From a young student visiting the National Museum of Qatar (NMOQ) to a global champion of sport for development, Nasser al-Khori’s journey reflects Qatar’s own transformation, a narrative central to the Evolution Nation campaign celebrating the country’s cultural legacy.
As Qatar continues to build on the legacy of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the Evolution Nation video series highlights the people driving the country’s cultural, creative and social transformation.
Launched last year, the campaign is spearheaded by Qatar Museums (QM) and curated by Qatar Creates, a cultural movement that promotes engagement with art, design, food, fashion, film and sport in Qatar and beyond.
Among the personalities featured is al-Khori, executive director of the Generation Amazing Foundation, whose work has helped transform football into a platform for social development, reaching more than one million people across 75 countries.
“I truly believe that art, culture, and sports as well are universal languages,” he said.
“They do not need translation to reach anyone,” al-Khori pointed out. “For Qatar, this is an opportunity to share our values, history, and heritage, and build bridges with the world and its people.”
He said his own journey has evolved alongside the country’s development, describing how his childhood experiences at the NMOQ shaped his appreciation of the nation’s heritage and identity.
“I feel my journey is connected to Qatar’s evolution,” he said. “Just as Qatar brought together its heritage and openness to the world, I also tried to use sports and culture as a bridge connecting people and cultures.”
“Through my work on the FIFA World Cup 2022, I had the honour of being part of this global event, and we were able to present Qatar in a new light: a country small in size but great in vision,” al-Khori added.
The Generation Amazing Foundation was established in 2010 during Qatar’s successful FIFA World Cup bid and has since focused on using football to teach leadership, communication, teamwork and compassion to young people and underserved communities.
Its programmes support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Qatar National Vision 2030 by promoting inclusion, sustainability and gender equality.
For al-Khori, however, Qatar’s story is also deeply personal.
He recalled visiting the NMOQ on school trips and watching it evolve into a modern landmark that continues to celebrate the country’s heritage.
“Honestly, the National Museum of Qatar holds a special place for me,” he said.
“Ever since I was young, we used to visit the museum on school trips, and those were some of my favourite memories,” al-Khori recounted. “And today, with the new version, I see a modern design that still carries a heritage spirit.”
He believes Qatar’s greatest legacy will be defined not only by its achievements but also by the values it passes on to future generations.
“If I had to choose something for the next generation, I would choose the value of generosity and hospitality,” he said.
“For me, this is not just a custom, it is the essence of our Qatari identity,” al-Khori continued. “If the next generation preserves it, they will be an extension of our heritage, while also remaining open to the world.”
Launched to mark 50 years since the establishment of the original NMOQ in 1975, Evolution Nation celebrates the individuals, institutions and ideas that have shaped the country’s cultural development.
Episodes are available on the Qatar Creates YouTube channel and the QM’s social media platforms, documenting the people behind Qatar’s continuing evolution as a cultural, creative and sporting nation.
