Qatar’s progress to becoming a knowledge economy continued in second half of 2022

Doha: A momentous year for Qatar marked growth across sectors as the country’s economic diversification and massive infrastructural  development continued. 

In diplomacy and primarily regional affairs, Qatar showed outstanding leadership, emphasising dialogue among disputing nations while reiterating the need for peace and tolerance. 

Domestically, the country launched several projects which enabled a smooth hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The prestigious tournament saw millions of fans arrive in Qatar for an event of a lifetime, which many have hailed as the best World cup ever. 

Giant strides were also recorded in healthcare, tourism, education, fintech, digital transformation, sustainability and many more. 

For more context, here’s a look at some major projects, activities and events in the second half of 2022.

July 
Qatar participated, on July 2, in the consultative meeting of Arab foreign ministers, which was held in Beirut. The delegation of the State of Qatar to the meeting was headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

On July 3, Public Works Authority (Ashghal) completed works on an 11-kilometre-long foul sewer network in Al Kheesa and Rawdat Al Hamama Areas by implementing 30-metre-deep lines to accommodate flows connecting adjacent networks in Wadi Al Banat, Al Ebb and Lusail Areas. This newly constructed network is part of foul sewer infrastructure development works in areas North of Doha.

In July, Qatar Museums announced a programme of new and commissioned public artworks to transform the nation’s public spaces into a vast outdoor art museum experience featuring more than 100 public artworks.

In July, Qatar Tourism in collaboration with Qatar Airways and Ooredoo, launched its ‘Summer in Qatar’ campaign with exciting indoor entertainment and diverse experience offerings. 

In July, Qatar Airways Group attained a new ISO Certification in Occupational Health and Safety Management System awarded by Bureau Veritas. 

Also in July, Qatar University (QU) accepted  nearly 4,700 undergraduate students for the fall 2022 semester; 70% of the total applicants were Qatari nationals.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani with other delegates at signing of the instrument of accession to the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia on August 03, 2022, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. 

August 
On August 3, Qatar signed the instrument of accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the sidelines of the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H  E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani signed the treaty.

Chadian parties signed on August 8 in Doha the Doha Peace Agreement and the Participation of Politico-Military Movements in the Chadian National, Inclusive, and Sovereign Dialogue, under the auspices of the State of Qatar. The signing of the agreement was a culmination of the negotiations the State of Qatar hosted during the past five months with regional and international participation.

In August, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs embarked on an official tour to Asia which included Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and South Korea, where he met with his counterparts and several high-ranking officials and businessmen.

Also in August, Qatar Aviation Service, the subsidiary of Qatar Airways Group, announced its partnership with International Air Transport Association (IATA) to become the first ground handler globally to join the new expansion of the IATA Environmental Assessment Programme (IEnvA) for ground service providers.

Qatar University was ranked, in August, in the top 600 universities in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) by ShanghaiRanking Consultancy.

In August, GAC set up a dedicated unit for government agency procedures under its Sport Events Management System to facilitate taking approvals for shipments.

September
In September, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) in collaboration with Project Stadia, affiliated with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), organised a workshop on countering cybercrimes. Over 40 trainees of various ranks from the Criminal Investigation and Economic and Cyber Crimes Combating departments participated in the workshop.

On September 11, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdul Aziz Al Thani visited the Project of Doha Central and Al Corniche Development.

On September 15, Qatar emerged among the top five global Islamic finance jurisdictions with about 6.5 percent of worldwide Islamic banking industry (IBI) assets valued at $154bn as of June 2022. It was said by Governor of Qatar Central Bank (QCB) H E Sheikh Bandar bin Mohammed bin Saoud Al Thani while delivering his keynote address during the 4th IFSB Innovation Forum.

Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani inaugurated on September 16 the emblem of the State of Qatar in its updated version which aims to create a unified visual identity of the emblem for all state authorities. 

On September 17, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education launched an initiative on the Qatar Education Platform targeting high school students in public schools.

The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ announced on September 20 the completion of eight pedestrian bridges in Najma, Al Khaleej, Al Istiqlal, Al Furousiya, Onaiza, Doha Express Highway, Al Wukair Road, and C-Ring Road.

Qatar Museums on September 21 collaborated with New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, encompassing the exchange of exhibitions, programmes, and scholarly cooperation.

Ashghal announced on September 22 the completion of the rainwater drainage network for the roads surrounding Al Sadd Sports Club as part of the preparation for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

On September 25, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani paid an inspection tour to Hamad International Airport (HIA) and Doha International Airport to further inspect the expansion and upgradation operations in the two airports and their readiness to receive the audience of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

In September, Secretary-General of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) H E Sultan bin Hassan Al Jamali disclosed that Qatar had become a party to seven out of nine basic conventions concerned with human rights. Qatar also joined several human rights international conventions endorsed by the United Nations and various international organisations.

In September, QS World University Rankings ranked Qatar University 208 in the latest 2023 edition, an improvement of 16 places from the previous year. QU placed among the top six universities in the International Outlook indicator, for the seventh year in a row, according to the overall The World University Rankings. QU was also among the Global Top 25 performers, in the U-Multirank 2021 indicator.

QU was also ranked second in Times Higher Education (THE) Arab University Rankings 2021 and second in the QS Arab Region University Rankings 2022. 

October
On October 2, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani unveiled the official uniform approved for the Security Force of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

The iconic Museum of Islamic Art reopened to the public on October 4 following a facilities enhancement project and the reimagination and reinstallation of its permanent collection galleries.  On October 4, Flag Plaza was inaugurated which is a new community space initiated by the Years of Culture programme. 

On October 5, Ashghal achieved 12 million man-hours without loss time injury (LTI) in the Flood Prevention Scheme (Phase 3) since the start of its implementation, which is under the supervision of the Drainage Networks Projects Department.

The Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS) and Qatar Tourism announced in October that the first GIMS Qatar edition will take place in Doha from October 5 to 14, 2023. 
In October, Qatar won the bid to host the Destination Wedding Planners Congress, a globally renowned platform for wedding planners, connoisseurs, hoteliers, and professionals in the luxury wedding planning industry. 

On October 6, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani made an inspection tour in Abu Samra border crossing to follow up the expansion and development process of the border crossing, and its readiness to receive the fans of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and Commander of Lekhwiya Force, H E Maj. Gen. Abdul Aziz bin Faisal Al Thani, opened on October 9, the Unified Medical Center of the Security and Safety Operations Committee of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 (SSOC) at the Lekhwiya Force headquarters.

On October 11, the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior inaugurated new Al Khor Health and Wellness Center of the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC).

The Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) on October 12 set the Guinness World Records title for the Most Languages Used in a Reading Relay.

On October 13, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) achieved 5 million working man-hours without injuries or accidents since the start of the operation and maintenance of the drainage network in the southern areas of Qatar.

In October 2022, all municipalities of Qatar received the title of Health City from the WHO, as the first country in the world all its municipalities receive this title. In addition, the Education City at Qatar Foundation received the title of ‘Healthy Education City’ and Qatar University received the title of ‘Healthy University’.

Also in October, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) was awarded the national accreditation status of the US Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), making Qatar the first country to receive such accreditation outside the United States.

Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani being briefed about the ongoing expansion work at Hamad International Airport.

Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (DLMP) successfully achieved accreditation from the Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapy (AABB). The accreditation came after a rigorous assessment which was conducted over three days in early October. 

Qatar Bio Bank marked its 10th anniversary — making vital health research possible through its collection of biological samples and data on health and lifestyle from a large number of Qatar’s population. 

Qatar Bio Bank’s flagship Cohort Study, a population-based long-term study, recruited a large number of participants and introduced several other projects as Qatar Birth Cohort Study, two separate studies on the impact of COVID-19 infection and the effect of the vaccines.   

Qatar Museums, on October 23, opened a special exhibition Lusail Museum: Tales of a Connected World, at QM Gallery Al Riwaq as a preview of the vision for the new Lusail Museum.

Also, it opened the special exhibition Art Mill Museum 2030 at the Qatar Flour Mills Warehouse and the recently renovated Al Najada Heritage House #15 in Doha.

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education inaugurated the first nursery for children with disabilities in Qatar on October 25.

On October 26, Minister of Municipality H E Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie received the key of Arab City Social Responsibility for the year 2023 after Al Daayen city won the Arab City Socially Responsible Award, by the Regional Network for Social Responsibility (RNSR).

The world premiere of The Desert Rose symphony took place on October 30 at the National Museum of Qatar.

On October 30, Forever Valentino, the Italian luxury fashion house’s largest exhibition to date and its first presentation in the Middle East, opened at M7.

NHRC announced in October it would launch a new website and open a centre at the Hamad International Airport (HIA) for visiting World Cup fans.

QU held Global Sustainability Space Challenge 2022 in  celebration of World Space Week. This theme for World Space Week celebrates space and sustainability. 

November
Minister of Environment and Climate Change H E Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser Al Thani met Bill Gates, co-founder of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation at Glasgow, Scotland, on November 3.

On November 7, Qatar Central Bank (QCB) announced the issuance of the first National Payment Card (Himyan) in Qatar, as the first national prepaid debit card. 

On November 9, Aisha bint Hamad Al Attiyah hospital opened. It is the second largest hospital in Hamad Medical Corporation after Hamad General Hospital in terms of size and capacity is one of the main additions to the health sector this year.  

Qatar Central Bank (QCB) unveiled on November 10 the commemorative banknotes for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 during a ceremony in the presence of QCB Governor, H E Sheikh Bandar bin Mohammed bin Saoud Al Thani, Secretary General, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), Hassan Al Thawadi and FIFA President, Gianni Infantino with a number of Ministers, dignitaries, officials and ambassadors.

On November 10, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani paid an inspection visit to Barahat Al Janoub and Madinatna projects in Al Wakrah city.

The Prime Minister and Minister of Interior also inaugurated the Hamad Port Visitor Center in November.

The Prime Minister and Minister of Interior also inaugurated the newly expanded Hamad International Airport in November.

Ashghal and its employees spared no effort to implement projects related to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 according to the highest international standards and in record times while maintaining the safety of workers and adding aesthetic touches and Qatari culture to all their work.

Ashghal, on November 15, confirmed the completion of all projects serving the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The projects aimed at enhancing the overall fan experience during the tournament and leaving an impression of the civilized legacy of the people of Qatar.

On November 15, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani paid an inspection visit to the National Health Incident Command Center (NHICC) at Hamad Medical Corporation’s Ambulance Service headquarters.

On November 16, Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC)’s Al Mashaf Health Center opened to meet the growing demand of the public for primary health care services. With the opening of the Al Mashaf Health Center at present 30 health centres are operating across the country. 

On November 17, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani inaugurated the Panda House Park in Al Khor city.

Qatari Diar unveiled on November 17 Al Nehem, a 30-metre long icon of a whale shark by renowned artist Marco Balich as a tribute to Qatar’s endangered marine species at Lusail Plaza.
On November 19, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani paid a visit to Qasr Al Hukum at the Amiri Diwan.

Qatar Museums unveiled Dadu Gardens, a signature feature of Dadu, Children’s Museum of Qatar on November 19. 

On November 19, the first ‘Walk the Talk Doha: Health for all Challenge’ was held emphasising Qatar hosting the healthiest World Cup with the aim to create a legacy for sport and health. The event  was organised in cooperation between the Ministry of Public Health and World Health organization (WHO), within Sport For Health partnership and in collaboration with FIFA and the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy. 

Qatar Organ Donation Center (Hiba) marked the 10th anniversary with the organ donor registry exceeding 500,000 registered donors, representing around 25 percent of Qatar’s adult population.

Sidra Medicine was selected as the first hospital in the Middle East and North Africa region to offer the newly commercially certified Venus P-Valve for transcatheter pulmonary valve implantations. 

Qatar Foundation teamed with Generation Amazing Foundation and FIFA to deliver a range of football initiatives to empower youth and the community of Qatar that go beyond the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Also the Street Child World Cup 2022 was held in partnership with Qatar Foundation - to give street-connected children a voice for change. Also the “Qatar Commitment” – a document giving young people the opportunity to present their voices to the world was signed at the    Street Child World Cup’s General Assembly. 

The Museum of Islamic Art has received the globally recognised carbon neutral certification in November, making it the first museum in the MENA region and in Asia to achieve carbon neutrality.

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) released a number of animals of different species into the Sealine Reserve in order to enrich wildlife and biodiversity on November 24.

Flag Plaza, a new community place, was inaugurated on October 4. The site houses 119 flags representing nations with diplomatic missions in Qatar, as well as the European flag, the United Nations flag and the GCC flag. 

On November 26, joint excavations by Qatar Museums and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David began at two archaeological sites in the north of Qatar. 

In November, Qatar Tourism and online travel service providers, Trip.com Group, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote Qatar across the globe as an ideal choice for family-friendly tourism. Also, it launched the West Bay Beach, B12 Beach Blub, and Doha Sands, three new family-friendly beach clubs.

December
On December 9 reflecting its commitment to preserving Qatari culture, heritage, and identity – including through buildings at Education City  – Qatar Foundation  opened  Al Khater House as a location for sustainable, inclusive cultural heritage activities and experiences for people of all ages, while retaining its authenticity and historical value.  

From December 11 to December 17 Qatar Foundation hosted the second   D’reesha Performing Arts Festival, which played a centred role in promoting art, culture and innovation during the World Cup. The festival showcased a variety of performances in Arabic and English, from storytelling, music, and poetry to visual arts and theatre. 

Qatar posted a budget surplus of QR30bn for the third quarter of 2022, the Finance Ministry announced on December 13. 

On December 21, it was announced that 2023 budget estimates total revenues in 2023 at QR228bn ($65bn), an increase of 16.3 percent compared to the 2022 budget. Minister of Finance H E Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari presented the general budget 2023 at the Ministry of Finance attributed the increase in public revenues mainly to the adoption of an average oil price of $65 per barrel for the 2023 financial year in place of the $55 per barrel price in the 2022 budget.

The Ministry of Interior concluded the four-day ‘Unified Gulf Inmates Week’, on December 25 which included numerous activities with the engagement of several supporting entities in Qatar.

The healthcare system in Qatar continued the process of development, improvement and progress in achieving its strategic goals, and more than 90 percent of the outputs of the National Health Strategy 2018-2022 were archived by December 2022.  The strategy includes 54 projects and 16 national goals emphasis on prevention, wellness, improving access to care and providing services in a more consistent manner and integrated.

December also saw delivery of smooth healthcare services during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 to fans without any disruption in day to day services was a great accomplishment. In addition to the services available at regular healthcare facilities, health services were provided to fans through more than 100 clinics in stadiums, fan areas and accommodations, 110 ambulances, and 212 mobile medical units. Some 2,275 employees worked in providing health services at the World Cup sites, while four hospitals affiliated to Hamad Medical Corporation were allocated for urgent non-emergency patients. 

On December 18, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani inaugurated The View American Hospital in Al Qutaifiya.

Qatar Tourism launched in December its new “Feel More in Qatar” campaign, which aims to highlight the country’s position as a premium destination, and as top choice in the Middle East’s for the well-travelled tourist. 

The Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism also declared Doha as the “Arab Tourism Capital” for 2023, in its 25th session at the Arab League General Secretariat Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.