The 10th edition of the Katara Traditional Dhow Festival will open Tuesday at 3.30pm at the esplanade of Katara - The Cultural Village, under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.
While the five-day festival will be open Tuesday to the public from 3.30pm to 10pm, from Wednesday, the timings are 10am to 10pm except Friday (1pm to 11pm).
The annual event concluding on Saturday will showcase its distinguished and distinct identity highlighting authentic maritime traditions inspired by Qatar’s ancestral past. The participating countries this year are Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Iraq, and Zanzibar (Tanzania).
The Katara Traditional Dhow Festival is being launched this year amid continuing health and safety precautionary measures against Covid-19 and as per the Ministry of Public Health protocols to protect all members of society.
As in the past one decade, the festival is characterised by a number of competitions and marine shows, besides a variety of cultural activities and events that reflect ancestral heritage and shed light on the ancient maritime history aimed at restoring culture and preserving folk heritage.
There are exhibitions displaying maritime heritage collections from various participating countries, special pavilions of traditional handicrafts, and workshops showcasing ship-building process and ancient craft, in addition to marine competitions.
There will also be story-telling and traditional stage shows throughout the festival at Katara beachfront and also include Al Shoush, Al Haddaq and Al Tafris competitions.
There is also the participation of the Omani Folk Band, which will provide artistic performances in the mornings and evenings on all days of the festival.
This year’s edition of the festival is partnered by Qatar Insurance (Official Insurance Sponsor), Qatar Airways (Official Carrier), Qatar Petroleum (Platinum Sponsor), and Al Meera.
In many ways, the Katara Traditional Dhow Festival is culturally unique. The Katara beachfront comes alive with activities of dhow boats, ancient maritime market place, traditional sea fishing methods, modern gadgetry, and authentic traditional festivities accompanied by food and music.
Having grown exponentially over the years, the dhow festival - where traditions are revived and renewed – occupies a valuable stature as a prominent destination for heritage and culture and attracts visitors of all nationalities.
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