Qatar Cabinet condemns renewed Iranian attacks on neighbouring countries; approves draft law on cloud computing

On Wednesday, Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister chaired a Cabinet meeting at the Amiri Diwan. The meeting saw the State of Qatar reaffirm its condemnation of Iran's attacks on neighboring countries, namely Jordan, the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait. These attacks were deemed a clear violation of sovereignty, territorial integrity, international law, and principles of good neighborliness.

The Cabinet expressed solidarity with the targeted countries and pledged support for their efforts to maintain sovereignty and security. It also emphasized the need for an immediate cessation of military actions and attacks endangering regional stability, avoiding actions that could escalate tensions. The body called for a return to dialogue and negotiations, adhering to diplomatic understandings.

Subsequently, the Cabinet reviewed its agenda and approved a draft law on cloud computing. The legislation, crafted by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, aims to create a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital data storage, disclosure, protection, and lawful access. It seeks to balance law enforcement requirements and individuals' privacy while promoting digital transformation and enhancing the State's appeal for investment in data centers and cloud services.

Additionally, the Cabinet endorsed a draft law on competition regulation, prepared by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The proposed legislation seeks to modernize the regulatory framework for economic activity, replacing Law No. 19 of 2006. It aims to protect free and fair competition, combat monopolistic practices, and curb practices harming competition, in line with international standards and the Third National Development Strategy (2024-2030).

The draft law includes provisions on the Competition Regulation Committee, prohibited agreements, abuse of dominance, exemption applications, and appeals.