News | Ministry of Transport

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Qatar Voluntarily Contributes $1 Million to ICAO’s “ No Country Left Behind” Campaign

Montreal- CanadaHE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti has announced a $1-million contribution by the State of Qatar to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)’s “ No Country Left Behind” Campaign (NCLB).The NCLB campaign highlights ICAO’s efforts to assist States in implementing the Organization’s Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs). The main goal of this work is to help ensure that SARPs implementation is better harmonized globally so that all States have access to the significant socio-economic benefits of safe and reliable air transport. Priority fields are air navigation safety and security.This came during a reception and dinner event Qatar organized under the patronage of HE the Minister, who was also in attendance, to mark the inauguration of Qatar’s Permanent Office at ICAO in Montreal, Canada.Senior officials representing the civil aviation industry attended the event, led by President of the ICAO Council Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, representatives of all Member States and some officials from the Government of Canada.Qatar’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Chairman HE Mr. Abdulla bin Nasser Turki Al Subaey, Ambassador to Canada HE Mr. Fahad Mohammed Yousif Kafood, Qatar Aeronautical College Director General HE Sheikh Jabor bin Hamad Al-Thani and the Director of International Organizations Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Yousef bin Sultan Yousef Laram, were in attendance. The event was also attended by a number of officials from the Ministry of Transport and Communications and CAA.Qatar ranked among the world’s top countries in civil aviation safety, according to ICAO’s safety audit reports released in 2017, scoring 99.10% in implementing the guidelines of Annex 17 on Safeguarding International Civil Aviation Against Acts of Unlawful Interference. Annex 17 is the most important benchmark in terms of civil aviation safety.This reflects the great advances Qatar has achieved in the field of aviation and airport security, thus boosting its ranking amongst world countries.In addition, it was announced at the event that Qatar will host the fifth ICAO Global Aviation Training & Trainair Plus Symposium, this December, which is one of the largest training conferences in the field of aviation, which expects over 500 participants from around the world.

Monday, April 30, 2018

Minister Inaugurates Qatar’s ICAO Permanent Office

Montreal – CanadaHE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti today inaugurated the State of Qatar’s Permanent Office at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), in Montreal, Canada.President of the ICAO Council Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, ICAO Secretary-General Dr. Fang Liu and representatives of a number of ICAO Member States and some officials representing the Government of Canada participated in the inauguration event.Qatar’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Chairman HE Mr. Abdulla bin Nasser Turki Al Subaey, Ambassador to Canada HE Mr. Fahad Mohammed Yousif Kafood, Qatar Aeronautical College Director General HE Sheikh Jabor bin Hamad Al-Thani and the Director of International Organizations Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Yousef bin Sultan Yousef Laram, were in attendance.“The State of Qatar welcomes the inauguration of its Permanent Office at ICAO, which emphasizes Qatar’s deep-rooted and continuing cooperation with all international and regional organizations and which is consistent with Qatar’s foreign policy and role as an active partner in the international community,” said HE the Minister in remarks on the occasion.Mr. Al Subaey underlined the qualitative addition of Qatar’s ICAO Permanent Office to the civil aviation industry in Qatar through its permanent and effective participation in all ICAO events and initiatives, and also its role in boosting cooperation and the exchange of expertise with all member states that have Montreal-based delegates.He said Qatar’s ICAO Permanent Office, “will have an impressive array of civil aviation experts and will work on conducting regular training courses for Qatari personnel who work in the field in Qatar.”Qatar’s decision to create a permanent office at ICAO came in July 2017 and it named Mr. Essa Abdullah Al Maliki as its ICAO Permanent Representative.

Sunday, April 29, 2018

Port of Suakin Receives Tugboats, Container Cranes from Mwani Qatar

Red Sea State – Sudan The Sudanese Port of Suakin has received a number of container cranes and tugboats from the Qatar Ports Management Company (Mwani Qatar) in implementation of the first phase of the MoU the company had signed with the Port of Port Sudan for developing the Port of Suakin with a view to making it a key seaport for cargo transportation. On this occasion, Qatar’s Ambassador to Sudan HE Mr. Rashid bin Abdul Rahman Al Nuiami emphasized the strength of Qatari-Sudanese relations for which the foundations were laid down by HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and HE the Sudanese President Omer Hassan al-Bashir. He said the cranes and tugboats are part of the capital allocated for developing the Port of Suakin. “The Port of Suakin,” he added, “has comparative advantages. It supports exportation significantly, especially the economies of the African region.” He also stressed its importance and vital, strategic location, its connection to the Silk Road and uniqueness for being a very important meeting point for exportation, particularly for neighboring countries, which makes it a value added to the economies.

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

MOTC Launches Green Computer Club Initiative

Doha – QatarThe Ministry of Transport and Communications today launched a new initiative, the Green Computer Club, in association with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE) and Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME).The initiative is part of the wider MOTC’s Better Connections Program, which enables employers to provide free information and communication technology tools and Internet access to migrant workers in their accommodation places to integrate them into the digital community, keep them connected with their friends and families and sharpen their digital skills. It also increases workers’ awareness of their rights and responsibilities. It is a joint initiative between MOTC and the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs (MADLSA). Today’s new initiative aims to set up Green Computer Clubs at secondary schools across Qatar to contribute to the process of refurbishing the computers donated from several entities. After being updated and refurbished, computers are delivered and installed at ICT facilities at workers’ accommodation units countywide.“The Green Computer Clubs initiative creates several educational and environmental benefits. It provides students with hands-on educational experience based on studying problems and resolving them. It encourages students to solve problems within a student-centric educational environment, thus sharpening their critical thinking and teamwork skills,” said MOTC’s Assistant Undersecretary for Digital Society Development Affairs Ms. Reem Al-Mansoori.“The initiative also promotes the use of eco-friendly ICTs, thus inculcating in students the concepts of electronic waste management, recycling and green technology,” she added.“A great part of the initiative,” she said, “is that students actually dedicate their efforts and time to support worthy social causes, given the fact that the computers that they refurbish later go to ICT facilities where workers live.”The initiative is a collaborative effort. MEHE is responsible for setting up Green Computer Clubs at secondary schools, registering students and giving them the space to gain real hands-on experience in terms of resolving donated computers’ problems and making them ready for reuse. This also increases their awareness of social responsibility. MME helps in electronic waste processing and recycling, thus raising students’ awareness of e-waste management, recycling and green technology.

Monday, April 23, 2018

MOTC Minister meets his Iraqi counterpart

Doha – Qatar HE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti met here today with the Iraqi Transport Minister HE Kadhim Finjan al Hammami.The two officials discussed cooperation in the fields of transport and communications and means of further enhancing them, and also tackled a number of other matters of common interest between the two countries.The meeting also witnessed the announcement of opening a new shipping line to Umm Qasr Port, Iraq, with the first ship set to arrive early May.The meeting was attended by the Iraqi Chargé d'affaires and a number of officials from the two countries.

Sunday, April 22, 2018

Qatar Condemns UAE's Accusation of Threatening Air Safety and Security

Doha, -Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) condemned the statement by the UAE Civil Aviation Authority, accusing the State of Qatar of threatening air safety and security. The QCAA reiterated that Qatar is committed to the highest quality standards in maintaining civil aviation safety and security. In a statement, the QCAA said the United Arab Emirates has unfortunately been manipulating the facts to inflame and mislead the international community. The latest statement is proof of this, it said, adding the reality is that the Qatari military aircraft was flying towards the north-east of Qatar on a mission known to the navigation services provider in the Kingdom of Bahrain following the entry of a UAE military aircraft to Qatari waters without the prior permission of the State of Qatar and in the itinerary close to the route of the UAE civil aircraft referred to in the statement of the UAE Civil Aviation Authority. The statement said that this is not the first time that the UAE deliberately send military aircraft to pass through the airspace in conjunction with the passage of UAE civil aircraft without permission from the relevant authorities in the State of Qatar, despite repeated calls to the provider of navigation services in Bahrain to coordinate in this regard, which is an irresponsible act by the UAE and Bahrain. The QCAA considered that the succession of fabricated complaints issued by the UAE Civil Aviation Authority accompanied by media momentum are unsuccessful attempts to divert attention away from numerous military aircraft violations of Qatar airspace since the beginning of the crisis in June 2017, and to interfere with the complaints file of Qatar in ICAO organization, which will be decided in the next two months. It pointed out that the continued lack of professionalism, non-response and bias by the air navigation service provider in the Kingdom of Bahrain - at a time when neutrality is supposed to be honored since it is responsible for managing the navigation in this region - is a cause for concern and condemnation, especially as it is related to the application of international standards aimed at the security and safety of civilians. The QCAA stressed that the UAE and the Kingdom of Bahrain should deal with the aviation sector professionally, seriously and responsibly away from politicization. The Qatar Civil Aviation Authority appealed to the concerned authorities in both countries to refrain from political and media disputes and to put professionalism above all other considerations.