Birmingham Airport Chief Executive Officer, Paul Kehoe said: “This is fantastic news for both Birmingham Airport and the region, and is our tenth new airline to announce or launch this year. Not only will our passengers have the choice of flying with the award winning carrier to Doha’s state-of-the-art hub Hamad International Airport, they will have a choice of 152 destinations served by the airline, including South East Asia, China and Australasia.”

Qatar Airways was Official Airline Partner to an exciting day of festivities at the Sheraton Hotel in Doha last week to mark the official weekend celebrations of Tbilisoba, hosted by the Georgian Embassy of Qatar. 

Tbilisoba is an annual festival held in Georgia in October every year to celebrate the diverse history of the Georgian capital, Tbilisi. First celebrated in 1979, the event has become synonymous in Georgia with open air concerts and music from the country’s rich cultural history. To mark the event in Qatar, the Georgian Embassy hosted a day of celebrations on Wednesday 21st October which culminated in a special performance of traditional folk songs by the Georgian choir, Georgika, with guests enjoying a reception in the garden area of the newly refurbished Sheraton Hotel. 

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker said: “Qatar Airways’ services to Tbilisi continue to cater to a growing demand of passengers attracted by the hospitality and quality of our on-board product, as well as the seamless connectivity offered by Hamad International Airport, an airport designed by an airline with the passenger experience firmly in mind.” Speaking at the event, Her Excellency Ekaterine Meiering - Mikadze, Ambassador of Georgia to the State of Qatar, highlighted the importance of celebrating the history of Georgia, a country connected to Qatar Airways’ global network with daily scheduled flights. 

Her Excellency Ekaterine Meiering – Mikadze said: “Since starting daily flights to Georgia in 2012, Qatar Airways has brought the two countries much closer to each other. As a result, contacts among people from all walks of life have multiplied, in business, diplomacy, and tourism. I am delighted to see Qataris and expatriates working in Doha flocking to Georgia in ever increasing numbers and I am grateful to Qatar Airways for the pioneering role and ongoing support in helping others to discover Georgia."

Qatar Airways currently operates daily flights to Tbilisi from its home and hub, Hamad International Airport, connecting passengers onwards to more than 150 destinations around the world. At the annual Skytrax 2015 World Airline Awards in June, Qatar Airways was awarded World’s Best Airline, Best Business Class Airline Seat, and Best Airline in the Middle East. Qatar Airways has seen rapid growth in just 18 years of operation and today flies a modern fleet of 166 aircraft to 152 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America.

Hamad International Airport (HIA), Qatar’s gateway to the world, has served a record 8.4 million passengers during the third quarter of 2015, representing a 23% increase from the number of passengers who travelled through its terminal during the same period in 2014.

In detail, HIA saw 8,405,831 passengers pass through its gates during the third quarter of 2015, with 2,701,958 passengers departing, arriving and transiting in July. In the month of August, a record of 3,025,641 passengers travelled through HIA which is an unsurpassed figure for a single month, both at HIA as well as its previous hub, Doha International Airport. The month of September saw 2,678,232 passenger movements. The same period in 2014 saw 6,837,454 passengers travelling through HIA, including 2,160,843 passengers in July; 2,475,340in August; and 2,201,271 in September.

HIA also saw a significant increase in aircraft movements in the third quarter of 2015 with 55,186 movements, which represents a 19% increase in aircraft take-offs and landings at the airport, compared to 46,405 movements during the same period last year. The month of July recorded 18,222 aircraft movements whereas the month of August recorded a new record of 18,660 aircraft movements, followed by the month of September with 18,304 aircraft movements. Cargo tonnage totalled 242,513 tonnes in the third quarter of 2015 with 79,408 tonnes of cargo handled in the month of July, 80,766 tonnes in August and 82,338 tonnes of cargo handled in September of 2015.

Commenting on the airport’s record-breaking figures, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer, Chief Operating Officer at Hamad International Airport, said: “We partially owe this phenomenal increase in our operations to the increased frequency of several of our patron airlines’ weekly flights from Hamad International Airport, and we have also had several new airlines commence operations at HIA. This increase is also a testament to the continued rapid growth of Qatar Airways, Qatar’s national carrier.”

AND Trading – the country’s largest beauty company – will be responsible for the glamorous look of the stars and filmmakers during the third annual Ajyal Youth Film Festival. Throughout the seven days of the festival, which runs from 29 November until 5 December 2015, AND Trading will offer celebrities its sought-after beauty expertise such hair services, blow dry, hairstyles and updos.

AND Trading General Manager Mariam Trad said: “AND Trading has clearly established a firm reputation as the go-to brand for all beauty products and services requirements in Qatar. We are therefore honored and proud that our expertise has earned the trust and confidence of the organizers of the Ajyal Youth Film Festival. That whenever any of the participating celebrities may need quick makeovers, a reliable beauty expert brand as Franck Provost is on hand to provide for all their needs.”

With the growing sophistication of women in Qatar, AND Trading has successfully filled a void and addressed a niche market that longed for world-class beauty products and services. To date, AND Trading has built a portfolio of nine salons across Qatar. These include the Nails/BD salon at Ezdan Mall, Nails at Royal Plaza, Franck Provost at Four seasons Hotel, Nails on Salwa road, Jean Louis David at Marriott Marquis, Jean Louis David at Crowne Plaza Hotel, Nails and BD at Pearl, and Nails and BD at Hamad International Airport and the Barber Shop at Four Seasons Hotel.

The Ajyal Youth Film Festival builds on the Doha Film Institute’s history of community-based programming. Ajyal, meaning ‘generations’ in Arabic, invites people of all ages to come together to discuss cinema through events that inspire creative interaction, opening up a fun, collaborative environment where young people can express themselves. Driven with the goal to inspire and create, Ajyal has been designed to empower the region’s youth and to inspire film enthusiasts of all ages in Qatar and the region.

Ooredoo has today announced its new generation of Ooredoo Self-Service Machines (SSMs) are now able to sell pre-paid SIM cards and are enabled to do QID scanning. The SSMs, which are part of Ooredoo’s ongoing customer convenience initiative, have been launched across selected locations in Qatar and are designed to redefine Ooredoo’s self-service customer experience by allowing customers to access and perform a host of features normally only available via an Ooredoo Shop.

The state-of-the-art Self-Service Machines, which are currently available at Hamad International Airport, Katara Cultural Village, Souq Waqif, Ezdan Mall and the Ooredoo Airport Road Shop, now enable all residents across Qatar to instantly register and purchase preloaded Hala SIM cards. This is the latest in a series of significant upgrades on Ooredoo’s network of SSM’s as the company continue to offer more options for customers to keep up-to-date with their daily services.

Yousuf Al Kubaisi, Chief Operating Officer, Ooredoo Qatar, said: “These new and innovative Self-Service Machines are designed to improve our customer experience and satisfaction, as they are readily available 24/7. With features such as passport scanning and e-signature we are making sure Ooredoo stays ahead of the competition and ensuring our services are as accessible and easy to use as possible.” More Self Service Machines will be introduced shortly at strategic spots around Qatar including the Abu Samra Border.

In addition to registering for services via the Ooredoo Self-Service machines customers can also pay Ooredoo Shahry and Kahramaa bills, top-up Hala accounts, purchase vouchers for an incredible range of shopping and dining experiences for popular brands in Qatar. 

Ooredoo and Qatar Duty Free (QDF) have today launched an incredible competition offering customers the chance to win QDF Shopping gift vouchers up to US$100 when buying an Ooredoo Passport Card.

To enter the competition, Ooredoo customers simply have to buy their Ooredoo Passport Card at Qatar Duty Free’s Ooredoo premium dealer in Hamad International Airport before 31 January 2016. Customers who purchase an Ooredoo Passport from QDF will then be given a special scratch card which will give users the chance to win one of three prizes, a discount of US$50, US$75 or US$100 for purchases at Qatar Duty Free. Qatar Duty Free has a wide range of products available for travellers including perfume, food, clothes and souvenirs.

Ooredoo Passport Card customers get 100 roaming minutes for all incoming, outgoing calls and 1GB of roaming mobile data in more than 60 countries. Ooredoo Passport also offers an extra 1GB of roaming mobile data for use in the GCC. The Ooredoo Passport works on all GCC networks and while roaming in GCC customers can enjoy 4G speeds in the UAE (Etisalat), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Mobily & STC), Bahrain (Batelco), Kuwait (Ooredoo Kuwait) and Oman (Ooredoo Oman), at no additional cost

For more information on roaming rates from Ooredoo visit www.ooredoo.qa. 

Qatar Duty Free welcomes the festive season with the installation of a spectacular Dolce&Gabbana display featuring a larger-than-life snow globe at Hamad International Airport (HIA). The snow globe, at four metres high, is the centrepiece of a display showcasing Dolce&Gabbana’s luxurious products, and celebrates the launch of their newest fragrance for men, The One Royal Night. It will be on display until 14 January 2016.

The elegant black and gold display, which is located behind the renowned HIA Lamp Bear sculpture, brings the magic of a winter wonderland to the desert, with a snow man, fabulously wrapped gifts and the snow globe featuring the stunning Doha skyline. The joint collaboration between Dolce&Gabbana and Qatar Duty Free, offers plenty of options for passengers looking to buy a gift for themselves or someone special just in time for the holidays. 

Qatar Duty Free Senior Vice President, Mr. Keith Hunter, said: “We are extremely excited to partner with Dolce&Gabbana to celebrate the official launch of their newest fragrance, The One Royal Night. Qatar Duty Free prides itself on offering passengers exclusive fragrances and beauty products, and this is no exception. This partnership not only marks the launch of The One Royal Night at HIA, but is an opportunity for Qatar Duty Free to offer customers the Dolce&Gabbana make-up and Velvet collections. We hope that those travelling from, and through, HIA will enjoy visiting the beautiful display and exploring some thoughtful and personalised gift ideas.” 

The One Royal Night for men is an exclusive fragrance within Dolce&Gabbana’s Classic House, The One. The newest fragrance with an Arabian twist is an exclusive product from the designers for the Middle East, inspired by the richness, culture and traditions of the region. The One Royal Night for men is described by Dolce&Gabbana as a blend of opulence and sophistication boasting a woody composition with notes of cardamom, basil, wild pear wood, and spicy nutmeg, followed by a base of cedar, sandalwood, labdanum and pure amber in its most refined form. 

Qatar Duty Free will also offer a select number items from the Dolce&Gabbana make-up and niche fragrance collection, Velvet, for the first time at the display. Dolce&Gabbana make up items available include Classic, Voluptuous and Matte lipsticks, nail polish, Perfect Luminous Liquid Foundation, Perfect Matte Liquid Foundation, Perfect Matte Concealer, eyeliners and mascaras. The Make-Up Essential Palette Beauty Voyage is also available and includes eyeshadows, eyeliner, blush, illuminator, lipstick and lip liner in a stylish compact case. The Velvet Collection offered will include both 50ml and 150ml bottles of some of Dolce&Gabbana’s most popular niche fragrances such as Velvet Love, Velvet Patchouli, Desert Oud and Tender Oud.

For all Dolce&Gabbana products purchased at the display personalised engraving and gift-wrapping will be offered free of charge – a wonderful way to make gifts to loved ones that little something special.  At HIA, Qatar Duty Free offers 40,000 square metres of combined retail, food and beverage facilities, establishing the retailer as a premier shopping and dining destination. With more than 70 retail outlets offering an unprecedented selection of designer labels, fashion, electronics, gourmet foods and much more, Qatar Duty Free at HIA caters to all passengers’ tastes. 

In addition, more than 30 cafés and restaurants offer a sumptuous selection of global and local cuisine. Other luxury brands also available at HIA include Bulgari, Hermès, Giorgio Armani, Hugo Boss, Mont Blanc, Rolex and Chanel.

Qatar Airways recently launched a five-day influenza vaccination campaign for employees of the national carrier group to help ensure the health and wellbeing of employees. The campaign took place from 28th December 2015 to 3rd January 2016 at Qatar Airways corporate offices and Hamad International Airport to ensure that vaccination was available to all of the carrier’s employees based in Doha.

Qatar Airways Head of Medical Service Dr. Soha Al Bayat said: “Qatar Airways continues to prioritise the health and well-being of employees, especially during the winter season. This campaign aimed to provide our local employees in Doha with the influenza vaccination and raise awareness about the importance of getting vaccinated during winter as a preventative measure.” Qatar Airways is one of the largest employers in Qatar with staff representing more than 150 nationalities. In 2015, the airline increased its group employee numbers by 14 per cent to a year-end total of more than 40,000 staff world-wide.

Influenza is a viral infection that can circulate worldwide and cause annual epidemics. It is thought to affect between five to 10 per cent of adults and 20 to 30 per cent of children resulting in up to five million cases of reported illness each year and tragically, up to half a million deaths according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). As the influenza virus can develop a resistance to the drugs used against it, it is recommend to have yearly vaccinations according to WHO.

Qatar Airways, the national carrier of the State of Qatar, is one of the fastest growing airlines operating one of the youngest fleets in the world. Now in its 18th year of operations, Qatar Airways has a modern fleet of 175 aircraft flying to more than 150 key business and leisure destinations across six continents. Qatar Airways won Airline of the Year, Best Business Class Airline Seat and Best Airline in the Middle East at the 2015 Skytrax Awards. This is the third time the airline won the accolade of Airline of the Year.

Qatar Airways’ Al Darb Nationalisation Programme and Hamad International Airport (HIA) are pleased to partner with the Bedaya Center to bring a showcase of local entrepreneurial talent and products to Hamad International Airport. The exhibition is located HIA’s arrival terminal and opened this week.

This joint effort aims to support young Qatari entrepreneurs by showcasing their ideas and plans to transform those ideas into products like clothing, accessories, traditional perfumes, homeware and other items reflecting traditional aspects of Qatari culture. Products will be displayed during the exhibition period, and passengers at Hamad International Airport at Gate 4 of the arrivals terminal will have the opportunity to explore the unique, 100% Qatari-designed collections.

Fatma Al-Sulaiti owner and founder of KAFEE, the 100% Qatari chocolatier said: “The idea of our project is to create the first luxury Qatari chocolate brand. We started in 2011 as exhibitors and now we have our own store and three chocolate manufacturing workshops and soon we’ll launch our second store and first chocolate factory in Qatar. We would like to thank everyone who keeps on supporting us.”

Exhibitors will use the unique marketing channel provided by the airport display space to further develop their businesses. Thousands of passengers travelling through Hamad International Airport daily will create the opportunity to receive feedback directly from the public. Qatar Airways Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Ms. NabeelaFakhri said: “Qatar Airways is proud to support such initiatives to support the development of Qataris not just in Qatar Airways but also elsewhere and to be an active contributor of the development of the country in tandem with the Qatar 2030 Vision.”   

Badr Al Meer, Chief Operating Officer at HIA said: “Hamad International Airport is happy to be given the opportunity to host Bedaya Center’s exhibition and play a role in developing budding Qatari entrepreneurs. HIA is the gateway to Qatar and the rest of the world and this exhibition provides us with yet another avenue to showcase Qatar’s culture, creativity and talent to our passengers from around the world.” Bedaya is an entrepreneurial and career development centre that assists all Qatari Nationals who wish to start their own business through many different initiatives.

Ms. Reem Al Suwaidi, General Manager of Bedaya Center said: “We are excited to have such exhibition at Hamad International Airport where the products that are made by our talented entrepreneurs will have a huge exposure to thousands of passengers arriving to Doha from all over the world. It will also be a wonderful experience for passengers to have a taste of the Qatari culture as soon as they land in Doha.”

Currently Qatar Airways’ Al Darb Nationalisation Programme supports more than 30 majors and provides nine different training programmes across a range of career choices within the award winning airline, and recently the airline welcomed more than 200 new joiners to its training programmes, including engineers, cadet pilots, graduate developees, sponsored students and direct hires.

Meliá Hotels International has made further progress in its growth and positioning strategy in emerging Middle Eastern markets with the announcement today of a new hotel in Doha (Qatar). The hotel will be operated under the Innside by Meliá brand, which becomes the third of the Spanish company’s brands to achieve a presence in the destination.

The hotel will be located on a prime area immediately adjacent to the new Qatar National Museum, the new Doha Metro station, government and commercial offices, with views of the West Bay skyline and easy access to Doha's Hamad international Airport. The Innside Doha will open in 2017, becoming the third hotel for the company in Qatar, together with the Meliá Doha, which opened in 2015, and the future ME Doha. It will have 192 rooms, a signature restaurant, lobby lounge, business centre, fitness centre with spa, a rooftop terrace with a pool deck area and a club F&B concept on the 13th floor.

The elegant and functional Innside by Meliá hotels are perfectly adapted to the needs of modern city visitors, offering a combination of business lifestyle, cutting-edge design, smart technology and personalized, simple and efficient service. The brand is also attracting the interest of investors and hotel owners worldwide thanks to the value the hotels provide to guests and their profitability, and this new hotel in Doha is another milestone for its growth and development. It currently operates 16 hotels and has 21 hotels in the pipeline, in the UK, USA, Germany, Chile, Venezuela, UAE, China, Indonesia, Malasia, Italy, Colombia and Brazil.

Qatar is the country with the highest income per capita, globally, and Doha has become a focal point in the Middle East, landing the winning bid for the 2022 World Cup. The city, which is a predominantly corporate destination (65%) is undergoing a transformation in the hospitality sector with new hotels opening on a monthly basis (the current pipeline expects to increase the hotel supply by 77%, dominated by luxury upper upscale and upscale properties). Significant infrastructural and real estate projects in Qatar will be completed during the coming decade, driving the growth of demand for transient accommodation in Doha.

Qatar Museums  (QM), under the patronage of its Chairperson, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and Hamad International Airport (HIA)  are proud to announce the unveiling of a number of new public art installations by both Qatari and international artists at the airport.

QM has installed two new permanent pieces which are now on display for passengers and visitors to enjoy at the airport: “Arctic Nurseries of El Dorado” by British artist Marc Quinn, and “Untitled” by Italian artist Rudolf Stingel. In addition, an unconventional sculpture of the iconic desert horse by acclaimed Qatari artist Ali Hassan is set to be installed in HIA in the first quarter of 2016, Hassan’s third piece to go on show at the airport.

The new pieces will join the growing collection of sculptures and images by Qatari and international artists at the airport, including works by four Qatari artists: Amal Al Raban, Ali Hassan, Mubarak Al Malik and Salman Al Malik, in the Oryx and Al Maha lounges. A number of further artworks are also planned for installation at the airport in the coming weeks and months. This makes HIA a space where art and architecture combine to create an immersive visual environment, which provides a unique experience for the passengers and visitors at HIA.

Mansoor bin Ebrahim Al Mahmoud, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Museums, said: “QM continues to place art by local, regional and international artists in prominent public spaces throughout Qatar. The art at HIA inspires millions of visitors, residents and transfer passengers who fly through the airport each year, and it proves that art can be enjoyed far beyond the confines of an art gallery. These newest works in HIA signify the latest chapter in our vision at Qatar Museums to continue to bring world-class art to our people.”

Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer, Chief Operating Officer at HIA said: “HIA prides itself for being an innovative exhibition space. Art is an integral part of HIA, having been designed to house permanent and temporary exhibitions. Passengers are exposed to a diverse set of artistic media including paintings, sculpture, electronic and interactive installations.  Our airport terminal is a public space that welcomes millions of people every year and is therefore an ideal space to interact with art. The exposure that such a venue gives artists, especially budding Qatari artists, is exceptional.” Marc Quinn’s mesmerising artwork “The Nurseries of El Dorado” is a representation of an almost mythical world. Comprising of a number of bronze sculptures, Quinn creates a series of hybrid plants by taking elements from different vegetation and carefully piecing them together, before casting them in bronze.

Rudolf Stingel’s work reflects on the passage of time. His artwork at HIA is a sample of one of his famous large-scale interactive pieces. Stingel covered three surfaces with reflective, aluminium-faced insulation panels, before inviting members of the construction team at HIA to draw on the soft walls at the time of the airport’s construction. The walls were then cast in copper and electroplated with gold, before a number of pieces were selected for permanent display at HIA. Ali Hassan’s sculptural artwork at HIA will be an unconventional interpretation of the iconic desert horse, represented by different forms of the Arabic letter “ن” (“n”). Hassan used a range of intricate sculpting techniques to create the magnificent 8m x 6m sculpture.

QM has worked with local, regional and international artists for over five years to commission and acquire artworks for key locations in and around Hamad International Airport. The art comprises a mix of site-specific creations as well as pieces which have been carefully selected for the airport. The first international installation, “Lamp Bear” by Swiss artist Urs Fischer, was installed in a prominent location in the centre of the airport, and Dutch artist Tom Claassen produced a series of sculptures of the Oryx, an antelope native to the Arabian Peninsula, which appear as a herd in the arrivals hall of the airport.

Public Art is a central programme in QM’s mission to push the boundaries of the traditional museum model and to offer cultural experiences in public spaces. The art installed at Hamad International Airport supports this goal as well as the pillars of Qatar’s National Vision 2030 of education and engagement with Qatari society.

Qatar Duty Free’s (QDF) Chinese pavilion has opened its doors inside Hamad International Airport (HIA), inviting passengers to celebrate China’s most important festival with discounts of up to 20 per cent, spending rewards and an array of enticing promotions.

Mandarin holiday greetings, decorative red lanterns and staff dressed in traditional Chinese costume will welcome travellers to QDF’s elaborate red and gold 180m² pavilion located behind the Lamp Bear in the departures hall of HIA. Passengers will discover a tempting array of gift ideas once inside the elaborate Chinese pagoda, perfect for those shopping for festival items and presents, as well as for those travellers who are simply inspired by the customary New Year celebrations.

Savings of up to 20 per cent will be offered on QDF fragrances, cosmetics, skincare, confectionery, luxury watches, fine jewellery, and other gift items in the Chinese pavilion. Customers who purchase items valued at QR1000 (US $274) and above, using a UnionPay credit card, will receive a traditional Chinese red envelope containing a QR100 QDF gift voucher. Discount vouchers will also be distributed to passengers in HIA by Qatar Duty Free staff throughout the Chinese festive season.

Mr. Keith Hunter, Senior Vice President Qatar Duty Free, said: “Chinese New Year is a time to revel in holiday festivities, observe traditions and enjoy family reunions. Qatar Duty Free recognises the importance of this festival for many of our customers travelling through HIA during the seasonal period. “With this beautiful pavilion we are telling Qatar Duty Free’s own story through Chinese New Year and providing our customers with exclusive promotions across an extensive range of gift items.”

Additional Chinese New Year discounts of up to 10 per cent will also be available on brands in selected boutiques in HIA. Passengers can choose from a wide variety of duty free products at amazing prices, including promotions from Tiffany, TAG Heuer, Chopard, and Bulgari. Popular products available within the Chinese pavilion include Godiva chocolates, Prada perfume, La Prairie skin care, Swarovski jewellery, Harrods bags and Marmalade Market gift items.

The Qatar-China 2016 Year of Culture programme recognises the strong relationship between both countries, reflecting China’s powerful cultural identity and heritage through events and exhibitions in Qatar.