Qatar Quick Weekend Edition Friday July 16th 2021

FESCH.TV INFORMIERT:

A recap of Qatar’s news over the past week.

Last Saturday it was announced that there is no longer a requirement for hotel quarantine for children aged below 18. Unvaccinated children aged below 18 whether returning from travel alone, or with their parents must remain in home quarantine for seven days upon arrival, provided that both parents are vaccinated.

And an exceptional entry permit is no longer required for those outside of Qatar for less than six months. As part of the gradual lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, exceptional entry permits will not be required for residents and visitors with work visas from last Monday. If residents meet the conditions for entering the country, that is, that they have valid residence permits and their stay outside of Qatar is less than six months, they can enter without an exceptional permit.

On to on Tuesday when it was announced that all travellers to Qatar must pre-register via the new arrival’s registration platform. “The platform which was launched recently is intended for all returnees to Qatar, whether citizens, residents, or even visitors. Everyone must fill in the required information.” Dr. Yousef Al Maslamani, Medical Director of Hamad General Hospital, told Qatar TV. It is mandatory for all travellers to register through the platform regardless of whether they are arriving via the air, land, or sea border.

And the Peninsula said that the world parachuting championships are expected to host teams from over 40 countries. The 44th World Parachuting Championship already has 21 countries confirmed. The competition is scheduled to be held this coming November right here in Qatar.

On to Wednesday and the Qatar Tribune printed that pre-registration on Ehteraz, has been made optional for citizens and residents. The Ministry of Public Health announced that pre-registration on the Ehteraz platform before arriving in Qatar is not mandatory, but optional for citizens and residents. However, visitors are still required to pre-register and obtain approval before travel the ministry added. This overrides the previous announcement stating that pre-registration was a must for all.

Also on Wednesday the International Civil Aviation Organisation or ICAO, okayed in principal, Qatar’s proposal to set up a Doha Flight Information Region or FIR. The proposal of Qatar includes its intention to withdraw from the current arrangement whereby it has delegated to Bahrain the provision of air navigation services over its sovereign territory. The proposal of Qatar aims to support the development of safe and sustainable air transport operations in the region and reinforces Qatar’s commitment to the global aviation sector. The ICAO acknowledged that Qatar possesses the capabilities and qualifications necessary to manage air traffic safely, effectively, and provide leading services in the field of search and rescue.

Yesterday the cabinet agreed to consider holiday homes as hotel establishments. Under the project holiday homes are considered hotel establishments in accordance with the provisions of law number 20 of 2018, regarding tourism regulation and its provisions. Holiday homes means furnished housing units prepared for residents, and provided with utilities, whether they are rooms, apartments, houses, villas or camps. They are rented as a complete or divided unit on a daily or weekly basis, or any temporary period not exceeding 30 consecutive days.

Also on the front page of the Qatar Tribune was the news that Eid holidays for ministries, government entities and public institutions will start on Sunday July 18th and will end on Sunday July 25th.

On to today’s news, and on the front page of all three English medium newspapers, is that the 6th Local Fresh Dates Festival kicked off yesterday in Souq Waqif. The event will continue until July 30th and will be open daily from 4pm until 10pm. The 3,600 square metre festival tent can host 720 people at the same time.

Now for the COVID update. Brought to you by Alwadi Hotel Doha.

This week there were 525 new local cases of COVID 19 reported, and 355 cases arriving into the country, giving us a total of 880 new cases in the last seven days. There were 901 recoveries and unfortunately one COVID related death, which means there are 22 active cases less than last week, giving us a new total of 1,507 active cases

Treat yourself and the ones you love to a memorable staycation next week, at the Alwadi Hotel Doha, MGallery. With special Eid packages starting from just 650 riyals per night for a superior king room. Including breakfast for two, a 150 riyal food and beverage voucher, and a 100 riyal spa voucher. And if you want to make this Eid extra memorable, why not splash out on the Souq Suit, which can be yours for just one thousand five hundred riyals per night with all the same benefits.

Msheireb Down Town and Souq Waqif are right outside your door, at the Alwadi Hotel Doha. Wake up and you’re already there.