned Qatar Post to deliver parcels within the country.

It also recognized that the country’s current business regulations are impractical for some digital entrepreneurs who may lack the formal office space that’s technically required to start a new business:

“Qatar hosts a significant number of ‘gray-market’ e-commerce enterprises that predominately use social media platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest to market their products. These enterprises are typically home-based and do not have a company registration, and thus operate outside the country’s legal, commerce context,” the Qatar National E-Commerce Roadmap 2015 said.

Consumer protection

While e-commerce technology and platforms may be rapidly evolving, Qatar already has a myriad of laws covering patents and trademarks that make counterfeit goods illegal.

Tony Webster/Flickr

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

Additionally, consumer protection laws make it illegal for suppliers to misrepresent the ingredients or nature of the product being sold.

Muhammad Abdullah al-Sulaiti, another Shura Council member, was quoted as saying that Qatar’s existing laws are sufficient to address any commercial violations, adding that e-shopping has become a “legitimate reality.”

Nevertheless, he also reportedly argued that there needs to be more regulation of Qatar’s e-commerce sector and, using the example of food retailers, said businesses should be licensed and supervised by both the Ministry of Municipality and Environment as well as the Ministry of Economy and Commerce.

Thoughts?

(The post Report: Qatar council calls for more controls on e-commerce is from Doha News.)

Abdulla Almesleh/Flick

Lightning in Qatar

People on the roads have been advised to proceed with caution this morning as heavy rains and thunderstorms make their way across Qatar.

Residents should expect some flooding today due to the downpour, but it shouldn’t be as bad as the storms that gridlocked the country in November, said Steff Gaulter, senior meteorologist for Al Jazeera English.

Speaking to Doha News, she said: “This heavy rain is temporary and will clear soon, then off and on showers . But in the afternoon should clear (up).”

She added that tomorrow is forecast to be sunny.

Traffic

That said, some people have opted to keep their kids home from school today due to the lightning and thunder, and the congestion on roads caused by accidents.

Here are some tips from the Ministry of Interior on navigating the roads while it’s raining:

Have you been affected by the weather? Thoughts?

(The post Rain to continue in Qatar throughout the day is from Doha News.)

The General Command of the Qatari Armed Forces announced that the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) will conduct parachute jumps at an altitude of 5,000 feet and the radius of three miles in the Sealine area from March 13 to 17 between 6am and 3pm.

Those who frequently visit the area are asked “to take precautions for their own safety,” QNA reports.

(The post Lekhwiya to conduct parachute jumps in Sealine area is from Doha News.)

Ankita Menon

West Bay bus

Passengers will soon have to pay to ride Qatar’s shuttle bus through Dafna/West Bay, after the service’s contract was renewed for another year by the government.

Starting April 1, riders will be charged an unspecified “fair price” for the commuter and tourist service, the Ministry of Transportation and Communication said in a statement.

The two-year-old shuttle rides are rarely used by people in the area, despite a parking crunch, due to time constraints, many have said.

To tackle this issue, the two routes that currently wind through the office towers in Qatar’s central business district will be consolidated into one.

Buses will run more frequently, picking up passengers every 12 minutes, down from every 20 minutes, for a total of 76 daily trips. The service starts at 6am and ends at 9pm, three hours earlier than when it first launched in 2014.

“As per this converged single route, we hope to serve the passengers better by more accessibility and frequency and also reduce their travel time,” the ministry quoted its director of technical affairs as saying.

Ministry of Transportation and Communication

New West Bay Bus route

(Click here to see a PDF map of the New West Bay bus route.)

The new route starts at Khalifa Tennis and Squash complex and swings through the Qatar Post Office before zigzagging through the streets between the Corniche and Majlis Al Taawon St.

The route also services the new Doha Exhibition and Conference Center, City Center Mall, the Four Seasons, Hilton and Intercontinental the City.

Parking woes

The number of office workers in Dafna vastly outstrips the amount of available parking in the area, resulting in many commuters illegally leaving their vehicles on sidewalks and other prohibited areas each day.

Additionally, the volume of vehicles entering and exiting the area during rush hour frequently causes traffic jams.

Zafra Bint Afker

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

In a bid to ease congestion, the government began operating the West Bay Shuttle Bus slightly more than two years ago with two overlapping routes running every 15 minutes.

Both started and ended at the southwest edge of Dafna, where free parking is more plentiful.

However, the service was slow to catch on among residents, with few passengers using the free service a month into its operations.

Last month, the Gulf Times reported that many of the buses were still running nearly empty.

The newspaper spoke to several would-be passengers who said they would rather pay for parking or a taxi than spend the extra 15 to 20 minutes required to take the bus.

Others, however, have complimented the shuttle:

Have you used the West Bay Shuttle Bus? What was your experience? Thoughts?

(The post Qatar’s West Bay bus service will no longer be for free is from Doha News.)

The price tag of operating six American universities in Qatar totals at least US$400 million, according to the Washington Post, which has obtained new information about Education City schools here. The figure is based on US tax records, US Education Department data and public records, including a recently released contract that shows Texas A&M receives $76.2 million from Qatar Foundation (QF) annually.

QF also reportedly provided financial support to other branch campuses in 2014, including Weill Cornell Medical College ($121.7 million), Carnegie Mellon ($60.3 million), Georgetown ($59.5 million), Northwestern ($45.3 million) and VCU ($41.8 million).

(The post Report: Education City schools cost Qatar Foundation $404mn annually is from Doha News.)

HMC/Facebook

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

In an effort to weed out unqualified healthcare providers in Qatar, the government has launched a new uniform licensing and development program for all doctors, nurses, paramedics and alternative medicine practitioners in the country.

That means that some 25,000 currently licensed professionals must eventually obtain a new license under the unified National Continuous Medical Education and Professional Development (CME/CPD) Program, headed by the Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners (QCHP), to be legally allowed to work in the country.

Alex Proimos/Flickr

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

To do that, they must undertake professional development courses with accredited organizations for credits before their license is up for renewal.

To renew his or her license, each practitioner must successfully complete at least 80 credits across two years and log them in their personal e-portfolio. Failure to take the courses could lead to the suspension of their license.

This should help to raise and standardize training and quality of healthcare in Qatar, the QCHP said.

Additionally, if a practitioner does not work for two years, his or her license would be revoked, and they’d have to begin the process anew.

Single regulator

All healthcare practitioners will be governed by one program, and the QCHP will act as the single, regulatory authority, the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) said in a statement.

HMC/Facebook

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

Those who previously undertook training programs outside of Qatar are now required to take QCHP courses to maintain their licenses to practice in the state, the health regulator warned.

The new program starts with immediate effect, but practitioners whose license is due for renewal within the next three months will not be required to do any CPD prior to that.

For those with less than two years on their license, the CPD requirements will be worked out on a pro-rata basis.

“All doctors, nurses and other paramedical staff will be enrolled. This will include the practitioners of complementary medicine too,” Gulf Times quoted Dr Samar Aboulsoud, acting CEO of QCHP as saying.

The new program has been in the works for three years Aboulsoud said, adding:

“The aim of starting this program in 2013 was to organize the healthcare sector and to make sure that no-one is able to practice without a license,” Qatar Tribune reported.

Earlier this year, Qatar’s health ministry approved the practice of some alternative therapies including homeopathy, ayurvedic medicine, acupuncture, chiropractic treatments and hijama (wet cupping) in the country.

And it ordered that all therapists should be licensed, with the QCHP as regulator.

Improve care

Launching the program, the new Minister of Public Health Dr. Hanan Al Kuwari said the aim of the program was to standardize and improve the quality of care patients in Qatar receive.

HMC

Minister of Public Health Hanan Al Kuwari

“When patients receive health care in Qatar, they need to know that what is offered to them is the highest and best level of treatment, hence the role of this program, which ensures that all health care practitioners have the latest practical and academic and most convenient qualifications,” she said.

There are currently 10 accredited Qatar-based private and public organizations that provide the professional training courses, in addition to three online CPD providers, according to a list on the MPH’s website.

The QCHP will add more providers to the list in the coming months.

Guidelines for registering with the QCHP can be found on its website here, and more information on the CPD program is here.

Thoughts?

(The post Unqualified healthcare workers in Qatar put on notice is from Doha News.)

Premium Events

Shrek the Musical

After a rainy week, sunny weather is in the forecast this weekend. Whether you’re feeling like attending something funny, going for a walk (backwards) or enjoying some music, there are quite a few things to do around town this weekend. Here are our picks:

Shrek debut

Shrek the Musical makes its Middle East debut this week in Doha today (March 9) at the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC) near Education City.

The stage version of the popular 2001 DreamWorks film will feature old favorite anthems from the movie including I’m a Believer, as well as some new songs. It runs until March 19 at Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC) near Education City.

Henry Huey/Flickr

Shrek the Musical

Tickets are QR249, QR349, QR499, QR1,599 and QR2,199 a person and can be bought online here. The box office opens 90 minutes before showtime.

Weekday evening shows are for children six years and older. Children under three years old are free if they sit on laps. Doors open 90 minutes before showtime and the show lasts 150 minutes, including 20 minutes for intermission.

Reverse walk

California Tortilla is hosting a walkathon with a twist on Saturday at Aspire Park from 10am to 5pm.

This is the first reverse walk Qatar has seen, and the event extols the health benefits of walking and exercising backwards.

Baba Tamim

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

This type of sport has become “quite the rage in Japan, China and parts of Europe, where people use it to build muscle, improve sports performance (and) promote balance,” according to the event’s website.

One of the goals of the weekend walk is to raise awareness for the Qatar Diabetes Center. All are welcome to attend and registration can be done for free online here.

Comedy night

I Love Qatar’s Khalifa Saleh Al Haroon (Mr. Q) will host the start of a new weekly comedy night at Jazz At Lincoln Center Doha at the St. Regis on Wednesday, March 9 from 8pm to 10pm. This week, comedian Hamad Al-Amari (The Qatari Guy) and performers from Kuwait and Bahrain will be onstage.

Craig Piersma/Flickr

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

People over the age of 21 years old are welcome to attend. The entrance fee is QR200 and includes a refreshment. For reservations, call +974 4446 0226, email diningreservations@stregis.com or see the event’s Facebook page here.

Women in headscarves are welcome, but due to alcohol being served females in national dress would not be permitted entry, according to a JALC representative.

Animal park

An “Animal Park” featuring animatronic models of dinosaurs and other large animals will open on Thursday, March 10.

The park is located on an empty lot near the Qatar Sports Club in West Bay and will remain open through April 2.

Ray Toh

Animal Park

Tickets to enter the park are QR15/child (below the age of 12 years old) and QR25/adult. Children under the age of two years old are free.

The timings for the park are daily from 4pm to 11pm, except Saturdays, when it will be open from 10am to 11pm.

Shakespeare with a twist

As part of the two-week-long British Festival in Qatar, the Reduced Shakespeare Company will put on two performances of their award-winning show The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] at Katara Drama Theater on Friday, March 11.

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Reduced Shakespeare Company

Described as an “irreverent, fast-paced romp” through all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays in 97 minutes, the three-man group has performed this show across the world, and it has since spawned nearly a dozen similar productions by the same team.

Tickets cost from QR150 to QR250 for two performances on March 11 – at 1pm then again at 7pm. They can be bought online through Q-Tickets here.

Free concert

The Qatar Music Academy will host its annual Arab Faculty & Student Concert on Saturday, March 12 from 4pm to 6pm at Katara Cultural Village’s Drama Theater.

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Concert

The performance will showcase works from the Ottoman Classical period and include participation from Turkish musicians. Admission is free for all and children are welcome. More information can be found online here.

Bonus:

• Kidney Day family event: Hamad Medical Corp. is holding a family fun day on Friday at Aspire Park to mark kidney awareness. The event runs from 2pm to 6pm near Burgerry restaurant and includes bouncy castles, face painting and races. Members of HMC’s nephrology team will be available to educate people about the signs and symptoms of kidney disease and how to maintain good health.
• Casting call: Northwestern University in Qatar (NUQ) students are seeking actors for a comedic web series that “captures the hilarious adventures (or misadventures)” of coffee shop customers who come from different countries and backgrounds. Auditions are being held on March 13 and 14 from 5:30pm to 8pm at NU-Q’s studio building in Qatar Foundation. Find more information here.

What are your plans for the weekend? Thoughts?

(The post Six things to do in Qatar this weekend (March 9-12) is from Doha News.)

The strong winds and torrential rains that battered the UAE and, to a much lesser extent, Qatar today has created headaches for travelers flying between the two Gulf countries.

Several flights between Doha and the UAE were delayed, and at least one was canceled, while another was diverted. However, early this afternoon, reports suggested that operations at UAE airports were getting back to normal, after one flight from Abu Dhabi – QR1045 – landing at Hamad International Airport at 1:46pm, more than two hours behind schedule.

(The post Many Qatar-UAE flights canceled, delayed as storms sweep through GCC is from Doha News.)

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Rain water accumulates at Paws Rescue Qatar.

Two of Qatar’s largest volunteer-run animal shelters have asked for financial help and other forms of assistance after this week’s rain partially flooded their facilities.

“It’s a real nightmare situation,” said Amy Redfern, the manager of 2nd Chance Rescue.

Speaking to Doha News today, she said that 155 dogs and 30 cats in the shelter live outdoors in cages that leave them exposed to the wind and rain.

Distressed by the storm, some dogs have been trying to escape by pawing at the walls of their cages, damaging them.

“The thunder is really terrifying them,” Redfern said.

She added that is some pooling water and muddy conditions on the shelter’s property, but no significant flooding.

And, like during the last big rain in November, the shelter’s roof is leaking again.

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Rain water accumulates at Paws Rescue Qatar.

However, over at Paws Rescue Qatar, about 30 dogs have been squeezed into the facility’s indoor shelter to get them out of the water that’s been accumulating around the property.

Another 30 dogs, as well as approximately 30 cats, remain outside, said Alison Caldwell, a Paws co-founder and committee member.

“We struggle really badly when it rains,” she told Doha News. “There’s no suitable drainage … The problem is that (the standing water can lead to) illness.”

She estimated that between 20 and 30 volunteers have been to the shelter this week, helping to move animals indoors, drying them off with towels and checking to make sure they are not coughing or showing other signs of sickness.

Both shelters are appealing for monetary donations, as well as materials such as tarps and pallets to keep the animals off the ground and shelter them from the rain.

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Rain water accumulates at Paws Rescue Qatar.

2nd Chance has started an online donation page, while Paws is also looking for temporary foster homes for animals until its property dries out in addition to seeking donations.

Qatar authorities have previously discussed building their own animal shelter, most recently floating plans that would see a new facility constructed by 2018, caring for abandoned pets and stray animals largely falls to volunteers in Qatar.

However, no updates on those plans have been announced.

Thoughts?

(The post Qatar animal shelters ask for help after rain damage is from Doha News.)

Loïc Lagarde / Flickr

Auckland Skyline from Devonport

Qatar’s national carrier has announced more than a dozen new routes at the ITB travel fair in Berlin this week, including confirmation of the debut of the world’s longest direct flight, a 17.5 hour, 9,031 mile journey from Doha to Auckland, New Zealand.

The current longest flight is operated by Emirates, which launched its 8,823 mile Dubai to Auckland flight at the beginning of this month.

The new Doha-Auckland route – the announcement of which has been heavily trailed since January – will begin on Dec. 3, and will be flown by Qatar Airways‘ Boeing 777 fleet.

The flight from Doha will depart at 2:10am local time and arrive in Auckland at 4:30am the following day. The return flight, meanwhile, will set off from Auckland at 2:40pm, arriving in Doha at 10:10pm on the same day.

European additions

The airline also announced 13 other routes at a news conference at the ITB travel fair, two of which have been operated by the airline in the past.

One of these is Nice: the airline said it plans to resume flights to the French city in summer 2017, operating five flights a week on a “wide bodied aircraft.”

Qatar Airways halted its service to Nice in 2013 after a disagreement with the French government, apparently over restrictions on air traffic routes over the country.

Kelvin Tan / Flickr

The leaning tower of Pisa

The airline will also begin a daily service to the Italian city of Pisa on Aug. 2 using its Airbus A320 narrow body fleet. Pisa will be Qatar Airways’ fourth Italian destination, joining Venice, Rome and Milan.

It will also begin daily flights to Helsinki in Finland on Oct. 10, a service that was first announced in 2011, but which did not go ahead as planned.

Two further new European routes are planned – Sarajevo (Bosnia) will start on Sept. 7, and Skopje (Macedonia) will begin in November. Both destinations will be served three flights a week on the airline’s A320 fleet.

No specific date has been given for the Skopje launch, as is the case with several of the routes announced at the news conference.

New African routes

Six African routes were also announced at the news conference, one of which, a daily service to the Seychelles beginning on Dec. 12, is actually a resumption of an old route.

Teilhard Scott

A beach on Mahé, Seychelles

Qatar Airways suspended its previous Seychelles route in June 2013 citing commercial reasons.

The five other destinations to the continent are all new:

• Marrakesh (Morocco) will operate three times a week from July, a code share with Royal Air Maroc on the Boeing 787;
• Four-times-weekly flights to Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, will begin on Sept. 28; and
• A flight that stops at both Douala (Cameroon) and Libreville (Gabon) will begin three times a week from January 2017.

A further thrice-weekly service is planned to begin summer 2017 between Doha and Lusaka (Zambia).

More options in Thailand

Qatar Airways is also significantly expanding its route network in Thailand, adding four flights a week to the beach resort of Krabi on Dec. 6 and three-a-week to the northern city of Chiang Mai in the same month, although no exact launch date has been given for the latter route yet.

Qatar Airways currently flies to Bangkok, the Thai capital, and the Thai island of Phuket.

The airline’s route expansion is being made possible by frequent deliveries of new aircraft, with the airline saying that it receives a new plane once every 10 days on average.

Are you excited about any of the new routes? Thoughts?

(The post Qatar Airways to launch world’s longest flight with new NZ route is from Doha News.)