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The National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) is inviting the public to reconnect with the country's rich artisanal heritage through a hands-on workshop dedicated to crafting the traditional “Mubayyat” chest, an enduring symbol of Qatar's cultural memory. Held from July 19-22 at the museum's Education Studio, the initiative forms part of the museum's "Mahara" (Skill) programme, which celebrates traditional crafts through immersive learning experiences.Running daily from 4pm-6pm in Arabic, the workshop coincides with the 50th anniversary of the National Museum of Qatar, underscoring the institution's commitment to preserving Qatar's intangible cultural heritage while introducing younger generations to the craftsmanship that shaped the nation's past.The Mahara programme is a series of practical workshops to showcase traditional professions and handicrafts, highlighting their historical and cultural significance while ensuring that time-honoured skills are passed on through direct instruction from experienced artisans.Speaking to Gulf Times, artisan and calligrapher Assaad al-Turki stressed the importance of safeguarding traditional craftsmanship."Preserving this craft is essential to keeping it alive," he said. "It gives young participants the opportunity to discover their history and develop traditional artisanal skills that may one day inspire innovation. Perhaps they will transform these crafts into unique souvenirs valued by tourists, citizens, and residents alike. At the same time, they enjoy a rewarding holiday experience while acquiring skills deeply connected to their country's history and cultural heritage."This edition focuses on the “Mubayyat” chest, a handcrafted wooden travel box once widely used in Qatar for short journeys. Travellers relied on the compact chest to carry personal belongings while staying away from home, making it an essential companion and a familiar feature of everyday life. Today, it stands as a treasured reminder of the country's traditions of travel, hospitality, and craftsmanship.Throughout the four-day workshop, participants will explore the cultural and historical significance of the “Mubayyat” before learning how to construct their own chest using authentic traditional techniques. By engaging directly with the craft, attendees will gain practical skills while helping to preserve one of Qatar's distinctive artisanal traditions.Through initiatives such as “Mahara”, the National Museum of Qatar continues to strengthen public appreciation of traditional craftsmanship, encouraging community members to embrace skills that form an integral part of the nation's identity. By preserving these practices through education and participation, the museum reinforces the enduring role of handmade crafts in documenting Qatar's history and safeguarding its cultural legacy for future generations. 

From a young student visiting the National Museum of Qatar (NMOQ) to a global champion of sport for development, Nasser al-Khori’s journey reflects Qatar’s own transformation, a narrative central to the Evolution Nation campaign celebrating the country’s cultural legacy. As Qatar continues to build on the legacy of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the Evolution Nation video series highlights the people driving the country’s cultural, creative and social transformation. Launched last year, the campaign is spearheaded by Qatar Museums (QM) and curated by Qatar Creates, a cultural movement that promotes engagement with art, design, food, fashion, film and sport in Qatar and beyond. Among the personalities featured is al-Khori, executive director of the Generation Amazing Foundation, whose work has helped transform football into a platform for social development, reaching more than one million people across 75 countries. “I truly believe that art, culture, and sports as well are universal languages,” he said. “They do not need translation to reach anyone,” al-Khori pointed out. “For Qatar, this is an opportunity to share our values, history, and heritage, and build bridges with the world and its people.” He said his own journey has evolved alongside the country’s development, describing how his childhood experiences at the NMOQ shaped his appreciation of the nation’s heritage and identity. “I feel my journey is connected to Qatar’s evolution,” he said. “Just as Qatar brought together its heritage and openness to the world, I also tried to use sports and culture as a bridge connecting people and cultures.” “Through my work on the FIFA World Cup 2022, I had the honour of being part of this global event, and we were able to present Qatar in a new light: a country small in size but great in vision,” al-Khori added. The Generation Amazing Foundation was established in 2010 during Qatar’s successful FIFA World Cup bid and has since focused on using football to teach leadership, communication, teamwork and compassion to young people and underserved communities. Its programmes support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Qatar National Vision 2030 by promoting inclusion, sustainability and gender equality. For al-Khori, however, Qatar’s story is also deeply personal. He recalled visiting the NMOQ on school trips and watching it evolve into a modern landmark that continues to celebrate the country’s heritage. “Honestly, the National Museum of Qatar holds a special place for me,” he said. “Ever since I was young, we used to visit the museum on school trips, and those were some of my favourite memories,” al-Khori recounted. “And today, with the new version, I see a modern design that still carries a heritage spirit.” He believes Qatar’s greatest legacy will be defined not only by its achievements but also by the values it passes on to future generations. “If I had to choose something for the next generation, I would choose the value of generosity and hospitality,” he said. “For me, this is not just a custom, it is the essence of our Qatari identity,” al-Khori continued. “If the next generation preserves it, they will be an extension of our heritage, while also remaining open to the world.” Launched to mark 50 years since the establishment of the original NMOQ in 1975, Evolution Nation celebrates the individuals, institutions and ideas that have shaped the country’s cultural development. Episodes are available on the Qatar Creates YouTube channel and the QM’s social media platforms, documenting the people behind Qatar’s continuing evolution as a cultural, creative and sporting nation. 

A traditional tent woven from goat and camel hair by Qatari women stands at the heart of the “On the Move” exhibition, inviting visitors in Beijing to step inside a world shaped by mobility, resilience, and desert life. The reconstructed Bayt al Sha’ar, or “House of Hair”, serves as one of the centrepieces of the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ)’s first travelling exhibition. It offers a glimpse into how Qatar’s nomadic communities have lived, gathered, and adapted to their environment for generations. Now on display at the National Museum of China (NMC), one of the world’s most visited museums, “On the Move” presents more than 150 artefacts from Qatar alongside photographs, films, oral histories, and archival materials. Together, they document the experiences of people who moved across Qatar’s desert landscape, highlighting the traditions, skills, and resilience that sustained them from the 18th century until the oil era. Qatar Museums (QM) noted that the exhibition, housed in South Gallery 3 and open until September 9, is the first of its kind at the NMC. Through immersive displays and historical narratives, it introduces Chinese audiences to a chapter of Qatar’s heritage that remains largely unfamiliar outside the region. Structured across eight sections, the exhibition sheds light on the history and way of Qatar’s mobile desert populations, while also examining how Arab nomads have been portrayed in media, scholarship, and popular imagination. According to the QM, other sections focus on traditional architecture and weaving practices, the organisation of living spaces, and the close relationship between pastoralists and the animals that sustained their livelihoods. Visitors also learn how nomadic communities adapted to the desert environment through accumulated knowledge and practical skills. Themes of creativity, hospitality, and communal life run throughout the exhibition, which also traces the social and environmental changes brought about by modernisation and the discovery of oil. The journey concludes with “Mapping Migration Memory”, an immersive sound installation exploring migration, memory, and resilience. The Beijing presentation marks the latest chapter in the exhibition’s international journey. Originally launched at the NMoQ in 2022 as part of the Qatar–MENASA (Middle East, North Africa and South Asia) Year of Culture, “On the Move” initially featured more than 400 objects. It later travelled to the National Museum of Mongolia in Ulaanbaatar in 2024, becoming the museum’s first exhibition to be presented outside Qatar. The exhibition’s arrival in China coincides with a milestone in Qatar-China cultural relations. Ten years after the two countries marked the 2016 Year of Culture, the exhibition serves as a reminder of the institutional partnerships and cultural exchanges that emerged from that initiative. According to the QM, the 2016 programme helped establish lasting links between museums and cultural organisations in both countries, creating opportunities for continued collaboration. Nearly a decade later, those connections have evolved into new exhibitions, exchanges, and cultural projects. More than a showcase of artefacts, the QM noted that “On the Move” reflects how cultural ties can continue to grow through museums and shared heritage. As visitors explore the stories of Qatar’s nomadic communities in Beijing, they also encounter a broader story of cultural dialogue between Qatar and China that continues to unfold. 

From the cinematic reimagining of the Doha Film Festival (DFF) to the dual-nation partnership with Latin America, 2025 proved to be a defining year for Qatar’s cultural and creative scene. Marked by major partnerships and museum anniversaries for its leading institutions, the nation further strengthened its status as a regional art hub and bridged the gap between local traditions and global dialogue. The Qatar-Argentina-Chile Year of Culture 2025, a tripartite initiative, brought South America’s vibrancy to the Gulf, especially through the staging of the LatinoAmericano exhibition at the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ). The showcase, a first of its kind in the region, offered a sweeping survey of modern and contemporary art from the collections of Malba and Eduardo F Costantini, creating a unique visual dialogue between the Andes and the Arabian sands. Centered on the concept of belonging, the Tasweer Photo Festival Qatar returned for its third edition and transformed the Fire Station: Artists in Residence and heritage sites across Doha into open-air galleries. The anchor exhibition, ‘To Look at the Sea is to Become What One Is’, drew critical acclaim for highlighting the shared maritime narratives that bind the region's history. Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, meanwhile, marked its 15th anniversary with ‘The Rooted Nomad’, an immersive exhibition dedicated to the life and work of MF Husain, realised in partnership with the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art. The Lawh Wa Qalam (Canvas and Pen) Museum in Education City, Qatar’s dedicated museum for Indian modernist master Maqbool Fida Husain, is one of the year’s most significant cultural event. Housing more than 150 of his works and inspired by a sketch of his own design, the museum deepened cross cultural connections and highlighted Qatar’s role in preserving global modern art legacies. NMoQ also celebrated its 50th anniversary (tracing back to the original 1975 institution) in 2025, underscoring a half-century of preserving the nation’s identity. One of the standout QM exhibitions includes the ‘I M Pei and the Making of the Museum of Islamic Art: From Square to Octagon and Octagon to Circle’, which offers visitors an intimate look at the design evolution of one of Doha’s most iconic cultural landmarks. Celebrating I M Pei’s geometric brilliance and architectural vision, the show deepened public appreciation for the museum as both a container of heritage and a work of art in its own right, bridging cultural history with architectural innovation. The Doha Film Institute unveiled a new chapter with the DFF 2025, held in November 2025. Evolving from the legacy of the Ajyal Film Festival, this expanded event served as a vibrant meeting point for international cinema as it opened with a moving film, ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’. The festival’s renewed focus on fostering regional talent and amplifying unheard voices drew filmmakers from over 60 countries, reasserting Doha’s position as a serious contender on the international festival circuit. Katara Cultural Village continued to serve as a hub for community engagement, particularly during the winter months. The year culminated in a fusion of sports and culture during the FIFA Arab Cup 2025, where Katara hosted daily festivities blending football fever with traditional art forms. The Traditional Dhow Festival, held from November 27 to December 18, offered a maritime heritage experience with craft displays and activities rooted in Qatari seafaring traditions. The 7th edition of Qatar International Art Festival at Katara brought together more than 450 artists from over 70 countries with workshops, panel discussions, fashion shows, art auctions and live painting sessions. Its expanded programme promoted artistic dialogue, sustainable creativity and cultural exchange on a global scale. Earlier in the year, the Katara Oud Festival kept Qatar’s musical heritage alive for a new generation. Design also took centre stage, with Design Doha maintaining momentum through its Marchitecture programme, an entire month dedicated to exploring the city’s urban fabric. Exhibitions such as Ultraleggera at NMoQ, which explored the brilliance of Italian car designer Marcello Gandini, bridged the gap between industrial design and high art, appealing to Qatar’s growing community of creatives and collectors.   

Qatar Museums (QM) and the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) announced the launch of the NMoQ Metaverse Pilot Project, marking a major step in digital cultural innovation.This initiative, developed in collaboration with Cisco, and in turn, with Web3 implementation partner droppGroup, presents a live and intelligent museum experience that integrates immersive 3D environments, augmented and extended reality, and artificial intelligence.The project aims to place Qatar at the forefront of integrating metaverse and AI technologies to enhance museum engagement, while exploring new technologies intended to promote access to culture.By embracing innovation, QM demonstrates its role as a pioneer in cultural transformation and experimentation while supporting the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030.The platform also introduces new opportunities for accessibility and remote learning, allowing students, researchers, and educators to engage with Qatar’s cultural heritage in new ways.In a press statement, NMoQ director Sheikh Abdulaziz al-Thani said: “With the NMoQ Metaverse Pilot Project, we are extending this mission into the digital realm, allowing audiences everywhere to walk through our galleries, engage with our collections, and encounter Qatar’s history in immersive and interactive new ways.“This initiative ensures that NMoQ continues to be not only a guardian of heritage, but also a frontrunner in shaping how museums engage with the world.”QM noted that this project is part of Cisco's Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) programme in Qatar. Active in Qatar since 2019, CDA is Cisco’s strategic programme designed to accelerate the nation's digitalisation agenda and generate new value for its citizens, businesses, and the country as a whole.Through public and private partnerships, the programme focuses on leveraging innovative digital solutions to address national challenges across key sectors such as national infrastructure, education, and smart communities.Through the pilot, visitors can explore digital twins of three galleries: The Archaeology of Qatar, The People of Qatar, and Life in Al Barr (The Desert). Twenty-two curated objects are presented with interactive augmented reality features, detailed descriptions, and direct links to the museum’s online collection.The experience is enhanced by Murjana, NMoQ’s customised digital mascot, who provides bilingual narration in Arabic and English with intelligent, personalised guidance. Accessible on mobile devices, desktops, tablets, and VR headsets, the platform also introduces new opportunities for remote learning, allowing students and educators to engage with Qatar’s cultural heritage in new ways.“QM has consistently demonstrated strategic vision in leveraging technology to advance cultural preservation and global engagement, in alignment with Qatar's national digital ambitions. This initiative is a direct testament to that forward-thinking approach,” said Cisco Qatar general manager Hasan Khan.

The National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) has unveiled “Lehmesa: Return by Moonlight”, an immersive exhibition that explores the life cycles, habitats, and ecological significance of Qatar’s sea turtles.The exhibition focuses on the endangered Hawksbill turtle, the only sea turtle species that nests on Qatar’s beaches, and reflects the nation’s natural endowment.The exhibition was inaugurated by HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums (QM), in the attendance of QM chief executive Mohammed Saad al-Rumaihi, NMoQ director Sheikh Abdulaziz al-Thani and other dignitaries.Taking its name from the local term for a sea turtle, “Lehmesa” celebrates the resilience of the Hawksbill turtle, and reflects the nation’s commitment to protecting its biodiversity.On view from today until February 7, 2026, the exhibition marks the 50th anniversary of the NMoQ, a milestone that honours five decades of preserving and sharing the nation’s cultural and natural legacy.Through six immersive sections, “Lehmesa: Return by Moonlight” traces the Hawksbill’s journey from land to sea, offering visitors a sensory-rich experience inspired by Qatar’s coastlines, coral reefs, and marine habitats.Blending environmental science with creative interpretation, the exhibition features works by London-based artist Josh Gluckstein and encourages visitors to reflect on their role in sustaining the balance of the natural world.As part of the exhibition’s public programming, the NMoQ will host a series of events, workshops, and educational activities in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) and Qatar University.These initiatives are aimed at deepening public understanding of marine biodiversity and conservation, engaging families, students, and communities in hands-on learning experiences that highlight the importance of Qatar’s coastal ecosystems.“Lehmesa: Return by Moonlight” is presented as part of Evolution Nation, an 18-month campaign honouring Qatar’s cultural journey over the past 50 years, since the founding of the NMoQ.Curated by Qatar Creates, the national movement positioning Qatar as a global hub for art, culture, and creativity, Evolution Nation highlights both the nation’s cultural milestones and its aspirations for the future.The exhibition explores the turtle within the context of Qatar’s identity, aligning with the Years of Culture initiative, which shares Qatar’s cultural heritage with partner nations.