Doha: Executive Director of the Permanent Committee for Organising Conferences (PCOC) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs H E Mubarak bin Ajlan Al Kuwari affirmed that the State of Qatar has solidified its position as a global capital for major conferences and events, leveraging its accumulated expertise and experience in hosting and organisation to effectively contribute to the achievement of the desired goals.
In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the sidelines of the fifth edition of Qatar Economic Forum which opened Tuesday, His Excellency said that Qatar’s hosting of the Forum reflects the high level of trust it has earned in organizing major conferences and events at all levels.
He noted that Bloomberg is an international partner in organising the Forum, which aligns with one of the core goals of the Permanent Committee for Organising Conferences at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is to attract global partners who wish to organise events in the State.
Al Kuwari emphasised the committee’s commitment to continuously enhancing and developing its operational mechanisms in response to the growing number of events hosted by the State. He highlighted key improvements made since the country hosted the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Among the most notable developments is the adoption of event registration through “Hayya” Portal. All international participants now register through this portal, enabling them to obtain both their entry visa and event access permit with just a single registration, he added.
PCOC Executive Director explained that registration via Hayya Portal is part of the organizational legacy of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, noting that this experience has been leveraged to enhance operational mechanisms and the participant entry process into the country.
The same system is being applied for the participants at Qatar Economic Forum, as registration is conducted through a link on Hayya Portal, which has streamlined the process of issuing visas and entry permit, thereby enhancing the overall experience for media representatives and other attendees from around the world, he said.
He added that a special permit called “Hayya Conferences” has been agreed upon with Hayya Portal, dedicated to events organized by the Permanent Committee for Organizing Conferences in cooperation with global partners who wish to organize conferences in the State of Qatar or those organized by the committee.
The Executive Director of the Permanent Committee for Organising Conferences at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the committee organizes more than 30 conferences annually, noting that 2024 was exceptional, with Doha hosting over 80 events, including GCC conferences and meetings during Qatar’s presidency of the 44th session of the council. He also anticipates that Doha will host more global conferences in the coming years.
Al Kuwari highlighted the enriching cultural and tourism experience for the State of Qatar’s conference and event participants, offering them the opportunity to explore Qatar’s culture, heritage, and landmarks.
He said that Qatar’s exceptional tourism assets and advanced infrastructure contribute to attracting visitors and participants to conferences and events.
These include hotels, resorts, parks, and others, that are accessible to everyone at competitive prices, as well as Hamad International Airport and Qatar Airways, which operates flights to over 170 destinations.
He added that these factors collectively position Qatar as a key hub for hosting and organizing major conferences and events. He also noted that there is close cooperation with global partners and institutions to host conferences, ensuring mutual participation and attracting major conferences to Qatar.
The Executive Director of the Permanent Committee for Organizing Conferences mentioned the committee’s collaboration with various entities in the tourism and cultural sectors, including Qatar Museums, Qatar Tourism, Qatar Airways, and Visit Qatar.
Close cooperation is maintained with these entities and others in every event the committee organized or participated in, including Qatar Economic Forum, he said, pointing out that the committee aims to encourage participants to explore the cultural and tourism aspects of Qatar, as the country boasts a rich culture and world-class tourism assets, which enrich the experience of guests and inspire them to return and enjoy its abundant heritage, as has been observed in previous years.
The Permanent Committee for Organising Conferences at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is an integral part of this civilisational approach, contributing to the strengthening of dialogue platforms through its role in organizing regional and international conferences, events, and meetings, he said.
He also touched upon some of the major conferences scheduled to be hosted in Doha this year, including the Mobile World Congress (MWC) for the next five years, the Second World Summit for Social Development in collaboration with the United Nations, and the Doha Forum, as well as various sports, cultural, and artistic events, expecting significant attendance at these international conferences and events.
