PM Modi Speaks With Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Wishes Qatar Success In Hosting World Cup

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar. Both leaders agreed to commemorate the 50th anniversary of India-Qatar diplomatic relations in 2023.

PM Narendra Modi And Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar

Source : Twitter/@narendramodi/TamimBinHamad

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke with Qatar's Amir, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Both leaders agreed to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Qatar in 2023. PM Modi also wished him and Qatar success as they prepare to host the FIFA World Cup. The 29-day football tournament will be the first large-scale international athletic event with a large audience since the Covid outbreak began in December 2019.

HH Amir extended Diwali greetings, for which PM Modi thanked him.

"Was happy to speak with HH Amir @TamimBinHamad of Qatar. Thanked him for his gracious Diwali greetings, and conveyed best wishes for a successful @FIFAWorldCup in Qatar. We agreed to jointly celebrate 50 yrs of India-Qatar diplomatic relations in 2023," PM Modi tweeted. 

Was happy to speak with HH Amir @TamimBinHamad of Qatar. Thanked him for his gracious Diwali greetings, and conveyed best wishes for a successful @FIFAWorldCup in Qatar. We agreed to jointly celebrate 50 yrs of India-Qatar diplomatic relations in 2023.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 29, 2022

The necessity for travellers to receive a negative Covid-19 test report upon arrival in Qatar is set to be phased down beginning in November, according to the health ministry on Wednesday. The decision comes a month before the FIFA World Cup, which begins on November 20, according to news agency AFP.

"Visitors are no longer needed to produce a negative Covid-19 PCR or Rapid Antigen Test result prior to travelling to Qatar," the health ministry said in a statement. The change will take effect on November 1.

Notably, the new rules apply to all visitors arriving after November 1, when Qatar will be closed to anybody who does not have a Hayya card, which is required for all ticket holders and their guests, players, media, staff, and officials.