ALL ARTICLES - Qatar

Western partners pull away from Dahra in wake of espionage scandal

Dahra Global's defence partners and the companies it distributes are trying to distance themselves from the Omani defence reseller. It has been accused of being used by Israeli intelligence to garner information on a top secret programme in Qatar, revealed at the time by Intelligence Online.

The Tech Times
EU's hybrid warfare centre, Campus Cyber, Social Links in Latin America, BAE Systems in Qatar

Brussels
EU picks Leonardo and Indra to develop European cyber situational awareness centre.

Paris
Big data analytics specialist Temno further opens France's Campus Cyber to intelligence.

New York/Mexico
OSINT specialist Social Links wants a share of Latin American market.

Doha
BAE Systems nudges way into US business networks in Qatar.

Spotlight
Quest, McLaren and 5 Stones lead the race in 'sport business' investigations boom

After having originally targeted doping and then corruption and sexual and moral abuse, the number of private investigations being carried out in the world of sport has exploded, partly due to the political importance sport has taken on in some countries.

Al Fardans lose counterclaim against Lebanon's Bank Audi

Close to Qatar's reigning Al Thani family and a key player in the country's economy, Fahad Hussain Al Fardan recently lost his bid to overturn a Qatari court's ruling against him in favour of Lebanon's Bank Audi.

Hardball player Bullpen Strategy Group to launch new front for Abu Dhabi in information war against Doha

Bullpen, a subcontractor for Akin Gump, is netting $32,500 monthly for its role as a footsoldier in the lobbying wars between the two long-feuding Gulf states.

Doha's diplomatic immunity upheld in Al-Nusra Front financing case

Allegations that Qatari banks and individual citizens linked to the reigning Al Thani family transferred funds to the Syrian branch of Al Qaeda will finally not be tested before Britain's Commercial Court. The accused parties were all found to have diplomatic immunity.

Tus Airways flights add towards normalisation of Qatari-Israeli relations

While Qatar has yet to enter the Abraham Accords, the FIFA World Cup has provided for an unprecedented Qatari-Israeli rapprochement, with Israeli fans in Doha for the event. Many have come on flights run by Tus Airways.

Spotlight
Former Indian cyber privateer Rajat Khare is helping Qatar keep the football World Cup safe

Entrepreneur Rajat Khare, who industrialised the practice of hacking for hire and now heads Luxembourg investment company Boundary Holding, keeps up close relations with Qatar. He has helped companies in his investment portfolio to win security contracts at this year's FIFA World Cup.

Qatar's French Mirage head for Jakarta

Initially considered for training missions in France, then promised to Bulgaria, 12 French Air Force Mirage will instead wing their way to Indonesia, whose government is trying to wean itself off Russian materiel.

Paris creates new ambassador role for sovereign wealth funds, eyes PIF, ADIA, QIA, ADQ

In a bid to attract more foreign capital to France, the government is creating a new ambassadorial position for sovereign wealth funds. The new role would establish a direct channel between Paris and SWFs, especially those from the Arab Gulf states such as PIF, ADIA, QIA and ADQ.

Qatar strengthens ties with the US as it tries to go sovereign in cyber

By teaming up with the American consulting firm JMH Group, the Qatari conglomerate Salam International is trying to take advantage of the rapprochement between the two countries to form new partnerships, particularly in cyber.

Muscat and Doha jostle for lead mediatory role in Iranian nuclear talks

Both capitals want to be the main mediator in the negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme and are now competing directly for the role. Both have called in their respective spy chiefs to work behind the scenes to cultivate their special relationships with the West and Iran.

Ba'ath Party lawyer fails to prosecute Qatar for financing Syrian opposition

Defending Christian Arabs, an association close to the Syrian and Iraqi Ba'ath communities, has not been able to prosecute the Emir of Qatar and former Qatari PM in London for allegedly financing the Syrian Free Army to destabilise Bashar Al Assad.

Gas-hungry Europeans watch as Qatar and China talk supplies

Qatar has become crucial as the West races to find a solution to wean itself off Russia gas amid its rivalry with China. While the emirate is happy to align its interests with US and European groups for now, Beijing has not said its last word.

Cyber policing experts jostle for Qatar World Cup security contract

Still in its first year of existence, the cyber branch of France's gendarmerie has already caught the eye of the Doha officials as they finalise their last security partnerships ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Friction between Rome and ENI in European race for non-Russian gas

Though he is still backing the national oil champion's bid for gas in Qatar, Italian prime minister Mario Draghi has taken steps to gain more independence from Russia, and from the oil and gas giant itself.