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Doha, Qatar: The Zakat Affairs Department at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has officially announced the mechanism for calculating Zakat Al-Fitr for the current year, setting the value at QR15 per person. Head of the Zakat Services Department Ahmed Jaber Al-Jarboui (pictured) explained that this figure is determined based on the Prophetic Sa’a, which equals approximately 2.5kg of the community’s most common staple food. To ensure accuracy and fairness, the Department conducts a thorough study of the local market, utilising the average price of rice as the primary benchmark for the final monetary valuation. Read Also MoI issues precautionary evacuation guidelines for workplaces Qatar Foundation student promotes culture of giving through home initiative Awqaf Ministry sets Zakat Al-Fitr at QR15 per person This standardised methodology is rooted in Sharia principles and aims to balance the economic reality of the local market with the religious requirement of providing for those in need. Al-Jarboui emphasised that Zakat Al-Fitr is an obligatory act of worship for every capable Muslim, covering themselves and their dependents, including spouses and children. The primary purpose of this mandate is twofold: it serves as a purification for the fasting person from any shortcomings during Ramadan and ensures that the poor and needy are supported so they may celebrate Eid al-Fitr without the burden of financial want. The Zakat Affairs Department encourages the public to fulfil this obligation early to ensure that funds are distributed to eligible recipients well before the Eid prayer. To facilitate this process, the Department has established multiple convenient channels for payment, including its official website, a dedicated smart application, and various collection points located in malls and markets across the country. By utilising these official government channels, donors can be confident that their contributions are being managed through a transparent, institutional framework that prioritises the most vulnerable families in society. The Department views Zakat Al-Fitr as a vital expression of social solidarity. By announcing the rate early and providing digital tools for payment, the Ministry seeks to streamline the fulfilment of this religious duty while upholding the dignity of the recipients. Al-Jarboui urged citizens and residents to adhere to the designated timeframe, noting that early contributions through the Department’s systems allow for a more equitable and organized distribution process, ensuring the joy of Eid reaches every household.

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Doha: President of Pre-University Education at Qatar Foundation (QF) Abeer Al Khalifa has affirmed that students’ health and well-being is an utmost priority, especially under circumstances that may cause anxiety and stress. Al Khalifa explained to Qatar News Agency (QNA) that QF schools offer clear channels for psychological support as well as counseling services and professional protection programmes, whether in terms of in-person or remote learning. She stressed that students with disabilities receive special attention to ensure overall care and education. QF schools continued to have remote learning in place despite the current regional situation in a stable and organised manner, with a sharp focus on reading, writing, arithmetic skills, and core learning outcomes, particularly for students in the early stages and those preparing for examinations, emphasising that the enforced measures helped protect fundamental educational fields and overcome prolonged disruption, Al Khalifa highlighted. She underlined that the accumulated experience from recent years, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, redounded to bolstering the ability for rapid and seamless transition to remote learning, noting that the Foundation’s schools demonstrated high readiness and effective coordination among leadership teams to ensure the availability of digital platforms and necessary support systems. The QF educational approach is laser-focused on the fact that every single student is an independent individual with his or her special needs, something that is enforced in remote learning through providing content that observes various kinds of age groups, in addition to approving regular study schedules and parallel activities that ensure constant interaction between teacher and student, along with persistent services of psychological guidance and behavioural support. Students are indeed monitored daily in a precise manner by laying out limited attendance requirements and accomplishing study tasks that ensure effective engagement, Al Khalifa pointed out, asserting that immediate intervention mechanisms are in place should any deceleration in student interaction levels be observed. Al Khalifa elaborated that parents have a substantial role as the core pillar in any school community, as long as they are at the pinnacle of components that contribute to educating students and undertake a fundamental role in mitigating anxiety and supporting the daily activities of their sons and daughters, transforming the home atmosphere into a vital element that backs remote learning success. Al Khalifa finished by underscoring that the efficiency of the persistent educational process in QF schools has been materializing since the start of enforcing the remote learning system. She emphasised that this system creates an opportunity for upgrading innovative solutions that ensure smoother education sustainability in contingency cases.

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Doha, Qatar:The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has urged employers and employees across Qatar to strictly follow precautionary evacuation guidelines in workplaces, emphasising that adherence to these protocols saves lives and strengthens overall public safety. In a series of public notices shared on its official X account (@MOI_QatarEn), the ministry highlighted the critical importance of workplace safety instructions, particularly identifying emergency exits and evacuation routes. The campaign, launched yesterday, promotes a proactive safety culture that protects workers, visitors and the wider community from potential risks. The centrepiece of the initiative is the newly detailed “Precautionary Evacuation Guidelines Manual at Workplace during the Emergency and Exceptional Situations.” Released through infographic posters and accompanied by explanatory visuals, the manual provides clear, step-by-step instructions tailored to Qatar’s diverse work environments, from high-rise offices and commercial complexes to industrial sites. Before any emergency occurs, the guidelines stress preparation. Employees are advised to familiarise themselves in advance with emergency exits and evacuation routes, know the designated assembly point outside the building, ensure corridors remain free of obstacles, locate safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, and fully adhere to establishment safety instructions. When an evacuation alert is issued, whether through the National Emergency Alert System or designated safety officials, workers must immediately stop work, remain calm, leave the location using designated routes, avoid delaying evacuation to collect personal belongings, and assist colleagues, visitors, elderly individuals and people with disabilities. During the actual evacuation process, the manual instructs individuals to proceed directly to the nearest emergency exit following directional signs, use stairs and never elevators, move calmly without running or pushing, stay low in case of smoke, and continue following instructions from safety officers. Upon reaching the assembly point, personnel should proceed directly to the designated area, remain there until the headcount is completed, inform officials if anyone is still inside the building, and refrain from returning until authorities officially declare the danger has passed. In cases where leaving the site is impossible due to transportation issues, the manual states that the site’s security and safety personnel must be notified to arrange appropriate measures. The guidelines also address scenarios where full evacuation is not possible or when immediate danger arises mid-process. In such situations, individuals should move to the nearest safe location inside the building, close doors to reduce hazards, contact relevant authorities, stay away from glass facades, and await instructions from emergency teams. The manual explicitly reminds everyone: “Follow the instructions issued by the competent authorities or safety officers until guidance is given to resume evacuation or the danger is declared over.” The ministry’s notice further reinforced that identifying emergency exits and routes fosters a proactive safety culture. “Adhering to precautionary evacuation guidelines in workplaces helps protect lives and enhances public safety,” it stated, using the hashtag #MOIQatar. The campaign comes amid Qatar’s continued urban development and expanding workforce, where high-rise buildings and large-scale projects require robust emergency preparedness. By disseminating these detailed visual guides via social media and linking to www.moi.gov.qa, the MoI aims to embed safety awareness into everyday workplace routines. Officials encouraged all establishments to integrate the manual into staff training programmes and display the infographics prominently. For further details, the public is directed to the ministry’s website and social media channels. The initiative underscores Qatar’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of occupational safety, ensuring that every workplace becomes a safer environment through preparedness, calm response and collective responsibility.