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QatarDebate Centre, founded by Qatar Foundation, concluded the 3rd Mutual Dialogue Summit following two days of focused discussions on pressing issues at the local and regional levels.The summit was organised in partnership with the Ministry of Sports and Youth, and with Msheireb Museums serving as the cultural partner.During the closing session, His Excellency Yasser al-Jamal, undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth and vice-chairman of QatarDebate Centre, highlighted that the summit reflects a strong belief that youth empowerment is achieved not through slogans, but through genuine dialogue that develops critical thinking, enhances analytical skills, and transforms ideas into responsible action and tangible outcomes.**media[409893]**“Throughout the summit, we witnessed specialised workshops, engaging roundtable discussions, and deep dialogue sessions with leading experts and professionals,” said QatarDebate Centre (administration and strategy) director Abdulrahman al-Subaie. “These initiatives allowed the centre to elevate young voices, enhance their skills, and build understanding across different perspectives.”Following the closing remarks, a panel discussion on “From Local Ideas to Regional Enterprises: The Rise of Startups in the Gulf” took place, bringing together Hamad al-Hajri (Qatari entrepreneur, founder of Snoonu, and chief executive of International Markets at Jahez International) and Talal al-Awadhi, Kuwaiti founder and chief executive of Ottu.The discussion was moderated by Jamal al-Mulla, a media professional, content creator, and podcast host from the United Arab Emirates.The second day of the summit featured a panel discussion on “Beyond Algorithms: Gulf Efforts in Building Artificial Intelligence Models”, moderated by QatarDebate Centre ambassador Moza al-Hajri.The discussion brought together a distinguished group of experts, including Ministry of Communications and Information Technology director of digital innovation Eman al-Kuwari, New York University Abu Dhabi research assistant professor and associate vice-provost (Research Translation and Entrepreneurship) Dr Hoda al-Khzaimi, and Dr Ibrahim al-Muslim, assistant research professor at the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology.The summit provided a comprehensive platform for discussions on education, architecture, and innovation.One of the panels, titled “Redefining Education in the Digital Age through EdTech,,” examined how digital innovation can transform education systems, enhance learning quality, and shape future opportunities.The session was moderated by QatarDebate Centre ambassador Salem al-Shamakhi and featured World Innovation Summit for Education programme associate Aldana Alsemaitt, Dawrat co-founder and chief executive Mohammad Alsuraye, and Ahmed Faraj, entrepreneur, founder, and EdTech expert.Another session, on “Gulf Architecture between Memory and Innovation”, featured Ibrahim Jaidah, group chief executive and chief architect of the Arab Engineering Bureau, and Kuwaiti architect Bashar al-Salem, chief executive of Kayan.It was moderated by architect and public policy researcher Mozah al-Obaidan.The session discussed how to balance the preservation of Gulf architectural identity with innovation in contemporary urban design. 

Questions of identity, innovation, and the future of education took centre stage Sunday at the third Mutual Dialogue Summit in Doha, uniting GCC youth and experts in dialogue aimed at turning ideas into impact. The summit is organised by QatarDebate Centre and runs over two days at Msheireb Museums, with the participation of more than 100 young men and women from the GCC countries. The event is held in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Sports and Youth, and in co-operation with Msheireb Museums as a cultural partner. The summit opened with an inaugural speech by Reem al-Musallam, director of the Communications Department at QatarDebate Centre, who stressed that cultural and intellectual heritage should not be viewed as a static past, but rather as a source of inspiration upon which the future is built. She addressed the participants, saying: “You are the heirs of a rich legacy, one we do not carry as a past at which we stop, but as a source of inspiration from which we draw energy, build new ideas, and open broader horizons for the future, serving as a starting point for a vision led by youth with open minds and ambitions that go beyond the familiar.” Al-Musallam stressed that the summit serves as a platform for raising questions about the future and as a space for dialogue intended to be interpreted into impact and shared responsibility. The summit serves as a unifying platform for experts and decision-makers to discuss contemporary issues. The first session, titled “Redefining Education in the Digital Age through Educational Technology,” was moderated by Salem al-Shamkhi, QatarDebate ambassador, with the participation of Aldana Alsemaitt, Programme Associate at the WISE Conference; Mohamed al-Suraye, co-founder of the Dawrat platform; and Ahmed Farag, entrepreneur, founder, and expert in educational technology. Speakers discussed the role of digital innovation in developing the education system, enhancing learning quality, and envisioning the future of education. Another session titled “Gulf Architecture between Memory and Innovation” followed, with the participation of Ibrahim al-Jaidah, architect and CEO of Arab Engineering Bureau; Bashar al-Salem from Kuwait, architect and CEO of Kayan; and moderated by Moza al-Obaidan, architect and public policy researcher. The session addressed ways to maintain a healthy balance between preserving Gulf architectural identity and embracing innovation in contemporary urban design. It explored harmonising visual identity with modern requirements and drawing inspiration from traditional solutions to adapt to environmental conditions. The panel also discussed adopting modern solutions that meet the specific requirements of the local environment and climate, as well as ways to incorporate key features of the original local heritage architecture into modern buildings to maintain the place’s visual identity and reflect its heritage. The Aisha al-Nesf, head of Communications and Executive Affairs at the Qatar Debate Centre, stressed that the Mutual Dialogue Summit 2026 seeks to provide an interactive space that brings young people together around constructive dialogue and thoughtful discussions on shared issues, promoting a culture of critical thinking and supporting their ability to propose innovative solutions rooted in identity and aligned with future aspirations. 

Msheireb Museums organised the first session of its Science Café Series 2026 at Bin Jelmood House Thursday, discussing the topic “Stem Cell in Precision Medicine: From Research to Reality”.The event started with a talk by Dr Essam M Abdelalim, principal investigator – Associate Level, at the Laboratory of Pluripotent Stem Cell Disease Modelling at Sidra Medicine, followed by a panel discussion with several experts.Speaking about stem cells and their importance in modern-day medicine, Dr Abdelalim took the audience back to the earliest days of their discovery and their application in different types of treatments for various diseases.“The role of stem cells is growing in modern medicine,” he said. “Stem cell research is advancing our understanding of disease, enabling regenerative therapies, and shaping the future of personalised healthcare.”Following Dr Abdelalim’s talk, a panel discussion brought together clinicians, researchers, and experts to explain stem cells in clear, accessible terms and to share how laboratory discoveries are being translated into safe and effective treatments for patients.Aside for Dr Abdelalim, the panellists were Dr Chiara Cugno (acting chief of paediatric haematology oncology and bone marrow transplant and director of the Advanced Cell Therapy Core at Sidra Medicine), Dr Mohammed Ghaly (professor of Islam and biomedical ethics and head of the Research Centre for Islamic Legislation & Ethics at Hamad Bin Khalifa University), and Dr Mohammed Shaker (scientist at the Neurological Disorders Research Centre at Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s Qatar Biomedical Research Institute).Dr Sara Abdulla, senior research programme manager (Biomedical and Health) at the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council, moderated the discussion.Dr Cugno said that red stem cells can indefinitely grow and divide, and so they create a cell in a moving path.“Children are completely different from adults, and we have different diseases in children,” she said.“However, the type of stem cells that we use in children are exactly the same that we use for adults,” she continued. “Stem cells can be combined. So we have gene therapy approaches that have reached the market and several patients are already treated using this method.”“In neurology, stem cells come in a lot when it comes to the experimental setting,” Dr Shaker said. “We are still trying a lot. We are trying a lot to improve stem cell therapy when it comes to neurology. And the reason is that the brain is very complex.”Dr Ghaly explained the ethical aspects of incorporating stem cells into treatment and how they should be considered.Sidra Medicine research manager Dr Sahar Da’as anchored the whole event. 

Msheireb Museums celebrated its 10th anniversary Monday, bringing together leading international and regional architects, cultural leaders, and heritage preservation experts to examine a decade of architectural innovation and cultural transformation in Qatar.The event at Bin Jelmood House was marked by two panel discussions and the launch of two new publications that document the museums’ role in shaping Qatar’s contemporary built environment.Led by Msheireb Museums general manager Abdulla al-Naama and attended by senior officials from Msheireb Properties, the conference underlined the museums’ impact on defining a unique modern Qatari architectural identity.A highlight of the celebration was the launch of two publications: ‘Building on Tradition – The New Architectural Language of Qatar’ and ‘Msheireb Museums: Transforming Doha's Heritage Houses.’‘Building on Tradition’ establishes a comprehensive framework for contemporary Qatari architecture through the introduction of the ‘Seven Principles.’ Utilising Msheireb Downtown Doha (MDD), dubbed as the world’s largest sustainable downtown regeneration as its primary case study, the book demonstrates how timeless architectural wisdom can inform exceptional 21st century urban design.**media[371391]**According to Msheireb Museums, the Seven Principles – Continuity, Individual and Collective, Space and Form, Aspects of the Home, Aspects of the Street, Designing for Climate, and Architectural Language – offer a sophisticated methodology for honouring Qatar’s cultural identity while addressing modern needs through climate-responsive and culturally sensitive design.The second publication, ‘Msheireb Museums: Transforming Doha's Heritage Houses,’ chronicles the meticulous restoration of the four historic houses at the heart of the museums: Radwani House, Mohammed Bin Jassim House, Company House, and Bin Jelmood House. The book documents the unique conservation approach, detailing how these rare examples of traditional Qatari domestic architecture were transformed into powerful, contemporary museological narratives, achieving LEED Gold standards.The event featured two panel discussions exploring the interplay between architectural heritage and future-forward innovation.The first talk, titled ‘The Architectural Alphabet - Crafting Msheireb's Urban Language,’ examined the architecture and urban planning foundational to Msheireb’s development, addressing the necessity of depicting the past while embracing the future and the importance of creating safer urban spaces. The panel included Rosanna Law, Simon Gathercole, and Michael Mossessian, and was moderated by Eng Fatima Mohamed Fawzi, senior manager – Education and Sustainability, Doha Design District.The second discussion, ‘Truth in Translation - Weaving Heritage into the Modern Fabric,’ shines a spotlight on the sensitive process of transforming historic buildings into dynamic storytelling spaces. This panel featured experts John McAslan, Fanos Panayides, and Fatima M Fazwy, and was moderated by Fahad al-Turki.

The fourth session of the Science Cafe series, a collaborative initiative between Msheireb Museums and Sidra Medicine, was held at Bin Jelmood House where over 120 participants attended. Centered on the theme "Healthy Qatar: Addressing Lifestyle-Related Health Concerns," the event gathered healthcare specialists, wellness practitioners, and community members to discuss preventive care and holistic well-being. The session provided a comprehensive platform to examine how simple, everyday lifestyle changes can yield long-term benefits for individuals, families, and the Qatari society at large. Held at Bin Jelmood House — a museum dedicated to human perseverance and social development, the event continued the Science Cafe's mission of bridging scientific knowledge with public understanding. The fourth Science Cafe session structured its discussions about several critical themes in preventive healthcare: A National Snapshot of the current health trends in Qatar, The Wellness Triad of nutrition, exercise, and mental well-being, and Community Voices and Support Systems that emphasised the importance of local initiatives in shaping healthier lifestyles. Additional segments focused on Empowering Families Through Education and Action and A Shared Vision for a Healthier Qatar, underscoring the collective responsibility across communities and institutions. Dr. Sahar Da'as, Research Manager at Sidra Medicine and lead of the Science Cafe initiative, stressed the personal significance of the event: "As both a researcher and a mother, I recognize that sustainable health change begins not in clinics or laboratories, but in our homes and communities. Our goal in every Science Cafe session is to translate complex scientific concepts into actionable insights that can improve the health and wellness of every family in Qatar. This session reminds us that prevention is not only about medical advice, but also about choices made in homes, schools, and workplaces. Abdulla Al Naama, General Manager of Msheireb Museums, highlighted how the partnership with Sidra Medicine supports broader cultural and social goals: "These sessions encourage dialogue on topics that directly affect people's lives, and we are proud to see the community actively engaging with science in this setting. Msheireb Museums functions as a hub for cultural and educational discourse. Hosting the Science Cafe series aligns perfectly with our mission to inspire social change. The event featured contributions from invited speakers, including Dr. Shaza Elhassan, Pediatrics Consultant at Children & Young People's Services, Sidra Medicine; Dr. Aisha Al-Ahmadi, Assistant Professor of Clinical Mental Health and Counseling Psychology at Qatar University; Rachel Rahme, journalist, Social Media Personality, and Health and Lifestyle Influencer, ; Iman Alazwani, Founder of the 5AM Club and Research Specialist at Sidra Medicine; and Ikhlas Ahmed, Engagement Specialist at Qatar National Library. The speakers shared their expertise and practical guidance with participants, where they discussed diverse perspectives on health, wellbeing, and community engagement. Meanwhile, the session was moderated by Dr. Omar Abdelsattar, Sustainability Strategist and Programme Leader at the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation (QRDI) Council. In addition to the talks, the event also featured booth exhibitors including Qatar National Library, OrangeTheory, the 5AM Club, and Zest Activewear. Launched in 2024, Science Cafe is a continuing collaboration between Msheireb Museums and Sidra Medicine designed to encourage public engagement with scientific issues that affect society. The 2025 series spans diverse topics, from community health and comprehensive care to rare genetic conditions, with each session offering accessible discussions led by experts.