Msheireb Museums and Qatar Shell signed an agreement yesterday, making the latter the sponsor of Company House, one of the four heritage houses that were renovated at Msheireb Downtown Doha (MDD).
The agreement was signed by Qatar Shell deputy general manager Rashid Majed al-Sulaiti and Msheireb Properties (MP) acting CEO Ali al-Kuwari, in the presence of Msheireb Museums director Hafiz Ali. “The agreement with Qatar Shell reflects Msheireb Properties’ vision in preserving the national heritage, which is one of the missions of the company,” al-Kuwari said. “In addition to our mandate as a developer of the sustainable MDD, Msheireb Properties is committed to social responsibility as a fixture to the values of human civilisation in Qatar.”
He thanked Qatar Shell, a global leading energy company, for its valuable collaboration as MP looks forward “to building more partnerships with such prestigious national and international organisations”.
The agreement will see Qatar Shell supporting the Company House and the archive documentation of Qatar’s oil and gas history. It will also contribute in organising events and programmes aimed at raising awareness on the importance of this sector and its impact on the current generations.
Four heritage buildings – Mohamed bin Jassim House, Radwani House, Bin Jelmood House and Company House – form part of Msheireb Museums, which tell stories of human perseverance and hard work, and how domestic family life was transformed in Doha before and after the discovery of oil in the country.
Part of the of QR20.4bn MDD project, the museums use modern technology to narrate and share some of the ‘great tales’ of Qatar’s past and continue to document oral history from people who want to share their stories.
The Company House, which encompasses a collection of equipment and items that were used in the oil company at old times, was once used as the headquarters for Qatar’s first oil company, and tells the story of the pioneering Qatari petroleum industry workers and their families who helped transform Qatar into a modern society.
In this house, visitors saw first-hand accounts of the men who laboured in this industry, not just to provide for their families, but also to lay the foundations for their emerging nation.
According to MP, Qatar Shell’s sponsorship of this heritage building adds great value to Msheireb Museums — the leading cultural destination at MDD. It was one of the first international companies which started exploitation of oil in Qatar and has strong effort in documenting this history.
Such sponsorship forms part of Qatar Shell’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme, supporting various segments and sectors, including education, sports, health, culture and the environment. It aims to enhance the national capabilities and effectively contribute to the four pillars of the Qatar National Vision 2030.
“We have selected Qatar Shell because of its successful record in documenting history and preserving the national heritage in the communities it has worked. We highly appreciate this mission and that’s what motivated us to sign this partnership,” Ali said.
The Msheireb Museums director noted that this agreement will enhance the archive documentation effort of the Company House and activate their programmes of events to make this museum a major hub which preserves the important history of Qatar to the next generation.
Qatar Shell deputy general manager Rashid Majed al-Sulaiti, Msheireb Properties acting CEO Ali al-Kuwari and senior officials of Msheireb Museums and Qatar Shell visit the Company House after the agreement signing yesterday. PICTURE: Jayan Orma
