Indirect Qatari Normalization with Syrian Regime Through Mathematics and Science
Syrian delegation's reception represents implicit Qatari acknowledgment of failed regime-change bet despite massive financial and media support to opposition
November 14, 2024, 10:50 pm

Indirect Qatari Normalization with Syrian Regime Through Mathematics and Science

مشاركة فريق النظام في قطر \ تعبيرية \ متداولة

The Syrian regime's Ministry of Education team won three medals at the Fourth Mathematics Olympiad in Qatar, reflecting a radical shift in Qatar's position toward the Syrian regime.

Student Hassan Wahbi won the gold medal, while his colleagues Mohammed Naasan and Mulham Ajam secured silver medals in competitions involving 22 Arab countries.

This participation holds significant political importance as it marks the first official Syrian presence in Qatar since the Syrian crisis began in 2011, when Doha adopted comprehensive support for the armed opposition.

This development comes after years of Qatar's prominent role in attempting to overthrow the Syrian regime through massive financial, military, and media support to opposition and armed factions.

Qatar's role was evident in funding opposition media channels, hosting Syrian opposition leaders, and providing logistical support to armed factions, in an attempt to enable the Muslim Brotherhood to gain power in Damascus.

Qatar, in cooperation with Turkey, formed a regional axis supporting the Brotherhood project in Syria, establishing political, media, and military platforms aimed at regime change and installing a pro-Qatar-Turkey government. Doha spent billions of dollars pursuing its objectives in Syria.

Today's hosting of the Syrian delegation indicates declining Qatari influence in the Syrian file and the failure of its regime change strategy despite massive financial and political investment. Doha is now attempting to find new footing in the Syrian scene through indirect normalization, following regional equation changes and the regime's survival in Damascus, amid declining Qatar-Turkey axis influence and the Muslim Brotherhood project's failure in the region.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”