Cabinet lauds HH the Amir’s address at Shura Council Ordinary Session

HE Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs, chaired the weekly Cabinet meeting this morning at the Amiri Diwan.

In a statement after the meeting, HE Ibrahim bin Ali Al Mohannadi, Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, said that the Cabinet deliberated on a range of critical issues spanning local, regional, and international importance, reviewed ongoing initiatives in this regard and reached appropriate decisions.

From the outset, the Cabinet praised HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani’s, Amir of the State of Qatar, address yesterday at the opening of the fourth ordinary session of the first legislative term, corresponding with the 53rd annual session of the Shura Council. They commended key topics spotlighted in the address, which formed a roadmap for the future, detailing the next phase while defining national development priorities and outcomes, in line with the Third National Development Strategy. HH the Amir’s address also emphasised the significance of developing expertise and competencies across all sectors; evaluating employees based on professionalism; efficiency and quality of work; strengthening workplace ethics and promoting a greater sense of responsibility for public affairs.

The Cabinet expressed its pride in HH the Amir’s decision to implement considerations and conclusions presented by the committee, established by the Cabinet based on the directives of HH the Amir, which was tasked with preparing the necessary draft constitutional and legislative amendments. This aimed to promote national unity, social responsibility, justice and equality among citizens, as well as to protect public freedoms under the rule of law. In this regard, HH the Amir emphasised the critical nature of collaboration between the legislative and executive branches, as stipulated in the Constitution, to fulfil the supreme interest of the State guided by wise leadership.

The Cabinet also praised HH the Amir’s support of joint Gulf action, in which he reaffirmed the nation’s efforts in this regard in its capacity as president of the current Gulf Cooperation Council session. It also hailed his note on the State of Qatar’s commitment to a foreign policy rooted in fundamental foundations and stable principles, that achieve the State’s goals and interests, reflects Islamic-Arab-Gulf affiliations, as well as fulfils international obligations and partnerships that address global challenges for the good of mankind.

The Cabinet also praised HH the Amir for reaffirming the State of Qatar’s unwavering stance on the Palestinian cause, in which he said that the nation will exhaust every effort to reach an agreement, to end the war, stop the bloodshed of Palestinians, enable access aid and to release prisoners and detainees, as a prelude to a political path towards a just solution. Similarly, the Cabinet lauded HH the Amir for reiterating the State of Qatar’s condemnation of airstrikes and military operations carried out by the Israeli occupation forces against the Republic of Lebanon.

The Cabinet adopted the directives outlined in the address as the government’s operational framework for the upcoming phase, mandating its immediate implementation and integration.

From there, the Cabinet approved a draft law on the state general budget for 2025 and referred it to the Shura Council.

The Cabinet, in principle, also approved a draft law on attracting foreign investment and increasing its contributions to the national economy. This draft law aims to attract and stimulate economic activity, as well as facilitate and streamline foreign investment procedures, in line with the Third National Development Strategy.

The Cabinet also approved a draft decision from the Minister of Municipality on determining places in which it is forbidden to park some vehicles, inside or outside parking lots, within the geographical boundaries of every municipality. Designed to prevent visual blight and environmental pollution caused by parked trucks and machinery in urban and residential areas, the draft law seeks to eliminate haphazard truck parking in squares and vacant lots, thereby enhancing the quality of life in cities and neighbourhoods and reducing congestion in main roads; noting that alternatives should be provided in coordination with relevant entities.

The Cabinet went on to review a study prepared by the Permanent Population Committee on people with Autism, evaluated its recommendations and made the appropriate decision based on their findings.

Concluding the session, the Cabinet approved the National Archives of Qatar’s initiation into several international organisations and centres, as well as a draft letter of intent between the State of Qatar’s Ministry of Interior and the Federal Republic of Germany’s Ministry of Interior for security cooperation in training and experience exchange. In addition, the Cabinet approved two draft executive sports and youth programs for 2025-2027, as part of a Memorandum of Understanding between the State of Qatar’s Ministry of Sports and Youth and the Sultanate of Oman’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, and a draft executive program for youth between the State of Qatar and the Republic of the Philippines for 2024-2025.