Qatar, which welcomed almost 3.3 million tourists in the first eight months of 2024, is on track to log its highest-ever numbers this year. Last year, Qatar welcomed more than four million visitors. But until August this year, 3.284m people have arrived in Qatar, which translates to a 26% increase from the same period last year.
HH The Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will chair Qatar’s delegation to the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, which will be held at the UN headquarters in New York, USA. Sheikh Tamim will deliver a speech at the opening session of the General Assembly on Tuesday, September 24.
The registration for the 2025 Haj season will open on Sunday, September 22, for citizens and expatriates. The registrations will then continue until October 22, announced Qatar’s Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs on Friday. Haj registrations can be done through the Ministry’s official website www.hajj.gov.qa.
Doha will host three matches of the 2024 FIFA Intercontinental Cup — which will feature a new format that will include standalone competitions between champions of six continental federations. The final, scheduled to be held in Doha on December 18, which is Qatar National Day and the second anniversary of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, will feature European champions Real Madrid as one of the two teams.
Qatar Airways has deepened its sponsor partnerships with UEFA, becoming the official airline partner of the Champions League, which will continue until 2030. To celebrate the partnership, the Qatar Airways Privilege Club will offer UEFA Champions League fans discounts of up to 12% on flight fares, along with exclusive ticket promotions.
On Thursday, Qatar Airways announced an immediate ban on pagers and walkie-talkies for passengers flying from the Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut. The decision followed a directive from Lebanon’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation and will be in place until further notice.
Qatar has significantly improved its global standing in the 2024 United Nations E-Government Development Index (EGDI), moving from 78th to 53rd place. The country ranked 5th globally in terms of overall improvement and 5th 5th in the Telecommunications Infrastructure Index (TII), rising by 37 spots.
QSW 2024, to take place from September 28 to October 5, aims to encourage Qatar’s community, government, NGOs, and private sector entities to take part in various sustainability-focused activities, events, and projects.
The visit aims to strengthen cooperation across diverse sectors, including economy, education, politics, and trade, while also enhancing joint efforts on global political and security matters.
According to a report by the Qatar Insurance Company, Europe was the most preferred summer destination for its travel policyholders in the summer of 2024. While 66% of them planned to visit at least one European country, it was followed by Asia (20%) and North America (10%).
France topped the list of the most sought-after Schengen destinations, followed by Germany, Greece, Spain, and Italy.