And over the past year, beekeeping has taken root within Qatar Foundation (QF), with a dedicated apiary in Education City to nurture colonies of honeybees. The initiative is led by Abdulrahman al-Eryani, adviser to the QF Vice Chairperson’s Office.
Bees directly support the production of many of the world’s fruits, vegetables, and nuts, through pollination. In a time of climate change and rising concerns about food security, protecting their survival is becoming increasingly essential to building resilient and sustainable food systems.
“Globally, bees are very important for crop production,” explains al-Eryani. “Around 30% of the world’s food production depends on bee pollination. Without them, we would lose essential produce.”
The team’s current focus is on comparing Arabian bees with imported bees. “Our aim is to eventually replace the bees we currently import with Arabian bees,” al-Eryani notes. “Arabian bees, found in Southern Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Oman are believed to be better adapted to the region’s environment.”
September marks the beginning of the ‘Sidra season’, when bees feed primarily on the flowering Sidra trees. Last year alone, Education City hives produced around 135kg of honey from just 18 colonies. “The initiative reinvests profits into sustaining and expanding beekeeping operations, making it a self-sustaining business,” says al-Eryani.
But bees are not only environmental workers. Honey has been a staple of Arab life for centuries – a source of nourishment and a natural medicine. In Islam, an entire Surah of the Qur’an – An-Nahl – highlights their importance.
Earlier this year, students from Academyati, a progressive school that is part of QF’s Pre-University Education, experienced firsthand the vital role bees play in sustaining ecosystems, and even learned how to handle the bees.
Simon Jones, business development and activations manager at QF, who is part of the beekeeping initiative, says: “The children got hands-on experience in the apiary: wearing the gear, using the smoker, opening a hive, holding a frame, identifying what they had learnt in the classroom session in the field. It’s great for them to understand how important bees are for the environment and have the opportunity for some learning outside of the classroom.”
“Since the summer, interest has grown significantly. We’ve had numerous requests from schools, individuals, and entities who heard about our work through social media. We will be offering limited tours during Qatar Sustainability Week, and looking ahead we’d love to develop a curriculum component for schools – something teachers can deliver in the classroom, followed by a guided experience in the apiary.”