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Qatar set to host a year-long programme of events to celebrate.<\/p>\n<p>The annual regional title is bestowed by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on a city for its cultural authenticity, sustainability efforts, innovation or growth.<\/p>\n<p>Taking over from the garden city of Al Ain in the <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2026//01//24//the-major-new-travel-hubs-that-are-going-to-change-the-way-we-fly/">United Arab Emirates<\/strong><\/a>, Doha was chosen thanks to its \u2018varied tourism experience\u2019.<\/p>\n<p><a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//09//24//exploring-how-qatar-is-redefining-hospitality-with-art-architecture-and-experience/">Qatar Tourism<\/strong><\/a> submitted a bid highlighting the city\u2019s strengths as a tourism destination, drawing particular focus to its transport infrastructure, including the award-winning Hamad International Airport and the Doha Metro &amp; Tram. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe selection of Doha as the GCC Tourism Capital for 2026 marks an important milestone that underscores the success of our leadership\u2019s strategic vision in establishing tourism as a central pillar of the National Development Strategy and Qatar National Vision 2030,\u201d said His Excellency Mr. Saad bin Ali Al-Kharji, Chairman of Qatar Tourism. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis recognition reflects the qualitative progress achieved in building an integrated and sustainable tourism ecosystem that is competitive at both regional and global levels, supported by world-class infrastructure, strong connectivity, and an exceptional visitor experience.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2026//01//23//fastest-growing-tourism-destinations-revealed-in-new-un-report-and-one-is-in-europe/">Fastest-growing tourism destinations revealed in new UN report - and one is in Europe<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2026//01//21//why-you-need-to-visit-finlands-newest-european-capital-of-culture/">Why you need to visit Finland\u2019s newest European Capital of Culture<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2>Things to do in Doha, the GCC Tourism Capital<\/h2>\n<p>The compact city of Doha has plenty to offer tourists no matter their interests \u2013 which is partly the reason it was chosen for the accolade.<\/p>\n<p>Those who like to immerse themselves in the local culture can visit Souq Waqif, a traditional marketplace that dates back more than a century, or learn more about the history of the country at the National Museum of Qatar. While the current building, designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, opened in 2019, at its centre you will find the early 20th century palace of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani.<\/p>\n<p>Other top <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2026//01//06//museum-openings-and-food-festivals-whats-new-in-europe-thats-worth-travelling-for-in-2026/">museums and art galleries<\/strong><\/a> include the I. M. Pei-designed Museum of Islamic Art, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, and the Doha Fire Station.<\/p>\n<p>Having hosted the World Cup in 2022, Doha is no stranger to sports tourism. <\/p>\n<p>Visitors can learn about the history of sport both in Qatar and internationally at the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic And Sports Museum, and F1 or MotoGP fans can gain access to Lusail International Circuit throughout the year on car and motorcycle open track days.<\/p>\n<h2>Upcoming events in Doha<\/h2>\n<p>While the programme specifically tied to Doha becoming GCC Tourism Capital is yet to be announced, there are already a number of annual events to look forward to.<\/p>\n<p>2026 will see Art Basel Qatar debut at M7 and the Doha Design District between 5-7 February.<\/p>\n<p>The modern and contemporary art fair is the fifth international edition from Art Basel, which also runs shows in Miami Beach, Hong Kong and <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2026//01//16//louvre-museum-to-charge-non-europeans-more-here-are-the-tourist-attractions-using-dual-pri/">Paris./n

In March, Lusail Stadium \u2013 the World Cup final venue \u2013 will host the 2026 Finalissima, a showdown between the latest South American and European championships, Argentina and Spain.<\/p>\n<p>Other annual events to look out for later in the year include the Doha Film Festival and the Qatar International Art Festival, both typically held in November, as well as the Qatar Balloon Festival and Katara Traditional Dhow Festival in December.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1769438938,"updatedAt":1769440086,"publishedAt":1769439975,"firstPublishedAt":1769439975,"lastPublishedAt":1769439975,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/66\/09\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_f2c59606-f99c-51ad-abf2-0ae842c44a73-9626609.jpg","altText":"National Museum of Qatar in Doha","caption":"National Museum of Qatar in Doha","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Jirayu Koontholjinda via Unsplash","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":7745,"slug":"awards","urlSafeValue":"awards","title":"Awards","titleRaw":"Awards"},{"id":4221,"slug":"tourism","urlSafeValue":"tourism","title":"Tourism","titleRaw":"Tourism"},{"id":11950,"slug":"middle-east","urlSafeValue":"middle-east","title":"Middle East","titleRaw":"Middle East"},{"id":12005,"slug":"gulfcooperationcouncil","urlSafeValue":"gulfcooperationcouncil","title":"Gulf Cooperation Council","titleRaw":"Gulf Cooperation Council"},{"id":20490,"slug":"destination","urlSafeValue":"destination","title":"Destinations","titleRaw":"Destinations"},{"id":20476,"slug":"things-to-do","urlSafeValue":"things-to-do","title":"Things to do ","titleRaw":"Things to do "}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Dianne Apen-Sadler","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"travel-news","urlSafeValue":"travel-news","title":"Travel News","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/travel\/travel-news\/travel-news"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"travel","verticals":[{"id":7,"slug":"travel","urlSafeValue":"travel","title":"Travel"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":7,"slug":"travel","urlSafeValue":"travel","title":"Travel"},"themes":[{"id":"travel-news","urlSafeValue":"travel-news","title":"Travel 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News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":234,"urlSafeValue":"qatar","title":"Qatar","url":"\/news\/asia\/qatar"},"town":{"id":3937,"urlSafeValue":"doha","title":"Doha"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/travel\/2026\/01\/26\/this-middle-eastern-city-has-just-been-named-a-tourism-capital-for-2026","lastModified":1769439975},{"id":2865026,"cid":9625396,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"WORLD BANK GROUP DOHA by Aadel","daletPyramidId":3992957,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"World Bank Group opens its first office in Qatar","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"World Bank Group opens first office in Qatar","titleListing2":"World Bank Group opens Doha office, deepening Qatar\u2019s role in global development","leadin":"The World Bank Group has officially opened its first office in Doha, marking a new phase in its partnership with Qatar and strengthening cooperation on development, private investment and support for fragile economies in the region.","summary":"The World Bank Group has officially opened its first office in Doha, marking a new phase in its partnership with Qatar and strengthening cooperation on development, private investment and support for fragile economies in the region.","keySentence":"","url":"world-bank-group-opens-its-first-office-in-qatar","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/2026\/01\/25\/world-bank-group-opens-its-first-office-in-qatar","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The World Bank Group officially opened its new office in Doha on Sunday, marking a significant step in its growing partnership with Qatar and reinforcing the country\u2019s expanding role in global development and finance.\n\nThe Doha office will serve as a regional hub for collaboration between the World Bank Group and Qatari institutions, with a focus on development financing, private-sector mobilisation and support for countries facing fragility and conflict. The office is hosted at the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) headquarters, in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance.\n\nSpeaking at the official ceremony, President of the World Bank Group Ajay Banga said the move reflects a deepening relationship built on shared priorities. \u201cWe have to build a stronger partnership between the World Bank Group and the Government of Qatar,\u201d Banga said.\n\n\u201cBoth for the purposes of the contributions that Qatar can make to neighbouring countries in growth, but also by encouraging private enterprises and private capital to increase the flow into the emerging markets in the neighbourhood and thereby drive prosperity, growth and jobs for people.\u201d\n\nBanga noted that discussions during his visit focused on expanding cooperation not only with government institutions, but also with financial and development partners across Qatar.\n\nA platform for regional impact\n\nFor Qatar, the opening of the office is both symbolic and practical. H.E. Ali bin Ahmed Al-Kuwari, Minister of Finance, described it as a milestone in a long-standing relationship. \u201cThe opening of this office today is a testament to this relationship and where we are today,\u201d he said. \u201cI believe this office is going to add huge value to the Qatar economy and Qatar National Vision, ranging from capacity building of the World Bank as well as training the young Qataris here.\u201d\n\nThe office brings together multiple arms of the World Bank Group, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), enabling closer coordination on development projects, risk mitigation and private investment.\n\nThat multi-pillar approach is central to Qatar\u2019s development strategy, according to Rwodah Ibrahim Al Naimi, Director of Investments at QFFD. \u201cThis is the first World Bank Group office opening in Doha, and it\u2019s not limited to just one group,\u201d she said. \u201cIFC, MIGA and other collaborators are all represented, which allows for deeper cooperation both internationally and nationally.\u201d\n\nFocus on private capital and fragile economies\n\nAlongside the office opening, QFFD and the World Bank Group signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen advisory services and explore new financing mechanisms, particularly for fragile and conflict-affected contexts.\n\nAl Naimi said the collaboration is designed to unlock private sector participation where capital is hardest to mobilise. \u201cWe are focusing on enhancing private sector involvement in the most fragile contexts, where capital is limited,\u201d she said. \u201cBy combining public funding from QFFD with World Bank instruments such as guarantees, we can create more sustainable investment, support small and medium enterprises and generate jobs.\u201d\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The World Bank Group officially opened its new office in Doha on Sunday, marking a significant step in its growing partnership with Qatar and reinforcing the country\u2019s expanding role in global development and finance.<\/p>\n<p>The Doha office will serve as a regional hub for collaboration between the World Bank Group and Qatari institutions, with a focus on development financing, private-sector mobilisation and support for countries facing fragility and conflict. The office is hosted at the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) headquarters, in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking at the official ceremony, President of the World Bank Group Ajay Banga said the move reflects a deepening relationship built on shared priorities. \u201cWe have to build a stronger partnership between the World Bank Group and the Government of Qatar,\u201d Banga said. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cBoth for the purposes of the contributions that Qatar can make to neighbouring countries in growth, but also by encouraging private enterprises and private capital to increase the flow into the emerging markets in the neighbourhood and thereby drive prosperity, growth and jobs for people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Banga noted that discussions during his visit focused on expanding cooperation not only with government institutions, but also with financial and development partners across Qatar.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>A platform for regional impact<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>For Qatar, the opening of the office is both symbolic and practical. H.E. Ali bin Ahmed Al-Kuwari, Minister of Finance, described it as a milestone in a long-standing relationship. \u201cThe opening of this office today is a testament to this relationship and where we are today,\u201d he said. \u201cI believe this office is going to add huge value to the Qatar economy and Qatar National Vision, ranging from capacity building of the World Bank as well as training the young Qataris here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The office brings together multiple arms of the World Bank Group, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), enabling closer coordination on development projects, risk mitigation and private investment.<\/p>\n<p>That multi-pillar approach is central to Qatar\u2019s development strategy, according to Rwodah Ibrahim Al Naimi, Director of Investments at QFFD. \u201cThis is the first World Bank Group office opening in Doha, and it\u2019s not limited to just one group,\u201d she said. \u201cIFC, MIGA and other collaborators are all represented, which allows for deeper cooperation both internationally and nationally.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Focus on private capital and fragile economies<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Alongside the office opening, QFFD and the World Bank Group signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen advisory services and explore new financing mechanisms, particularly for fragile and conflict-affected contexts.<\/p>\n<p>Al Naimi said the collaboration is designed to unlock private sector participation where capital is hardest to mobilise. \u201cWe are focusing on enhancing private sector involvement in the most fragile contexts, where capital is limited,\u201d she said. \u201cBy combining public funding from QFFD with World Bank instruments such as guarantees, we can create more sustainable investment, support small and medium enterprises and generate jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1769350927,"updatedAt":1769364451,"publishedAt":1769364447,"firstPublishedAt":1769364447,"lastPublishedAt":1769364447,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/53\/96\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_ade0b91f-27df-599c-b0e8-5f4f2ae621d6-9625396.jpg","altText":"The official ceremony for the World Bank Group's opening of its first office in Doha.","caption":"The official ceremony for the World Bank Group's opening of its first office in Doha.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD)","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1125}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3539,"urlSafeValue":"aadel.haleem@euronews.com","title":"Aadel 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Bank"}],"widgets":[],"related":[{"id":2860093},{"id":2862686},{"id":2862195}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"economy","urlSafeValue":"economy","title":"Economy","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/economy\/economy"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"business","verticals":[{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"themes":[{"id":"economy","urlSafeValue":"economy","title":"Economy","url":"\/business\/economy"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":72,"urlSafeValue":"economy","title":"Economy"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":234,"urlSafeValue":"qatar","title":"Qatar","url":"\/news\/asia\/qatar"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/business\/2026\/01\/25\/world-bank-group-opens-its-first-office-in-qatar","lastModified":1769364447},{"id":2860093,"cid":9603972,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":1,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"QM - S01E05 - WELLNESS IN QATAR - THE POWER OF PAUSE - MASTER","daletPyramidId":3800636,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Wellness in Qatar: The Power of Pause","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Redefining wealth by investing in wellness","titleListing2":"As the world accelerates in innovation and ambition, how do we break free from the rat race and hustle culture? Qatar in Motion explores how the country is moving wellness from the margins to the mainstream.","leadin":"In this episode of Qatar in Motion, Laila Humairah takes a breather - literally. At Zulal Wellness Resort, she discovers how ancient healing meets modern science to help people slow down in a country built on momentum. How Qatar is leading a \u201crest revolution\u201d and finding balance in motion?","summary":"In this episode of Qatar in Motion, Laila Humairah takes a breather - literally. At Zulal Wellness Resort, she discovers how ancient healing meets modern science to help people slow down in a country built on momentum. How Qatar is leading a \u201crest revolution\u201d and finding balance in motion?","keySentence":"","url":"wellness-in-qatar-the-power-of-pause","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/21\/wellness-in-qatar-the-power-of-pause","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"As the world accelerates in innovation and ambition, how do we break free from the rat race and hustle culture?\n\nIn this episode of Qatar in Motion, Laila Humairah takes a breather - literally. At Zulal Wellness Resort, she discovers how ancient healing meets modern science to help people slow down in a country built on momentum. Through conversations with herbalists and healers, Laila uncovers how Qatar is leading a \u201crest revolution\u201d, proving that success, balance, and true progress isn\u2019t just about moving faster, but about finding balance in motion.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>As the world accelerates in innovation and ambition, how do we break free from the rat race and hustle culture?<\/p>\n<p>In this episode of Qatar in Motion, Laila Humairah takes a breather - literally. At Zulal Wellness Resort, she discovers how ancient healing meets modern science to help people slow down in a country built on momentum. Through conversations with herbalists and healers, Laila uncovers how Qatar is leading a \u201crest revolution\u201d, proving that success, balance, and true progress isn\u2019t just about moving faster, but about finding balance in motion.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1767706388,"updatedAt":1769009108,"publishedAt":1769007657,"firstPublishedAt":1769011257,"lastPublishedAt":1769009107,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","altText":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"caption":null,"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/39\/88\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_a6c142ed-3974-5e12-9e16-c92bcca44dac-9603988.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"health","titleRaw":"Health","id":139,"title":"Health","slug":"health"},{"urlSafeValue":"food","titleRaw":"Food","id":11396,"title":"Food","slug":"food"},{"urlSafeValue":"science","titleRaw":"Science","id":10245,"title":"Science","slug":"science"},{"urlSafeValue":"luxury","titleRaw":"Luxury","id":7970,"title":"Luxury","slug":"luxury"},{"urlSafeValue":"qatar","titleRaw":"Qatar","id":234,"title":"Qatar","slug":"qatar"}],"widgets":[],"related":[],"technicalTags":[{"path":"editorial.media-city"},{"path":"editorial"},{"path":"sponsor.qfc2021"},{"path":"sponsor"}],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"h7EpWb-_3MY","dailymotionId":"x9y7pza"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":720000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":96486862,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/33\/28\/57\/06\/ED_PYR_3328576_20260121132830.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":720000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":152085825,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/33\/28\/57\/06\/SHD_PYR_3328576_20260121132830.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"},{"duration":720000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":548621255,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/33\/28\/57\/06\/FHD_PYR_3328576_20260121132830.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"1080p"}],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"qatar-in-motion","urlSafeValue":"qatar-in-motion","title":"Qatar in Motion","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/qatar-in-motion"},"season":"QATAR IN MOTION_S01","episode":"S01E05 - WELLNESS IN QATAR - THE POWER OF PAUSE","episodeId":"1349","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":1,"title":"News","slug":"news"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":1,"advertisingData":{"startDate":1630511520,"endDate":2114355123,"type":"sponsored","slug":"Scenes","title":"Media City - Qatar","disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":"Media City","sponsorName":"Scenes","sponsorUrl":"https:\/\/mediacity.qa\/","sponsorLogo":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/campaigns\/410\/300x114_cmsv2_34d67838-9191-52a0-9a53-1c81081387b0-410.jpg","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":234,"urlSafeValue":"qatar","title":"Qatar","url":"\/news\/asia\/qatar"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2026\/01\/21\/wellness-in-qatar-the-power-of-pause","lastModified":1769009107},{"id":2863486,"cid":9618456,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"QATAR FOOTBALL FESTIVAL","daletPyramidId":3929733,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Qatar Football Festival 2026 brings Messi, Yamal, Salah and top teams to Doha in March","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Qatar Football Festival features Finalissima 2026 and friendlies","titleListing2":"Qatar Football Festival 2026 brings Messi, Yamal, Salah and top teams to Doha in March","leadin":"Qatar Football Festival 2026 will be headlined by the men\u2019s Finalissima between Argentina and Spain, with some of the world\u2019s biggest football stars set to appear in Doha during a six-match international window.","summary":"Qatar Football Festival 2026 will be headlined by the men\u2019s Finalissima between Argentina and Spain, with some of the world\u2019s biggest football stars set to appear in Doha during a six-match international window.","keySentence":"","url":"qatar-football-festival-2026-brings-messi-yamal-salah-and-top-teams-to-doha-in-march","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/19\/qatar-football-festival-2026-brings-messi-yamal-salah-and-top-teams-to-doha-in-march","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Qatar has announced it will host a major international football showcase this March, unveiling the Qatar Football Festival 2026, a six-match event featuring the men's Finalissima between Argentina and Spain.\n\nThe festival will take place from 26-31 March, during an official FIFA international window, ensuring the participation of full national teams and first-team players.\n\nThe headline fixture will see European champions Spain face South American champions Argentina at Lusail Stadium on 27 March, marking one of the most high-profile international matches scheduled ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.\n\nAlongside the Finalissima, the festival will include a series of international friendlies involving Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Serbia, spread across Qatar's World Cup stadiums.\n\nGlobal stars set for Doha\n\nBecause the matches fall within FIFA's designated window, all teams will field their senior squads, meaning some of football\u2019s biggest names are expected to feature in Qatar this March.\n\nAmong those likely to appear are Lionel Messi, Mohamed Salah, Lamine Yamal, Aleksandar Mitrovi\u0107 and Omar Marmoush, with organisers expecting strong line-ups across all fixtures.\n\nThe full schedule includes six matches, culminating in Qatar v Argentina at Lusail Stadium on 31 March.\n\nQatar builds on football legacy\n\nThe Local Organising Committee for Football Events said the festival reflects Qatar's continued commitment to hosting elite international football and providing top-level preparation opportunities for national teams ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.\n\n\"We look forward to welcoming players and fans from around the world as we prepare to host the world's biggest football stars ahead of the FIFA World Cup,\" said LOC Chairman Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.\n\n\"We are honoured to open our doors once again to the global football community. Hosting the Qatar Football Festival reflects our commitment to delivering world-class experiences and reaffirms Qatar's position as a trusted partner in global football.\"\n\nTickets for the Qatar Football Festival will go on sale from 25 February, with travel packages for international fans available from 1 February.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Qatar has announced it will host a major international football showcase this March, unveiling the Qatar Football Festival 2026, a six-match event featuring the men's Finalissima between Argentina and Spain. <\/p>\n<p>The festival will take place from 26-31 March, during an official FIFA international window, ensuring the participation of full national teams and first-team players. <\/p>\n<p>The headline fixture will see European champions Spain face South American champions Argentina at Lusail Stadium on 27 March, marking one of the most high-profile international matches scheduled ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026. <\/p>\n<p>Alongside the Finalissima, the festival will include a series of international friendlies involving Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Serbia, spread across Qatar's World Cup stadiums. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"1\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//61//84//56//808x808_cmsv2_aa3a6687-dfa7-52eb-8d52-01a4393e36a9-9618456.jpg/" alt=\"Qatar Football Festival\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/84\/56\/384x384_cmsv2_aa3a6687-dfa7-52eb-8d52-01a4393e36a9-9618456.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/84\/56\/640x640_cmsv2_aa3a6687-dfa7-52eb-8d52-01a4393e36a9-9618456.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/84\/56\/750x750_cmsv2_aa3a6687-dfa7-52eb-8d52-01a4393e36a9-9618456.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/84\/56\/828x828_cmsv2_aa3a6687-dfa7-52eb-8d52-01a4393e36a9-9618456.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/84\/56\/1080x1080_cmsv2_aa3a6687-dfa7-52eb-8d52-01a4393e36a9-9618456.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/84\/56\/1200x1200_cmsv2_aa3a6687-dfa7-52eb-8d52-01a4393e36a9-9618456.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/84\/56\/1920x1920_cmsv2_aa3a6687-dfa7-52eb-8d52-01a4393e36a9-9618456.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Qatar Football Festival<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Qatar Football Festival<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2><strong>Global stars set for Doha<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Because the matches fall within FIFA's designated window, all teams will field their senior squads, meaning some of football\u2019s biggest names are expected to feature in Qatar this March. <\/p>\n<p>Among those likely to appear are Lionel Messi, Mohamed Salah, Lamine Yamal, Aleksandar Mitrovi\u0107 and Omar Marmoush, with organisers expecting strong line-ups across all fixtures. <\/p>\n<p>The full schedule includes six matches, culminating in Qatar v Argentina at Lusail Stadium on 31 March. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//61//84//56//808x539_cmsv2_c430558e-10e3-56c3-b90a-fd493831c24b-9618456.jpg/" alt=\"Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi speaks after receiving the MLS MVP Award in Fort Lauderdale, 9 December, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/84\/56\/384x256_cmsv2_c430558e-10e3-56c3-b90a-fd493831c24b-9618456.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/84\/56\/640x427_cmsv2_c430558e-10e3-56c3-b90a-fd493831c24b-9618456.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/84\/56\/750x500_cmsv2_c430558e-10e3-56c3-b90a-fd493831c24b-9618456.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/84\/56\/828x552_cmsv2_c430558e-10e3-56c3-b90a-fd493831c24b-9618456.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/84\/56\/1080x720_cmsv2_c430558e-10e3-56c3-b90a-fd493831c24b-9618456.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/84\/56\/1200x800_cmsv2_c430558e-10e3-56c3-b90a-fd493831c24b-9618456.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/84\/56\/1920x1280_cmsv2_c430558e-10e3-56c3-b90a-fd493831c24b-9618456.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi speaks after receiving the MLS MVP Award in Fort Lauderdale, 9 December, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2><strong>Qatar builds on football legacy<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The Local Organising Committee for Football Events said the festival reflects Qatar's continued commitment to hosting elite international football and providing top-level preparation opportunities for national teams ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. <\/p>\n<p>\"We look forward to welcoming players and fans from around the world as we prepare to host the world's biggest football stars ahead of the FIFA World Cup,\" said LOC Chairman Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. <\/p>\n<p>\"We are honoured to open our doors once again to the global football community. Hosting the Qatar Football Festival reflects our commitment to delivering world-class experiences and reaffirms Qatar's position as a trusted partner in global football.\"<\/p>\n<p>Tickets for the Qatar Football Festival will go on sale from 25 February, with travel packages for international fans available from 1 February.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1768840008,"updatedAt":1768840625,"publishedAt":1768840612,"firstPublishedAt":1768840612,"lastPublishedAt":1768840612,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/84\/56\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_b649296c-6ae3-5423-a2db-f2dbb70e4126-9618456.jpg","altText":"Qatar Football Festival","caption":"Qatar Football Festival","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Qatar Football Festival","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":864,"height":486},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/84\/56\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_c430558e-10e3-56c3-b90a-fd493831c24b-9618456.jpg","altText":"Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi speaks after receiving the MLS MVP Award in Fort Lauderdale, 9 December, 2025","caption":"Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi speaks after receiving the MLS MVP Award in Fort Lauderdale, 9 December, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/84\/56\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_aa3a6687-dfa7-52eb-8d52-01a4393e36a9-9618456.jpg","altText":"Qatar Football Festival","caption":"Qatar Football Festival","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Qatar Football Festival","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":2000}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3539,"urlSafeValue":"aadel.haleem@euronews.com","title":"Aadel 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News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"},{"id":"sport","urlSafeValue":"sport","title":"Sport","url":"\/news\/sport"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":234,"urlSafeValue":"qatar","title":"Qatar","url":"\/news\/asia\/qatar"},"town":{"id":3937,"urlSafeValue":"doha","title":"Doha"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2026\/01\/19\/qatar-football-festival-2026-brings-messi-yamal-salah-and-top-teams-to-doha-in-march","lastModified":1768840612},{"id":2863194,"cid":9617211,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"CULTURE SAMLA RACE GOES GLOBAL ","daletPyramidId":3919675,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Strength and stamina required: Qatar's Samla endurance race goes global with new lifestyle ambitions","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Run the ultimate race: Samla endurance race opens up to the world ","titleListing2":"Fancy a race with a big challenge? Qatar's 100km non-stop Samla race is now open to all ","leadin":"Sports tourism is a fast booming cultural trend as elite athletes seek new frontiers to fulfil their passion while pushing their limits. Qatar's unforgiving homegrown endurance contest, Samla, is hoping to meet that demand by opening up to international competitors for the first time.","summary":"Sports tourism is a fast booming cultural trend as elite athletes seek new frontiers to fulfil their passion while pushing their limits. Qatar's unforgiving homegrown endurance contest, Samla, is hoping to meet that demand by opening up to international competitors for the first time.","keySentence":"","url":"strength-and-stamina-required-qatars-samla-endurance-race-goes-global-with-new-lifestyle-a","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/2026\/01\/19\/strength-and-stamina-required-qatars-samla-endurance-race-goes-global-with-new-lifestyle-a","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Run, cycle, swim and kayak - Qatar\u2019s homegrown endurance race, Samla, will pass a major milestone on Saturday when it opens up to the world.\n\nFor nearly a decade, its unforgiving terrain and non-stop format, has given the 100-kilometre race a reputation as being one of the toughest endurance challenges. Now it's entering a new phase for both the race and Qatar's sporting lifestyle ambitions.\n\nThe race was created in Qatar and built steadily through local editions, earning a reputation for its intensity and unique format. According to Azzam Al Mannai, Chief Executive Officer of the Samla Race Organising Committee, international expansion was a natural next step. \u201cIt is the first international edition for Samla,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s very well known in the local sports community, and now it\u2019s going international, hosting international athletes and the local community as well to register and compete.\u201d\n\nRace without a pause\n\nSamla is designed as a non-stop endurance test, covering a total distance of 100 kilometres within a 12-hour cut-off time.\n\nAthletes compete individually across six consecutive stages, moving between four different disciplines. \u201cIt\u2019s an endurance race. It's non-stop, 12 hours, 100k, six different stages back-to-back,\u201d Al Mannai explained to Euronews. \u201cIt\u2019s based on time. Whoever finishes first is the winner.\u201d\n\nThe course combines open-water swimming, long-distance running, mountain biking and kayaking. Unlike traditional road races, competitors face sandy and rocky conditions that test both physical preparation and mental resilience. \u201cThe endurance terrain will be tough on everyone,\u201d Al Mannai said. \u201cIt\u2019s not the classical marathon on asphalt. Sometimes it\u2019s about competition, but it\u2019s also about community.\u201d\n\nGrowing international interest\n\nInterest in the first international edition has been strong. Hundreds of athletes have registered, representing dozens of nationalities, with participation open to both men and women.\n\nThe total prize purse stands at more than \u20ac250,000 ($300,000), awarded to the top ten male and female finishers, reflecting the race\u2019s growing stature on the endurance calendar. For Al Mannai, opening Samla to the world is about more than numbers. \u201cQatar has always been known for hosting international events,\u201d he said. \u201cSamla is a Qatari brand, created here, and now it\u2019s opening the door for international athletes to experience it.\u201d\n\nSport tourism and a local identity\n\nVisit Qatar has supported Samla\u2019s transition to an international event as part of a broader focus on sports tourism. Ahmad Al-Binali, Director of Festivals and Events at Visit Qatar, said Samla\u2019s evolution reflected the potential of homegrown sporting concepts. \u201cSamla is a Qatari product. The idea started ten years ago and it was very successful locally,\u201d he said. \u201cThe collaboration is about taking Samla to the next level and opening it for athletes worldwide.\u201d He added that major sporting events continue to play a growing role in attracting visitors and showcasing Qatar beyond traditional tourism.\n\nTechnical backing for a tougher race\n\nThe international edition will also be supported by global sportswear brand ASICS, adding technical expertise to an already demanding race. Seiji Hori, General Manager of ASICS Arabia, said Samla\u2019s format closely aligned with the brand\u2019s philosophy. \u201cSamla is very unique and prestigious, and it\u2019s becoming international,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a very tough endurance race that requires a lot of mental strength.\u201d Hori pointed to ASICS\u2019 guiding principle, explaining that endurance sport challenges both body and mind, something Samla places at the centre of its design.\n\nA milestone moment for Samla\n\nAs it prepares for its first international start line, Samla remains rooted in its original identity, a race created in Qatar, shaped by its landscape, and defined by resilience. For Al Mannai, the invitation is simple. \u201cWe look forward to hosting everyone here in Qatar,\u201d he said. \u201cTo experience the hospitality, enjoy the nature, and enjoy the race.\u201d\n\nThe Samla International Race takes place on 24 January 2026.\n\n\u00a0\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Run, cycle, swim and kayak - Qatar\u2019s homegrown endurance race, Samla, will pass a major milestone on Saturday when it opens up to the world. <\/p>\n<p>For nearly a decade, its unforgiving terrain and non-stop format, has given the 100-kilometre race a reputation as being one of the toughest endurance challenges. Now it's entering a new phase for both the race and Qatar's sporting lifestyle ambitions.<\/p>\n<p>The race was created in Qatar and built steadily through local editions, earning a reputation for its intensity and unique format. According to Azzam Al Mannai, Chief Executive Officer of the Samla Race Organising Committee, international expansion was a natural next step. \u201cIt is the first international edition for Samla,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s very well known in the local sports community, and now it\u2019s going international, hosting international athletes and the local community as well to register and compete.\u201d <\/p>\n<h2><strong>Race without a pause<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Samla is designed as a non-stop endurance test, covering a total distance of 100 kilometres within a 12-hour cut-off time. <\/p>\n<p>Athletes compete individually across six consecutive stages, moving between four different disciplines. \u201cIt\u2019s an endurance race. It's non-stop, 12 hours, 100k, six different stages back-to-back,\u201d Al Mannai explained to Euronews. \u201cIt\u2019s based on time. Whoever finishes first is the winner.\u201d <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//61//72//11//808x454_cmsv2_a02e955e-8e52-5daf-a449-fb23d589e6f1-9617211.jpg/" alt=\"Samla&#x27;s 100km non-stop endurance race takes place on land and at sea\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/72\/11\/384x216_cmsv2_a02e955e-8e52-5daf-a449-fb23d589e6f1-9617211.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/72\/11\/640x360_cmsv2_a02e955e-8e52-5daf-a449-fb23d589e6f1-9617211.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/72\/11\/750x422_cmsv2_a02e955e-8e52-5daf-a449-fb23d589e6f1-9617211.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/72\/11\/828x466_cmsv2_a02e955e-8e52-5daf-a449-fb23d589e6f1-9617211.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/72\/11\/1080x608_cmsv2_a02e955e-8e52-5daf-a449-fb23d589e6f1-9617211.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/72\/11\/1200x675_cmsv2_a02e955e-8e52-5daf-a449-fb23d589e6f1-9617211.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/72\/11\/1920x1080_cmsv2_a02e955e-8e52-5daf-a449-fb23d589e6f1-9617211.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Samla&#x27;s 100km non-stop endurance race takes place on land and at sea<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Credit: Visit Qatar<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The course combines open-water swimming, long-distance running, mountain biking and kayaking. Unlike traditional road races, competitors face sandy and rocky conditions that test both physical preparation and mental resilience. \u201cThe endurance terrain will be tough on everyone,\u201d Al Mannai said. \u201cIt\u2019s not the classical marathon on asphalt. Sometimes it\u2019s about competition, but it\u2019s also about community.\u201d <\/p>\n<h2><strong>Growing international interest<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Interest in the first international edition has been strong. Hundreds of athletes have registered, representing dozens of nationalities, with participation open to both men and women. <\/p>\n<p>The total prize purse stands at more than \u20ac250,000 ($300,000), awarded to the top ten male and female finishers, reflecting the race\u2019s growing stature on the endurance calendar. For Al Mannai, opening Samla to the world is about more than numbers. \u201cQatar has always been known for hosting international events,\u201d he said. \u201cSamla is a Qatari brand, created here, and now it\u2019s opening the door for international athletes to experience it.\u201d <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-freeform\nwidget--size-fullwidth\nwidget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DS2u5icjFpX\/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.instagram.com//p//DS2u5icjFpX//?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\%22 target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; 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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.instagram.com//p//DS2u5icjFpX//?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\%22 target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\">A post shared by \u0633\u0628\u0627\u0642 \u0635\u0645\u0644\u0647 (@samlaqatar)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote> <script async src=https://www.euronews.com/"////www.instagram.com//embed.js/">/n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2><strong>Sport tourism and a local identity<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Visit Qatar has supported Samla\u2019s transition to an international event as part of a broader focus on sports tourism. Ahmad Al-Binali, Director of Festivals and Events at Visit Qatar, said Samla\u2019s evolution reflected the potential of homegrown sporting concepts. \u201cSamla is a Qatari product. The idea started ten years ago and it was very successful locally,\u201d he said. \u201cThe collaboration is about taking Samla to the next level and opening it for athletes worldwide.\u201d He added that major sporting events continue to play a growing role in attracting visitors and showcasing Qatar beyond traditional tourism. <\/p>\n<h2><strong>Technical backing for a tougher race<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The international edition will also be supported by global sportswear brand ASICS, adding technical expertise to an already demanding race. Seiji Hori, General Manager of ASICS Arabia, said Samla\u2019s format closely aligned with the brand\u2019s philosophy. \u201cSamla is very unique and prestigious, and it\u2019s becoming international,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a very tough endurance race that requires a lot of mental strength.\u201d Hori pointed to ASICS\u2019 guiding principle, explaining that endurance sport challenges both body and mind, something Samla places at the centre of its design. <\/p>\n<h2><strong>A milestone moment for Samla<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>As it prepares for its first international start line, Samla remains rooted in its original identity, a race created in Qatar, shaped by its landscape, and defined by resilience. For Al Mannai, the invitation is simple. \u201cWe look forward to hosting everyone here in Qatar,\u201d he said. \u201cTo experience the hospitality, enjoy the nature, and enjoy the race.\u201d <\/p>\n<p><strong><em>The Samla International Race takes place on 24 January 2026.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1768757768,"updatedAt":1768824065,"publishedAt":1768823883,"firstPublishedAt":1768823883,"lastPublishedAt":1768823883,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/72\/11\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_3d9d248a-30b9-5621-9528-2371221284d4-9617211.jpg","altText":"Ready to run and row? Samla's 100km race is becoming a global affair ","caption":"Ready to run and row? Samla's 100km race is becoming a global affair ","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Credit: Visit Qatar","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1280,"height":720},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/72\/11\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_a02e955e-8e52-5daf-a449-fb23d589e6f1-9617211.jpg","altText":"Samla's 100km non-stop endurance race takes place on land and at sea","caption":"Samla's 100km non-stop endurance race takes place on land and at sea","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Credit: Visit Qatar","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1280,"height":720}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3539,"urlSafeValue":"aadel.haleem@euronews.com","title":"Aadel Haleem","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":9993,"slug":"marathon","urlSafeValue":"marathon","title":"Marathon","titleRaw":"Marathon"},{"id":4221,"slug":"tourism","urlSafeValue":"tourism","title":"Tourism","titleRaw":"Tourism"},{"id":12622,"slug":"athletes","urlSafeValue":"athletes","title":"Athletes","titleRaw":"Athletes"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":1},{"slug":"html","count":1}],"related":[{"id":1881816},{"id":2855413},{"id":2737556}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"culture-lifestyle","urlSafeValue":"culture-lifestyle","title":"Lifestyle","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/culture-lifestyle\/culture-lifestyle"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"culture","verticals":[{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"},"themes":[{"id":"culture-lifestyle","urlSafeValue":"culture-lifestyle","title":"Lifestyle","url":"\/culture\/culture-lifestyle"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":68,"urlSafeValue":"culture-lifestyle","title":"Lifestyle"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":234,"urlSafeValue":"qatar","title":"Qatar","url":"\/news\/asia\/qatar"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/culture\/2026\/01\/19\/strength-and-stamina-required-qatars-samla-endurance-race-goes-global-with-new-lifestyle-a","lastModified":1768823883},{"id":2862799,"cid":9615874,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"CULTURE WORLD SPORT SUMMIT ","daletPyramidId":3907784,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Pressure, purpose and change: Behind the touchlines at Dubai\u2019s World Sports Summit ","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Talking sport shop: a global meeting of minds and voices in Dubai ","titleListing2":"What can we all learn from professional athletes? The great and good from the sporting world recently discussed that question at the inaugural World Sports Summit in Doha.","leadin":"The inaugural World Sports Summit in Dubai brought together elite athletes and sports leaders to discuss the growing pressures of modern sport, mental health, faith and responsibility; and how that contributes to making sport a better human experience, way beyond competition.","summary":"The inaugural World Sports Summit in Dubai brought together elite athletes and sports leaders to discuss the growing pressures of modern sport, mental health, faith and responsibility; and how that contributes to making sport a better human experience, way beyond competition.","keySentence":"","url":"pressure-purpose-and-change-behind-the-touchlines-at-dubais-world-sports-summit","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/2026\/01\/17\/pressure-purpose-and-change-behind-the-touchlines-at-dubais-world-sports-summit","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Dubai recently welcomed some of the most recognisable names in global sport, hosting the inaugural World Sports Summit, a two-day gathering focused less on competition and more on conversation.\n\nThe summit brought together athletes and industry leaders from across disciplines including basketball, football, boxing and mixed martial arts. Rather than centring on results or rivalries, discussions explored how sport functions as a powerful social force that shapes communities and individual lives far beyond the field of play.\n\nFIFA President Gianni Infantino said the diversity of voices in the room was what made the event stand out, describing it as \u201ca beautiful event here in Dubai, bringing together the best of the best in the sports world.\u201d Athletes and leaders from different disciplines, he said, \u201cmake hearts beat, not just in football, but across sport.\u201d\n\nAs sport continues to expand as a global industry, panelists addressed how its influence is growing alongside its pressures. Increasing media scrutiny, expectations and constant public exposure have reshaped the athlete experience, often in ways that are invisible to fans. American Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad told Euronews that while sport celebrates strength and resilience, it has historically struggled to make space for vulnerability.\n\n\u201cWe don\u2019t often hear about the different struggles that exist in sport, especially regarding mental health,\u201d Muhammad said. \u201cBut I\u2019m excited about where we are at this moment in history, where we\u2019re being more open about what athletes go through.\u201d\n\nThe darker side of sport\n\nThat openness became a recurring theme throughout the summit. Several speakers addressed what they described as the \u201cdarker side\u201d of elite sport, including the pressure to perform and the difficulty of separating personal identity from public expectation.\n\nFormer NBA star Vlade Divac said athletes face a constant balancing act. \u201cThe media is important for sports, it promotes good values,\u201d he said. \u201cBut at the same time, you have to find a way to protect yourself from false information and unnecessary pressure.\u201d\n\nFor others, those challenges are not confined to the past. UFC fighter Michael \u201cVenom\u201d Page spoke candidly about navigating frustration in real time, particularly during periods of inactivity.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s an ongoing battle,\u201d Page said. \u201cYou spend a lot of time with yourself, you start questioning things. You have to accept the dark times, because with them comes the light as well.\u201d\n\n\u2018With increased pressure comes increased challenges\u2019\n\nIn women\u2019s sport, speakers highlighted how leagues are increasingly putting structures in place to address these realities more directly. NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman told Euronews that sustained success brings new expectations and, with them, new responsibilities.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s why we\u2019ve built an infrastructure to support athletes,\u201d Berman said, \u201cfrom mental health professionals to social media monitoring and anonymous reporting systems.\u201d\n\nBeyond policy and structure, the summit also explored how athletes cope on a personal level. For some, grounding comes from remembering why they started in the first place. Former NBA champion Tony Parker said focusing on the privilege of doing what he loves helped him through difficult moments.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re very blessed to do what we love as a passion,\u201d Parker said. \u201cSports bring people together, and we can inspire kids, we can inspire people.\u201d\n\nFor others, faith plays a central role. Former boxing champion Manny Pacquiao spoke about belief and discipline, saying, \u201cBelieve in God, believe in yourself and hard work. Focus, and you will achieve all that you're dreaming for.\u201d\n\nUkrainian heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk also described the role faith and sport have played during the war in Ukraine. \u201cWhen you win, it motivates people,\u201d Usyk said. \u201cPeople believe it\u2019s possible.\u201d\n\nCommunity emerged as another key pillar, both within teams and across international sporting networks. Khalfan Belhoul, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, said the summit created a rare sense of openness among athletes.\n\n\u201cThe level of validation and comfort they had to discuss these points was amazing to see,\u201d he said.\n\nFormer NBA player Baron Davis described the summit as a rare opportunity to listen and learn across disciplines. \u201cFor me, it\u2019s always an opportunity to listen, learn, and hear from masterminds and experts from around the world,\u201d Davis said. \u201cNot often do you have conferences that truly represent all sports.\u201d\n\nAttendees also noted that athletes appeared comfortable engaging in conversations often avoided in traditional sporting environments.\n\nWhat set the World Sports Summit apart was not a definitive roadmap for change, but a shared willingness to acknowledge that sport is about more than competition. The pressures facing athletes are real, and addressing them requires honesty, empathy and collaboration across all levels of the industry.\n\nAs the conversations continue beyond Dubai, the summit\u2019s message is clear: the future of sport depends not just on performance, but on how well it supports the people at its heart.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Dubai recently welcomed some of the most recognisable names in global sport, hosting the inaugural World Sports Summit, a two-day gathering focused less on competition and more on conversation.<\/p>\n<p>The summit brought together athletes and industry leaders from across disciplines including basketball, football, boxing and mixed martial arts. Rather than centring on results or rivalries, discussions explored how sport functions as a powerful social force that shapes communities and individual lives far beyond the field of play.<\/p>\n<p>FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the diversity of voices in the room was what made the event stand out, describing it as \u201ca beautiful event here in Dubai, bringing together the best of the best in the sports world.\u201d Athletes and leaders from different disciplines, he said, \u201cmake hearts beat, not just in football, but across sport.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//61//58//74//808x454_cmsv2_3c3acdb0-9277-5674-a7ef-c94d772256ac-9615874.jpg/" alt=\"FILE: Left, Brazil&#x27;s legendary World Cup winning striker Ronaldo and FIFA President Gianni Infantino at match schedule reveal for 2026 World Cup, Washington, 6 Dec, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/384x216_cmsv2_3c3acdb0-9277-5674-a7ef-c94d772256ac-9615874.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/640x360_cmsv2_3c3acdb0-9277-5674-a7ef-c94d772256ac-9615874.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/750x422_cmsv2_3c3acdb0-9277-5674-a7ef-c94d772256ac-9615874.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/828x466_cmsv2_3c3acdb0-9277-5674-a7ef-c94d772256ac-9615874.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/1080x608_cmsv2_3c3acdb0-9277-5674-a7ef-c94d772256ac-9615874.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/1200x675_cmsv2_3c3acdb0-9277-5674-a7ef-c94d772256ac-9615874.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/1920x1080_cmsv2_3c3acdb0-9277-5674-a7ef-c94d772256ac-9615874.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">FILE: Left, Brazil&#x27;s legendary World Cup winning striker Ronaldo and FIFA President Gianni Infantino at match schedule reveal for 2026 World Cup, Washington, 6 Dec, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo\/Chris Carlson <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>As sport continues to expand as a global industry, panelists addressed how its influence is growing alongside its pressures. Increasing media scrutiny, expectations and constant public exposure have reshaped the athlete experience, often in ways that are invisible to fans. American Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad told Euronews that while sport celebrates strength and resilience, it has historically struggled to make space for vulnerability.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe don\u2019t often hear about the different struggles that exist in sport, especially regarding mental health,\u201d Muhammad said. \u201cBut I\u2019m excited about where we are at this moment in history, where we\u2019re being more open about what athletes go through.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>The darker side of sport<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>That openness became a recurring theme throughout the summit. Several speakers addressed what they described as the \u201cdarker side\u201d of elite sport, including the pressure to perform and the difficulty of separating personal identity from public expectation.<\/p>\n<p>Former NBA star Vlade Divac said athletes face a constant balancing act. \u201cThe media is important for sports, it promotes good values,\u201d he said. \u201cBut at the same time, you have to find a way to protect yourself from false information and unnecessary pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//61//58//74//808x539_cmsv2_f57613dd-b85b-50a5-9902-27e2c31f5407-9615874.jpg/" alt=\"FILE: Former NBA star Vlade Divac at a news conference after being named in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2019\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/384x256_cmsv2_f57613dd-b85b-50a5-9902-27e2c31f5407-9615874.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/640x427_cmsv2_f57613dd-b85b-50a5-9902-27e2c31f5407-9615874.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/750x500_cmsv2_f57613dd-b85b-50a5-9902-27e2c31f5407-9615874.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/828x552_cmsv2_f57613dd-b85b-50a5-9902-27e2c31f5407-9615874.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/1080x720_cmsv2_f57613dd-b85b-50a5-9902-27e2c31f5407-9615874.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/1200x800_cmsv2_f57613dd-b85b-50a5-9902-27e2c31f5407-9615874.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/1920x1280_cmsv2_f57613dd-b85b-50a5-9902-27e2c31f5407-9615874.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">FILE: Former NBA star Vlade Divac at a news conference after being named in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2019<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo\/Charlie Neibergall<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>For others, those challenges are not confined to the past. UFC fighter Michael \u201cVenom\u201d Page spoke candidly about navigating frustration in real time, particularly during periods of inactivity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s an ongoing battle,\u201d Page said. \u201cYou spend a lot of time with yourself, you start questioning things. You have to accept the dark times, because with them comes the light as well.\u201d <\/p>\n<h2><strong>\u2018With increased pressure comes increased challenges\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>In women\u2019s sport, speakers highlighted how leagues are increasingly putting structures in place to address these realities more directly. NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman told Euronews that sustained success brings new expectations and, with them, new responsibilities.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6685\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//61//58//74//808x539_cmsv2_ea4fbfe2-1839-5378-818d-dfd99aa28914-9615874.jpg/" alt=\"FILE: Jessica Berman, National Women&#x27;s Soccer League commissioner, at a media conference in Denver, 30 Jan 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/384x257_cmsv2_ea4fbfe2-1839-5378-818d-dfd99aa28914-9615874.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/640x428_cmsv2_ea4fbfe2-1839-5378-818d-dfd99aa28914-9615874.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/750x501_cmsv2_ea4fbfe2-1839-5378-818d-dfd99aa28914-9615874.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/828x554_cmsv2_ea4fbfe2-1839-5378-818d-dfd99aa28914-9615874.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/1080x722_cmsv2_ea4fbfe2-1839-5378-818d-dfd99aa28914-9615874.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/1200x802_cmsv2_ea4fbfe2-1839-5378-818d-dfd99aa28914-9615874.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/1920x1284_cmsv2_ea4fbfe2-1839-5378-818d-dfd99aa28914-9615874.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">FILE: Jessica Berman, National Women&#x27;s Soccer League commissioner, at a media conference in Denver, 30 Jan 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo\/David Zalubowski <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s why we\u2019ve built an infrastructure to support athletes,\u201d Berman said, \u201cfrom mental health professionals to social media monitoring and anonymous reporting systems.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Beyond policy and structure, the summit also explored how athletes cope on a personal level. For some, grounding comes from remembering why they started in the first place. Former NBA champion Tony Parker said focusing on the privilege of doing what he loves helped him through difficult moments.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re very blessed to do what we love as a passion,\u201d Parker said. \u201cSports bring people together, and we can inspire kids, we can inspire people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For others, faith plays a central role. Former boxing champion Manny Pacquiao spoke about belief and discipline, saying, \u201cBelieve in God, believe in yourself and hard work. Focus, and you will achieve all that you're dreaming for.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//61//58//74//808x454_cmsv2_b536c403-d21e-5d1b-b71b-63daf2ad8a56-9615874.jpg/" alt=\"Former world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao \" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/384x216_cmsv2_b536c403-d21e-5d1b-b71b-63daf2ad8a56-9615874.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/640x360_cmsv2_b536c403-d21e-5d1b-b71b-63daf2ad8a56-9615874.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/750x422_cmsv2_b536c403-d21e-5d1b-b71b-63daf2ad8a56-9615874.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/828x466_cmsv2_b536c403-d21e-5d1b-b71b-63daf2ad8a56-9615874.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/1080x608_cmsv2_b536c403-d21e-5d1b-b71b-63daf2ad8a56-9615874.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/1200x675_cmsv2_b536c403-d21e-5d1b-b71b-63daf2ad8a56-9615874.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/1920x1080_cmsv2_b536c403-d21e-5d1b-b71b-63daf2ad8a56-9615874.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Former world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao <\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Courtesy of World Sports Summit <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Ukrainian heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk also described the role faith and sport have played during the war in Ukraine. \u201cWhen you win, it motivates people,\u201d Usyk said. \u201cPeople believe it\u2019s possible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Community emerged as another key pillar, both within teams and across international sporting networks. Khalfan Belhoul, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, said the summit created a rare sense of openness among athletes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe level of validation and comfort they had to discuss these points was amazing to see,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Former NBA player Baron Davis described the summit as a rare opportunity to listen and learn across disciplines. \u201cFor me, it\u2019s always an opportunity to listen, learn, and hear from masterminds and experts from around the world,\u201d Davis said. \u201cNot often do you have conferences that truly represent all sports.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Attendees also noted that athletes appeared comfortable engaging in conversations often avoided in traditional sporting environments.<\/p>\n<p>What set the World Sports Summit apart was not a definitive roadmap for change, but a shared willingness to acknowledge that sport is about more than competition. The pressures facing athletes are real, and addressing them requires honesty, empathy and collaboration across all levels of the industry.<\/p>\n<p>As the conversations continue beyond Dubai, the summit\u2019s message is clear: the future of sport depends not just on performance, but on how well it supports the people at its heart.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1768581429,"updatedAt":1768652147,"publishedAt":1768652009,"firstPublishedAt":1768652009,"lastPublishedAt":1768652009,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_98e52d8c-f9e1-59fd-8ceb-d70d1b2231fc-9615874.jpg","altText":"FILE: Delegates at the inaugural World Sports Summit in Doha, Dec 2025","caption":"FILE: Delegates at the inaugural World Sports Summit in Doha, Dec 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Courtesy of World Sports Summit ","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1818,"height":1022},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_b536c403-d21e-5d1b-b71b-63daf2ad8a56-9615874.jpg","altText":"Former Manny Pacquio ","caption":"Former Manny Pacquio ","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Courtesy of World Sports Summit ","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1125},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_ea4fbfe2-1839-5378-818d-dfd99aa28914-9615874.jpg","altText":"FILE: Jessica Berman, National Women's Soccer League commissioner, at a media conference in Denver, 30 Jan 2025","caption":"FILE: Jessica Berman, National Women's Soccer League commissioner, at a media conference in Denver, 30 Jan 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/David Zalubowski ","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1337},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_f57613dd-b85b-50a5-9902-27e2c31f5407-9615874.jpg","altText":"FILE: Former NBA star Vlade Divac at a news conference after being named in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2019","caption":"FILE: Former NBA star Vlade Divac at a news conference after being named in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2019","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Charlie Neibergall","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/58\/74\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_3c3acdb0-9277-5674-a7ef-c94d772256ac-9615874.jpg","altText":"FILE: Left, Brazil's legendary World Cup winning striker Ronaldo and FIFA President Gianni Infantino at match schedule reveal for 2026 World Cup, Washington, 6 Dec, 2025","caption":"FILE: Left, Brazil's legendary World Cup winning striker Ronaldo and FIFA President Gianni Infantino at match schedule reveal for 2026 World Cup, Washington, 6 Dec, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Chris Carlson ","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1125}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3539,"urlSafeValue":"aadel.haleem@euronews.com","title":"Aadel Haleem","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":29684,"slug":"sport-and-wellness","urlSafeValue":"sport-and-wellness","title":"sport and wellness","titleRaw":"sport and wellness"},{"id":13728,"slug":"sport-competition","urlSafeValue":"sport-competition","title":"sport competition","titleRaw":"sport competition"},{"id":13370,"slug":"performance","urlSafeValue":"performance","title":"performance","titleRaw":"performance"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":4}],"related":[{"id":2859165},{"id":2843891},{"id":2852805}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"_ReQU_L1cOw","dailymotionId":"x9xycba"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":433000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":59025980,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/34\/15\/80\/03\/ED_PYR_3415803_20260117114150.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":433000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":91811504,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/34\/15\/80\/03\/SHD_PYR_3415803_20260117114150.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"},{"duration":433000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":329518861,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/34\/15\/80\/03\/FHD_PYR_3415803_20260117114150.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"1080p"}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"culture-lifestyle","urlSafeValue":"culture-lifestyle","title":"Lifestyle","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/culture-lifestyle\/culture-lifestyle"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"culture","verticals":[{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"},"themes":[{"id":"culture-lifestyle","urlSafeValue":"culture-lifestyle","title":"Lifestyle","url":"\/culture\/culture-lifestyle"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":68,"urlSafeValue":"culture-lifestyle","title":"Lifestyle"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":234,"urlSafeValue":"qatar","title":"Qatar","url":"\/news\/asia\/qatar"},"town":{"id":3937,"urlSafeValue":"doha","title":"Doha"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/culture\/2026\/01\/17\/pressure-purpose-and-change-behind-the-touchlines-at-dubais-world-sports-summit","lastModified":1768652009},{"id":2862195,"cid":9613033,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"QATAR US BASE EVACUATIONS","daletPyramidId":3882617,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Qatar confirms personnel movement out of key US air base as a precaution amid regional tensions","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Qatar confirms departures out of key US air base amid rising tensions","titleListing2":"Qatar confirms personnel movements out of key US air base as a precaution amid regional tensions","leadin":"Qatar has confirmed \u201cthe departure of certain personnel from Al Udeid Air Base\u201d due to current regional tensions, after reports that the US military is evacuating a part of its key base as Washington considers military action against Iran.","summary":"Qatar has confirmed \u201cthe departure of certain personnel from Al Udeid Air Base\u201d due to current regional tensions, after reports that the US military is evacuating a part of its key base as Washington considers military action against Iran.","keySentence":"","url":"qatar-confirms-personnel-movement-out-of-key-us-air-base-as-a-precaution-amid-regional-ten","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/14\/qatar-confirms-personnel-movement-out-of-key-us-air-base-as-a-precaution-amid-regional-ten","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Qatar announced on Wednesday \u201cthe departure of certain personnel from Al Udeid Air Base\u201d, a key US air base, amid \u201ccurrent regional tensions\".\n\nThe announcement from Doha came shortly after the US media quoted Pentagon sources confirming that the US was withdrawing some of its personnel from key Middle East bases as a precaution, while US President Donald Trump is considering military action against Iran.\u00a0\n\nIn a statement released on Wednesday, Qatar\u2019s International Media Office (IMO) said the measures were being taken as part of broader efforts to respond to the evolving regional situation.\n\nThe IMO reaffirmed that Qatar \u201ccontinues to implement all necessary steps to safeguard the security and safety of its citizens and residents as a top priority,\u201d including measures related \u201cto the protection of critical infrastructure and military facilities.\u201d\n\nThe statement comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with Doha continuing to call for restraint and diplomatic solutions.\n\nOn Tuesday, Qatar\u2019s Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned that any escalation between the United States and Iran could have far-reaching consequences.\u00a0\n\n\u201cWe know that any escalation would have catastrophic results in the region and beyond,\u201d Foreign Ministry spokesperson Dr Majed Al Ansari said at a press briefing, adding that Qatar remains engaged in talks with regional partners to find a diplomatic solution.\u00a0\n\nDr Al Ansari added that Qatar \u201chas been talking to everybody in the region constantly on how to de-escalate.\"\n\n\"The government has taken all possible precautions in making sure that the safety of the citizens and residents in Qatar is of highest importance to everybody working in government, and that includes, of course, defense and all other parties.\u201d\n\nTrump has repeatedly warned Tehran that the US might intervene against Iran in case it endangers the lives of demonstrators, who have been protesting across the country for more than two weeks over persistent hyperinflation and the sudden spike in cost of living.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Qatar announced on Wednesday \u201cthe departure of certain personnel from Al Udeid Air Base\u201d, a key US air base, amid \u201ccurrent regional tensions\".<\/p>\n<p>The announcement from Doha came shortly after the US media quoted Pentagon sources confirming that the US was withdrawing some of its personnel from key Middle East bases as a precaution, while US President Donald Trump is considering military action against Iran. <\/p>\n<p>In a statement released on Wednesday, Qatar\u2019s International Media Office (IMO) said the measures were being taken as part of broader efforts to respond to the evolving regional situation.<\/p>\n<p>The IMO reaffirmed that Qatar \u201ccontinues to implement all necessary steps to safeguard the security and safety of its citizens and residents as a top priority,\u201d including measures related \u201cto the protection of critical infrastructure and military facilities.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>The statement comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with Doha continuing to call for restraint and diplomatic solutions. <\/p>\n<p>On Tuesday, Qatar\u2019s Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned that any escalation between the United States and Iran could have far-reaching consequences. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe know that any escalation would have catastrophic results in the region and beyond,\u201d Foreign Ministry spokesperson Dr Majed Al Ansari said at a press briefing, adding that Qatar remains engaged in talks with regional partners to find a diplomatic solution. <\/p>\n<p>Dr Al Ansari added that Qatar \u201chas been talking to everybody in the region constantly on how to de-escalate.\" <\/p>\n<p>\"The government has taken all possible precautions in making sure that the safety of the citizens and residents in Qatar is of highest importance to everybody working in government, and that includes, of course, defense and all other parties.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trump has repeatedly warned Tehran that the US might intervene against Iran in case it endangers the lives of demonstrators, who have been protesting across the country for more than two weeks over persistent hyperinflation and the sudden spike in cost of living.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1768409633,"updatedAt":1768410347,"publishedAt":1768410276,"firstPublishedAt":1768410276,"lastPublishedAt":1768410276,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/35\/98\/28\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_7e16a087-e9e0-5d51-a910-7caa048016b2-7359828.jpg","altText":"FILE: In this handout photo from the US Air Force, an airman guides an F-16 Fighting Falcon during training at Al-Udeid Air Base, 24 January 2022","caption":"FILE: In this handout photo from the US Air Force, an airman guides an F-16 Fighting Falcon during training at Al-Udeid Air Base, 24 January 2022","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3539,"urlSafeValue":"aadel.haleem@euronews.com","title":"Aadel Haleem","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":234,"slug":"qatar","urlSafeValue":"qatar","title":"Qatar","titleRaw":"Qatar"},{"id":153,"slug":"iran","urlSafeValue":"iran","title":"Iran","titleRaw":"Iran"},{"id":11900,"slug":"donald-trump","urlSafeValue":"donald-trump","title":"Donald Trump","titleRaw":"Donald Trump"}],"widgets":[],"related":[],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":234,"urlSafeValue":"qatar","title":"Qatar","url":"\/news\/asia\/qatar"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2026\/01\/14\/qatar-confirms-personnel-movement-out-of-key-us-air-base-as-a-precaution-amid-regional-ten","lastModified":1768410276},{"id":2860089,"cid":9603957,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"QATAR ON VENEZUELA","daletPyramidId":3800524,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Qatar offers to continue mediation efforts over Venezuela","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Qatar offers to continue mediation efforts over Venezuela","titleListing2":"Qatar offers to continue mediation efforts over Venezuela","leadin":"Following successful mediations between Venezuela and the United States in the past, Qatar has expressed deep concern over the situation in Venezuela, calling for restraint, de-escalation and dialogue, while reaffirming its readiness to support mediation.","summary":"Following successful mediations between Venezuela and the United States in the past, Qatar has expressed deep concern over the situation in Venezuela, calling for restraint, de-escalation and dialogue, while reaffirming its readiness to support mediation.","keySentence":"","url":"qatar-offers-to-continue-mediation-efforts-over-venezuela","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/06\/qatar-offers-to-continue-mediation-efforts-over-venezuela","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Qatar announced that it stands ready to continue mediation efforts between the United States and Venezuela as \u201cthe channel of communications remain open with both parties\u201d, Qatar\u2019s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Dr Majed Al-Ansari told journalists on Tuesday, referring to continuous mediation efforts conducted by Doha between the two countries.\n\n\u201cQatar was a successful mediator in the past between Venezuela and the United States and these channels of communication are ready to be used if we are asked to do so by any of the governments involved,\" Dr Al-Ansari said.\n\nDr Al-Ansari recalled that Venezuela\u2019s interim President Delcy Rodriguez visited Doha last April, when she met Qatar\u2019s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani.\n\nQatar\u2019s foreign ministry spokesman said that \u201cthere was communication with Rodriguez in the past in her capacity as vice-president of Venezuela and the channel of communication remains open between Qatar and Venezuela.\u201d\u00a0\n\nThe remarks underscore Doha\u2019s diplomatic approach and Qatar\u2019s now well-established role in mediating international conflicts and crises.\n\nQatar has further voiced deep concern over the latest developments in Venezuela, calling on all sides to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation.\u00a0\n\nDr Al-Ansari reaffirmed Doha\u2019s commitment to upholding the UN Charter and international law, particularly the need to resolve disputes through peaceful means.\u00a0\n\n\u201cWe are very much concerned by what is happening over there,\u201d Dr Al-Ansari said, adding that the issue goes beyond Venezuela itself.\n\n\u201cThis is not only related to Venezuela, it\u2019s about stability in the region as a whole.\"\n\nThe remarks come just days after the US military seized Venezuela's Nicol\u00e1s Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in a military operation in Caracas in the early hours of Saturday morning.\n\nThe pair were brought back to the United States and on Monday appeared in court in New York where they were indicted on charges of narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine into the US.\n\nBoth entered not guilty pleas and the judge ordered them to remain behind bars and set a new hearing date of 17 March.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Qatar announced that it stands ready to continue mediation efforts between the United States and Venezuela as \u201cthe channel of communications remain open with both parties\u201d, Qatar\u2019s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Dr Majed Al-Ansari told journalists on Tuesday, referring to continuous mediation efforts conducted by Doha between the two countries.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cQatar was a successful mediator in the past between Venezuela and the United States and these channels of communication are ready to be used if we are asked to do so by any of the governments involved,\" Dr Al-Ansari said.<\/p>\n<p>Dr Al-Ansari recalled that Venezuela\u2019s interim President Delcy Rodriguez visited Doha last April, when she met Qatar\u2019s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani.<\/p>\n<p>Qatar\u2019s foreign ministry spokesman said that \u201cthere was communication with Rodriguez in the past in her capacity as vice-president of Venezuela and the channel of communication remains open between Qatar and Venezuela.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>The remarks underscore Doha\u2019s diplomatic approach and Qatar\u2019s now well-established role in mediating international conflicts and crises.<\/p>\n<p>Qatar has further voiced deep concern over the latest developments in Venezuela, calling on all sides to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation. <\/p>\n<p>Dr Al-Ansari reaffirmed Doha\u2019s commitment to upholding the UN Charter and international law, particularly the need to resolve disputes through peaceful means. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are very much concerned by what is happening over there,\u201d Dr Al-Ansari said, adding that the issue goes beyond Venezuela itself. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is not only related to Venezuela, it\u2019s about stability in the region as a whole.\"<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2026//01//06//from-maduros-tigress-to-venezuelas-interim-president-who-is-delcy-rodriguez/">From Maduro's 'tigress' to Venezuela's interim president: Who is Delcy Rodr\u00edguez?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2026//01//05//venezuelas-maduro-faces-first-us-court-appearance-after-capture/">Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro pleads not guilty to drugs charges in first US court appearance<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The remarks come just days after the US military seized Venezuela's Nicol\u00e1s Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in a military operation in Caracas in the early hours of Saturday morning.<\/p>\n<p>The pair were brought back to the United States and on Monday appeared in court in New York where they were indicted on charges of narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine into the US.<\/p>\n<p>Both entered not guilty pleas and the judge ordered them to remain behind bars and set a new hearing date of 17 March.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1767706012,"updatedAt":1767719136,"publishedAt":1767719106,"firstPublishedAt":1767719106,"lastPublishedAt":1767719106,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/39\/57\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_18b17d7e-6fca-5d8d-8eb0-b886a5c2e0cc-9603957.jpg","altText":"FILE: Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani receives Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro in Doha, 15 June 2022","caption":"FILE: Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani receives Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro in Doha, 15 June 2022","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1301,"height":732},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/39\/57\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_f470a761-7299-528c-8ec0-591f55884f8e-9603957.jpg","altText":"In this courtroom sketch Venezuelan President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores appear in Manhattan federal court, 5 January, 2026","caption":"In this courtroom sketch Venezuelan President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores appear in Manhattan federal court, 5 January, 2026","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1171},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/39\/57\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_7358d359-0a7f-5681-ba29-7fde60eec874-9603957.jpg","altText":"Spokesperson for Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Majed Al-Ansari speaking in Doha, 6 January, 2026","caption":"Spokesperson for Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Majed Al-Ansari speaking in Doha, 6 January, 2026","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1179,"height":652}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3539,"urlSafeValue":"aadel.haleem@euronews.com","title":"Aadel 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News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":234,"urlSafeValue":"qatar","title":"Qatar","url":"\/news\/asia\/qatar"},"town":{"id":3937,"urlSafeValue":"doha","title":"Doha"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2026\/01\/06\/qatar-offers-to-continue-mediation-efforts-over-venezuela","lastModified":1767719106},{"id":2853967,"cid":9580665,"versionId":4,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"CU - S01E06 - QU - FIFA EPISODE - MASTER","daletPyramidId":3581405,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Qatar becomes a football hub with two months of FIFA U17, Arab Cup and Intercontinental Cup","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Doha becomes centre of FIFA football action over two months","titleListing2":"Doha has been buzzing with football. FIFA U17, Arab Cup and Intercontinental Cup. Packed stadiums, full fan zones and Morocco\u2019s Arab Cup win! #FIFA #Qatar","leadin":"Doha has been buzzing with football over the past two months. The city hosted the U-17 World Cup, Arab Cup and Intercontinental Cup, drawing fans from across the region. Morocco\u2019s thrilling 3-2 win over Jordan in the Arab Cup capped an exciting period of football.","summary":"Doha has been buzzing with football over the past two months. The city hosted the U-17 World Cup, Arab Cup and Intercontinental Cup, drawing fans from across the region. Morocco\u2019s thrilling 3-2 win over Jordan in the Arab Cup capped an exciting period of football.","keySentence":"","url":"qatar-becomes-a-football-hub-with-two-months-of-fifa-u17-arab-cup-and-intercontinental-cup","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/2025\/12\/31\/qatar-becomes-a-football-hub-with-two-months-of-fifa-u17-arab-cup-and-intercontinental-cup","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Doha has been buzzing with football over the past two months. The city hosted three major tournaments back-to-back, starting with the U-17 World Cup in November, followed by the Arab Cup and the Intercontinental Cup in December.\n\nFans from across the region filled stadiums and fan zones, enjoying the matches, cultural activities, and live performances. Lusail Stadium hosted the Arab Cup final, where Morocco beat Jordan 3-2 after extra time, giving fans a thrilling end to an intense period of football.\n\nFIFA officials praised Qatar for the organisation and smooth running of the tournaments. President Gianni Infantino highlighted higher prize money for the 2026 World Cup, announced a new U-15 youth festival and spoke about a fund to support children affected by conflict.\n\nWith full stadiums, lively fan zones and unforgettable matches on the pitch, Doha has shown it can host football at every level and bring fans together from across the Arab world.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Doha has been buzzing with football over the past two months. The city hosted three major tournaments back-to-back, starting with the U-17 World Cup in November, followed by the Arab Cup and the Intercontinental Cup in December.<\/p>\n<p>Fans from across the region filled stadiums and fan zones, enjoying the matches, cultural activities, and live performances. Lusail Stadium hosted the Arab Cup final, where Morocco beat Jordan 3-2 after extra time, giving fans a thrilling end to an intense period of football.<\/p>\n<p>FIFA officials praised Qatar for the organisation and smooth running of the tournaments. President Gianni Infantino highlighted higher prize money for the 2026 World Cup, announced a new U-15 youth festival and spoke about a fund to support children affected by conflict.<\/p>\n<p>With full stadiums, lively fan zones and unforgettable matches on the pitch, Doha has shown it can host football at every level and bring fans together from across the Arab world.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1765530059,"updatedAt":1767264944,"publishedAt":1767189652,"firstPublishedAt":1767189652,"lastPublishedAt":1767264943,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","altText":"\u00a9","callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"caption":"\u00a9","url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/58\/06\/74\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_25057b03-38c0-529c-a9bf-d241c35d6a6b-9580674.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"elashi","twitter":null,"id":2606,"title":"Mohamed Elashi"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"football","titleRaw":"Football","id":8257,"title":"Football","slug":"football"},{"urlSafeValue":"fifa","titleRaw":"FIFA","id":8911,"title":"FIFA","slug":"fifa"},{"urlSafeValue":"sport","titleRaw":"Sport","id":7829,"title":"Sport","slug":"sport"},{"urlSafeValue":"competition","titleRaw":"Competition","id":13718,"title":"Competition","slug":"competition"},{"urlSafeValue":"arab-world","titleRaw":"Arab World","id":17618,"title":"Arab World","slug":"arab-world"},{"urlSafeValue":"qatar","titleRaw":"Qatar","id":234,"title":"Qatar","slug":"qatar"}],"widgets":[],"related":[],"technicalTags":[{"path":"editorial.media-city"},{"path":"editorial"},{"path":"sponsor.qfc2021"},{"path":"sponsor"}],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"qbgWcXKAMPc","dailymotionId":"x9wskfw"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":300000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":42144584,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/31\/49\/19\/03\/ED_PYR_3149193_20251231111735.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":300000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":64852466,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/31\/49\/19\/03\/SHD_PYR_3149193_20251231111735.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"},{"duration":300000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":230307118,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/31\/49\/19\/03\/FHD_PYR_3149193_20251231111735.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"1080p"}],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"cult","urlSafeValue":"cult","title":"Cult","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/culture-series\/cult"},"season":"CULT QATAR_S01","episode":"S01E06 - QU - FIFA EPISODE","episodeId":"1256","vertical":"culture","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"culture","id":10,"title":"Culture","slug":"culture"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"culture-series","id":"culture-series","title":"Culture Series","url":"\/culture\/culture-series"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":55,"urlSafeValue":"culture-series","title":"Culture series"},"advertising":1,"advertisingData":{"startDate":1630511520,"endDate":2114355123,"type":"sponsored","slug":"Scenes","title":"Media City - Qatar","disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":"Media City","sponsorName":"Scenes","sponsorUrl":"https:\/\/mediacity.qa\/","sponsorLogo":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/campaigns\/410\/300x114_cmsv2_34d67838-9191-52a0-9a53-1c81081387b0-410.jpg","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":234,"urlSafeValue":"qatar","title":"Qatar","url":"\/news\/asia\/qatar"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/culture\/2025\/12\/31\/qatar-becomes-a-football-hub-with-two-months-of-fifa-u17-arab-cup-and-intercontinental-cup","lastModified":1767264943},{"id":2853976,"cid":9580712,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"CU - S01E07 - QATAR PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA - MASTER","daletPyramidId":3581633,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"How the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra blends cultures on one stage","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Inside the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra","titleListing2":"With musicians trained in diverse traditions, the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra is redefining orchestral music in the region. #Qatar #Orchestra #QPO","leadin":"With players trained in different musical traditions, the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra is reshaping how orchestral music is performed and experienced in the region.","summary":"With players trained in different musical traditions, the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra is reshaping how orchestral music is performed and experienced in the region.","keySentence":"","url":"how-the-qatar-philharmonic-orchestra-blends-cultures-on-one-stage","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/2025\/12\/29\/how-the-qatar-philharmonic-orchestra-blends-cultures-on-one-stage","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, based at the Katara Opera House in Doha, unites a diverse group of musicians from across the globe.\u00a0\n\nThe orchestra regularly performs symphonic and operatic works alongside Arabic programmes, crossover concerts and popular music events. This variety is a key part of who they are.\u00a0\n\nMusicians are trained in a wide mix of musical traditions, including European, American and Arabic schools. This background shapes how the orchestra rehearses and performs, allowing it to adapt easily to different styles and formats.\u00a0\n\nPerforming at the Katara Opera House places the orchestra at the heart of Doha\u2019s cultural scene. The venue\u2019s design and acoustics influence each performance, while audience response plays an important role on stage.\u00a0\n\nFor the musicians, the experience continues beyond the concert, with direct interaction and feedback from audiences forming an important part of orchestra life.\u00a0\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, based at the Katara Opera House in Doha, unites a diverse group of musicians from across the globe. <\/p>\n<p>The orchestra regularly performs symphonic and operatic works alongside Arabic programmes, crossover concerts and popular music events. This variety is a key part of who they are. <\/p>\n<p>Musicians are trained in a wide mix of musical traditions, including European, American and Arabic schools. This background shapes how the orchestra rehearses and performs, allowing it to adapt easily to different styles and formats. <\/p>\n<p>Performing at the Katara Opera House places the orchestra at the heart of Doha\u2019s cultural scene. The venue\u2019s design and acoustics influence each performance, while audience response plays an important role on stage. <\/p>\n<p>For the musicians, the experience continues beyond the concert, with direct interaction and feedback from audiences forming an important part of orchestra life. <\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1765531387,"updatedAt":1767287231,"publishedAt":1767029440,"firstPublishedAt":1767029440,"lastPublishedAt":1767287230,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","altText":"\u00a9","callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"caption":"\u00a9","url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/58\/07\/27\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_716e93c3-40ec-56c5-8fe9-725006d8dda3-9580727.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"elashi","twitter":null,"id":2606,"title":"Mohamed Elashi"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"classical-music","titleRaw":"Classical music","id":9459,"title":"Classical music","slug":"classical-music"},{"urlSafeValue":"traditional-music","titleRaw":"Traditional music","id":9469,"title":"Traditional music","slug":"traditional-music"},{"urlSafeValue":"music","titleRaw":"Music","id":11646,"title":"Music","slug":"music"},{"urlSafeValue":"culture","titleRaw":"Culture","id":574,"title":"Culture","slug":"culture"},{"urlSafeValue":"concert","titleRaw":"Concert","id":9871,"title":"Concert","slug":"concert"},{"urlSafeValue":"qatar","titleRaw":"Qatar","id":234,"title":"Qatar","slug":"qatar"}],"widgets":[],"related":[],"technicalTags":[{"path":"editorial.media-city"},{"path":"editorial"},{"path":"sponsor.qfc2021"},{"path":"sponsor"}],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"OqWFSI32ucw","dailymotionId":"x9wmwxe"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":300000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":42577942,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/31\/49\/37\/00\/ED_PYR_3149370_20251229162117.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":300000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":65838437,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/31\/49\/37\/00\/SHD_PYR_3149370_20251229162117.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"},{"duration":300000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":230013223,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/31\/49\/37\/00\/FHD_PYR_3149370_20251229162117.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"1080p"}],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"cult","urlSafeValue":"cult","title":"Cult","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/culture-series\/cult"},"season":"CULT QATAR_S01","episode":"S01E07 - 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With a strong delegation from the European Union, discussions focused on strengthening EU\u2013GCC cooperation, mediation efforts and building long-term stability. Syria\u2019s new president appeared one year after the fall of Bashar al-Assad\u2019s regime, underscoring the forum\u2019s role in shaping regional transitions. From peacebuilding to policy debates, this year\u2019s theme, Justice in Action, emphasized turning ideas into real progress.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The 2025 Doha Forum welcomed global leaders, diplomats and experts at a critical moment marked by conflict and geopolitical fractures. With a strong delegation from the European Union, discussions focused on strengthening EU\u2013GCC cooperation, mediation efforts and building long-term stability. Syria\u2019s new president appeared one year after the fall of Bashar al-Assad\u2019s regime, underscoring the forum\u2019s role in shaping regional transitions. 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Join Lilly Douse as she explores its culture, adventure and modern spirit \u2014 from Doha\u2019s historic heart to the edge of the desert and sea.","leadin":"From sweeping desert dunes to buzzing souqs and soaring coastal views, Qatar is a land of striking contrasts. Join Lilly Douse as she explores Qatar \u2014 from Doha\u2019s historic heart to the edge of the desert and sea.","summary":"From sweeping desert dunes to buzzing souqs and soaring coastal views, Qatar is a land of striking contrasts. Join Lilly Douse as she explores Qatar \u2014 from Doha\u2019s historic heart to the edge of the desert and sea.","keySentence":"","url":"grand-voyager-exploring-qatar","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/12\/24\/grand-voyager-exploring-qatar","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"In this episode of Grand Voyager, presenter Lilly Douse uncovers the striking contrasts of her home base, Qatar, from its dramatic desert landscapes to its cultural heart. In Doha, Lilly explores the lively Mina District before delving into the atmosphere of Souq Waqif with Qatari entrepreneur Khalifa Al Haroon, wandering its traditional alleyways and bustling markets.\n\nShe later escapes to the remote Outpost Hotel, embracing the stillness and beauty of the desert surroundings. Her adventure includes thrilling dune driving with Discover Qatar and a scenic gyrocopter flight over Sealine with pilot Reem Al Kuthairi, offering spectacular views of where the desert meets the sea. The journey concludes at Torba Farm, where Lilly discovers Qatar\u2019s commitment to sustainability and fresh, locally grown produce, painting a vivid portrait of a country balancing heritage and modern life.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>In this episode of Grand Voyager, presenter Lilly Douse uncovers the striking contrasts of her home base, Qatar, from its dramatic desert landscapes to its cultural heart. In Doha, Lilly explores the lively Mina District before delving into the atmosphere of Souq Waqif with Qatari entrepreneur Khalifa Al Haroon, wandering its traditional alleyways and bustling markets.<\/p>\n<p>She later escapes to the remote Outpost Hotel, embracing the stillness and beauty of the desert surroundings. Her adventure includes thrilling dune driving with Discover Qatar and a scenic gyrocopter flight over Sealine with pilot Reem Al Kuthairi, offering spectacular views of where the desert meets the sea. The journey concludes at Torba Farm, where Lilly discovers Qatar\u2019s commitment to sustainability and fresh, locally grown produce, painting a vivid portrait of a country balancing heritage and modern life.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1766399728,"updatedAt":1766608252,"publishedAt":1766601030,"firstPublishedAt":1766599230,"lastPublishedAt":1766608251,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","altText":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"caption":null,"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/59\/07\/58\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_ec1546aa-ed4b-5dd2-ad01-7c8fdb594abf-9590758.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"travel","titleRaw":"Travel","id":12639,"title":"Travel","slug":"travel"},{"urlSafeValue":"tourism","titleRaw":"Tourism","id":4221,"title":"Tourism","slug":"tourism"},{"urlSafeValue":"luxury","titleRaw":"Luxury","id":7970,"title":"Luxury","slug":"luxury"},{"urlSafeValue":"doha","titleRaw":"Doha","id":3937,"title":"Doha","slug":"doha"},{"urlSafeValue":"qatar","titleRaw":"Qatar","id":234,"title":"Qatar","slug":"qatar"}],"widgets":[],"related":[],"technicalTags":[{"path":"editorial.media-city"},{"path":"editorial"},{"path":"sponsor.qfc2021"},{"path":"sponsor"}],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"_HO67yTyuYE","dailymotionId":"x9wcw3a"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":720000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":95617212,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/32\/25\/52\/02\/ED_PYR_3225522_20251224180836.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":720000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":150218626,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/32\/25\/52\/02\/SHD_PYR_3225522_20251224180836.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"},{"duration":720000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":548061680,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/32\/25\/52\/02\/FHD_PYR_3225522_20251224180836.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"1080p"}],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Lilly Douse","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"grand-voyager","urlSafeValue":"grand-voyager","title":"Grand Voyager","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/travel\/travel-series\/grand-voyager"},"season":"GRAND VOYAGER_S01","episode":"S01E06 - DOHA","episodeId":"1313","vertical":"travel","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"travel","id":7,"title":"Travel","slug":"travel"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":7,"slug":"travel","urlSafeValue":"travel","title":"Travel"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"travel-series","id":"travel-series","title":"Series","url":"\/travel\/travel-series"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":32,"urlSafeValue":"travel-series","title":"Series"},"advertising":1,"advertisingData":{"startDate":1630511520,"endDate":2114355123,"type":"sponsored","slug":"Scenes","title":"Media City - Qatar","disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":"Media City","sponsorName":"Scenes","sponsorUrl":"https:\/\/mediacity.qa\/","sponsorLogo":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/campaigns\/410\/300x114_cmsv2_34d67838-9191-52a0-9a53-1c81081387b0-410.jpg","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":234,"urlSafeValue":"qatar","title":"Qatar","url":"\/news\/asia\/qatar"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/travel\/2025\/12\/24\/grand-voyager-exploring-qatar","lastModified":1766608251},{"id":2853718,"cid":9579507,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"CU - S01E05 - FASHION TRUST ARABIA - MASTER","daletPyramidId":3570662,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Global Icons Gather in Doha to Honor Franca Sozzani and Spotlight Arab Creativity","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Doha Celebrates Franca Sozzani and Regional Fashion Talent","titleListing2":"Global stars gathered in Doha for the inaugural Franca Fund Gala, honouring Vogue Italia's Franca Sozzani and raising over $4M for preventive genomics. 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Paired with M7\u2019s Threads of Impact exhibition featuring 100 regional designers, the event spotlighted Qatar\u2019s rise as a cultural and creative hub.","keySentence":"","url":"global-icons-gather-in-doha-to-honor-franca-sozzani-and-spotlight-arab-creativity","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/2025\/12\/23\/global-icons-gather-in-doha-to-honor-franca-sozzani-and-spotlight-arab-creativity","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Doha hosted the inaugural Franca Fund Gala, bringing together global icons from fashion, film and culture to honor the late Vogue Italia editor Franca Sozzani. Led by Sheikha Al Mayassa and Anna Wintour, guests celebrated Sozzani\u2019s legacy of creativity, diversity and bold advocacy. The event raised over $4 million for the Franca Fund\u2019s work in preventive genomics, supporting early-detection research with Harvard\u2019s Dr. Robert Green. In partnership with M7, Doha also unveiled Threads of Impact, showcasing more than 100 designers from across the MENA region, and underscoring Qatar\u2019s growing role as a global hub for fashion and design.\u00a0\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Doha hosted the inaugural Franca Fund Gala, bringing together global icons from fashion, film and culture to honor the late Vogue Italia editor Franca Sozzani. Led by Sheikha Al Mayassa and Anna Wintour, guests celebrated Sozzani\u2019s legacy of creativity, diversity and bold advocacy. The event raised over $4 million for the Franca Fund\u2019s work in preventive genomics, supporting early-detection research with Harvard\u2019s Dr. Robert Green. In partnership with M7, Doha also unveiled Threads of Impact, showcasing more than 100 designers from across the MENA region, and underscoring Qatar\u2019s growing role as a global hub for fashion and design. <\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1765451307,"updatedAt":1766487657,"publishedAt":1766487655,"firstPublishedAt":1766487655,"lastPublishedAt":1766487655,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/95\/66\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_0c21cbc8-863e-5bb6-b26b-94e47c3e4b99-9579566.jpg","altText":"\u00a9","caption":"\u00a9","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":111,"slug":"fashion","urlSafeValue":"fashion","title":"Fashion","titleRaw":"Fashion"},{"id":7970,"slug":"luxury","urlSafeValue":"luxury","title":"Luxury","titleRaw":"Luxury"},{"id":3937,"slug":"doha","urlSafeValue":"doha","title":"Doha","titleRaw":"Doha"},{"id":234,"slug":"qatar","urlSafeValue":"qatar","title":"Qatar","titleRaw":"Qatar"}],"widgets":[],"related":[],"technicalTags":[{"path":"editorial.media-city"},{"path":"editorial"},{"path":"sponsor.qfc2021"},{"path":"sponsor"}],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"hSwniBndxxo","dailymotionId":"x9w7adw"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":300040,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":42553823,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/31\/40\/56\/02\/ED_PYR_3140562_20251222113408.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":300040,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":65646027,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/31\/40\/56\/02\/SHD_PYR_3140562_20251222113408.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"},{"duration":300040,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":230654695,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/31\/40\/56\/02\/FHD_PYR_3140562_20251222113408.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"1080p"}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"cult","urlSafeValue":"cult","title":"Cult","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/culture-series\/cult"},"season":"CULT QATAR_S01","episode":"S01E05 - FASHION TRUST ARABIA","episodeId":"1250","vertical":"culture","verticals":[{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"},"themes":[{"id":"culture-series","urlSafeValue":"culture-series","title":"Culture Series","url":"\/culture\/culture-series"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":55,"urlSafeValue":"culture-series","title":"Culture series"},"advertising":1,"advertisingData":{"startDate":1630511520,"endDate":2114355123,"type":"sponsored","slug":"Scenes","title":"Media City - Qatar","disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":"Media City","sponsorName":"Scenes","sponsorUrl":"https:\/\/mediacity.qa\/","sponsorLogo":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/campaigns\/410\/300x114_cmsv2_34d67838-9191-52a0-9a53-1c81081387b0-410.jpg","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":234,"urlSafeValue":"qatar","title":"Qatar","url":"\/news\/asia\/qatar"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/culture\/2025\/12\/23\/global-icons-gather-in-doha-to-honor-franca-sozzani-and-spotlight-arab-creativity","lastModified":1766487655},{"id":2853686,"cid":9579291,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":1,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"FO - S07E01 - EPISODE 1 - MASTER","daletPyramidId":3568794,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Doha Forum 2025: Global Leaders Push Dialogue Toward Real Progress","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Doha Forum 2025: From Dialogue to Action","titleListing2":"At the 2025 Doha Forum, global leaders tackled conflict, inequality and humanitarian crises under the theme \u201cJustice in Action.\u201d","leadin":"The 2025 Doha Forum gathered global leaders to confront the world\u2019s toughest challenges, highlight Qatar\u2019s growing mediation role, and unveil major development pledges. Under the theme \u201cJustice in Action,\u201d the focus was clear: turning dialogue into real, measurable progress.","summary":"The 2025 Doha Forum gathered global leaders to confront the world\u2019s toughest challenges, highlight Qatar\u2019s growing mediation role, and unveil major development pledges. Under the theme \u201cJustice in Action,\u201d the focus was clear: turning dialogue into real, measurable progress.","keySentence":"","url":"doha-forum-2025-global-leaders-push-dialogue-toward-real-progress","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/2025\/12\/19\/doha-forum-2025-global-leaders-push-dialogue-toward-real-progress","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The 2025 Doha Forum brought world leaders, diplomats and global experts together at a pivotal moment marked by conflict and widening geopolitical divides. Under the theme \u201cJustice in Action: Beyond Promises to Progress,\u201d the Forum underscored a clear ambition: transforming dialogue into meaningful results.\n\nA major European Union delegation joined participants from across the globe to address challenges ranging from conflict resolution and economic inequality to humanitarian crises and shifting power dynamics. Significant development commitments also took center stage. The Qatar Fund for Development announced 18 new agreements totaling nearly half a billion euros, aimed at improving electricity access, education, economic empowerment and health services for more than 4.7 million people.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The 2025 Doha Forum brought world leaders, diplomats and global experts together at a pivotal moment marked by conflict and widening geopolitical divides. Under the theme <em>\u201cJustice in Action: Beyond Promises to Progress,\u201d<\/em> the Forum underscored a clear ambition: transforming dialogue into meaningful results.<\/p>\n<p>A major European Union delegation joined participants from across the globe to address challenges ranging from conflict resolution and economic inequality to humanitarian crises and shifting power dynamics. Significant development commitments also took center stage. The Qatar Fund for Development announced 18 new agreements totaling nearly half a billion euros, aimed at improving electricity access, education, economic empowerment and health services for more than 4.7 million people.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1765445309,"updatedAt":1766154726,"publishedAt":1766154639,"firstPublishedAt":1766154639,"lastPublishedAt":1766154725,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","altText":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"caption":null,"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/93\/24\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_f16291e3-d9de-5282-ab4a-bef311eb8dd9-9579324.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"summit","titleRaw":"Summit","id":7825,"title":"Summit","slug":"summit"},{"urlSafeValue":"diplomacy","titleRaw":"Diplomacy","id":12034,"title":"Diplomacy","slug":"diplomacy"},{"urlSafeValue":"doha","titleRaw":"Doha","id":3937,"title":"Doha","slug":"doha"},{"urlSafeValue":"qatar","titleRaw":"Qatar","id":234,"title":"Qatar","slug":"qatar"}],"widgets":[],"related":[],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"fnOEvcG1Ozo","dailymotionId":"x9w160y"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":300000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":42400936,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/31\/39\/02\/01\/ED_PYR_3139021_20251219133534.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":300000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":65146859,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/31\/39\/02\/01\/SHD_PYR_3139021_20251219133534.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"},{"duration":300000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":229076692,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/31\/39\/02\/01\/FHD_PYR_3139021_20251219133534.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"1080p"}],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"focus","urlSafeValue":"focus","title":"Focus","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/focus"},"season":"FOCUS SPECIAL DOHA FORUM 2025_S07","episode":"S07E01 - EPISODE 1","episodeId":"1248","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":1,"title":"News","slug":"news"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":234,"urlSafeValue":"qatar","title":"Qatar","url":"\/news\/asia\/qatar"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/12\/19\/doha-forum-2025-global-leaders-push-dialogue-toward-real-progress","lastModified":1766154725},{"id":2855413,"cid":9586474,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"CULTURE QATAR FOOTBALL SONG ","daletPyramidId":3637919,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"How the FIFA Arab Cup Final became a symphony of sound and light","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"How the FIFA Arab Cup Final became a symphony of sound and light","titleListing2":"How the FIFA Arab Cup Final Became a Symphony of Sound and Light","leadin":"Some say football matches are not only determined by action on the field but by songs sung in stadiums. The Qatar 'Soundbeats' campaign wants to orchestrate an enormous wave of support at the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar by combining the noise of crowds with classical music as part of a new interactive show.","summary":"Some say football matches are not only determined by action on the field but by songs sung in stadiums. The Qatar 'Soundbeats' campaign wants to orchestrate an enormous wave of support at the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar by combining the noise of crowds with classical music as part of a new interactive show.","keySentence":"","url":"how-the-fifa-arab-cup-final-became-a-symphony-of-sound-and-light","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/2025\/12\/18\/how-the-fifa-arab-cup-final-became-a-symphony-of-sound-and-light","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Football finals are not only defined by what happens on the field. The roar of the crowd and the songs they sing can also help determine but at the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 final at Lusail Stadium, the drama began long before the first kick.\n\nIn front of more than 88,000 spectators and dignitaries from across the Middle East, the stadium\u2014best known as the site of the 2022 World Cup final\u2014was transformed into a canvas of sound and light to premiere a new national anthem of sorts: \u2018Nabd Qatar\u2019 (The Pulse of Qatar).\n\nCoinciding with Qatar National Day, the premiere was the centerpiece of the \u2018Qatar SoundBeat\u2019 campaign, a cultural initiative spearheaded by Media City Qatar to bridge the nation's heritage with its modern creative ambitions.\n\nWatch the official music video for \u2018Nabd Qatar\u2019 below:\n\nA sonic tapestry of the desert\n\nThe composition is the work of regionally acclaimed musician Omar Rahbany and produced by Rahbani 3.0. The piece is not a standard orchestral track; it is an auditory history of the Gulf nation.\n\nPerformed by the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, the arrangement features 68 musicians and 30 instruments, blending Western symphonic structures with traditional Arabic instrumentation. According to the composer, the track is shaped through three distinct eras: \u2018Tradition\u2019, \u2018Classical\u2019, and \u2018Modernity\u2019.\n\nThe sound design is intentionally evocative allowing listeners to detect:\n\nArdha sword dance chants: Traditional lyrics written by H.E. Mr. Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali.\n\nNature\u2019s Rhythm: The hum of desert dunes, the whisper of the wind, and the call of a falcon.\n\nMotion: The gallop of an Arabian horse and the flutter of the national flag.\n\nOmar Rahbany described the intricate process of mimicking a heartbeat through music: \"Every detail was crafted with intention, down to phonetic elements like \u2018Wa-tan\u2019 (homeland) and \u2018Na-bd Qa-tar\u2019 (Pulse of Qatar) to mirror the cadence of a heartbeat. Giving form to a nation's story through melody, rhythm and emotion is among the highest honors an artist can receive.\"\n\nCrowdsourcing a national anthem\n\nWhile the music was composed by professionals, the soul of the lyrics belongs to the people.\n\nThe words, drafted by Abdullah Khaled Abdulquddus, were derived from the \u2018Qatar ArtBeat\u2019 campaign\u2014a Guinness World Record-setting initiative where thousands of contributions were gathered from the public. The result is a song that literally speaks with the voice of the people, transforming their written tributes to unity into a musical score.\n\nDr. Nasser Sahim, Deputy Executive Director of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, hailed the weight of the performance: \"A work of this scale demands precision, unity and deep understanding... our musicians approached it with a thoughtful commitment to excellence in every note.\"\n\n\"Where next is made\"\n\nThe spectacle at Lusail was also a statement of intent from Media City Qatar (MCQ).\n\nBeyond the music, MCQ is positioning the country as the next major hub for global media and creativity. The organisation now hosts more than 300 licensed companies across gaming, digital innovation, and content creation.\n\nH.E. Sheikh Dr. Abdulla bin Ali Al Thani, Chairman of Media City Qatar, views the song as a calling card for the region's creative community:\n\n\"Media City Qatar used this moment to send a clear message to the region\u2019s creative community: The future of Arab media is being shaped here. It calls every creator in our region to look to Qatar as a place where new ideas can grow.\"\n\nFor those who missed the live spectacle at the stadium, \u2018Nabd Qatar\u2019 is now streaming on Spotify, Anghami, and YouTube, allowing the world to listen to the modern heartbeat of the Gulf.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Football finals are not only defined by what happens on the field. The roar of the crowd and the songs they sing can also help determine but at the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 final at Lusail Stadium, the drama began long before the first kick.<\/p>\n<p>In front of more than 88,000 spectators and dignitaries from across the Middle East, the stadium\u2014best known as the site of the 2022 World Cup final\u2014was transformed into a canvas of sound and light to premiere a new national anthem of sorts: \u2018Nabd Qatar\u2019 (The Pulse of Qatar).<\/p>\n<p>Coinciding with Qatar National Day, the premiere was the centerpiece of the \u2018Qatar SoundBeat\u2019 campaign, a cultural initiative spearheaded by Media City Qatar to bridge the nation's heritage with its modern creative ambitions.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Watch the official music video for \u2018Nabd Qatar\u2019 below:<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-youtube-embed\nwidget--size-fullwidth\nwidget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"auto widget__ratio widget__ratio--16x9\">\n <iframe type=\"text\/html\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.youtube.com//embed//x2Q1jA1PIk4/" width=\"100%\" loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen seamless>\n <\/iframe>\n <\/div>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\"> Presented by Media City Qatar, produced by Rahbani 3.0, and performed by the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h3>A sonic tapestry of the desert<\/h3>\n<p>The composition is the work of regionally acclaimed musician Omar Rahbany and produced by Rahbani 3.0. The piece is not a standard orchestral track; it is an auditory history of the Gulf nation.<\/p>\n<p>Performed by the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, the arrangement features 68 musicians and 30 instruments, blending Western symphonic structures with traditional Arabic instrumentation. According to the composer, the track is shaped through three distinct eras: \u2018Tradition\u2019, \u2018Classical\u2019, and \u2018Modernity\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>The sound design is intentionally evocative allowing listeners to detect:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Ardha sword dance chants:<\/strong> Traditional lyrics written by H.E. Mr. Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Nature\u2019s Rhythm:<\/strong> The hum of desert dunes, the whisper of the wind, and the call of a falcon.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Motion:<\/strong> The gallop of an Arabian horse and the flutter of the national flag.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Omar Rahbany described the intricate process of mimicking a heartbeat through music: \"Every detail was crafted with intention, down to phonetic elements like \u2018Wa-tan\u2019 (homeland) and \u2018Na-bd Qa-tar\u2019 (Pulse of Qatar) to mirror the cadence of a heartbeat. Giving form to a nation's story through melody, rhythm and emotion is among the highest honors an artist can receive.\"<\/p>\n<h3>Crowdsourcing a national anthem<\/h3>\n<p>While the music was composed by professionals, the soul of the lyrics belongs to the people.<\/p>\n<p>The words, drafted by Abdullah Khaled Abdulquddus, were derived from the \u2018Qatar ArtBeat\u2019 campaign\u2014a Guinness World Record-setting initiative where thousands of contributions were gathered from the public. The result is a song that literally speaks with the voice of the people, transforming their written tributes to unity into a musical score.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Nasser Sahim, Deputy Executive Director of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, hailed the weight of the performance: \"A work of this scale demands precision, unity and deep understanding... our musicians approached it with a thoughtful commitment to excellence in every note.\"<\/p>\n<h3>\"Where next is made\"<\/h3>\n<p>The spectacle at Lusail was also a statement of intent from Media City Qatar (MCQ).<\/p>\n<p>Beyond the music, MCQ is positioning the country as the next major hub for global media and creativity. The organisation now hosts more than 300 licensed companies across gaming, digital innovation, and content creation.<\/p>\n<p>H.E. Sheikh Dr. Abdulla bin Ali Al Thani, Chairman of Media City Qatar, views the song as a calling card for the region's creative community:<\/p>\n<p>\"Media City Qatar used this moment to send a clear message to the region\u2019s creative community: The future of Arab media is being shaped here. It calls every creator in our region to look to Qatar as a place where new ideas can grow.\"<\/p>\n<p>For those who missed the live spectacle at the stadium, \u2018Nabd Qatar\u2019 is now streaming on Spotify, Anghami, and YouTube, allowing the world to listen to the modern heartbeat of the Gulf.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1765985025,"updatedAt":1766051307,"publishedAt":1766035854,"firstPublishedAt":1766035854,"lastPublishedAt":1766035889,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Credit: Media City Qatar ","altText":"A scene from Nabd Qatar featuring the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra ","callToActionText":null,"width":814,"caption":"A scene from Nabd Qatar featuring the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra ","url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/58\/64\/74\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_e553ab72-5447-599e-8ba4-015c5b0f6e1a-9586474.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":458}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"music","titleRaw":"Music","id":11646,"title":"Music","slug":"music"},{"urlSafeValue":"arab-world","titleRaw":"Arab World","id":17618,"title":"Arab World","slug":"arab-world"},{"urlSafeValue":"football","titleRaw":"Football","id":8257,"title":"Football","slug":"football"},{"urlSafeValue":"classical-music","titleRaw":"Classical music","id":9459,"title":"Classical music","slug":"classical-music"}],"widgets":[{"count":1,"slug":"youtube"}],"related":[{"id":2851119},{"id":2838194},{"id":2824628}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"Media City Qatar ","additionalReporting":"Euronews ","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"culture-news","urlSafeValue":"culture-news","title":"Culture News","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/culture-news\/culture-news"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"culture","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"culture","id":10,"title":"Culture","slug":"culture"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"culture-news","id":"culture-news","title":"Culture news","url":"\/culture\/culture-news"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":53,"urlSafeValue":"culture-news","title":"Culture news"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":234,"urlSafeValue":"qatar","title":"Qatar","url":"\/news\/asia\/qatar"},"town":{"id":3937,"urlSafeValue":"doha","title":"Doha"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/culture\/2025\/12\/18\/how-the-fifa-arab-cup-final-became-a-symphony-of-sound-and-light","lastModified":1766035889},{"id":2853806,"cid":9579909,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":1,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"QM - S01E04 - KATARA PROJECT - HIDDEN SECRET OF A CULTURAL ICON - MASTER","daletPyramidId":3574108,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Uncovering how water sustainability is being engineered into everyday life in Qatar","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Securing water sustainability beneath the surface","titleListing2":"In this episode of Qatar in Motion, we go behind the scenes of Katara Cultural Village to unearth how water sustainability is being engineered into everyday life.","leadin":"Water management in arid conditions and limited rainfall pose an inevitable challenge. But what if the solution lies beneath our feet? In this episode of Qatar in Motion, Laila Humairah goes to the depths of the earth to uncover how Qatar is creating a sustainable oasis for its green landscape.","summary":"Water management in arid conditions and limited rainfall pose an inevitable challenge. But what if the solution lies beneath our feet? In this episode of Qatar in Motion, Laila Humairah goes to the depths of the earth to uncover how Qatar is creating a sustainable oasis for its green landscape.","keySentence":"","url":"uncovering-how-water-sustainability-is-being-engineered-into-everyday-life-in-qatar","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/12\/17\/uncovering-how-water-sustainability-is-being-engineered-into-everyday-life-in-qatar","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Under Katara\u2019s green hills, we enter a whole new world that hides a solution to water sustainability.\n\nIn this episode of Qatar in Motion, Laila Humairah goes where few have gone before, to uncover how Qatar is creating a sustainable oasis for its green landscape.\n\nIn the backdrop of a semi-arid climate with limited rainfall, Laila meets with industry leaders in water treatment and management, a hydrologist and the research director at Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute to understand the technology that flows beneath our feet.\u00a0\u00a0\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Under Katara\u2019s green hills, we enter a whole new world that hides a solution to water sustainability.<\/p>\n<p>In this episode of Qatar in Motion, Laila Humairah goes where few have gone before, to uncover how Qatar is creating a sustainable oasis for its green landscape.<\/p>\n<p>In the backdrop of a semi-arid climate with limited rainfall, Laila meets with industry leaders in water treatment and management, a hydrologist and the research director at Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute to understand the technology that flows beneath our feet. <\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1765465082,"updatedAt":1765982587,"publishedAt":1765980005,"firstPublishedAt":1765980005,"lastPublishedAt":1765982586,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/99\/25\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_cc546079-638d-59c0-8e12-4d7ace450dfd-9579925.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":12169,"slug":"water","urlSafeValue":"water","title":"Water","titleRaw":"Water"},{"id":380,"slug":"research","urlSafeValue":"research","title":"Research","titleRaw":"Research"},{"id":11296,"slug":"sustainable-development","urlSafeValue":"sustainable-development","title":"Sustainable development","titleRaw":"Sustainable development"},{"id":234,"slug":"qatar","urlSafeValue":"qatar","title":"Qatar","titleRaw":"Qatar"}],"widgets":[],"related":[],"technicalTags":[{"path":"editorial.media-city"},{"path":"editorial"},{"path":"sponsor.qfc2021"},{"path":"sponsor"}],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"AgL7em5LHUs","dailymotionId":"x9vss12"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/31\/43\/46\/05\/ED_PYR_3143465_20251216094917.mp4","editor":"","duration":720000,"filesizeBytes":96494761,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/31\/43\/46\/05\/SHD_PYR_3143465_20251216094917.mp4","editor":"","duration":720000,"filesizeBytes":152350180,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/31\/43\/46\/05\/FHD_PYR_3143465_20251216094917.mp4","editor":"","duration":720000,"filesizeBytes":550500304,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"qatar-in-motion","urlSafeValue":"qatar-in-motion","title":"Qatar in Motion","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/qatar-in-motion"},"season":"QATAR IN MOTION_S01","episode":"S01E04 - 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The event sparks dialogue in geopolitics, merging technologies, cultural diplomacy, and security beyond promises to progress.","leadin":"Celebrating its fifth year, the Doha Forum Youth Edition preludes under the theme, \u2018Justice in Action: Beyond Promises to Progress. More than 150 youth delegates debate and discuss topics including geopolitics, emerging technologies, cultural diplomacy and global security.","summary":"Celebrating its fifth year, the Doha Forum Youth Edition preludes under the theme, \u2018Justice in Action: Beyond Promises to Progress. More than 150 youth delegates debate and discuss topics including geopolitics, emerging technologies, cultural diplomacy and global security.","keySentence":"","url":"doha-forum-youth-edition-empowers-youth-leaders-in-diplomacy-and-dialogue","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/2025\/12\/16\/doha-forum-youth-edition-empowers-youth-leaders-in-diplomacy-and-dialogue","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The Doha Forum Youth Edition marks another year of engaging and empowering youth in debate, diplomacy and dialogue, in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and Media City Qatar. Held as a prelude to the Doha Forum, the event gathers more than 150 youth delegates from 100 nationalities to explore the theme, \u2018Justice in Action: Beyond Promises to Progress\u2019. FOCUS puts a spotlight on the key voices, experts and delegates involved in facilitating the exchange of ideas in topics like geopolitics, emerging technologies, cultural diplomacy, and security.\u00a0\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The Doha Forum Youth Edition marks another year of engaging and empowering youth in debate, diplomacy and dialogue, in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and Media City Qatar. Held as a prelude to the Doha Forum, the event gathers more than 150 youth delegates from 100 nationalities to explore the theme, \u2018Justice in Action: Beyond Promises to Progress\u2019. FOCUS puts a spotlight on the key voices, experts and delegates involved in facilitating the exchange of ideas in topics like geopolitics, emerging technologies, cultural diplomacy, and security. <\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1764691727,"updatedAt":1765908448,"publishedAt":1765884057,"firstPublishedAt":1765884657,"lastPublishedAt":1765908447,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/92\/63\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_6360d16f-66d0-51cd-9723-ab4e6cd0d7da-9569263.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":12034,"slug":"diplomacy","urlSafeValue":"diplomacy","title":"Diplomacy","titleRaw":"Diplomacy"},{"id":11678,"slug":"youth","urlSafeValue":"youth","title":"Youth","titleRaw":"Youth"},{"id":234,"slug":"qatar","urlSafeValue":"qatar","title":"Qatar","titleRaw":"Qatar"}],"widgets":[],"related":[],"technicalTags":[{"path":"editorial.media-city"},{"path":"editorial"},{"path":"sponsor.qfc2021"},{"path":"sponsor"}],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"RVAVRrjRY84","dailymotionId":"x9vqm36"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/30\/70\/93\/09\/ED_PYR_3070939_20251215110333.mp4","editor":"","duration":300000,"filesizeBytes":42196842,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/30\/70\/93\/09\/SHD_PYR_3070939_20251215110333.mp4","editor":"","duration":300000,"filesizeBytes":64950971,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/30\/70\/93\/09\/FHD_PYR_3070939_20251215110333.mp4","editor":"","duration":300000,"filesizeBytes":230592710,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"focus","urlSafeValue":"focus","title":"Focus","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/focus"},"season":"FOCUS QATAR_S01","episode":"S01E05 - DOHA FORUM YOUTH EDITION","episodeId":"1210","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":1,"advertisingData":{"startDate":1630511520,"endDate":2114355123,"type":"sponsored","slug":"Scenes","title":"Media City - Qatar","disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":"Media City","sponsorName":"Scenes","sponsorUrl":"https:\/\/mediacity.qa\/","sponsorLogo":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/campaigns\/410\/300x114_cmsv2_34d67838-9191-52a0-9a53-1c81081387b0-410.jpg","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":234,"urlSafeValue":"qatar","title":"Qatar","url":"\/news\/asia\/qatar"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/12\/16\/doha-forum-youth-edition-empowers-youth-leaders-in-diplomacy-and-dialogue","lastModified":1765908447},{"id":2852696,"cid":9574807,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"CULTURE MF HUSAIN MUSEUM","daletPyramidId":3532029,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Inside Doha\u2019s new M.F Husain museum: a visionary artist's sketch comes to life ","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"How a 2008 sketch became Doha\u2019s striking new M.F Husain Museum ","titleListing2":"A bold blue museum inspired by a sketch drawn by M.F. Husain in 2008 has opened in Doha, showcasing six decades of his work and inviting visitors into the mind of one of India\u2019s most iconic artists. ","leadin":"Doha has opened the M.F. Husain Museum, a vibrant new space based on a sketch the Indian modernist artist created in 2008. Designed by architect Martand Khosla, the museum displays six decades of Husain\u2019s work, from early pieces to his later creations inspired by Arab civilisation.","summary":"Doha has opened the M.F. Husain Museum, a vibrant new space based on a sketch the Indian modernist artist created in 2008. Designed by architect Martand Khosla, the museum displays six decades of Husain\u2019s work, from early pieces to his later creations inspired by Arab civilisation.","keySentence":"","url":"inside-dohas-new-mf-husain-museum-a-visionary-artists-sketch-comes-to-life","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/2025\/12\/08\/inside-dohas-new-mf-husain-museum-a-visionary-artists-sketch-comes-to-life","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"A bold blue museum inspired by a sketch drawn by M.F. Husain in 2008 has opened in Doha, showcasing six decades of his work and inviting visitors into the mind of one of India\u2019s most iconic artists.\n\nIf you\u2019ve ever wondered what it might feel like to step inside an artist\u2019s imagination, Doha\u2019s newest cultural landmark gets you pretty close. The story of Lawh Wa Qalam: M.F. Husain Museum begins, quite literally, with a sketch. The project not only honours Husain\u2019s legacy but also aims to build cultural bridges between South Asia and West Asia.\n\nBack in 2008, renowned Indian modernist Maqbool Fida Husain drew a simple outline of what he dreamed his museum could look like. Today, that idea has come to life as a striking blue building, complete with cutout shapes inspired by Arabic letters and a tower inspired by a minaret.\n\nBringing a sketch to life turning Husain\u2019s drawing into an actual building wasn\u2019t easy. Delhi-based architect Martand Khosla took on the challenge and says the sketch became the project\u2019s starting point. \u201cWe had to extrapolate an architectural language and keep it true to the sketch,\u201d Khosla says. \u201cThat\u2019s what we worked on for most of the design.\u201d\n\nAnd the final result? A space where visitors can sense the artist\u2019s energy before they even step inside. The museum showcases six decades of Husain\u2019s work, including many of his later pieces inspired by Arab civilisation and Islamic culture.\n\nFor people in India, Husain\u2019s art has been part of everyday life for decades and Khosla remembers growing up surrounded by it. \u201cHis works were everywhere,\u201d he says. \u201cIn airports, convention halls, on postcards, calendars, even in people\u2019s homes.\u201d Now, the hope is that this museum in Doha\u2019s Education City will introduce his work to entirely new audiences.\n\n\u201cArt comes from the heart\u201d\n\nActor Taha Shah Badussha, who\u2019s quickly rising in the Indian film industry, says Husain\u2019s story still resonates with young creatives, especially those trying to carve their own path. \u201cBesides being a legend, he started from nothing,\u201d Badussha says. \u201cHe believed you shouldn\u2019t paint because you need money, but because you have to. Art comes from the heart.\u201d For him, the connection between creativity and purpose is stronger than ever. \u201cGone are the days when creativity was a side thing,\u201d he says. \u201cArt is what truly satisfies you from within.\u201d\n\nA vision beyond borders Husain\u2019s life wasn\u2019t without controversy. Some of his works sparked intense criticism, and he eventually lived in self-imposed exile in Qatar until his death in 2011. Still, he remained a giant in the art world, often called \u201cIndia\u2019s Picasso\u201d for his bold style and fearless storytelling.\n\nNow, his legacy has a permanent home. \u201cI hope this museum becomes a new bridge between South Asia and West Asia,\u201d Khosla says. \u201cWe\u2019ve influenced each other for centuries. I\u2019d be pleased if Husain\u2019s syncretic vision is carried forward here.\"\n\n","htmlText":"<p>A bold blue museum inspired by a sketch drawn by M.F. Husain in 2008 has opened in Doha, showcasing six decades of his work and inviting visitors into the mind of one of India\u2019s most iconic artists. <\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019ve ever wondered what it might feel like to step inside an artist\u2019s imagination, Doha\u2019s newest cultural landmark gets you pretty close. The story of Lawh Wa Qalam: M.F. Husain Museum begins, quite literally, with a sketch. The project not only honours Husain\u2019s legacy but also aims to build cultural bridges between South Asia and West Asia.<\/p>\n<p>Back in 2008, renowned Indian modernist Maqbool Fida Husain drew a simple outline of what he dreamed his museum could look like. Today, that idea has come to life as a striking blue building, complete with cutout shapes inspired by Arabic letters and a tower inspired by a minaret. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6666666666666666\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//57//48//07//808x539_cmsv2_7c1abdbd-9b80-5a87-b7d2-638292fba9c9-9574807.jpg/" alt=\"M F Husain&#x27;s Horses painting on show at Lawh Wa Qalam inauguration 3 Dec 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/48\/07\/384x256_cmsv2_7c1abdbd-9b80-5a87-b7d2-638292fba9c9-9574807.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/48\/07\/640x427_cmsv2_7c1abdbd-9b80-5a87-b7d2-638292fba9c9-9574807.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/48\/07\/750x500_cmsv2_7c1abdbd-9b80-5a87-b7d2-638292fba9c9-9574807.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/48\/07\/828x552_cmsv2_7c1abdbd-9b80-5a87-b7d2-638292fba9c9-9574807.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/48\/07\/1080x720_cmsv2_7c1abdbd-9b80-5a87-b7d2-638292fba9c9-9574807.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/48\/07\/1200x800_cmsv2_7c1abdbd-9b80-5a87-b7d2-638292fba9c9-9574807.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/48\/07\/1920x1280_cmsv2_7c1abdbd-9b80-5a87-b7d2-638292fba9c9-9574807.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">M F Husain&#x27;s Horses painting on show at Lawh Wa Qalam inauguration 3 Dec 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Credit: BLJWorldwide<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Bringing a sketch to life turning Husain\u2019s drawing into an actual building wasn\u2019t easy. Delhi-based architect Martand Khosla took on the challenge and says the sketch became the project\u2019s starting point. \u201cWe had to extrapolate an architectural language and keep it true to the sketch,\u201d Khosla says. \u201cThat\u2019s what we worked on for most of the design.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And the final result? A space where visitors can sense the artist\u2019s energy before they even step inside. The museum showcases six decades of Husain\u2019s work, including many of his later pieces inspired by Arab civilisation and Islamic culture.<\/p>\n<p>For people in India, Husain\u2019s art has been part of everyday life for decades and Khosla remembers growing up surrounded by it. \u201cHis works were everywhere,\u201d he says. \u201cIn airports, convention halls, on postcards, calendars, even in people\u2019s homes.\u201d Now, the hope is that this museum in Doha\u2019s Education City will introduce his work to entirely new audiences.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//culture//2025//12//02//natures-greatest-story-natural-history-museum-abu-dhabi-celebrates-historic-opening/">'Nature's greatest story': Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi celebrates historic opening <\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2>\u201cArt comes from the heart\u201d<\/h2>\n<p>Actor Taha Shah Badussha, who\u2019s quickly rising in the Indian film industry, says Husain\u2019s story still resonates with young creatives, especially those trying to carve their own path. \u201cBesides being a legend, he started from nothing,\u201d Badussha says. \u201cHe believed you shouldn\u2019t paint because you need money, but because you have to. Art comes from the heart.\u201d For him, the connection between creativity and purpose is stronger than ever. \u201cGone are the days when creativity was a side thing,\u201d he says. \u201cArt is what truly satisfies you from within.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>A vision beyond borders Husain\u2019s life wasn\u2019t without controversy. Some of his works sparked intense criticism, and he eventually lived in self-imposed exile in Qatar until his death in 2011. Still, he remained a giant in the art world, often called \u201cIndia\u2019s Picasso\u201d for his bold style and fearless storytelling.<\/p>\n<p>Now, his legacy has a permanent home. \u201cI hope this museum becomes a new bridge between South Asia and West Asia,\u201d Khosla says. \u201cWe\u2019ve influenced each other for centuries. I\u2019d be pleased if Husain\u2019s syncretic vision is carried forward here.\"<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1765141234,"updatedAt":1765203990,"publishedAt":1765189947,"firstPublishedAt":1765189947,"lastPublishedAt":1765193725,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/48\/07\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_da0cbc5a-8957-5afe-bda9-4909c164688b-9574807.jpg","altText":"Opening up to the night: Doha's new M.F Husain Museum","caption":"Opening up to the night: Doha's new M.F Husain Museum","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Credit: Bljworldwide.com ","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1500,"height":1000},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/48\/07\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_7c1abdbd-9b80-5a87-b7d2-638292fba9c9-9574807.jpg","altText":"Lawh Wa Qalam Inaguration","caption":"Lawh Wa Qalam Inaguration","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Credit: BLJWorldwide","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1500,"height":1000}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3539,"urlSafeValue":"aadel.haleem@euronews.com","title":"Aadel Haleem","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":6923,"slug":"museum","urlSafeValue":"museum","title":"Museum","titleRaw":"Museum"},{"id":16196,"slug":"sanatc-","urlSafeValue":"sanatc-","title":"artist","titleRaw":"artist"},{"id":148,"slug":"india","urlSafeValue":"india","title":"India","titleRaw":"India"},{"id":4155,"slug":"painting","urlSafeValue":"painting","title":"Painting","titleRaw":"Painting"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":1},{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2834801},{"id":2833331},{"id":2849112}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"C9-AzQLJEzQ","dailymotionId":"x9v7ou8"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/31\/09\/91\/08\/ED_PYR_3109918_20251207213402.mp4","editor":"","duration":174200,"filesizeBytes":25949066,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/31\/09\/91\/08\/SHD_PYR_3109918_20251207213402.mp4","editor":"","duration":174200,"filesizeBytes":39176778,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/31\/09\/91\/08\/FHD_PYR_3109918_20251207213402.mp4","editor":"","duration":174200,"filesizeBytes":133983999,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"art","urlSafeValue":"art","title":"Art","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/art\/art"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"culture","verticals":[{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"},"themes":[{"id":"art","urlSafeValue":"art","title":"Art","url":"\/culture\/art"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":70,"urlSafeValue":"art","title":"Art"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":234,"urlSafeValue":"qatar","title":"Qatar","url":"\/news\/asia\/qatar"},"town":{"id":3937,"urlSafeValue":"doha","title":"Doha"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/culture\/2025\/12\/08\/inside-dohas-new-mf-husain-museum-a-visionary-artists-sketch-comes-to-life","lastModified":1765193725},{"id":2852680,"cid":9574767,"versionId":5,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"DOHA FORUM SUNDAY ITWs","daletPyramidId":3531546,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Ukraine agreement would be 'only the beginning of the next stage', Schinas tells Euronews in Doha","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Ukraine agreement 'only the beginning,' Schinas tells Euronews in Doha","titleListing2":"Ukraine agreement would be 'only the beginning of the next stage', Schinas tells Euronews in Doha","leadin":"Euronews sat with former VP of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas and the EU's Envoy for the Gulf Luigi Di Maio in the Qatari capital to discuss the war in Ukraine, EU competitiveness and cultivating new ties in the Gulf. The two were attending the Doha Forum.","summary":"Euronews sat with former VP of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas and the EU's Envoy for the Gulf Luigi Di Maio in the Qatari capital to discuss the war in Ukraine, EU competitiveness and cultivating new ties in the Gulf. The two were attending the Doha Forum.","keySentence":"","url":"ukraine-agreement-would-be-only-the-beginning-of-the-next-stage-schinas-tells-euronews-in-","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/12\/07\/ukraine-agreement-would-be-only-the-beginning-of-the-next-stage-schinas-tells-euronews-in-","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Euronews caught up with two European Union policy figures who were in attendance at the Doha Forum on Sunday, former European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas and current EU Special Representative for the Gulf Region, Luigi Di Maio.\n\nThe forum aimed to raise to the global forefront many issues, including world peace with Russia\u2019s war on Ukraine continuing to rage and nearing its fifth year, and directly addressed Israeli violations of the existing ceasefire in Gaza.\n\nSchinas expressed hope that the renewed push for peace in Ukraine, led by US President Donald Trump, may finally bring an end to the fighting and end a war that has killed tens of thousands of Ukrainian and cost European countries billions of euros in support.\n\n\u201cFrom day one. We have been funding Ukraine with \u20ac2 billion per month. So in a way, Ukraine keeps fighting because Europe keeps paying,\u201d Schinas told Euronews.\n\n\u201cWe have bought armaments for Ukraine. We have stood by the country in very difficult, diplomatic moments and will continue to do that.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe hope that as a result of the ongoing talks and with the increasing involvement of the US government, we will be able soon to come to an agreement, but if this moment comes, this would be only the beginning of the next stage.\u201d he added.\n\nSchinas also spoke of the inaccuracies in the Trump administration's critiques of Europe. A controversial US National Security Strategy report published on Friday claimed that Europe is heading for \u201ccivilisational erasure\u201d as a result of censorship and supranational policies, while the bloc's immigration policies have enabled migrants to \"replace\" Europeans.\n\nIn the document Washington said will support \u201clike-minded patriotic parties\u201d across Europe to \u201ccultivate resistance\u201d, in a bid to prevent \u201ccertain NATO members\u201d - who were not named - from becoming majority non-European and thus alienating parties that advance immigration.\n\n\u201cI think that those who doubt of the value and the attractiveness of the European project would live to regret it. History tells us otherwise,\u201d said Schinas.\n\nNevertheless, he stressed the importance of the EU's alliance with the US: \u201cThe transatlantic relationship is too precious to be put in risk. So we will explain, we will engage, we will make sure that we do the right things.\u201d\n\nEuronews also asked both Schinas and Di Maio about the bloc\u2019s plans to remain competitive and create new partnerships to advance economic prospects and interests. One such emerging partnership that appears to be of interest to Brussels is with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.\n\n\u201cI think that the more we will realise that we have to continue to work with our historical allies, but we have to create new partnerships,\u201d said Di Maio.\n\n\u201cTogether, the GCC market and the European market, represent almost 20% of the global economy, almost 18% of the global trade. So we have huge potential,\u201d he added.\n\nHis view was also echoed by Schinas, who noted that in the current turbulent global political climate, it is important that the EU seeks stability and security, an area GCC countries have proven they can advance in.\n\n\u201cAs the world is becoming crazier and crazier every time we need actors that can provide security and stability, not consume. And I think the countries in the region have showed that they can make a positive contribution to this, and Europe is grateful,\u201d said Schinas.\n\nDi Maio hailed the new partnership struck between the EU and Qatar last month to boost production and trade relations, adding that it was only the beginning in ties that will only become deeper over time.\n\n\u201cThis is an agreement, is not, let's say, not only an MOU, it's something serious, is linked to the fact that we are going to frame and to shape a new kind of partnership of many kind of sectors, on many legs.\u201d\n\nThe EU Special Representative for the GCC added that a promising area of future partnership between the region and the bloc could be in the hydrogen sector.\n\n\u201cI will mention probably the most promising one, that is hydrogen. Many countries in the GCC are investing in hydrogen, are developing technologies, are partnering at B2B (business to business) level and at G2G (government to government) level,\u201d he said.\n\n\u201cI am just coming back from Oman for the hydrogen summit. Many ports in Europe and companies in Europe are dealing with Oman. The same with Saudi Arabia, the same with many other countries of the GCC.\"\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Euronews caught up with two European Union policy figures who were in attendance at the Doha Forum on Sunday, former European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas and current EU Special Representative for the Gulf Region, Luigi Di Maio.<\/p>\n<p>The forum aimed to raise to the global forefront many issues, including world peace with Russia\u2019s war on Ukraine continuing to rage and nearing its fifth year, and directly addressed Israeli violations of the existing ceasefire in Gaza.<\/p>\n<p>Schinas expressed hope that the renewed push for peace in Ukraine, led by US President Donald Trump, may finally bring an end to the fighting and end a war that has killed tens of thousands of Ukrainian and cost European countries billions of euros in support.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//57//47//67//808x454_cmsv2_e6450fea-ffb1-54da-935f-c5538f5ffbb6-9574767.jpg/" alt=\"Former European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas speaks to Euronews as he attends the second day of the Doha Forum, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025 \" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/384x216_cmsv2_e6450fea-ffb1-54da-935f-c5538f5ffbb6-9574767.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/640x360_cmsv2_e6450fea-ffb1-54da-935f-c5538f5ffbb6-9574767.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/750x422_cmsv2_e6450fea-ffb1-54da-935f-c5538f5ffbb6-9574767.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/828x466_cmsv2_e6450fea-ffb1-54da-935f-c5538f5ffbb6-9574767.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/1080x608_cmsv2_e6450fea-ffb1-54da-935f-c5538f5ffbb6-9574767.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/1200x675_cmsv2_e6450fea-ffb1-54da-935f-c5538f5ffbb6-9574767.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/1920x1080_cmsv2_e6450fea-ffb1-54da-935f-c5538f5ffbb6-9574767.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Former European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas speaks to Euronews as he attends the second day of the Doha Forum, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025 <\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Euronews<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>\u201cFrom day one. We have been funding Ukraine with \u20ac2 billion per month. So in a way, Ukraine keeps fighting because Europe keeps paying,\u201d Schinas told Euronews.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have bought armaments for Ukraine. We have stood by the country in very difficult, diplomatic moments and will continue to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe hope that as a result of the ongoing talks and with the increasing involvement of the US government, we will be able soon to come to an agreement, but if this moment comes, this would be only the beginning of the next stage.\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>Schinas also spoke of the inaccuracies in the Trump administration's critiques of Europe. A controversial US National Security Strategy report <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2025//12//05//trump-administration-warns-europe-of-civilisational-decline-in-new-national-security-strat/">published on Friday<\/a> claimed that Europe is heading for \u201ccivilisational erasure\u201d as a result of censorship and supranational policies, while the bloc's immigration policies have enabled migrants to \"replace\" Europeans.<\/p>\n<p>In the document Washington said will support \u201clike-minded patriotic parties\u201d across Europe to \u201ccultivate resistance\u201d, in a bid to prevent \u201ccertain NATO members\u201d - who were not named - from becoming majority non-European and thus alienating parties that advance immigration.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//57//47//67//808x454_cmsv2_fdd50b0f-4a82-5c9f-9468-6846205b55ca-9574767.jpg/" alt=\"Former European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas speaks to Euronews as he attends the second day of the Doha Forum, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025 \" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/384x216_cmsv2_fdd50b0f-4a82-5c9f-9468-6846205b55ca-9574767.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/640x360_cmsv2_fdd50b0f-4a82-5c9f-9468-6846205b55ca-9574767.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/750x422_cmsv2_fdd50b0f-4a82-5c9f-9468-6846205b55ca-9574767.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/828x466_cmsv2_fdd50b0f-4a82-5c9f-9468-6846205b55ca-9574767.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/1080x608_cmsv2_fdd50b0f-4a82-5c9f-9468-6846205b55ca-9574767.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/1200x675_cmsv2_fdd50b0f-4a82-5c9f-9468-6846205b55ca-9574767.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/1920x1080_cmsv2_fdd50b0f-4a82-5c9f-9468-6846205b55ca-9574767.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Former European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas speaks to Euronews as he attends the second day of the Doha Forum, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025 <\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Euronews<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>\u201cI think that those who doubt of the value and the attractiveness of the European project would live to regret it. History tells us otherwise,\u201d said Schinas.<\/p>\n<p>Nevertheless, he stressed the importance of the EU's alliance with the US: \u201cThe transatlantic relationship is too precious to be put in risk. So we will explain, we will engage, we will make sure that we do the right things.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Euronews also asked both Schinas and Di Maio about the bloc\u2019s plans to remain competitive and create new partnerships to advance economic prospects and interests. One such emerging partnership that appears to be of interest to Brussels is with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think that the more we will realise that we have to continue to work with our historical allies, but we have to create new partnerships,\u201d said Di Maio.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//57//47//67//808x454_cmsv2_e5700696-97f7-5cb4-80ea-314746d0d984-9574767.jpg/" alt=\"EU Special Representative for the Gulf Region Luigi Di Maio speaks to Euronews as he attends the second day of the Doha Forum, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/384x216_cmsv2_e5700696-97f7-5cb4-80ea-314746d0d984-9574767.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/640x360_cmsv2_e5700696-97f7-5cb4-80ea-314746d0d984-9574767.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/750x422_cmsv2_e5700696-97f7-5cb4-80ea-314746d0d984-9574767.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/828x466_cmsv2_e5700696-97f7-5cb4-80ea-314746d0d984-9574767.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/1080x608_cmsv2_e5700696-97f7-5cb4-80ea-314746d0d984-9574767.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/1200x675_cmsv2_e5700696-97f7-5cb4-80ea-314746d0d984-9574767.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/1920x1080_cmsv2_e5700696-97f7-5cb4-80ea-314746d0d984-9574767.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">EU Special Representative for the Gulf Region Luigi Di Maio speaks to Euronews as he attends the second day of the Doha Forum, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Euronews<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>\u201cTogether, the GCC market and the European market, represent almost 20% of the global economy, almost 18% of the global trade. So we have huge potential,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>His view was also echoed by Schinas, who noted that in the current turbulent global political climate, it is important that the EU seeks stability and security, an area GCC countries have proven they can advance in.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs the world is becoming crazier and crazier every time we need actors that can provide security and stability, not consume. And I think the countries in the region have showed that they can make a positive contribution to this, and Europe is grateful,\u201d said Schinas.<\/p>\n<p>Di Maio hailed the new partnership struck between the EU and Qatar last month to boost production and trade relations, adding that it was only the beginning in ties that will only become deeper over time.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//57//47//67//808x454_cmsv2_35cbf94d-7692-5c72-9946-f23fd3d304e6-9574767.jpg/" alt=\"EU Special Representative for the Gulf Region Luigi Di Maio speaks to Euronews as he attends the second day of the Doha Forum, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/384x216_cmsv2_35cbf94d-7692-5c72-9946-f23fd3d304e6-9574767.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/640x360_cmsv2_35cbf94d-7692-5c72-9946-f23fd3d304e6-9574767.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/750x422_cmsv2_35cbf94d-7692-5c72-9946-f23fd3d304e6-9574767.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/828x466_cmsv2_35cbf94d-7692-5c72-9946-f23fd3d304e6-9574767.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/1080x608_cmsv2_35cbf94d-7692-5c72-9946-f23fd3d304e6-9574767.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/1200x675_cmsv2_35cbf94d-7692-5c72-9946-f23fd3d304e6-9574767.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/1920x1080_cmsv2_35cbf94d-7692-5c72-9946-f23fd3d304e6-9574767.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">EU Special Representative for the Gulf Region Luigi Di Maio speaks to Euronews as he attends the second day of the Doha Forum, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Euronews<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>\u201cThis is an agreement, is not, let's say, not only an MOU, it's something serious, is linked to the fact that we are going to frame and to shape a new kind of partnership of many kind of sectors, on many legs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The EU Special Representative for the GCC added that a promising area of future partnership between the region and the bloc could be in the hydrogen sector.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI will mention probably the most promising one, that is hydrogen. Many countries in the GCC are investing in hydrogen, are developing technologies, are partnering at B2B (business to business) level and at G2G (government to government) level,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am just coming back from Oman for the hydrogen summit. Many ports in Europe and companies in Europe are dealing with Oman. The same with Saudi Arabia, the same with many other countries of the GCC.\"<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1765129632,"updatedAt":1765183186,"publishedAt":1765140389,"firstPublishedAt":1765140389,"lastPublishedAt":1765183185,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_59a51632-0f90-5366-aded-bdd8b364389b-9574767.jpg","altText":"Former European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas speaks to Euronews as he attends the second day of the Doha Forum, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025 ","caption":"Former European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas speaks to Euronews as he attends the second day of the Doha Forum, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025 ","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_35cbf94d-7692-5c72-9946-f23fd3d304e6-9574767.jpg","altText":"EU Special Representative for the Gulf Region Luigi Di Maio speaks to Euronews as he attends the second day of the Doha Forum, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025","caption":"EU Special Representative for the Gulf Region Luigi Di Maio speaks to Euronews as he attends the second day of the Doha Forum, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_e5700696-97f7-5cb4-80ea-314746d0d984-9574767.jpg","altText":"EU Special Representative for the Gulf Region Luigi Di Maio speaks to Euronews as he attends the second day of the Doha Forum, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025","caption":"EU Special Representative for the Gulf Region Luigi Di Maio speaks to Euronews as he attends the second day of the Doha Forum, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_fdd50b0f-4a82-5c9f-9468-6846205b55ca-9574767.jpg","altText":"Former European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas speaks to Euronews as he attends the second day of the Doha Forum, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025 ","caption":"Former European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas speaks to Euronews as he attends the second day of the Doha Forum, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025 ","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/67\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_e6450fea-ffb1-54da-935f-c5538f5ffbb6-9574767.jpg","altText":"Former European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas speaks to Euronews as he attends the second day of the Doha Forum, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025 ","caption":"Former European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas speaks to Euronews as he attends the second day of the Doha Forum, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025 ","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3539,"urlSafeValue":"aadel.haleem@euronews.com","title":"Aadel Haleem","twitter":null},{"id":3270,"urlSafeValue":"fouda","title":"Malek Fouda","twitter":"themalekfouda"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":234,"slug":"qatar","urlSafeValue":"qatar","title":"Qatar","titleRaw":"Qatar"},{"id":3937,"slug":"doha","urlSafeValue":"doha","title":"Doha","titleRaw":"Doha"},{"id":26786,"slug":"forum","urlSafeValue":"forum","title":"Forum","titleRaw":"Forum"},{"id":105,"slug":"european-union","urlSafeValue":"european-union","title":"European Union","titleRaw":"European Union"},{"id":12229,"slug":"interview","urlSafeValue":"interview","title":"Interview","titleRaw":"Interview"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":4}],"related":[],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/31\/11\/29\/02\/ED_PYR_3111292_20251208080843.mp4","editor":"","duration":161600,"filesizeBytes":24814752,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/31\/11\/29\/02\/SHD_PYR_3111292_20251208080843.mp4","editor":"","duration":161600,"filesizeBytes":37285142,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/31\/11\/29\/02\/FHD_PYR_3111292_20251208080843.mp4","editor":"","duration":161600,"filesizeBytes":125748616,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":234,"urlSafeValue":"qatar","title":"Qatar","url":"\/news\/asia\/qatar"},"town":{"id":3937,"urlSafeValue":"doha","title":"Doha"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/12\/07\/ukraine-agreement-would-be-only-the-beginning-of-the-next-stage-schinas-tells-euronews-in-","lastModified":1765183185},{"id":2852465,"cid":9574071,"versionId":7,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"ITW KALLAS DOHA by Euronews Doha","daletPyramidId":3525335,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Kaja Kallas brushes off Trump's criticism of EU in interview with Euronews","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Kallas brushes off Trump's criticism of EU in interview with Euronews","titleListing2":"The EU\u2019s foreign policy chief downplayed a controversial US security review suggesting there is \u201ccivilisation erasure\u201d in Europe. Kallas called for unity.\n","leadin":"The EU\u2019s foreign policy chief downplayed a controversial US security review suggesting there is \u201ccivilisation erasure\u201d in Europe. Kallas called for unity.","summary":"The EU\u2019s foreign policy chief downplayed a controversial US security review suggesting there is \u201ccivilisation erasure\u201d in Europe. Kallas called for unity.","keySentence":"","url":"kajas-kallas-brushes-off-trumps-criticism-of-eu-in-interview-with-euronews","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/12\/06\/kajas-kallas-brushes-off-trumps-criticism-of-eu-in-interview-with-euronews","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has said the US remains Europe's biggest ally despite unprecedented criticism from the Trump administration of the European Union.\n\nIn an interview with Euronews at the Doha Forum in Qatar, she downplayed a controversial US National Security Strategy report which claimed that Europe is heading for \u201ccivilisational erasure\u201d as a result of migration, censorship and supranational policies.\n\nThe document also argued that the US would work with \u201cEuropean patriotic parties\u201d to restore the continent\u2019s greatness. While the language is aligned with the policies supported by the Trump administration, the tone is unusually harsh and condescending to its traditional European allies.\n\nStill, Kallas downplayed the controversy and argued that the two should \"stick together\u201d to fix global problems, starting with the war in Ukraine.\n\n\"Let's focus on the things that we can do together. I mean, what we can take from that security strategy is that we are still allies with America. We don't always see eye to eye on everything,\" she said.\n\n\"Let's focus on the global challenges that we actually have, which are, you know, economic coercive practices from China that we are both faced with, which is the threat that comes from malign actors like Russia, like China, like Iran,\" Kallas added.\n\nThe National Security Strategy added to a week of tensions between the US and the European Union.\n\nOn Friday, the European Commission fined Elon Musk\u2019s social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, \u20ac120 million for breaching transparency rules under EU legislation.\n\nMusk responded by saying the EU should be dismantled and \u201creturn to individual countries\u201d while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the fine an abomination.\n\nThe timing is complicated by ongoing negotiations led by the US to end the war in Ukraine. The Europeans are trying to muscle their way back to the negotiating table after being initially sidelined by Washington-Moscow direct talks.\n\nOn Monday, German Chancellor Merz, French President Macron, UK Prime Minister Starmer and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy will meet in London to hold further talks.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has said the US remains Europe's biggest ally despite unprecedented criticism from the Trump administration of the European Union.<\/p>\n<p>In an interview with Euronews at the Doha Forum in Qatar, she downplayed a controversial US National Security Strategy report which claimed that Europe is heading for \u201ccivilisational erasure\u201d as a result of migration, censorship and supranational policies. <\/p>\n<p>The document also argued that the US would work with \u201cEuropean patriotic parties\u201d to restore the continent\u2019s greatness. While the language is aligned with the policies supported by the Trump administration, the tone is unusually harsh and condescending to its traditional European allies. <\/p>\n<p>Still, Kallas downplayed the controversy and argued that the two should \"stick together\u201d to fix global problems, starting with the war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>\"Let's focus on the things that we can do together. I mean, what we can take from that security strategy is that we are still allies with America. We don't always see eye to eye on everything,\" she said. <\/p>\n<p>\"Let's focus on the global challenges that we actually have, which are, you know, economic coercive practices from China that we are both faced with, which is the threat that comes from malign actors like Russia, like China, like Iran,\" Kallas added.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2025//12//05//trump-administration-warns-europe-of-civilisational-decline-in-new-national-security-strat/">Trump administration warns Europe of 'civilisational decline' in new national security strategy<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2025//12//05//with-reparations-loan-for-ukraine-the-eu-defies-both-putin-and-trump/">With reparations loan for Ukraine, the EU defies both Putin and Trump<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The National Security Strategy added to a week of tensions between the US and the European Union.<\/p>\n<p>On Friday, the European Commission fined Elon Musk\u2019s social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, \u20ac120 million for breaching transparency rules under EU legislation.<\/p>\n<p>Musk responded by saying the EU should be dismantled and \u201creturn to individual countries\u201d while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the fine an abomination. <\/p>\n<p>The timing is complicated by ongoing negotiations led by the US to end the war in Ukraine. The Europeans are trying to muscle their way back to the negotiating table after being initially sidelined by Washington-Moscow direct talks. <\/p>\n<p>On Monday, German Chancellor Merz, French President Macron, UK Prime Minister Starmer and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy will meet in London to hold further talks.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1765033957,"updatedAt":1765046738,"publishedAt":1765042100,"firstPublishedAt":1765042100,"lastPublishedAt":1765046737,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/40\/71\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_549091da-1e0c-5038-9de4-7198b2bf02dd-9574071.jpg","altText":"Kaja Kallas, Doha Forum in Qatar, 06\/12\/2025.","caption":"Kaja Kallas, Doha Forum in Qatar, 06\/12\/2025.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1123}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3539,"urlSafeValue":"aadel.haleem@euronews.com","title":"Aadel Haleem","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":28854,"slug":"kaja-kallas","urlSafeValue":"kaja-kallas","title":"Kaja Kallas","titleRaw":"Kaja Kallas"},{"id":105,"slug":"european-union","urlSafeValue":"european-union","title":"European Union","titleRaw":"European Union"},{"id":11900,"slug":"donald-trump","urlSafeValue":"donald-trump","title":"Donald Trump","titleRaw":"Donald 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DOHA FORUM","daletPyramidId":3524173,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Doha Forum 2025 kicks off with focus on global challenges and creating lasting peace","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Doha Forum 2025 kicks off with theme of justice beyond mere promises","titleListing2":"Doha Forum 2025 kicks off with focus on global challenges and creating lasting peace","leadin":"This year\u2019s Doha Forum kicked off Saturday morning with a clear message: 'Justice in Action: Beyond Promises to Progress' isn\u2019t just a theme, it\u2019s a challenge.","summary":"This year\u2019s Doha Forum kicked off Saturday morning with a clear message: 'Justice in Action: Beyond Promises to Progress' isn\u2019t just a theme, it\u2019s a challenge.","keySentence":"","url":"doha-forum-2025-kicks-off-with-focus-on-global-challenges-and-creating-lasting-peace","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/12\/06\/doha-forum-2025-kicks-off-with-focus-on-global-challenges-and-creating-lasting-peace","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The 23rd edition of the Doha Forum kicked off Saturday in the Qatari capital, with several heads of state and diplomats attending the international conference.\n\nThis year's theme, \"Justice in Action: Beyond Promises to Progress,\" is about moving discussions into action, a message reflected in Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani's opening remarks.\n\n\"Only just solutions can create lasting peace and prevent the perpetuation of conflict and division,\" Al Thani said opening the forum.\n\n\"The suffering of the Palestinian people under blatant violations of international law, and the tragedies unfolding in Sudan, including massacres and grave human rights abuses, all underscore that achieving justice and protecting rights are indispensable conditions for preserving the region's stability and preventing its disintegration,\" he added.\n\nAnother key topic this year focuses on the growing divide between the Global North and South. The Forum\u2019s Executive Director, Mubarak Ajlan Al-Kuwari, told Euronews that many of today\u2019s inequalities stem from systems built without everyone at the table.\n\nAmong those attending the two-day forum are Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and Spanish Foreign Minister Jos\u00e9 Manuel Albares.\n\nAnother prominent guest at the conference is Microsoft founder and Gates Foundation Chair, Bill Gates. In his speech, he emphasised the role of humans as natural problem-solvers, but noted that the right tools are required to effectively do so.\n\n\"This will be the generation that can solve childhood death. It can eradicate poverty, it can eradicate polio and it can bring down over 95% of diseases like malaria, HIV and AIDS,\" Gates said, \"We should not stop with the progress we\u2019ve made. Together, we can save the lives of millions of children and empower them, empower them to make great contributions\".\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The 23rd edition of the Doha Forum kicked off Saturday in the Qatari capital, with several heads of state and diplomats attending the international conference.<\/p>\n<p>This year's theme, \"Justice in Action: Beyond Promises to Progress,\" is about moving discussions into action, a message reflected in Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani's opening remarks. <\/p>\n<p>\"Only just solutions can create lasting peace and prevent the perpetuation of conflict and division,\" Al Thani said opening the forum. <\/p>\n<p>\"The suffering of the Palestinian people under blatant violations of international law, and the tragedies unfolding in Sudan, including massacres and grave human rights abuses, all underscore that achieving justice and protecting rights are indispensable conditions for preserving the region's stability and preventing its disintegration,\" he added.<\/p>\n<p>Another key topic this year focuses on the growing divide between the Global North and South. The Forum\u2019s Executive Director, Mubarak Ajlan Al-Kuwari, told Euronews that many of today\u2019s inequalities stem from systems built without everyone at the table. <\/p>\n<p>Among those attending the two-day forum are Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and Spanish Foreign Minister Jos\u00e9 Manuel Albares.<\/p>\n<p>Another prominent guest at the conference is Microsoft founder and Gates Foundation Chair, Bill Gates. In his speech, he emphasised the role of humans as natural problem-solvers, but noted that the right tools are required to effectively do so. <\/p>\n<p>\"This will be the generation that can solve childhood death. It can eradicate poverty, it can eradicate polio and it can bring down over 95% of diseases like malaria, HIV and AIDS,\" Gates said, \"We should not stop with the progress we\u2019ve made. Together, we can save the lives of millions of children and empower them, empower them to make great contributions\". <\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1765020269,"updatedAt":1765033514,"publishedAt":1765029773,"firstPublishedAt":1765029773,"lastPublishedAt":1765033513,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/39\/34\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_5d197aa9-b374-5e4a-9fd9-01c87ab82639-9573934.jpg","altText":"Doha Forum 2025","caption":"Doha Forum 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Doha Forum","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1617,"height":907}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":234,"slug":"qatar","urlSafeValue":"qatar","title":"Qatar","titleRaw":"Qatar"},{"id":3937,"slug":"doha","urlSafeValue":"doha","title":"Doha","titleRaw":"Doha"},{"id":22868,"slug":"conference","urlSafeValue":"conference","title":"conference","titleRaw":"conference"}],"widgets":[],"related":[{"id":2851211},{"id":2851119},{"id":2848427}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"D5zAhZYjhAU","dailymotionId":"x9v5khk"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/31\/03\/78\/01\/ED_PYR_3103781_20251206143230.mp4","editor":"","duration":87000,"filesizeBytes":15136564,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/31\/03\/78\/01\/SHD_PYR_3103781_20251206143230.mp4","editor":"","duration":87000,"filesizeBytes":21942762,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/31\/03\/78\/01\/FHD_PYR_3103781_20251206143229.mp4","editor":"","duration":87000,"filesizeBytes":69094248,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"VIDEO BY AADEL HALEEM","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":234,"urlSafeValue":"qatar","title":"Qatar","url":"\/news\/asia\/qatar"},"town":{"id":3937,"urlSafeValue":"doha","title":"Doha"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/12\/06\/doha-forum-2025-kicks-off-with-focus-on-global-challenges-and-creating-lasting-peace","lastModified":1765033513}]">

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