Doha: HE Shura Council Secretary-General, Nayef bin Mohammed Al Mahmoud, has confirmed that the upcoming phase marks a new beginning for the Council in its second legislative term, driven by a comprehensive institutional vision and full operational readiness.
According to Qatar News Agency, during a media briefing with the local press, HE Al Mahmoud stated that preparations for the opening of the first ordinary session of the second legislative term, scheduled for Tuesday, have been fully completed. These preparations include equipping the main hall, meeting rooms, and facilities with the latest technologies, alongside enhancements to the interior aesthetics, ensuring technical and organizational readiness.
The opening session will feature a procedural sitting that includes oath-taking, the reading of Amiri Decree No. 98 of 2025 convening the Council, and elections for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker positions. Al Mahmoud highlighted that all legal and technical teams are fully prepared to ensure a smooth process, reflecting the Council’s extensive institutional experience and high professional standards.
Reviewing the Council’s performance during its first legislative term (2021-2025), His Excellency described the General Secretariat as pivotal in supporting parliamentary work and enabling Council members to fulfill their roles. During this period, the Council held 138 regular sessions and two extraordinary ones, alongside 312 meetings of permanent and ad hoc committees. It discussed 84 draft laws, 22 discussion requests, and 25 proposals by desire, in addition to holding 21 public hearings and participating in 185 parliamentary events both domestically and abroad. The Council also conducted 417 bilateral meetings and engagements.
Al Mahmoud indicated that these figures reflect the extensive efforts of the General Secretariat and the growing institutional role of the Council in legislation, oversight, and parliamentary diplomacy. He also spoke about the Council’s ongoing digital transformation as part of its overarching institutional development plan. He announced the upcoming launch of the Secretariat’s first-ever strategic plan (2025-2030), aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030 and directives from HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani’s opening speeches at past Council sessions.
The new strategy aims to enhance efficiency, digitize procedures, improve administrative and technical performance, and develop human capital to meet future needs. HE Al Mahmoud emphasized the Secretariat’s commitment to attracting national talent, with Qatarization levels exceeding 90%, and noted the development of second-line leadership in 70% of departments.
He further highlighted efforts to refine the workforce through specialized training workshops and partnerships with key institutions such as the Diplomatic Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qatar University, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Georgetown University, the State Audit Bureau, and Al Jazeera Media Institute. These partnerships aim to equip staff with the necessary legal, administrative, and technical skills for modern parliamentary work, while offering Secretariat-specific training programs designed in collaboration with national universities. This initiative contributes to higher efficiency and fosters a culture of excellence within the parliamentary environment.