Darb Al Saai opens, reviving Qatari traditions, heritage

The activities of Darb Al Saai were launched Sunday at its headquarters in Umm Salal Area in the presence of a number of officials from the Ministry of Culture.
The activities of Darb Al Saai will remain open daily for the public from 3pm until 11pm until the Qatar National Day on December 18. Organised by the Ministry of Culture, Darb Al Saai features various cultural, artistic and literary events and activities with a special focus on the national identity and heritage.
Yesterday's activities started with the hoisting of the Qatari flag while the military band played the national anthem. A small scale military parade and demonstration of weapons skills were followed by horse and camel mounted platoons.
Among the attractions at the venue is a life size model of a traditional dhow on wheels, touring the main arena, while sailors on board chant folk songs related to the local marine heritage.
Darb Al Saai is set to offer visitors a broad range of activities that will shed more light on the history and development of the country and revive its heritage. The Ministry of Culture and its affiliated organisations, the Theater Affairs Center, the Music Affairs Center, the Visual Arts Center, Qatar Poetry Center, Qatar Media Center, Qatar Authors Forum, Qatar Photography Center and others will hold activities for visitors of all age groups.
An exhibition on "the Past Nostalgia", will focus on the old ways of life in Qatar with the participation of a good number of Qatari and expatriate artists and painters. Another exhibition will focus on the wild plants and flowers that are distinctive in the country.
There will be a workshop on traditional wool weaving techniques and fabrics used in making tents. Besides, there will be a workshop on bird photography and another for colouring and making models of birds.
Darb Al-Saai enjoys the participation of a number of volunteers from Qatar Voluntary Center of the Ministry of Culture, who would help the visitors get introduced to various aspects of the Qatari heritage and culture, as they had received extensive training ahead of the event.
Darb Al-Saai, spread across around 150,000 sqm has a unique design that blends the traditional Qatari architecture with modern features. The venue is easily accessible through three main roads in addition to bus services from the Old Al Rayyan Station of Doha Metro's Green Line. The parking lots at Darb Al Saai can accommodate up to 3,500 vehicles.