QATAR | Page 24 SPORT | Page 1 Xavi to take over as Al Sadd’s new coach Volunteers helped deliver Amir Cup fi nal published in QATAR since 1978 WEDNESDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11198 May 29, 2019 Ramadan 24, 1440 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals FM meets Iran’s deputy FM In brief QATAR | Offi cial More Metro Amir to meet Iraqi prime minister today His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani will meet Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi feeder buses at the Amiri Diwan today. The Iraqi prime minister arrives in Doha today for an off icial visit to Qatar. The Amir and the Iraqi prime minister will discuss bilateral relations and likely after prospects of developing them, as well as issues of mutual interest. QATAR | Offi cial Amir congratulates Ramadan Ethiopian president His Highness the Amir Sheikh By Joey Aguilar Metro Eid hours Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His Staff Reporter Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani sent The Doha Metro Red Line South and yesterday cables of congratulations ore Metrolink feeder buses Metrolink (feeder bus) services will to Ethiopian President Sahle-Work are expected to be deployed not be available from May 30 to June Zewde on her country’s National Mafter Ramadan to serve the 3 due to network expansion testing, Day. HE the Prime Minister and HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani met yesterday growing number of Doha Metro pas- according to a Qatar Rail tweet yes- Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah with the visiting Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations, sengers. terday. During Eid al-Fitr, from June bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani means of boosting them besides regional issues of common concern. The two sides reviewed the situation in the region The feeder bus service has been op- 4-9, Doha Metro will run between 6am also sent a similar cable to Prime and expressed their concern about the escalation and problems in the region. Both sides expressed the importance erating since the soft opening of the and 11pm, with the exception of Friday, Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed. of dialogue to resolve them. The Iranian deputy foreign minister also confirmed his country’s readiness to enter into a Red Line South on May 8 across Metro when the service will start from 11am. dialogue with the Gulf States regarding the region’s stability and security. stations, providing transportation to Page 7 QATAR | Religion commuters around a specifi c area to Call for sighting and from these stations. Speaking to Gulf Times, a number muters benefi t from the free bus serv- Shawwal crescent of Metrolink drivers assigned at the ice, especially at Al Wakra which also The Crescent Sighting Committee Al Wakra Metro station said three take them to key destinations such at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic more routes are expected to be added as Ezdan Mall, Al Wakra Hospital, Al Aff airs has called upon Muslims in Qatar ranks high in world’s to the existing four from this station, Wakrah Sports Club and the Traffi c Qatar to sight the new crescent moon which will include stops at popular Department, among others. (hilal) of Shawwal on 29th Ramadan destinations such as Souq Al Wakrah Some trips such as ‘M134’ take about (June 3). The committee has asked and the newly opened Al Janoub Sta- an hour and 20 minutes from and to the whoever witnesses the crescent to competitive economy list dium. Al Wakra station while others, which head to the ministry’s headquarters “We don’t have routes to these two take passengers to Al Wakrah South for in Al Dafna Towers to report his areas now but after Ramadan, with the example, take about 45 minutes. testimony. The committee will meet atar’s strong performance and low consumer price inflation. new timings of the Doha Metro Red Many commuters lauded the Metro- immediately after Maghrib prayer. across various fi elds has “These results confi rm that our Line South, we will take passengers link feeder bus service, saying it pro- Qhelped it rank 10 out of 63 overall performance is solid, and they there,” one staff er said, adding that vides “a huge relief” while travelling to high-income countries, according to will certainly help us to identify those buses are deployed every 12 minutes. and from the Metro station, as well as RAMADAN THOUGHT the World Competitiveness Yearbook areas where we need to consolidate Currently operational from 8am to going to a number of destinations such 2019, which is annually published by gains and make further improve- 11pm, the new schedule may start at as the hospital and Ezdan Mall. And certainly, We shall test Switzerland-based the International ments,” according to Dr Saleh Mo- 6am after the holy month, from Sun- While the feeder bus service is cur- you with something of fear, Institute for Management Develop- hamed Salem al-Nabit, president of day to Thursday. The Doha Metro takes rently free, it is learnt that charges may hunger, loss of wealth, lives and ment (IMD). the Planning and Statistics Authority. a break during weekends. apply later on as smart card payment fruits, but give glad tidings to The evaluation is based on a set of Highlighting that Qatar’s Sec- However, the revised schedule plans machines have already been installed As-Sabirun (the patient). Who, statistical indicators collected from ond National Development Strategy for services between 5am and 1am from on these buses. when aff licted with calamity, say: diff erent local and international sta- (2018-22) sets out clear goals in the Saturday to Thursday and 9am to 1am “I save a lot of money and if more “Truly! To Allah we belong and tistical sources, as well as on opinions Dr Saleh Mohamed Salem al-Nabit areas of economic infrastructure and every Friday, once all lines of the Doha buses will be deployed, then I don’t truly, to Him we shall return.” private sector development that will Metro are fully operational, according need to take a cab any more,” said a (Qur’an 2: 155-156) collected via surveys distributed to more than 200 local business leaders, influenced by many factors includ- lead to economic and social growth; to a brochure issued by Qatar Rail. resident who was travelling from Vi- Prayer times who provided their views on Qatar’s ing strong economic performance, he said Qatar has no option but to di- Feeder bus services will likely fol- sion International School to the Osama economy competitive position. represented by, Doha’s low unem- versify its economy. low these Metro timings to pick up and Bin Zaid area. Fajr....3.17 Zuhr....11.31 Asr....2.56 The areas where Qatar ranked high ployment rate, and the high percent- “If it is to achieve this, we must drop off passengers in the areas they He added that a possible plan to Maghrib.....6.21 Isha.....7.51 included: economic performance (3), ages of gross fixed capital formation continuously work to increase effi - operate. charge passengers a minimal fee is rea- Fasting times government effi ciency (5) and busi- (capital investments), and saving to ciency and productivity and improve In a circular posted on every bus, sonable and will be still cheaper than ness effi ciency (10). Moreover, Qatar GDP (gross domestic product), of our international competitiveness. Mowasalat has advised passengers that taking a taxi or limousine, which costs Iftar today .............................6.21pm has achieved its ranking at (40) for trade balance to GDP, and the high These results show us where we need its feeder buses will only halt at desig- QR8 to QR15 on an average. Imsak tomorrow...............3.06am infrastructure. level of overall productivity, as well to increase our eff orts and improve nated stops as a safety measure. The Red Line’s fi rst phase covers 13 This ranking has been positively as high GDP (PPP) per capita further,” he added. A bus driver noted that many com- of the 18 stations. Qatar’s Fahad becomes first Arab to scale Everest and Lhotse peaks Exciting shows lined up for Eid festival s the fi nal cannon is fi red to Waqif has also been installed with children – along the beachfront at mark the end of fasting on the children’s games. 8pm. Alast day of Ramadan, three of Mohamed al-Salem, Souq Waqif Theatre lovers will be able to enjoy Qatar’s most popular cultural tour- manager, said: “Souq Waqif is one of The Cake Seller in Theatre Building 16 ism landmarks hope to bring a dif- the most popular destinations in Qa- throughout Eid and until June 9. Daily ferent kind of joy to residents and tar for visitors and residents alike. As Eid celebrations will be capped with visitors. such the Souq’s management is fully breathtaking fi reworks. Katara – the Cultural Village, Souq prepared to receive crowds during Eid The Eid al-Fitr celebrations kick Waqif and Souq Al Wakrah are set to al-Fitr celebrations which will begin off the Summer in Qatar season, bring the spirit of traditional Eid cel- on the second day of Eid and continue featuring unmissable retail offers, ebrations to life with folkloric per- for fi ve consecutive days.” a rich entertainment schedule, and formances, parades, and fi reworks Khalid Saif al-Suwaidi, Souq Al the return of the popular Entertain- from the fi rst day of Eid until the Wakrah manager, said: “Thanks to its ment City.