The Qatari Students Association (QSA) at Texas A&M University at Qatar (Tamuq) yesterday organised a special cultural event ‘Mal Lawal’, to highlight Qatari culture and traditions.
Held outside Tamuq’s link atrium door, the event attracted faculty and staff members of the university as well as a number of visitors who were treated to traditional Qatari food and beverages.
The event provided the members of the community with an insight into Qatari culture and values. Through a range of colourful stalls, visitors learnt about traditional dress, greeting rituals, and sword dance. The QSA is one of the largest student-led groups at Tamuq that encourages Qatari students to volunteer and contribute to their community whenever possible.
Mohamed al-Mansouri, president, QSA and an electrical engineering 4th year student said that the event was aimed at two types of audiences. ‘Mal Lawal’ means old days. For Qataris, we like to relive the good old days.
For the non-Qataris, we want to showcase the Qatari culture in a new sophisticated way. We are teaching everyone Qatari practices and values. We show them how to serve coffee; how to greet each other, wear traditional dress as well as to dance with sword. We are also doing a simulation of the wedding ceremony for the females,” explained al-Mansouri.
 “We have a small museum of all the equipment that were used for pearl diving in the old days. We are also providing some traditional Qatari food. We also have showcased the model of a Land Cruiser from the 70s as Land Cruiser also has become part of our community from the 1960s. All the products displayed at the event are made by the students,” continued, al-Mansouri.
According to QSA president, the association was formed from a small students club with a handful of students. “We began by forming a student club. It was just about a handful of students in the beginning and now it has become a big organisation of more than 70 students. We all work together and arrange and manage several events. We have already conducted several events at the Education City. So, we decided to do a new cultural event named Mal Awal at our campus,” he noted. 
“We have a very strong Qatari students association and they are very active. They arrange many events to highlight Qatari culture and celebrate them. Over 56% of our students are Qataris. We promote student governments in the university and they have formed several clubs,” added Dr Cesar Malave, Dean, Tamuq.
Related Story