
Qatar participates in Arab European Cities Dialogue Forum in Riyadh
RIYADH: Represented by the Ministry of Municipality, the State of Qatar participated in the Arab European Cities Dialogue Forum, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from May 11-13, under the theme 'City Partnerships for a Better Future'.
The Ministry of Municipality delegation was headed by Assistant Undersecretary for Urban Planning Affairs Eng Turki Fahd Al Turki.
The Assistant Undersecretary participated in a roundtable meeting on 'City Partnerships', where he discussed key achievements of municipalities in the State of Qatar, highlighted efforts to develop municipal work, and exchanged expertise with participating delegations.
The forum is a strategic platform for promoting city diplomacy and expanding cooperation between Arab and European cities toward more sustainable and inclusive urban development. More than 100 mayors and municipal leaders from various Arab and European cities are participating, along with a number of international entities, including urban organizations, municipal unions, funds, and donor institutions specializing in supporting development projects.
Through its sessions and panels, the forum addressed the key challenges facing cities, such as infrastructure, the quality of municipal services, digital transformation, sustainable financing, climate change, and multi-level cooperation between cities and stakeholders in the urban landscape. The forum is organized by the Riyadh Municipality, in partnership with the Arab Urban Development Institute, the PLATFORMA - a platform of the Association of European Municipalities and Regions, and the International Cooperation Agency of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Qatar Tribune
18 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar to host 2026 Nobel Sustainability Trust Awards event
QNA Doha The Nobel Sustainability Trust (NST) has officially announced the selection of Doha as the host city for the 2026 Nobel Sustainability Awards Ceremony. This prestigious choice reflects the growing international recognition of Qatar's leading role in advancing sustainable development, promoting smart and sustainable economies, and driving innovative urban solutions. The announcement was made during a high-level event recently held in Miami, USA, where Qatar was also confirmed as the official sponsor of the 2025 awards ceremony scheduled to take place this December. During the event, NST President Peter Nobel received an official letter from Minister of Municipality HE Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiyah, confirming Qatar's hosting of the 2026 global event. In his remarks at the ceremony, Peter Nobel said: 'From the shores of Miami to the smart cities of Qatar, the global need for comprehensive, innovation-driven sustainability solutions is evident. Hosting the awards across multiple continents reflects our commitment to advancing sustainable development and smart governance worldwide.' In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Municipality indicated that Qatar's hosting of this prestigious event underscores the country's genuine commitment to embedding comprehensive sustainability principles on the global stage. It further affirms Qatar's distinguished standing in the field, particularly in light of the ongoing programmes and initiatives spearheaded by the Ministry of Municipality under the Third National Development Strategy (2024–2030), which prioritises the development of smart cities, adoption of digital infrastructure, and the optimization of resource efficiency. The 2025 awards ceremony is set to take place on December 4 at the historic Vizcaya Museum and Gardens in Miami, with the participation of prominent global figures from the fields of sustainability, technology, and economics. The event will honour distinguished international leaders across three categories: Leadership in Implementation, Smart and Sustainable City Solutions, and Innovation-Driven Economic Diversification. The NST was established by members of the Nobel family as an independent organization, with no administrative affiliation to the original Nobel Foundation. NST aims to promote global sustainable development by honoring groundbreaking innovations and impactful initiatives, encouraging collaborative research, and supporting international dialogue on sustainable energy, smart cities, circular economy, and good governance. The NST Awards are granted annually in three main categories. The selection process is conducted through rigorous evaluation by two independent international committees, under academic supervision from the Institute for Advanced Studies at the Technical University of Munich.


Qatar Tribune
18 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
Ukraine allies pledge continued support
dpa Brussels Defence ministers from the Ukraine Defence Contact Group pledged further support for Ukraine on Wednesday despite the absence of US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth from the meeting. The talks, once led by the United States, are chaired by German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and UK Defence Secretary John Healey and aim to coordinate and raise further military support for Kiev. The format, also dubbed the Ramstein Group, comprises around 50 countries and was initiated by former US secretary of defense Lloyd Austin to help Ukraine defend itself from a full-scale Russian attack. Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans announced a new support package for maritime security worth €400 million ($457 million). The package will include over 100 vessels, like patrol boats, transport boats, interceptors, special operations craft, over 50 sea drones, weapon systems, reserve parts and training, Brekelmans said. Ukraine's European allies are under increased pressure to step up aid after Washington suspended US military aid to Kiev and put its commitment to safeguarding Europe into question. Hegseth did not attend the meeting, after Washington had previously made clear that it no longer wants to lead the pledging meetings. Pistorius said that so far there was no indication that Washington's decision to suspend military aid to Ukraine was final.


Qatar Tribune
18 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
Cabinet okays MoI's pacts with FBI, US Homeland Security
QNA Doha The Cabinet has approved a draft memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Interior (MoI) of the State of Qatar and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States of America regarding security cooperation. The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani on Wednesday, also approveda draft memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Interior of the State of Qatar and the Department of Homeland Security in the United States of America regarding the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It also gave the nod to a draft memorandum of understanding in the field of law enforcement between the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) in the State of Qatar and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation. At the outset of the meeting, the Cabinet extended sincere greetings to His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the occasion of Eid Al Adha, asking Allah Almighty to return this blessed occasion for His Highness with the best of health and wellness, and for the State of Qatar and its people further development and prosperity under the wise leadership of HH the Amir, as well as the Arab and Islamic nations with goodness and blessings. The Cabinet reviewed the topics on its agenda, noting the Shura Council's approval of a draft law extending the concession granted to Mowasalat (Karwa), a Qatari joint stock company, to manage and operate taxis. The Cabinet also approved a draft agreement on mutual administrative assistance for the optimal application of customs law and for the suppression, investigation and combating of customs violations between the governments of the State of Qatar and the Republic of Tunisia. The Cabinet approved a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in legal fields between the Ministry of Justice in the State of Qatar and the Ministry of Justice in the Republic of Albania, a draft memorandum of understanding on joint cooperation between the Public Prosecution in the State of Qatar and the Public Prosecution in the Arab Republic of Egypt, and a draft memorandum of understanding in the field of cultural heritage preservation between the Qatar Museums in the State of Qatar and the Hong Kong Palace Museum in Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.