Thursday January 29, Qatar Chamber
Under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, the State of Qatar will host the 2026 FIATA Region Africa and the Middle East (RAME) Field Meeting & Conference on 11–12 May 2026, at the Sheraton Hotel Doha.
This was revealed during a press conference held on Thursday, January 29, at the Chamber’s headquarters, attended by H.E. Eng. Ali bin Abdellatif Al-Misnad, Qatar Chamber Board Member and Chairman of the Qatar Association of Freight and Logistics (QAFL) under the umbrella of the Qatar Chamber, and H.E. Saleh bin Hamad Al-Sharqi, Secretary-General of the Federation of GCC Chambers (FGCCC).
The press conference was also attended by several QAFL’s members, including Eng. Mohammed Elwan, CEO of Servex Global Logistics Group; Mr. Firas Bala’awi, General Manager of FedEx Express Qatar; and Mr. Nael Attiyat, General Manager of Elite Express, in addition to a number of department directors from Qatar Chamber.
The 2026 FIATA RAME is organised by Qatar Chamber through QAFL, in collaboration with the FGCCC. Held for the first time in Qatar, the international conference will bring together freight forwarders, logistics providers, policymakers, regulators, and industry stakeholders from across Africa and the Middle East for two days of strategic dialogue, knowledge sharing, and high-level networking.
On the sidelines of the conference, a logistics exhibition will be held, featuring leading local, Gulf, and regional freight and logistics companies to showcase their products and services to conference participants. The exhibition will also serve as an important platform for Qatari companies to explore prospects for cooperation and partnerships with participating companies from across the region.
Addressing the press conference, H.E. Eng. Ali Al-Misnad expressed his sincere appreciation and gratitude, on behalf of the Chamber’s Chairman and Board of Directors, to H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, for his patronage of the conference.
He emphasised that Qatar’s hosting of this international event reflects its leading position as a regional and global logistics hub, supported by advanced infrastructure, world-class ports and airports, and a business-friendly environment. He noted that FIATA RAME serves as a strategic platform bringing together decision-makers, freight forwarders, and logistics service providers from across the region to discuss the challenges facing the sector and explore future opportunities, with particular emphasis on best practices and innovative solutions that support sustainable and efficient supply chains.
Elaborating on QAFL’s role, Al-Misnad said that the association represents the interests of freight and logistics companies and works to strengthen the private sector’s role in the country. He added that QAFL also seeks to enhance cooperation with local, regional, and international entities, thereby contributing to the development of the freight and transport system in the State and enhancing its competitiveness.
He expressed his hope that the conference would enhance regional cooperation, encourage the exchange of expertise, and create new partnership and investment opportunities, thereby supporting the logistics sector and reinforcing Qatar’s role as a regional and global hub.
He also referred to the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Qatar Chamber and the Federation of GCC Chambers, aimed at cooperating in hosting the conference.
For his part, H.E. Saleh Al-Sharqi, Secretary-General of the FGCCC, praised the cooperation between the Federation and Qatar Chamber in organising the conference, noting that it provides a key platform for exchanging expertise, addressing supply chain and logistics challenges, and strengthening public–private partnerships, thereby supporting the development of the business ecosystem and enhancing intra- and regional trade efficiency.
He noted that the collaboration between both entities reflects their shared commitment to ensuring the success of this international event in terms of organisation, content and broad participation, in a way that achieves its objectives and enhances its economic and professional outcomes.
Al-Sharqi also affirmed that the Federation attaches great importance to supporting such initiatives and hopes that the FIATA RAME conference would contribute to advancing the shipping and logistics sector in the region and coming up with practical recommendations that enhance competitiveness and sustainability.
He called on Gulf companies to participate in the accompanying exhibition, noting that the previous edition of the conference and exhibition held in Tanzania attracted more than 600 participants. He expressed his expectation of broader participation in the 2026 Doha edition.
