The fourth voyage of Fath Al Khair has been launched from the Babik harbour in Istanbul, Turkey, with 16 Qatari sailors on board.
The dhow will visit 11 harbours across Europe and North Africa with the aim of introducing the original Qatari maritime heritage and promoting the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The initiative is organised by Katara - the Cultural Village Foundation.
Present at the launch were Katara general manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti and other dignitaries.
the cruise aims to raise awareness of Qatari heritage, especially the maritime culture, noting that it is a significant part of the Qatari identity. It also aims to promote Qatar's hosting of the football World Cup and presents its preparations for the event.
The captain of the Fath Al Khair cruise, Yousef Mohamed al-Sada, said the cruise will serve as "a museum reflecting the authenticity of the Qatari marine heritage".
He noted that the ship also features big screens on which the facilities and venues of the 2022 FIFA World Cup will be shown.
The sailors will also distribute brochures and gifts to the public and explain various aspects of Qatar in order to reach out to the people of the countries the cruise will pass through.
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