• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER Wednesday 19 December 2012 6 Safar 1434 - Volume 17 Number 5553 Price: QR2 Al Sada opens Starc, Siddle slew of projects bowl Aussies on Halul Island to victory Business | 17 Sport | 28 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Suspicious transactions ‘on the rise’ DOHA: Suspicious money transactions and financial deals are on the rise in Qatar. The Qatar Financial Information Unit (QFIU) is receiving an increasing number of requests seeking details of suspicious transactions, both from within the country and international agencies. The number of Suspicious Transactions Reports or STRs that QFIU received in 2011 has gone up by 54.41 percent com- pared to average number of STRs received during 2007-2010 period. The maximum number of STRs received by it last year was related to fraud transactions at 141, the QFIU’s annual report noted. The QFIU received a total of 210 suspicious transaction reports in 2011, a little down from the 227 received in the previous year. Full report on page 17 Iraqi president suffers stroke BAGHDAD: Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd who has mediated among Shia, Sunni and Kurdish parties, was in hospital yesterday after suffering a stroke that left him in “critical but sta- ble condition”, government offi- cials and lawmakers said. “President Talabani has suf- fered a light stroke. His condi- The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani greeting citizens and expatriates during National Day celebrations on the Corniche yesterday. tion is stable now and doctors are closely monitoring him and if they decide he should be trans- ferred outside then he’ll go,” vet- eran Kurdish politician Mahmoud Emir greets people on National Day Othman, a close Talabani associ- ate who was in the Baghdad hos- pital, said. See also page 10 Memorable moments for many as Emir shakes hands with them; huge crowds witness celebrations Russia eyes Syria DOHA: People watching the cordoned off for the celebra- national, Shaukat Ali, who was As the Emir walked by, a silent other Arab ruler would ever walk evacuation National Day celebrations on tions. People, including women in the crowd, told this newspaper wave of joy swept over the crowds into crowds so fearlessly and with the Corniche early yesterday and children, had begun gath- later: “I couldn’t believe my eyes on the stretch of road between the so much warmth. “Can you expect BEIRUT: Russia sent warships were in for a pleasant surprise ering near the sprawling venue when I saw the Emir just two feet Ministry of Interior’s headquar- any other Arab leader to mingle to the Mediterranean to pre- as the Emir H H Sheikh Hamad well before 7am. away from me.” ters and Al Bida Park. with crowds like this?” asked com- pare a potential evacuation of its bin Khalifa Al Thani ventured After the formal celebrations “I was emotionally over- The Emir even took off his mentators. “He was not scared, and citizens from Syria, a Russian out on the road at the end of the began with the singing of the whelmed, so much so that my gown (bisht) and smiled and he was among the people,” said one news agency said yesterday, a event and taking a brief walk, national anthem and recitation eyes were wet. The Emir began waved at the people — a gesture of commentator. “Rulers of other sign President Bashar Al Assad’s waved and mingled with them, of verses from the Holy Quran, shaking hands with people and striking a chord with the common countries address their people key ally is worried about rebel shook hands with many and the Emir took salute as contin- embracing children. He didn’t dif- man. A child was so overcome by standing behind bullet-proof glass.” advances now threatening even embraced children. gents from the security forces ferentiate between nationals and the moment that he took off his “The moment the Emir got out the capital. Interfax news agency He showed special affection for marched by. expatriates. He shook hands with maroon muffler and offered it to of his car and started walking quoted unnamed naval sources as children and did not differentiate The formal celebrations lasted whoever could reach up to him. I the Emir as a gesture of love and towards the people was the best saying that two armed landing between fellow citizens and expa- an hour, and at the end the Emir will never ever forget this gesture respect. and most memorable moment for craft, a tanker and an escort ves- triates, eyewitnesses said. stood up and began walking to of the Emir,” said Ali, who works Social media outlets were abuzz me,” wrote another commentator. sel had left a Baltic port for the A huge crowd had converged greet the people, who became as a sales executive with a private with talk of the Emir’s rare ges- THE PENINSULA Mediterranean Sea. on the Corniche, which was extremely excited. A Pakistani company in Qatar. ture, with people asking if any See also pages 2, 4, 5 & 6 See also page 7 No Qataris among 50 Crisis in EU nations drives many to Qatar BY ISABEL OVALLE looking for a job in the media. “I have been hydrocarbons and petrochemicals, hos- ‘wealthiest’ Arabs here for a month and a half and I’ll stay pitality, education, and interior designing. DOHA: Qatar is the richest Arab Saudi — Mohamed Al Amoudi, with assets DOHA: Citizens of European countries until my tourist visa expires. If I don’t On the other hand, the number of country but, ironical as it may seem, of $11.50bn. On the fifth spot is another that are facing economic crises are find anything in the meantime, my plan Greek nationals living in Qatar has gone none of its citizens has made it to a Saudi business baron, Issam Al Zahid, with increasingly making their way to Qatar is to return next year to keep looking,” up and, as of October this year, was 870. list of the world’s 50 wealthiest Arabs wealth of $11bn, whereas Kuwait’s Kharafi to work and live here with their fami- she stated. The Greek embassy estimates that this released recently by Arabianbusiness. family gets the sixth spot with assets run- lies in a relatively stable environment. There are also European professionals figure has grown by approximately 10 per- com. ning into $8.60bn. Construction and civil aviation are who move to Doha to join their family cent since 2011 due to three main reasons, The coveted list is dominated by busi- Saudi-born Mohamed Al Jaber, based among the sectors that are attracting a here and are forced to pause their career the first being the high growth rate of ness magnates from the neighbouring in France and engaged in the travel and large number of workers from Europe. in their home country. For many in this the Qatari economy, which creates job Saudi Arabia, the Arab world’s largest hospitality businesses, finds the 10th place This is the case with Spaniards living in situation, language becomes the main opportunities. economy. Some 23 of the 50 Arab dollar- on the list with assets of $7bn. Qatar, whose number has grown in the obstacle to getting a job. The increase is also linked to Greek billionaires are from that country alone. UAE’s Abdulaziz Al Ghurair, a bank- past year to 1,100. This is the case with Laura, from Italy, construction firms in Qatar that employ The UAE is represented on what is the ing and finance tycoon, has made it to the These Spanish nationals have moved to who is having trouble finding a job because hundreds of Greek engineers, as also the Arab Billionaires’ Club by three mem- Arab Dollar Billionaires’ Club on the 12th Doha mainly to work in the above men- she doesn’t speak English well. “I have economic crisis in Greece. bers, and so is Kuwait. Surprisingly, even spot with assets of $6.40bn. tioned fields. There are a large number been taking classes for two months, and An embassy official said “it would be Bahrain finds a place on the list with the There are at least two Palestinians in of pilots who have joined Qatar Airways when I feel confident enough I will start very difficult to say which factor is more famed Kanoo business family grabbing the the elite club, with Toufic Aboukhater, after leaving troubled airlines in Spain or looking seriously. I have worked in the important.” “Given the high number of 14th spot with $6.25bn worth of assets. with assets of $6bn, ranking 16th. Egypt, due to difficulties that other companies banking sector all my life and my inten- Greek engineers based currently in Qatar, On top of the list is Prince Alwaleed Lebanon and Jordan are the other coun- are going through. tion is to continue in this field,” she said. I would estimate that the second factor is bin Talal Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, whose tries represented. Lebanese politician- The construction industry has also There are around 900 Italians liv- drawing more people to Qatar,” he said. assets have been put at close to $26bn, cum-business baron Saad Hariri’s fortunes attracted many professionals, such as ing in Qatar, a number that, an Italian “Construction companies get a project followed by the Olayan family, also from have been estimated at $3.70bn and he architects, engineers and designers. embassy official informed, has increased in Qatar and hire people in Greece Saudi Arabia.

Load more

  26

Copy Link