A view of the excavated and restored archaeological site at Al Zubarah, dating back to 18th-19th century. PICTURE: Jayaram
Maersk Oil Qatar, the principal sponsor of the Al Zubarah Fort, congratulated the Qatar Museums Authority on the launch yesterday of the country’s first Unesco World Heritage listed site.
“The sponsorship has enabled a Visitors’ Centre at Al Zubarah to present visitors with an overview of the cultural and natural heritage of the archaeological site,” the company said in a statement.
To celebrate the opening of the country’s first World Heritage Site, a number of activities have been arranged today and tomorrow, from 9am to 4pm.
Tasting traditional food, learning about pearl diving, listening to traditional music, and exhibition of historic films and handicrafts are among the programmes.
One of the largest and best preserved examples of an 18th-19th century traditional pearl fishing and merchant town in the Gulf, Al Zubarah’s success attracted the attention of other Gulf powers and after several attacks was eventually burned to the ground in 1811.
Al Zubarah never fully recovered and was totally abandoned by the mid-20th century. The site covers an area of 60 hectares with remains of houses, mosques, large fortified buildings and a souq (market).
“The Visitors’ Centre will house interactive displays, a bookshop and a presentation that focuses on the history of Al Zubarah Fort and its importance as a national monument,” Maersk Oil Qatar said.
Sheikh Faisal al-Thani, Maersk Oil Qatar’s deputy managing director, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Qatar Museums Authority at Al Zubarah and to be providing a meaningful contribution to Qatar’s development and knowledge of its history. This is another pleasing example of how Maersk Oil Qatar’s social investment programme, Action for Qatar, is helping the country as a whole.”
As part of Maersk Oil Qatar’s sponsorship at Al Zubarah, teachers and students will also have access to a comprehensive programme of educational activities, with plans to construct an information pavilion in addition to site visits for students.
School activities will range from lectures and presentations to pottery workshops, flint-knapping presentations and the opportunity for young learners to try their hand at ‘mock’ excavations.
Maersk Oil Qatar will also support a teacher training programme to assist the creation of tailored schemes featuring the history of Al Zubarah which stress the importance of heritage preservation.
A travelling outreach programme will tour schools and engage students with heritage and archaeology-related programmes.
To reach Al Zubarah, take Junction 59 on Al Shamal Road and continue west towards Al Zubarah Fort for 37km. The site lies on Qatar’s northwest coast 85km from Doha and 25km south of Al Ruwais.
