Qatar Roundup: U.S. security delegation visit, UAE envoy farewell, Rwanda investment push

High-level U.S. security delegation visits Qatar

The Security Committee of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy welcomed a high-level security delegation from U.S. federal agencies and local police authorities. Representatives from Qatar’s Tournament Security Force hosted the delegation, which included members from various security units responsible for major events. The visit followed HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani’s recent trip to the U.S., during which the Qatari Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Security Committee signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The agreement aims to enhance cooperation in securing large-scale sporting events, with a particular focus on preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Qatari Prime Minister bids farewell to UAE ambassador

Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani met with UAE Ambassador Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa bin Sultan bin Shakhboot Al-Nahyan to mark the end of the envoy’s tenure in Doha. The Prime Minister extended his best wishes for the ambassador’s future roles and expressed optimism for continued progress in Qatar–UAE relations, Daily Qatar News reports.

Rwanda eyes Qatari investment in sports sector

Rwanda is positioning itself as a new hub for Qatari investment in sports, building on existing ties in the financial sector. Ntoudi Mouyelo, promoting the upcoming SportsBiz Africa Forum 2025 in Kigali, highlighted the event’s goal of connecting global investors with “investment-ready” African sports projects. He encouraged Qatari investors to explore Rwanda’s modern infrastructure and success stories firsthand. The forum, scheduled for September 9-10, follows renewed agreements between the Kigali International Financial Centre and the Qatar Financial Centre.

Roblox becomes inaccessible in Qatar

Roblox, the popular online gaming and creation platform, is no longer accessible in Qatar amid growing child safety concerns. While still downloadable from app stores, the platform now displays a “No Network” error on launch, and its web version is unreachable. Nonprofit monitoring tool Ooni detected access anomalies starting August 13. No official government confirmation has been issued, but social media discussions show mixed reactions, with some parents welcoming the potential ban as a way to protect children from online risks.

Stroke awareness and medication gaps

A study published in the Qatar Medical Journal reveals moderate stroke awareness and low medication adherence among high-risk patients in Qatar. Only half of the participants correctly understood that a stroke results from a blocked blood supply to the brain, and fewer than a third could identify a transient ischemic attack. While most recognised high blood pressure and smoking as key risks, awareness of factors like diabetes and obesity was lower. Researchers urge targeted public health campaigns, noting that improved education could significantly reduce stroke-related deaths in the country.