QATAR | Page 3 BUSINESS | Page 1 More US fi rms keen to enter Qatari market QFFD provides $12.5mn ‘despite grant to Birzeit University blockade’ published in QATAR since 1978 TUESDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 11029 December 11, 2018 Rabia II 4, 1440 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Amir launches Doha Historical Arabic Dictionary z Dictionary to be useful for advancing science in the language of the nation z Adding ‘Doha’ to the name was meant to show that the dictionary is a gift from Qatar to the Arab world QNA vides a great service for the advance- Doha ment of science in the language of the nation. A number of those who worked on is Highness the Amir Sheikh the dictionary stressed that complet- Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani ing the project marked an unprec- Hlaunched the web portal of the edented linguistic renaissance. With Doha Historical Dictionary of Arabic the dictionary, the Arabic language and yesterday at a ceremony organised by its texts will be compiled into an elec- the Arab Center for Research and Policy tronic language code that will be the Studies of the Doha Institute for Grad- largest ever. uate Studies. Dr Bishara, who is also director- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani attending the launch of the web portal of the Doha Historical Dictionary of Arabic yesterday. The ceremony was The ceremony was attended by HE general of the project, said the diction- attended by HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, HE Advisory Council Speaker Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid the Prime Minister and Minister of In- ary would never have been completed al-Mahmoud and a number of ministers, senior off icials, academics and intellectuals, experts and linguists from Arab countries. terior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin if it were not for the faith in joint Arab Khalifa al-Thani, HE Speaker of the work, solid management, and the Arab Shura Council Ahmed bin Abdullah experts who worked on it. He high- bin Zaid al-Mahmoud and a number of lighted that other similar projects in ministers, senior offi cials, academics the past had to be abandoned before and intellectuals, experts and linguists reaching its desired goal. from Arab countries. He also discussed the successes of A number of films featuring the the past, beginning with the establish- importance of the Doha Historical ment of the Arabic language complex Dictionary of Arabic, the stages of its in Egypt in 1932 and elsewhere in the development, the characteristics of Arab world, all of which were certainly the first stage and information about remarkable eff orts but have not yet the portal were screened on the occa- reached the milestone of establishing a sion. historical dictionary of the Arabic lan- Dr Azmi Bishara, Director-General guage. of the Arab Center for Research and Bishara stressed that two of the ma- Policy Studies and members of the Sci- jor achievements of the project were entifi c Council of the dictionary spoke, establishing a methodology and creat- highlighting the historical and linguis- ing a database. “In three years, 100,000 tic value of the dictionary. dictionary entries covering 700 years Arabic language experts stressed were completed until the year 200 Hi- that Qatar’s adoption of the Doha jri. This was despite the special nature Historical Dictionary of Arabic pro- of the Arab language.” Page 3 Amir to patronise launch of water Brexit in turmoil as May security project Qatar records QR7.1bn His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim postpones vote on deal bin Hamad al-Thani will patronise today the launch ceremony of Water budget surplus in H1 2018 Security Mega Reservoirs Project held Reuters scheduled for tomorrow and not pro- by the Qatar General Electricity and London ceed to divide the House at this time,” Water Corp at the pumping stations in she said. The United Kingdom would By Peter Alagos “Today, Qatar is stronger than ever, now back to normal,” amounting to Umm Salal Ali. The project is strategic meanwhile step up contingency Business Reporter and its economy is stronger than be- QR46.5bn by end of September 2018, for Qatar’s water security and is rime Minister Theresa May planning for a no-deal Brexit when it fore June 5, 2017,” he said. “a level higher before the imposi- considered one of the largest of its abruptly postponed a parlia- is due to leave on March 29. Citing “great indicators,” the QCB tion of the unjust siege when it was kind in the world. The foundation stone Pmentary vote on her Brexit deal With her position in open jeop- atar has managed to achieve governor said Qatar’s real GDP grew by $45.7bn at the end of May 2017.” of the project was laid in May 2015. yesterday, throwing Britain’s plan to ardy, May said she would now go a budget surplus of QR7.1bn 2.5% in H1 2018 against 1.6% last year. Sheikh Abdullah said the precau- leave the European Union into chaos back to the EU and seek reassurances Qin the fi rst six months of 2018 Nominal GDP for the same period was tionary measures taken by the QCB to after admitting that she faced a rout. over the so-called Irish backstop. It amid an ongoing economic blockade, up 14.6%, “with infl ation continuing at enhance the fl exibility and develop- Amir holds phone talk May’s move on the eve of the sched- is meant to ensure no return to a hard said HE the Governor of Qatar Cen- a low level of only 1%, which was posi- ment of the fi nancial system, as well with Kuwait’s leader uled parliamentary vote opens up an border on the island of Ireland as a tral Bank (QCB) Sheikh Abdullah bin tively refl ected in improving internal as the regulatory and international His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim array of possible outcomes ranging result of Brexit, but is seen by many Saoud al-Thani. and external balances,” he said. requirements of the Basel Commit- bin Hamad al-Thani held yesterday from a disorderly Brexit without a deal, on all sides in parliament as leaving Sheikh Abdullah announced the The current account of the balance tee and the Accounting and Auditing evening a telephone conversation a last-minute deal clinched just weeks Britain’s Northern Ireland province achievement in a speech at yester- of payments in the fi rst half of 2018 Organisation for Islamic Financial with the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh before Britain’s March 29 exit, or an- within the EU’s economic and regu- day’s Euromoney Qatar Conference saw a QR25.7bn surplus or 7.6% of Institutions have contributed to the Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, other EU referendum. latory orbit. 2018, adding that in 2017, Qatar had a Qatar’s GDP compared to the 1.5% or fl exibility of the fi nancial sector. during which he enquired after the “If we went ahead and held the European Council President Don- defi cit amounting to QR35.4bn. QR4.5bn surplus recorded in the same On the other hand, the monetary health of the Kuwaiti Amir, who vote tomorrow the deal would be re- ald Tusk said later that the EU was “Thanks to the wise leadership and period in 2017. policy taken by the QCB under the un- underwent successful regular medical jected by a signifi cant margin,” May ready to discuss how to smooth rati- concerted eff orts of all bodies and sec- In the fi rst few months of the siege, just siege led to eff ective management examinations, wishing him good health told parliament, adding that she was fi cation of the deal by Britain’s par- tors in the country, the crisis has been Qatar’s international reserves and of this crisis, which refl ected positive- and well-being. confi dent it was the right deal. liament, but added that the backstop overcome and the negative eff ects of the foreign currency liquidity dropped ly on the banking and fi nancial sector, “We will therefore defer the vote could not be renegotiated. Page 17 unjust siege have been addressed. by 20% but have recovered “and are he continued. To Page 2 Hassad invests 20% in Oman’s seafood fi rm Hassad, Qatar’s premier investor in the food sector, is investing 20% in downstream seafood sector ‘Global Seafood Company’ in Oman. With this National Museum to showcase heritage objects new investment, the company’s total investments in Oman will reach about QR500mn. Business Page 16 By Joey Aguilar Thani told a press briefi ng yesterday rial Aff airs; and Saif al-Kuwari, NMoQ inhabited by humans and continues to Staff Reporter at IDAM restaurant at the Museum of deputy director of operations. the present day. Macron off ers wage rises, Islamic Art. Qatar’s stunning museum, housed “Each gallery will have its own spe- Sheikha Amna, along with senior within a new building designed by re- cial approach. And the galleries are so tax cuts for pensioners eaturing 11 interlinked galleries, QM offi cials, was giving a glimpse into nowned French architect Jean Nouvel, rich and multi-layered that there will President Emmanuel Macron the National Museum of Qatar what was described as “the visitor- is set to be inaugurated next year, un- always be more for you to experience yesterday announced wage rises for F(NMoQ) will showcase an impres- focused experience” NMoQ was de- der the patronage of His Highness the and explore, no matter how often you the poorest workers and tax cuts for sive array of archaeological and heritage signed to create.