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From hospitals to canvases, Banan Soliman is reshaping wellbeing in Qatar, blending public health, art, and leadership to help people reconnect with themselves and thrive in uncertain times.Soliman is not one to stay in a box.A public health leader and accomplished artist, she has spent over two decades moving seamlessly between government corridors and creative studios, guided by one question: “How can I make a real difference in people’s lives?”Her role in Qatar’s health sector has seen her co-ordinate national operations during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and the FIFA World Cup 2022, ensuring hospitals and health systems were ready under immense pressure.“Leadership is not about control or only managing systems,” she told *Gulf Times. “It’s about having clarity under pressure and helping teams stay focused when uncertainty is high.”Soliman recalled the human side of these crises.“During Covid-19, many teams were anxious about their safety, and it affected performance and even their immunity,” she recounted. “My role was to bring focus and empathy into the system. Leadership meant not only co-ordination and efficiency, but also protecting trust and psychological safety.”“Even at peak demand, we stay committed to patient experience, because how people are treated is just as important as what systems deliver,” she added.Alongside public service, Soliman has built a parallel life as an artist.Her works, rooted in Arabic calligraphy and contemporary abstraction, have been exhibited worldwide and commissioned by Formula 1 champions, FIFA athletes, and cultural icons.Her calligraphy series, “Light Upon Light”, merges Qur’anic verses with contemporary design.“Each artwork reminds people of their own inner strength and divine connection,” she said. “Art became the bridge between science and the spiritual dimension – it restores us, regulates the nervous system, and speaks to the soul.”Her commitment to service extends into her creative practice.In Germany, she curated charity exhibitions supporting Syrian children’s hospitals.In Qatar, she organised fundraising art events for Palestine, with proceeds directed to the Red Crescent Society.“Beauty gains meaning when it moves energy into action,” Soliman explained. “Creating with intention feels lighter, more alive. And giving heals all sides – the artist, the buyer, and the cause being supported.”She is now expanding her work in Qatar through retreats blending art, public health insights, and even kitesurfing.“Thriving comes naturally when what you do matches who you are. It’s less about productivity, more about inner balance,” she said. “Qatar’s landscape, where desert meets sea, offers the perfect space to pause, realign, and remember who you are.”For Soliman, success is measured not in titles or exhibitions, but in impact.“Whether designing a policy, a building, or a painting, my goal is the same: to create environments where people feel supported to live with balance and flourish,” she told *Gulf Times.From leading health operations to painting calligraphy, Banan Soliman shows that true leadership, creativity, and wellbeing are inseparable.Her journey is a reminder that passion is a compass, and the real measure of success is helping people feel more at home within themselves. 

The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE), honoured students who participated in the second school Arabic calligraphy competition, ‘Al-Raqeem’, for the year 2025, in recognition of their efforts and distinguished participation. The competition targeted male and female students from both public and private schools. The honouring ceremony was attended by Undersecretary of the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Mohammed bin Ghanim al-Thani and Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Dr Ibrahim bin Saleh al-Nuaimi along with a number of educators and members of the ‘Al-Raqeem’ competition committee. The Undersecretary of Awqaf praised the integrative partnership between the two ministries, affirming that the ‘Al-Raqeem’ competition represents a successful model of institutional co-operation aimed at instilling aesthetic and educational values among students. He noted that the initiative strengthens students’ connection to the Holy Qur’an and Arab-Islamic identity through an authentic visual art Arabic calligraphy. The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education commended the efforts of the organising committee, emphasising that integrating traditional arts into the educational process contributes to the development of students’ aesthetic sensibilities and the reinforcement of moral and human values. He added that the wide participation witnessed in the competition reflects its success and the strong engagement of the educational field. The second edition of the school Arabic calligraphy competition, which launched in October and continued through December 2025, saw the participation of 479 male and female students from 24 public and private schools at the preparatory and secondary levels. This included four schools for students with disabilities, for both boys and girls – an important step reflecting the inclusivity of the competition and the breadth of its educational impact. Students competed in the Ruq’ah script by writing the 23rd verse of Sourat Al-Isra. This choice aimed to link Arabic calligraphy skills with lofty moral values, foremost among them filial piety. Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Qatar International Arabic Calligraphy Competition (Al-Raqeem), Dr Saleh bin Ali al-Akhn al-Marri affirmed that the competition seeks to restore Arabic calligraphy to its rightful status as a core component of Arab and Islamic cultural identity. He explained that directing the competition towards school students aims to nurture a generation that appreciates artistic beauty rooted in Qur’anic values and understands the significance of Arabic calligraphy within the Arabic Islamic Nation’s civilisational heritage. He added that the wide participation this year, along with the inclusion of schools for students with disabilities, clearly demonstrates the success of the initiative and motivates the organising committee to further develop future editions and expand its scope in service of its cultural and educational mission. The competition also featured introductory programmes and awareness workshops for participating students, including visual presentations on the history of Arabic calligraphy, its various styles, and tools. Training booklets and specialised Ruq’ah calligraphy pens were distributed to support students in developing their artistic skills and preparing for the final evaluations. The competition is held under the supervision of the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs and the Museum of Islamic Art, in co-operation with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education through its departments of programmes and activities, private schools, and kindergartens, with direct supervision from the administrations of participating schools. Regarding participation statistics, the 2025 school edition of the Al-Raqeem Arabic calligraphy competition witnessed broad engagement from public and private schools, with a total of 479 students of various nationalities, including 110 Qatari students. Among public schools, 258 students from ten schools participated, namely Ibn Khaldoun Preparatory School for Boys, Abu Ubaidah Preparatory School for Boys, Hassan bin Thabit Secondary School for Boys, Omar bin Al-Khattab Secondary School for Boys, Al-Hidaya School for Boys with Disabilities, Granada Preparatory School for Girls, Zainab Preparatory School for Girls, Al-Shaymaa Secondary School for Girls, Al-Risala Secondary School for Girls, and Al-Hidaya School for Girls with Disabilities. Private schools accounted for 221 participants representing fourteen schools, namely My School Academy, Global Universe Academy (Al-Waab), Al-Salam Fifth School, Queens International School, Palestinian School for Boys, Al-Furqan Secondary School for Boys, Al-Zaitoun International School (Al-Thumama), Cambridge International School, Next Generation School, Galileo International School, Al-Andalus School for Girls, Edison International School (Mureikh), Al-Maha Academy for Girls with Disabilities, and Al-Awsaj Academy for Students with Disabilities. 

The "Arabic Calligraphy in Tunisia... Identity and Creativity" exhibition concluded Thursday at Katara Cultural Village, featuring 18 calligraphic works of Tunisian artist Tawfik Issawi.Katara organised the two-day exhibition in co-operation with the Tunisian embassy in Doha as part of its efforts to promote cultural exchange and celebrate the beauty of Arabic calligraphy.Katara deputy director-general Saif Saad al-Dosari attended the opening on Wednesday, along with Tunisian ambassador Farhad Khalifa and Issawi, along with other ambassadors accredited to Qatar, intellectuals, artists, and those interested in Arabic calligraphy.Visitors were treated to artworks that combined technical precision with the aesthetic and spiritual dimensions of Arabic script, reflecting the depth of the Tunisian artistic experience in this field.Issawi delivered a lecture on "Tunisian Calligraphy: Evolution and Formative Aesthetics", in which he presented an artistic and intellectual analysis of the origins of Arabic calligraphy in Tunisia and its development throughout different historical periods.He highlighted the most important Tunisian calligraphic styles, their artistic characteristics, and their role in preserving cultural identity and fostering contemporary creativity.Tunisian envoy Khalifa said that organising the event reflects the commitment to strengthening Tunisian culture in Qatar.He said that Arabic calligraphy is not merely a visual art form, but a language of the soul, a vessel of identity, and a bridge connecting the past with the present.Khalifa added that the Tunisian school of Arabic calligraphy represents a unique model that combines historical depth with openness, reflecting the richness of the Tunisian cultural experience.He also highlighted Tunisian, Arab, and international efforts to celebrate Arabic calligraphy and emphasise its depth, deep roots, and close connection to Arab and Islamic identity.The envoy lauded fruitful co-operation with Katara, considering this cultural collaboration a reflection of the deep fraternal relations between Tunisia and Qatar and an affirmation of the shared belief in the importance of culture and the arts in promoting dialogue and rapprochement between peoples. 

The activities associated with the finals of the Akhlaq Award -- an international competition to revive Arabic calligraphy -- kicked off in Doha, under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture.The competition is recognized as one of the leading cultural initiatives that celebrate the aesthetic and spiritual dimensions of Arabic calligraphy, while promoting its presence in both local and international cultural spheres.Running over four days, the event features a series of lectures, cultural programmes, and panel discussions, with the participation of distinguished calligraphers, artists, and academics. The opening session, moderated by visual artist Kholoud al-Kuwari, spotlighted prominent local contributions to the development of calligraphy in Qatar.Qatari writer and researcher Ibrahim Yousif Fakhro shared his 25-year journey with Arabic calligraphy, emphasizing its deep-rooted role in Islamic and Arab identity. He highlighted how the transcription of the Holy Qur'an historically elevated the art form, as early calligraphers regarded their work as a spiritual act, writing the words of God.Fakhro noted that Qatar has recently placed strong emphasis on incorporating calligraphy into modern architecture, aligning with its national vision to preserve and promote Islamic and Arab cultural heritage. He cited Barwa Street and the Qatar National Library as landmark projects that reflect this approach.

Fifteen calligraphers from around the world are competing in the finals of the international competition for Arabic calligraphy, the 'Ethics Award', organised by the Ministry of Culture, being held from September 1-8 in Doha. The finalists, selected from among more than 250 participants, will face a sophisticated artistic challenge for prizes totaling nearly half a million Qatari riyals.This event at the Rosewood Hotel in Doha, reflects the Ministry of Culture's vision of promoting Arab and Islamic arts and highlighting the aesthetic and ethical values of Arabic calligraphy.A group of leading calligraphers and experts are to oversee the judging process, ensuring evaluation according to the highest artistic standards. The competitions are accompanied by a diverse programme that includes specialized seminars and interactive workshops, allowing attendees to explore the various international art schools in this field.This enriches Arabic calligraphers, introduces them to the most prominent trends in the local cultural scene, and opens up broader horizons for communication between creative artists. The event is to conclude with a grand ceremony held in the theatre of the new Ministry of Culture building, during which the winners will be honoured and their creations showcased to the public. This celebration reflects the status of Arabic calligraphy in the hearts of generations and emphasizes its role as one of the most important components of the cultural and artistic identity of the Arab and Islamic nation.