Society

The Public Works Authority in Qatar has implemented a pilot “cool pavement” project in the capital, Doha, which involves the use of a cryogenic material to reduce the temperature of the asphalt on roads.Unlike conventional asphalt, which contributes to increased temperatures by absorbing up to 95 percent of sunlight, the so-called “cool pavement” reflects UV rays and absorbs solar radiation to a lesser extent, thereby contributing to overall temperature reduction.

Initial operations of Doha Metro’s Red Line connecting 13 stations from al-Qassar to al-Wakrah get under way. Six years in the making, Qatar’s first-ever underground railway system has opened to the public, as the Gulf nation prepares to host the 2022 football World Cup.The Doha Metro Red Line started partial operations on Wednesday, running along the coast from al-Qassar district in the capital, Doha, to the southern city of al-Wakrah.

Comments were the first suggesting Qatar would no longer grant visas to people from Egypt amid the two-year blockade. Qatar will not grant visas to those it considers “enemies”, the secretary general of the National Tourism Council said in reference to Egyptians seeking to enter the country amid an ongoing political rift.

In order to keep up the vision of the Qatari Government to make Qatar a disease-free nation, all newcomers, by law, are required to take up a medical exam after their arrival in Qatar, the purpose of which, is to protect the health of the population in general, and prevent the spread of infectious diseases, if any, from the newcomers.

The Entry, Exit and Residence Law (Law No.21 of 2015) states that an employee can change his job with the approval of the government, either on expiry of their contract, or after five years of service with the employer, if the contract is of indefinite term or unlimited period. At present, there is no need to obtain an NOC from the previous employer for a former resident to take up a new job in Qatar.

A valid driving license is a legal requirement to drive in Qatar. The Traffic Department is the authorised authority for issuing driving licenses. Visitors can drive for a week (7 days from the date of their arrival in Qatar) using approved licenses from certain countries. To check the validity of your home country license, you can visit the Traffic Department at Madinat Khalifa.