BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 4 Player power set to shape Reds’ INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2-6, 20 COMMENT 18, 19 REGION 7 BUSINESS 1–5, 9-12 transfer Qatar lauded for stable 22,048.70 9,307.14 49.56 ARAB WORLD 6, 7 CLASSIFIED 6-9 -36.64 -66.35 +0.39 INTERNATIONAL 8–17 SPORTS 1–8 LNG supply to Japan dealings -0.17% -0.71% +0.79% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978 THURSDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10541 August 10, 2017 Dhul-Qa’da 18, 1438 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Emir receives message from Kuwait Qatar off ers In brief visa-free QATAR | Meeting Plans to develop Lusail City discussed Off icials from the Ministry of entry for 80 Municipality and Environment, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), Qatari Diar and Lusail City held a joint meeting yesterday to discuss plans to develop Lusail City, in line with the State’s development plans nationalities during the next phase and the requirements of Qatar’s hosting O Citizens of 80 countries Meanwhile, citizens of 47 countries for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. HE will be able to enter Qatar (second batch) can obtain a 30-day visa the Minister of Municipality and waiver upon arrival in Qatar. It allows Environment Mohamed bin Abdullah ‘with no paper work, no the holder to spend up to 30 days in the al-Rumaihi attended the meeting payment and no visas’ country but can be extended for anoth- during which a visual presentation er 30 days. Entry to Qatar is approved about Lusail City displayed the His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday received a written message from the Emir of Kuwait, By Joey Aguilar at the sole discretion of the MoI. overall plan of the project, its Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, pertaining to the Gulf aff airs as well as regional and international developments. The Staff Reporter Visa facilitation forms an impor- phases, divisions, the marina, Kuwaiti Emir’s envoy, First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Khaled al-Hamad al-Sabah, and Kuwait’s tant part of the national tourism sector recreation areas, the entrances and Minister of State for Cabinet Aff airs and Acting Minister of Information Sheikh Mohamed al-Abdullah al-Mubarak al-Sabah strategy, which QTA and its partners exits and their connections with the handed over the message when His Highness the Emir met them at Al Bahr Palace yesterday. itizens of 80 countries can now are now reviewing, according to al- main roads. enter Qatar visa-free, making Ibrahim. Cit the most open country in the “Easing entry to Qatar is a key ena- QATAR | Hunters region, the Ministry of Interior (MoI), bler for the growth of Qatar’s tourism Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) and industry. With this announcement we Probe into kidnapping Qatar Airways announced yesterday. are already turning the pages of the not over yet: Iraq PM Former foreign, justice minister Instead of applying for a visa, citi- next chapter of Qatar’s journey towards Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi zens of these countries who want to 2030,” he said. said the investigation into the issue visit Qatar will be given a multiple-en- Al-Ibrahim noted that the 80 coun- of kidnapped Qatari hunters is not try waiver for free at the port of entry. tries have been carefully selected based over yet. Speaking during his weekly rejects Comoros stance on Qatar It includes the UK, the US, Seychelles, on the quality of the tourists and their press conference after a cabinet New Zealand, Canada, Australia, India, spending ability, in addition to security meeting, al-Abadi said the probe is E the Minister of Municipal- and South Africa. considerations. still underway because “it is a major ity and Environment Mohamed Speaking at a press conference in The current list will undergo periodic issue and regional sides got involved Hbin Abdullah al-Rumaihi re- Doha, Qatar Airways Group Chief Ex- review to update it in the future if need- in it.” Al-Abadi urged Iraqis to report ceived Fahmi Said Ibrahim, former jus- ecutive Akbar al-Baker stated that the ed, according to the senior QTA offi cial. any kidnapping as soon as they learn tice minister of the Comoros Islands, citizens of these 80 countries will be “With 80 countries eligible for a visa about it, noting that Iraqi forces in Doha yesterday. Ibrahim is on a visit able to enter the country “with no pa- waiver, Qatar is now the most open have foiled all recent kidnappings to Qatar to express his rejection of the per work, no payment and no visas.” country in the region and we are de- and returned the kidnapped to their Comorian President’s unilateral deci- “This historic announcement comes lighted to invite visitors to discover our families. sion to sever diplomatic relations with at a time of historic signifi cance. While renowned hospitality, cultural heritage Qatar, in the wake of the current GCC some countries in the region have taken and natural treasures,” he stressed. ASIA | Tension crisis. to closing their skies and their borders, Citing a renewed focus by the coun- Ibrahim has previously served as Qatar has instead opened its borders to try’s leadership on diversifying the na- US warns N Korea of Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs and more freely welcoming visitors from all tional economy, al-Ibrahim announced collapse of regime Co-operation, in charge for the Arab corners of the world,” he said. that a revised tourism strategy is The United States yesterday World. His recent post was Minister of “Many of these visitors who otherwise scheduled to be launched on Septem- warned North Korea that the Justice, in charge of Public Adminis- HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment Mohamed bin Abdullah al- Rumaihi may not have considered a stay in our ber 27, when Qatar hosts the offi cial pursuit of its nuclear drive could tration of Islamic Aff airs and Human and Fahmi Said Ibrahim in Doha yesterday. beautiful country will no doubt go on to celebrations of World Tourism Day. lead to the collapse of Kim Jong- Rights (from 30 May 2016 until he quit share their experience with others. These Qatar is also considering further un’s regime, as President Donald his post on 19 July 2017). exclusive interview will be published on O The people of the island wanted to new ambassadors will be vital to achiev- enhancements to its visa policy such Trump brandished America’s The former minister said he quit the Sunday. Some of the highlights are: stage a rally in support of Qatar but the ing our target of over 7mn tourists by the as waiving visa requirements for hold- nuclear might as a powerful cabinet in protest against the unjusti- O The decision of the Comorian presi- move was suppressed on the orders of year 2030,” added al-Baker, who was ers of a residence permit or a valid visa deterrent. The further escalation fi ed stand of the President of Comoros dent to sever ties with Qatar was never the President. joined by QTA’s chief tourism develop- from GCC citizens (Bahrain, Kuwait, in Washington’s war of words with towards Qatar. endorsed by the government or the peo- O Haj should never be mixed with poli- ment offi cer Hassan al-Ibrahim and the Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE), the Pyongyang came a day after Trump Ibrahim, who recently quit his min- ple there. tics; Saudi Arabia should consider itself MoI’s Airport Passports Department UK, the US, Canada, Australia, New stunned the world with a bold-faced isterial post in Comoros alongside two O The people of Comoros have never as the guardian of the holy places and director Lieutenant Colonel Mohamed Zealand or the Schengen countries. message to Kim, saying his country other ministers of the Juwa Party, has heard about Qatar supporting extrem- guarantee safe and easy access to all Rashid al-Mazroui at the event. According to QTA, this waiver would faced “fire and fury like the world highly appreciated the role of Qatar in ism. Muslims. Citizens of 33 countries (fi rst batch) allow eligible visitors to obtain an Elec- has never seen.” Those comments the development of his country. O Qatari organisations that have worked O Diff erences between countries should will be eligible for a multiple-entry tronic Travel Authorisation by com- triggered expressions of concern Gulf Times spoke to Ibrahim about in Comoros have improved the lives of be solved through talks based on the rule waiver valid for 180 days, allowing pleting a simple online application at from China as well as from US allies, his views on the current Gulf crisis. The the people. of law. them to stay for up to 90 days in Qatar. least 48 hours prior to travel. Page 2 and stock markets and the dollar have slipped as investors seek safe- haven investments. Pages 9, 10 SPORT | Gulf crisis Coe: Qatar remains host Mauritian group stands by Qatar of 2019 world athletics There is no problem with Doha Prominent citizens call ambassador Azad Dhomun and Jean tar with whom our people and country being the host city of the 2019 world Qatar’s blockade as most Marie F Richard, a seasoned media and enjoy a longstanding privileged friend- athletics championships despite PR practitioner. ship,” said Richard announcing the the diplomatic and economic unfair, unwarranted “The group is dedicated to voice creation of Friends of Qatar-Mauritius blockade imposed on Qatar by Saudi support to the government and peo- yesterday.