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The Cultural Village Katara organised a special event Saturday, featuring a live broadcast of the grand opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum, in cooperation with the Embassy of Egypt in Qatar. The event was attended by Prof Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, General Manager of Katara, and Walid Elfiky, Ambassador of Egypt to Qatar, alongside a large diplomatic and public audience, particularly members of the Egyptian community living in Qatar, who enthusiastically engaged with this historic occasion. **media[376315]** Katara’s organisation of this live broadcast reflects its cultural mission to open new windows of interaction with human achievements across diverse fields, and to highlight the shared values that unite peoples through culture, art, and knowledge. It also demonstrates Katara’s commitment to keeping pace with major global cultural events and shining a light on them. In his speech on this occasion, Ambassador Elfiky expressed his delight at Katara’s participation in this world-class event, which he described as a moment of pride for Egypt and for all humanity. He noted that the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) represents a civilisational bridge linking Egypt’s glorious past with its present and future, embodying Egypt’s vision of its historic role as a beacon of culture and knowledge throughout the ages. **media[376314]** He added that this monumental cultural project reflects the Egyptian leadership’s deep commitment to heritage and identity, affirming that culture and art are among the noblest bridges that bring nations closer and deepen human understanding. He also praised the strong cooperation between the Egyptian Embassy and Katara, expressing his gratitude to Katara’s General Manager and staff, saying: “Katara continues to enrich the cultural scene in Qatar and the Arab region through its outstanding initiatives and contributions, fostering intercultural exchange among nations.” The Grand Egyptian Museum is located near the Pyramids of Giza, covering an area of approximately 500,000 square meters, making it the largest archaeological museum in the world dedicated to a single civilization. The building itself spans about 167,000 square meters, housing permanent and temporary exhibition halls, restoration centers, and educational, cultural, and recreational facilities. **media[376316]** The museum contains over 100,000 artifacts from various periods of ancient Egyptian history — from pre-dynastic times, through the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms, and up to the Greek and Roman eras. Among its most remarkable treasures is the complete collection of King Tutankhamun, comprising more than 5,000 artifacts displayed together for the first time since their discovery. The architectural design of the museum is itself a masterpiece, inspired by the grandeur of its location overlooking the Giza Pyramids. Its majestic façade is composed of large triangular stone forms that symbolize the temporal continuum of Egyptian civilization—from past to future. The exhibition halls are equipped with advanced technical systems, offering visitors an interactive and immersive experience that connects them deeply with Egypt’s rich and enduring history.

Katara Cultural Village has honoured the top three winners of the inaugural Katara Prize for Manuscripts and Archaeological Sites 2024 at a ceremony attended by scholars and cultural figures.The first prize was awarded to Syrian researcher Walid al-Suraqbi, while Egyptian researchers Ahmed Abdelbaset and Ahmed Abdelsattar shared second place. The third prize went to Noha Hussein al-Hefnawi, also from Egypt. The event also recognised members of the award’s judging panel — Dr Omar al-Ajli, Dr Mohammed al-Rahawi and Dr Samir Qaddouri — as well as Abdullah Mohammed Bilal, head of Mauritania’s manuscript house association, for his efforts in preserving Arab manuscript heritage.Speaking at the ceremony, Prof Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, Katara’s General Manager, said the award reflects Katara’s commitment to reviving Arab and Islamic manuscript heritage as an essential part of cultural identity and intellectual history. He added that the initiative complements Katara’s other major literary awards, including those for the novel, Arabic poetry, and the Prophet’s Poet.

Katara Cultural Village, in co-operation with the Business Forum, held the 25th edition of the Katara Tech Forum under the theme "Artificial Intelligence and Education: Opportunities and Challenges."The forum brought together a distinguished group of experts and specialists, including Dr Anas Bouhlal, Regional Programme Specialist for Higher Education and Technical and Vocational Training; Kholoud al-Mannai, Director of E-Learning and Digital Solutions at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE); Dr Shaker Ahmed al-Ashwal, Executive Director of the Global Institute for Studies in partnership with Arkansas State University (USA); and Abdulaziz bin Ibrahim al-Ishaq, CEO of AI Qatar.The session was moderated by writer and media personality Issa bin Mohammed al-Ishaq.In his opening remarks, Thamer Al-Qadi, Director of the Information Technology Department at Katara and Chair of the Katara Tech Forum, emphasised that the current technological revolution imposes a shared responsibility on all stakeholders.He pointed out that AI is no longer merely a supportive tool, but a genuine partner in shaping the future of education.He added that AI offers opportunities such as curriculum development, innovative personalised learning methods, and empowering teachers to focus on creativity.However, these opportunities come with challenges related to privacy, ethical use, and human capacity building.Al-Qadi noted that Katara's co-operation with the Business Forum reflects the close link between education, technology, and the economy, stressing that investing in knowledge and technology is an investment in humanity and the future.He underlined that the forum serves as a platform for exchanging experiences and ideas, and for turning challenges into opportunities.For his part, Chairman of the Business Forum Saad Mohammed al-Dabbagh said the event's theme aligns with the Qatar National Vision 2030, which focuses on human and knowledge-based development.He affirmed that AI has become a national necessity for serving the future, calling for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors to harness modern technologies in developing education.Kholoud al-Mannai stated that MoEHE was among the first ministries globally to begin training its teachers on the use of AI since 2022. She stressed that the purpose of the technology is not to replace teachers but to empower them and ease their workloads.She added that the ministry has developed a digital competency framework for both teachers and students tailored to the local context and is currently working on an e-learning governance framework to ensure the safe and responsible use of digital tools in schools.Dr al-Ashwal praised the higher education environment in Qatar, noting that around 60% of universities in the country offer specialised programmes in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.He emphasised the importance of identifying real educational needs and directing AI use toward achieving educational goals.Meanwhile, Dr Bouhlal highlighted Unesco's role in promoting AI ethics, explaining that it is the only international organisation that has developed a comprehensive framework for this field. He also pointed out the cultural specificities of the Arab world, which require a unique approach to dealing with artificial intelligence, emphasising that AI is not a substitute for human intelligence but a tool that broadens educational horizons and enhances inclusivity.Concluding the discussion, Abdulaziz bin Ibrahim al-Ishaq stressed that education is undergoing a fundamental transformation thanks to AI, calling for the preservation of values and ethics as the true challenge in this domain.He noted that the issue does not lie in the use of technology itself, but in its outcomes and direction.In closing, participants exchanged views and ideas on the role of artificial intelligence in advancing education and addressing challenges while preserving the cultural and intellectual identity of Arab societies. (QNA)