Government entities and private bodies in Qatar have taken precautionary measures as Iran launched a series of retaliatory strikes against U.S. targets in the Gulf.
Several government entities, ministries and private bodies in Qatar have announced safety and precaution measures to safeguard citizens, residents and visitors in the Gulf state following Iranian strikes in the country.
Since the U.S.-Israeli bombing of Iran began on Saturday morning, Tehran has launched a series of retaliatory strikes against U.S. targets in the Gulf.
Footage circulated on social media showing white smoke in Doha’s skies as the missiles were intercepted.
Residents and citizens of Qatar received several alerts on Saturday from the country’s National Emergency Alert System.
Population protection and precautions
Qatar’s Ministry of Interior urged citizens, residents, and visitors to stay home and only go out for essential reasons until the threat has passed.
Qatar Ministry of Commerce and Industry affirmed that goods and products are widely available across all retail outlets.
The ministry also stated that 22 major store branches will remain open 24 hours a day to serve the public.
In addition, several retailers have announced round-the-clock operations, including Lulu Hypermarket, Monoprix, and Al Meera.
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also urged Qatari nationals overseas, especially those who are stranded or require assistance, to contact Qatar’s diplomatic missions in their countries.
Citizens are also advised to comply with local authority directives and utilise the designated emergency contact numbers.
Amid the escalating crisis, Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani held separate calls with regional and international leaders, including the Saudi Crown Prince, the UAE’s President, the King of Jordan, the Egyptian President, France’s President, the Prime Minister of Greece, and Iraq’s Prime Minister, to discuss the attacks and regional developments.
Aviation and maritime disruptions in Qatar
In response to the deteriorating security environment, Qatar’s Ministry of Transport called on all individual and corporate marine vessel owners to temporarily suspend maritime navigation as a precautionary measure.
The ministry emphasised its commitment to ensuring the highest levels of safety and urged full compliance, adding that authorities are closely monitoring developments.
Air travel has also been affected. Hamad International Airport urged passengers not to proceed to the airport as flight operations remain suspended until further notice. Travellers were advised to check directly with their airlines for updates.
Schools, universities shift to remote learning
As part of precautionary measures, Qatar’s Ministry of Education and Higher Education announced that kindergartens, public and private schools, educational centres and universities will transition to remote learning starting Sunday, March 1, as a precautionary and regulatory measure until further notice.
Qatar University also announced that it will switch to remote learning until further notice as a precaution due to the current security situation.
The university stated that it will share updates via its official communication channels.
Healthcare sector on full alert
Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health confirmed the country’s healthcare sector is fully ready to respond to emergencies in coordination with state authorities.
Healthcare facilities continue to operate as usual, while emergency departments remain open around the clock.
Officials added that medical facilities and personnel across the country are fully equipped to handle emergency situations, and that strategic stockpiles of medicines and medical supplies are sufficient to meet population needs.
The public was advised to contact the ministry’s health hotline at 16000 for inquiries, and 999 for life-threatening emergencies.
Closure of Qatar Museums
Meanwhile, Qatar Museums announced the temporary closure of all museums, galleries, heritage sites and creative hubs across the country until further notice, citing precautionary measures prioritising public safety.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the authority confirmed that all tickets purchased for today will be fully refunded to the original payment method.
