The State of Qatar has succeeded in establishing its position as a leading tourist destination thanks to its proven track record in security and safety, its provision of an efficient and smooth transportation network, and its possession of a group of pristine beaches, tourist and cultural attractions, in addition to heritage sites.
In conjunction with the State of Qatars celebration of Doha, the capital of Arab tourism, Qatar News Agency highlights cultural tourism in Qatar as one of the most important tributaries of tourism in the country, which qualifies it to be a beacon of creativity and development.
In this regard, Director of Shared Services at Qatar Tourism, Omar Al Jaber said in a special statement to Qatar News Agency that Qatar Tourism pays great attention to culture, as it is one of the main pillars on which the National Tourism Strategy 2030 was founded and launched 14 years ago, in line with its vision of leading the development of tourism in Qatar in a sustainable manner to become a global tourist destination that is proud of its cultural roots. He noted that four guiding principles were chosen at that time to be a framework that would support the tourism strategy and be consistent with national priorities, the first of which were local traditions and values by preserving the Arab-Islamic identity and moral rules of Qataris, and encouraging family values and social cohesion.
Al Jaber explained that the National Tourism Strategy identified a number of guiding programs, including encouraging festivals and cultural events, and encouraging the development of local artistic talents. These programs were translated into a series of projects to develop heritage markets and cultural events that would contribute to accelerating the development of the tourism sector in Qatar and increasing the number of visitors. He stressed that Qatar Tourism is working to develop this strategy and supervising its implementation, within the framework of its role as an entity responsible for planning, organizing and developing sustainable tourism in Qatar. Qatar Tourism also cooperates with all its partners in the public and private sectors to ensure the success of the strategy, provide recommendations for corrective actions when needed, and ensure that all programs and projects are designed to achieve their specific goals, he added. Therefore, the role of Qatar Tourism is advisory, supervisory and coordination, while the implementation of all programs and projects remains the task of relevant government agencies in partnership with the private sector and civil society institutions.
In addition, he noted that the festivals and events organized annually by Qatar Tourism in cooperation with its partners involve local talents to support and market their businesses and products. Among the most prominent of these events, Al Jaber mentioned the Qatar Shopping Festival, Qatar International Food Festival, Qatar Live, Qatar Summer Festival, Qatar Balloon Festival, Eid celebrations in Qatar, Doha Jewelery and Watches Exhibition, and MotoGP Qatar and many more.
He added that they are also issuing the guide “Qatar Now”, which is the ideal guide for spending a vacation in Qatar because of its inspiring stories, practical information, travel itineraries, maps, expert advice, and must-visit tourist facilities that reflect the culture of Qatar. Qatar Tourism issued the third edition of this guide last July. The first section is entitled “Vibrant Traditions” and takes readers on a captivating journey through which they learn about Qatars ancient heritage and explore the customs and traditions of its people. The semi-annual guide is available to visitors at every stage of their visit to Qatar, as it is distributed free of charge in hotels, museums, embassies, Hamad International Airport, and in destinations frequented by visitors.
Regarding the most prominent cultural events that Qatar Tourism places on the calendar of tourism events in Qatar, Omar Al Jaber said that Qatar Tourism is continuously working to enrich the calendar of events and festivals in the State of Qatar to target all categories of international visitors and others. The calendar of events includes all activities held in Qatar. Many major international events and festivals were also organized in cooperation with the relevant authorities in the tourism sector, and in coordination with distinguished talents and agencies from all over the world.
Qatar Tourism also participated in many initiatives that take into account the cultural aspect, including joint cooperation with the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), represented by the Supervisory Committee for Beautification of Roads and Public Places in the Country, Qatar Airways and Ooredoo, in order to organize a special event to celebrate Garangao Night. The events took place in Doha Corniche Square and included a series of activities that celebrate Qatari culture and traditions.
In the same context, the Director of the Shared Services Department at Qatar Tourism stressed that the culture of the State of Qatar plays a pivotal role in supporting the tourism sector, as it represents the identity of the destination and gives visitors a unique and distinctive experience that includes customs, traditions, food, arts and historical monuments that distinguish it from other countries.
The ancient Qatari culture is one of the most prominent tourist attractions, indicating that Qatar has succeeded in blending the authenticity of cultural heritage with modernity in all urban projects.
He added that Qatar has a wide range of museums that reflect the authenticity of its heritage and rich culture, such as the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ), which is a reflection of the history, present and future of the State of Qatar, as well as Museum of Islamic Art (MIA), which includes one of the best collections of Islamic art in the world, and true masterpieces brought from three continents, and representing the diversity found in Islamic heritage.
Qatar also has all the tourist attractions that suit different cultures, including natural reserves and archaeological castles, including the magnificent Al Zubarah Archaeological site, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a chain of international resorts and hotels, public gardens and amusement parks, famous restaurants, traditional markets, and major commercial complexes.
The ancient Qatari culture also contributes to attracting more visitors who prefer cultural destinations, which contributes to an increase in the number of visitors and thus an increase in internal spending.
Al Jaber pointed out that Qatar Tourism is working to coordinate continuously with all relevant partners in order to implement the Qatar National Tourism Strategy 2030. To enhance the role of culture, Qatar Tourism works permanently with cultural institutions and initiatives in Qatar to coordinate cooperation, for example, in cooperation with Qatar Museums, Qatar Tourism organizes introductory tours for journalists from around the world to explore the cultural face of Qatar and the experiences it offers, all of which are characterized by quality service. Qatar Tourism also seeks to preserve the heritage of Qatari art, by organizing singing and musical concerts by Qatari artists within the “Qatar Live” activities. In celebration of the Qatar-Indonesia Year of Culture 2023, Qatar Tourism, in cooperation with Qatar Museums, allocated an entire space within the activities of the Qatar International Food Festival to explore Indonesian cuisine.
The Qatar National Tourism Strategy 2030 aims to increase the number of visitors, increase the tourism sector’s contribution to the gross domestic product to 12%, increase domestic tourism spending in the destination by three to four times, increase the volume of employment in the tourism sector, and make Qatar the fastest growing destination in the Middle East.
While talking about creative industries and their relationship to promoting tourism and how to develop them to serve the tourism map in Qatar, Al Jaber said that according to the website of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the cultural and creative industries are considered among the fastest growing industries in the world. It has been proven to be a sustainable development option that relies on a unique and renewable resource: human creativity.
Hence, Qatar Tourism seeks to support these talents and integrate them into its events and activities, especially since most of them are from the younger generation and have imagination and thinking that keep pace with the times, which makes these industries attractive to all generations.
On the music front, for example, Qatari artist Dana Al Fardan, who has become one of the female icons within the modern Qatari music scene, made a unique contribution to the Doha Jewelery and Watches Exhibition 2023 through the official musical composition “Azurit,”.
At the level of craftsmanship, the Qatari Designers Initiative launched by Qatar Tourism, which has become an essential component of the Doha Jewelery and Watches Exhibition, presented 10 brilliant Qatari talents in the world of design. It shined with its collections and its presence among the most famous brands in the jewelry and watch industry during the exhibition itself.
In the same context, the “Posts for Qatar” initiative, which was launched by Qatar Tourism before the start of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, included a group of local artists who dedicated their talents to bringing this project to light.
the artist Ghada Al-Suwaidi designed the first goalpost representing Qatar, while Abdulaziz Yousef designed the goalpost to welcome all countries participating in the tournament. In addition, the Argentine and French goalposts came with a Qatari touch, as the artist and calligrapher Fatima Al-Sharshani created the elegant writing structure that crowns the Argentine goalpost. While artist Maryam Faraj Al Suwaidi created the sails of the metal boat that decorate the French goalpost. All of these topics and others emphasize Qatar Tourism’s interest in creative talents that form the core of the tourism sector’s continuation now and in the future.
– Richness of Doha cultural attractions consolidate its presence as capital of the cultural tourism at Arab and Global levels
The richness of Qatar’s cultural attractions contributes to consolidating its presence as a capital of cultural tourism, at Arab and global levels, as these attractions link the elements of the contemporary Qatari renaissance in its cultural and civilizational dimensions, its preservation of heritage and sustainability, as well as its combination of education and concern for the welfare of citizens and residents of its land.
The diversity of cultural attractions in Qatar, along with the geographical diversity between marine life and a desert environment, is a major source for making Doha and the various Qatari cities that enjoy the generosity of the people of Qatar one of the most important tourist cities, which makes the tourist’s experience in Qatar a distinguished experience which is entrenched in the memory and becomes a source of the experience of travel and learn about new experiences and different worlds in a community that espouses cultural diversity and consolidates its openness to the world.
Hosting events, conferences, and major global sporting events by Qatar since the
2006 Asian Games (Asiad) until the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 tournament, as well as political and economic conferences and major global summits was a prelude to create a cultural structure and global tourist attractions for the world.
The most prominent attractions in Qatar are Qatar Museums, Cultural Village Foundation (Katara), Msheireb Downtown Doha,
the Pearl-Qatar and others which represent models that highlight Doha success not only as a capital of Arab tourism this year, but as a tourist capital and a permanent cultural metropolis.
Msheireb Downtown Doha emerges as an exceptional cultural and economic project and a creative idea in Qatar that revives the central of Doha with a a style that blends between concepts of architecture that were prevalent in Qatar in the past, and the modernity that has come to characterize the urban development witnessed by the country, considering the availability of sustainability elements.
Barahat Msheireb includes 100 cultural, commercial and residential buildings, along with recreational places, as well as hotels and shops, as Msheireb Museums are the most important and prominent heritage and civilized attractions in this area which include 4 museums that pay tribute to the authentic history of Qatar through four heritage hostels that were repaired and converted into world-class museums, namely; Bin Jelmood House – Msheireb Museums, Companies House, Mohammed Bin Jassim House – Msheireb Museums and Radwani House – Msheireb Museums,
Among the prominent attractions in Msheireb Downtown Doha, is Doha Design District, which is considered the headquarters of design in the region and a center for innovation and creativity in Qatar, as this neighborhood contains galleries, exhibitions, and creative centers, the most important of which are: M7, Qatar’s epicenter for innovation & entrepreneurship in design, fashion & tech.
The Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) is model of integration between culture, tourism, and sustainability, it offers visitors to Qatar the opportunity to enjoy a variety of cultural, artistic, heritage and sporting events and activities the foundation hosts throughout the year, which promotes the concept of sustainable cultural tourism that contributes to enhancing the opportunities available for the prosperity of tourism in the State of Qatar.
Katara works to enrich the regional and international cultural scene, by focusing on supporting culture and humanitarian arts, consolidating national identity and reviving heritage, which achieves the desired cultural development and paints a bright civilized image of the State of Qatar, in addition to exploiting the buildings and facilities of the cultural village to create a conducive environment to nurture and activate cultural, creative intellectual and artistic activity.
The villages also feature commercial complexes, shopping centers, international restaurants, fitness centers and swimming pools, alongside Katara Green Hills which embraces the most beautiful and advanced cultural district projects. In return, Qatar Museums represent a prominent symbol of the cultural, artistic, and creative renaissance in Qatar, and are considered one of the most important destinations and tourist attractions for visitors to Qatar from all over the world, who can enjoy the beauty of its historical treasures, and explore the heritage of Qatar and humanity.
At the forefront of the museum renaissance led by the State of Qatar comes the National Museum of Qatar (Desert Rose), a breathtaking architectural masterpiece and one of the present’s pieces of evidence of the ancient past of Qatar and the Gulf region. Designed by international architect Jean Nouvel, the museum, which is built on an area of 40,000 square meters, narrates the geological formation of the Qatar Peninsula, passing through natural and prehistoric history to our modern era, giving visitors of all cultures a rich experience to explore its immersive environment, including those who want to learn about Qatar’s past, present, and future.
The Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) also epitomizes Qatar’s vision of highlighting the role of Islamic civilization in human history, displaying its creativity and treasures, and shedding light on its rich heritage of science, values of tolerance, arts, and beauty, through a model that reflects the culture, history, and creativity of the Islamic nation, and makes the museum a tool for promoting and educating its sciences and arts.
In addition, the Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art is considered a beacon of modern Arab art in Qatar that brings together the works of Arab artists under one roof, with their various affiliations, schools, and styles to preserve, honor and present this artistic legacy. Located in the Education City, the museum includes more than 9,000 artworks, making it the largest professional collection of its kind in the world.
3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum is one of the most innovative and technologically advanced museums globally dedicated to sports and the largest, in terms of area, with an area of 19,000 square meters. The museum is designed by Spanish architect Juan Sabena and takes its visitors on an inspiring and unforgettable journey through the history and legacy of sports around the world and the Olympic Games.
Qatar’s focus on the world of museums was not limited to introducing authentic, inspiring, ancient, and contemporary cultural experiences intended to adults only, but it also paid great attention to the children’s category within its growing network of world-renowned museums.
This interest has been embodied on the ground in its latest project with a museum dedicated to children and families in Qatar named (Dadu, the Dadu Gardens) to be an oasis of stimulating and interactive experiences, available in indoor and outdoor spaces, and it is the first national museum of its kind that provides children and their families spaces dedicated to learning and growth through stimulating methodologies such as open-ended, inclusive play, exploration, and experimentation.
The Pearl-Qatar with its charming landmarks, cultural and entertainment centers, as well as the Lusail Trail, are among the most important tourist attractions for visitors to the State of Qatar who wish to learn about different aspects of culture and arts in Qatar.
Several cultural and heritage attractions in Qatar remained a preferred destination for foreign tourists owing to the tremendous reputation and momentum those attractions gained during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 finals.
Among these attractions that have become most illustrious globally are Souq Waqif, Al Wakrah Old Souq and Old Doha Port which genuinely combine the authenticity of Qatari authentic and traditional architecture and the Qatari heritage touch that can never miss the visitors’ eyes, such as the paving of the roads, style of construction, exterior shape of buildings and the meticulous selection of doors and windows which bear witness to this distinction and uniqueness, in addition to the fact that Souq Waqif is the first incubator of traditional professions and crafts and a destination for those searching for souvenirs and popular Qatari food.
Combining authenticity and modernity, visitors of the markets find what they like to enjoy Qatar’s ancient past through their alleys and paths which are evidently a reminiscent of history, along with hotels that fulfil the needs of tourists to have showers and rest, as well as cultural edifices such as Souq Waqif Art Center which is vibrant of artworks and innovation of skillful artists from citizens and residents who strikingly talented in the realistic drawing. The market has a theatre that carries the name of the late musician Abdulaziz Nasser who embraces numerous theatrical and creative works.
The operators of the market – which was a unique destination for all visitors of the State of Qatar during the world cup- are keen to exploit the tournament legacy and its sustainability in organizing cultural and artistic events and festivals during the whole year in religious and national seasons and festivals through offering concerts and a variety of stage performances or street shows.
Those who seek the Qatari popular and traditional food will have an opportunity to enjoy Harees, margoog and other dishes, including Arabic coffee and various sweets.
Near to Souq Waqif, there is the Old Doha Port, which in a short period of time became one of the favorite new tourist destinations in the State of Qatar and was a destination for World Cup fans as well. It offered high-quality tourist services for the population in Qatar and the tourists hailing from various countries of the world and is one of the projects that left a precious legacy in the post-world cup era and includes a multi-purpose space with over 50 cafes, restaurants and over 100 shops.
The design of the Old Doha Port was inspired by sea shipping containers, combining a new city inspired by Qatari architecture, especially the houses located on the Qatari coast.
In March 2023, a house for fishermen was inaugurated at the Old Doha Port for the service of sea visitors and owners of marine means to go to the sea from the port and the corniche street in an easy and smooth manner, 24 hours a day.
In the southern city (Al Wakrah), there is Al Wakrah Old Souq standing tall and tells its secrets every evening to the sea overlooking its main street, where the soft waves of the sea that caress its golden sand bear witness to this dialogue that never ceases, where the traditional bearings stand with their wooden boards that have been gleamed by the sun’s rays, as they rest in safety.
The Al Wakrah Old Souq enriched life in the city, as it became a favorite haven for strolling, owing to the facilities it has, including cafes and restaurants, and a charming view of the sea, as well as its heritage buildings that mimic the ancient Qatari architectural heritage, and its embrace of cultural and heritage events throughout the year.
Heritage in Qatar rich and attractive experience for tourists
Qatari heritage, with the richness of its elements, contributes to promoting tourism in the country, and is not limited to specific places, as Qatar has greatly focused on spreading its rich heritage everywhere, starting from family convergence out of pride in national identity, all the way to various places and even markets and commercial compounds.
of the most prominent places that clearly shows the beauty and splendor of Qatari heritage is the Sealine Beach Resort located approximately 80 kilometers south of Doha, is famous for its sand dunes and beautiful beaches with turquoise waters, where elements of the environment and heritage of Qatar converge between land and sea, turning this area into an attractive icon for tourists through a large area dedicated to introducing Qatari heritage.
It features a space over poetry Majlis tents, where camels and horses are released, which are decorated with their accessories as they were used in the past, and still exist in a different form now, including camel accessories, such as snout, Al Kharj, Al Hulani, Al Saha, Al Adl, Al Khuzam etc. The snout is placed on camel’s face as restraint to be controlled by the rider, which is made of cloth or spun wicker, while the khanaqa is used to adorn camels and is made of hand-woven wool, while the haulani is considered one of the tools for riding a camel and is intended to tighten the camel’s straps at the place of riding.
Al Kharj is made of hand-woven wool and is used to carry luggage. On camels during travel, the Saha is made of hand-woven wool and is placed on the backs of camels to protect them during travel.
As for horses, a saddle is placed on them, which is a supporting body for the rider or any other load, and is attached to the horse’s back, along with a bridle which is used to guide the horse and control its speed and movement.
The poetry Majlis in the Sealine Beach Resort convey the authentic nature of the people of Qatar and the life of the desert in ancient times. They also depict the lives of parents and grandparents who were nomads and moved from one place to another in search of grass and water resources.
This panorama of wildlife in the Sealine region gained international reputation and contributes to attracting tourists and residents who are keen to visit this region to experience the methods of riding camels and horses, walking long distances on its golden sands, and reaching its sand dunes in an unforgettable experience.
Visitors are also keen to take souvenir photos. They are on the back of camels and horses on the sand and dunes, as well as while living the ancient Bedouin life in poetry Majlis in the middle of the picturesque desert.
Qatar’s cultural, heritage festivals and events attract visitors from worldwide.
Doha attracts hundreds of cultural, heritage festivals and events attract visitors from worldwide.
Doha has become a destination for tourists through its activities to learn about the rich culture of Qatar, which combines the splendor and beauty of the present represented by a cultural environment which is akin to many international capitals, with the authenticity of the past represented by the rich Qatari history and heritage, both land and sea.
The map of cultural events throughout the year abounds with many festivals that have become destinations for visitors, whether from countries in the region or from various countries of the world. Perhaps one of the most important exhibitions that attract tourism is the Katara International Hunting and Falcons Exhibition (S’hail), which concluded its 7th edition recently, as it lasted for 5 days in the Cultural Village Foundation-Katara from Sept. 5-9, 2023.
The exhibition is the largest international forum to display the latest weapons and the best supplies in the world of weapons, hunting and travel, and the largest convergence of falconry and hunting-lovers in the Gulf region and the Middle East.
It also constitutes a global economic and marketing platform that attracts major national and international companies specialized in showcasing and selling the best weapons, products, and equipment in the world of hunting. This is in addition to the the Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival (Marmi), which is organized by the
Al-Gannas Qatari Society in Sabkhat Marmi in January every year, to be a destination for tourists who wish to move to the desert atmosphere to learn about different aspects of Qatari heritage.
Among the events that are considered attractive to the public from outside the country are book fairs, as the Ministry of Culture was keen to hold a mini-international version of the exhibition at the 2nd edition of Ramadan Book Fair, as well as the 31st edition of Doha International Book Fair held last June with the participation of publishing houses from 37 Arab and foreign countries.
Qatar also proceeded to promote its sporting legacy by attracting more sporting tournaments such as the GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup 2023, the Doha 2023 World Judo Championships, 8th QTF Al Majed Tennis Tournament 2023 and others, and all have strongly contributed to the number of international visitors reaching these levels.
In addition, Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha celebrations also contributed to the growth in the number of visitors, thanks to the rich calendar of events that included the two Eid celebrations, organized by Qatar Tourism. Moreover, the Qatar’s events calendar for the summer season meets the aspirations of all age groups, from rich cultural experiences to exciting adventures and activities for children, ensuring that visitors and residents of Qatar have wonderful tourist experiences during this season.
Visitors and residents of Qatar also enjoyed the rich cultural experiences provided by Qatar through a group of attractive events, the most prominent of which is Katara traditional bearings Festival, which is held annually by the Cultural Village Foundation-Katara and is considered one of the most important events and festivals that attract fans from inside and outside Qatar who are keen to learn about the maritime heritage in Qatar.
– Qatar’s Cultural Projects Continue:
Qatar’s cultural projects continue… It is a journey of construction and giving that does not stop in the various state institutions, where efforts join forces to continually elevate the pillars of Qatari culture with its Arab and Islamic roots.
Among the most important cultural projects that Qatar Museums intends to establish during the next few years is the Art Mills Museum, which will display an exceptional international art collection acquired over the past forty years, in addition to multidisciplinary diverse artworks, covering a period of time from 1850 to present time.
In its main building, which covers an area of 80,000 square meters (of which 23,000 square meters is exhibition space), the Mills Art Museum is expected to showcase unique visual art works, architecture, design, films, film sets, fashion, handicrafts, and much more.
Art Mills, as a leading institution in non-Arab countries, will present modern and contemporary arts from all regions of the world on an equal footing, while engaging both local and global audiences, through multiple narratives of art history.
The museum’s park was distinctively designed by the engineering company Vogt Landscape, led by Gunther Vogt. The museum will be a destination for creativity in the fields of arts, crafts and design, and will provide entertainment, educational and productive resources to the public and creative communities in Qatar and abroad.
The Art Mills Museum is the culmination of a 25-year cultural plan that aims to place modern and contemporary Arab art on the map of global art, allowing for greater participation with the rest of the world through the creation of new, distinctive narratives.
Among the anticipated, pioneering cultural projects is the Lusail Museum, of which details were announced by Qatar Museums during the Lusail Museum’s special exhibition, “Stories of a World That Brings Us Together”, which opened on Oct. 23, 2022 at the Qatar Museums Gallery – Al Rawaq, which provided an overview of the new Lusail Museum and its design.
Located in the city of Lusail to be a meeting point and an opportunity for mutual understanding, the building of Lusail Museum was designed by the Pritzker award-winning ‘Herzog & de Meuron’ architectural firm. The museum will operate in innovative ways to shed light on historical moments that have either been overlooked or misinterpreted, and to stimulate debate around them in order to help a better understanding of the present.
Source: Qatar News Agency