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Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) has been awarded a Unesco Chair on Digital Technologies and Human Behaviour, with the College of Science and Engineering’s (CSE) Dr Raian Ali appointed as Chairholder from June 2025 to June 2029.Unesco’s Chairs Programme represents the organisation’s most significant intersectoral activity in higher education. The designation is in recognition of HBKU’s excellence, building on the existing Unesco Chairs on Environmental Law and Sustainable Development, a statement said Wednesday.The new Chair will explore the intersection between digital technologies and human behaviour, promoting digital well-being, ethical use of technology, and positive societal transformation. It will also encourage healthy human interaction both online and offline, tackling challenges such as Internet addiction, cyberbullying, and misinformation, while fostering active engagement in addressing these issues.Commenting on the announcement and the significance of the Chair, Dr Mounir Hamdi, Dean, CSE, stated: “Technology is transforming every aspect of how we live, work, and connect. Through this Unesco Chair, HBKU will lead a global effort to ensure that digital transformation empowers people, strengthens communities, amplifies underrepresented voices, and contributes to a healthier relationship between humanity and evolving technologies.”As part of its activities, the Chair will address the ethical implications of artificial intelligence (AI) while embracing its potential benefits, stressing the importance of aligning technology with cultural values and societal norms. By merging a cross-disciplinary approach within Qatar, the region and globally, the programme will promote collaboration among stakeholders, including ministries, policymakers, health professionals, and educators, to maximise social and economic impact.The Chair will also host events that encourage dialogue, knowledge exchange, and innovation across academia, industry, and public policy. These platforms help co-create solutions that are more likely to be adopted and sustained.Dr Ali said: “I am proud to lead this exceptional opportunity to advance research that ensures technology serves human values responsibly. At HBKU, we aim to generate evidence-based insights that promote digital well-being, impact-driven innovation, and a digital future shaped by ethics.”By collaborating with more than 15 partner institutions from over 10 countries and engaging around 40 professionals, the Chair reflects HBKU’s commitment to shaping a holistic and forward-thinking ecosystem that aligns with Qatar’s national priorities and the university’s core research strengths, the statement added.

Qatar University (QU) announced that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), during its 43rd session held in Samarkand, Republic of Uzbekistan, has officially approved the inclusion of the 50th anniversary of the founding of QU in the organisation's list of commemorative events for 2026-2027.The university said, in a statement, the decision follows a proposal submitted by the State of Qatar, represented by QU and the Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, and supported by several national commissions of member states.The approval recognises QU's pioneering role since its establishment in 1977 in advancing higher education and research, its sustained contributions to community service and national development, and its commitment to strengthening Qatar's academic and scientific presence regionally and internationally, in alignment with Unesco's objectives in education, science, and culture.This decision also represents international recognition of QU's standing as the nation's first and leading university, an academic and research hub that has, over five decades, prepared national talents, enhanced the higher education ecosystem in Qatar, and supported quality education, knowledge-based economic growth, research, innovation, and partnerships with distinguished international institutions.It further highlights QU's contributions to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.The decision reflects the State of Qatar's prioritisation of education as a cornerstone of comprehensive development and a key pillar in achieving Qatar National Vision 2030, as well as its active engagement within multilateral organisations, particularly Unesco.The Golden Jubilee program will feature various activities and events in which Unesco may participate during 2026 and 2027. These include joint academic and cultural events, research and educational initiatives showcasing QU's achievements, and collaborations with local and international partners to document the university's journey through exhibitions, symposia, and publications that highlight its contributions to Qatar's educational renaissance.The planned activities and events will be announced at a later stage.The celebration aims to underscore QU's academic and scientific leadership, reaffirm its role as a national institution and a key driver of human development in Qatar, and envision its future beyond the Golden Jubilee as a beacon of education, research, and innovation in the region.It is noteworthy that since 1956, Unesco has supported the commemoration of fiftieth and centennial anniversaries of significant historical events, institutions, and influential figures celebrated by its member states, recognising their global importance.Such commemorations aim to highlight distinguished personalities, achievements, and milestones that foster international understanding, cultural exchange, and closer relations among peoples in the service of peace.

Commitment to promoting education and protecting world cultural heritage Qatar affirmed its commitment to supporting and promoting education and protecting world cultural heritage.This came in a speech delivered by HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education and Chairperson of the Qatari National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, Lolwah bint Rashid AlKhater during her participation in the 43rd session of the General Conference of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, with the participation of ministers and officials from various countries around the world.At the outset of her speech to the conference, HE AlKhater expressed Qatar's gratitude to the government of Uzbekistan for its hospitality and excellent organisation, and commended the selection of Samarkand as the Capital of Culture in the Islamic World for 2025.She emphasised that the world faces increasing humanitarian and technological challenges that require collective action to reorder priorities and place humanity at the heart of development.She also reiterated Qatar's unwavering support for the brotherly Palestinian people and the preservation of their cultural heritage. She emphasised the importance of Unesco redoubling its efforts to protect educational and cultural institutions in conflict-affected areas, particularly in Palestine and Sudan, where historical and educational sites are suffering widespread destruction that threatens our shared human heritage.HE the Minister also commended the signing of the updated agreement between Qatar and Unesco concerning the Multi-Sectoral Regional Office in Doha, noting that its entry into force in February 2025 will contribute to strengthening regional co-operation in education, culture, and science.She explained that Qatar, under the directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, launched its third development strategy (2024-2030), which places education at the heart of sustainable development and the transition to a knowledge-based economy. She highlighted Qatar's achievements in this field, including hosting the 14th Conference of Arab Ministers of Education and preparing for the 5th Regional Conference on Higher Education in May 2026, as well as Doha Municipality winning the Unesco Learning Cities Award for 2024.HE AlKhater also reviewed Qatar's global contributions to supporting education through the Education Above All Foundation, which has provided learning opportunities to more than 14.5mn children and young people in over 60 countries, in addition to the efforts of the Qatar Fund for Development and Qatar Charity in supporting education in conflict zones.In the cultural sphere, she noted Qatar's accession to the Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, the inscription of date palms and henna on Uneco's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and Qatar's hosting of the Conference on Archaeology and Cultural Heritage in the Arab World in October 2025.She affirmed Qatar's commitment to continued co-operation with member states to achieve Unesco's goals and its noble mission of building a more peaceful and humane world.HE AlKhater also participated in a closed ministerial session entitled "Transforming Tomorrow Today: On the Skills Needed for a Sustainable Future," during which she emphasised that Qatar National Vision 2030 places human beings at the heart of sustainable development and seeks to build an educational system that strengthens national identity and embraces global engagement. She said: "Our goal is not only to prepare learners for the jobs of tomorrow, but to empower them to shape tomorrow itself, so they can be a force for good, knowledge, and development."The conference brought together over 2,800 representatives from 190 countries, marking the first such event held outside Unesco headquarters in Paris in over forty years.Dr Khaled El-Enany was elected as the new Director-General of Unesco, succeeding Ms Audrey Azoulay, becoming the first Arab to hold this prestigious position.Qatar's participation in the 43rd session of the Unesco General Conference underscores its commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 4 on quality education, and aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030, which places human beings at the heart of comprehensive development.

Several member states of the Executive Board of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) have commended Qatar's role in promoting peace in the region, in co-ordination with Egypt, Turkiye and the US.The praise came during the closing session of Unesco's 222nd Executive Board meeting, where representatives from countries including Turkiye, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Oman highlighted Qatar's role in promoting peace during discussions on agenda items related to the Gaza Strip.In a statement delivered during the session, Qatar's Permanent Representative to Unesco, HE Dr Nasser bin Hamad al-Hanzab, emphasised that education is a shared responsibility of the international community and a critical pillar for stability and peace in Gaza, underscoring the role of Unesco in this regard.In a related development, the Committee on Conventions and Recommendations, chaired by HE Dr al-Hanzab, held two public sessions to review items related to the implementation of Unesco's legal and regulatory instruments. The committee addressed mechanisms for enforcing and monitoring these conventions and recommendations among member states, with HE Dr al-Hanzab presenting a report to the Executive Board.The committee also worked to ensure the monitoring of all Unesco-related agreements and recommendations was fully implemented.Furthermore, the committee discussed several human rights issues within Unesco's mandate and examined ways to strengthen international human rights protections, in accordance with the Executive Board's resolutions and Unesco's legal instruments on human rights.

In a collective effort to advance sustainable development through education, education leaders and key stakeholders from across the Arab states concluded in Beirut Wednesday the ESD-NET Arab Region 2025 Regional Workshop. The two-day high-level strategic meeting aimed to accelerate the integration of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) into national education systems and to strengthen regional collaboration to drive progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Hosted by the Unesco Regional Office in Beirut, in partnership with the Unesco Regional Office in Doha, the workshop serves as a key milestone in supporting Arab member states to operationalise the ESD-NET Global Network framework. It focuses on confirming the ESD-NET Terms of Reference, finalising the 2026–2027 Regional Roadmap, and aligning collective efforts to mainstream sustainability within education systems in the region. "This workshop is a new beginning towards a green and sustainable Arab education. Unesco, through its offices in Beirut, Doha, and its headquarters in Paris, is fully committed to supporting countries in this journey — strengthening education systems, empowering teachers, developing curricula, and building strong partnerships with communities and the private sector," said Maysoun Chehab, officer in charge of the Unesco Regional Office in Beirut. This gathering builds on the momentum generated by the 2025 ESD-Arab NET webinar series, which mobilised governments, civil society, the private sector and academic institutions to strengthen the ESD ecosystem in the Arab region. A key highlight of the workshop was the official launch of the Arabic language versions of the Greening Education Partnership’s resources, including the Green Schools Quality Standard and the Greening Curriculum Guidance. “These important resources will support countries in transforming learning environments and curricula to be more climate-responsive and action-oriented," said Salah Khaled, director of the Unesco Regional Office for the Gulf states and Yemen.

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC) on Tuesday organized a workshop titled 'Activating the National Program for Effective Management of Protected Areas in the State of Qatar', in cooperation with the Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science and the UNESCO Office for the Gulf States and Yemen. Attended by several national and international officials and experts as well as representatives from government agencies, academic institutions and civil society organizations, the two-day workshop is part of the country's efforts to develop protected area management and align with international environmental obligations. Director of Natural Reserves Department at the MECC, Saleh Hassan Al Kuwari, highlighted the workshop as an important milestone in Qatar's journey towards achieving environmental sustainability and strengthening the national commitment to the Kunming-Montreal 2022 Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to protect 30 percent of the world's land and water by 2030. The workshop, he added, represents a strategic platform for developing effective tools for integrated management of reserves and building an institutional system that ensures continuity and efficiency, based on Qatar National Vision 2030, which balances development requirements with the conservation of natural resources. He pointed out that the workshop discussed several topics, including biodiversity in the country and the reality of protected areas in terms of achievements, challenges, and opportunities. It also reviewed the strategies and tools adopted for planning and managing these areas, emphasizing the importance of translating the workshop's outcomes into realistic implementation plans within specific timeframes. Assistant Director of Natural Reserves Department Nawaf Jabr Al Nuaimi noted the State of Qatar's success in expanding the scope of natural reserves to include 25.5 percent of the land area and 2.28 percent of the marine area, equivalent to approximately 29 percent of the country's total area. These reserves include sites of environmental and cultural significance, such as Khor Al Adaid, Al Reem Reserve, Khor Al Thakhira, and Al Shahaniya Wildlife Breeding Center. He added that these achievements face challenges, including development pressures, unregulated human and tourism activities, and the repercussions of climate change. However, they are also coupled with promising opportunities in the fields of ecotourism and sustainable resource use, with the participation of local communities and the private sector. He explained that the workshop aimed to discuss these challenges and explore practical solutions by assessing the status of the protected area network, measuring the effectiveness of its management, exploring opportunities for international recognition, and developing sustainable financing mechanisms, in preparation for developing a general framework for a national action plan for the effective management of protected areas. This workshop complements the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change's efforts to develop reserves management. Previously, the Ministry launched a program to evaluate the administrative effectiveness of protected areas in numerous locations, including Al Dhakira, Khor Al Adaid, Sani', Umm Al Amad, Laareeq, and Al Riffa. The program aims to ensure their compliance with international standards adopted by the Convention on Biological Diversity and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The program seeks to develop a transitional strategy, extending from 2025 to 2028, that includes identifying intervention priorities and administrative planning and building the capacity of the national team through practical training and specialized technical workshops to enhance the readiness of national cadres in the fields of environmental planning and management.

Katara Cultural Village has launched the “Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads” photo exhibition, which is organised in co-operation with the Katara Centre for Public Diplomacy and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).The exhibition was attended by a number of ambassadors as well as the Unesco representative for the Gulf States and Yemen and director of the Unesco Office in Doha, Salah El Din Zaki Khaled.Running until October 14, the exhibition displays 30 photos from 21 countries, selected in the international competition "Youth Lens on the Silk Roads", organised by Unesco.Katara general manager of Katara Prof Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti stressed that the exhibition reflects the close co-operation between Katara and the Unesco, confirming the mutual appreciation for culture and art, and for building bridges of communication between cultures and people.He stated that they are creating a new path inspired by the Silk Road, connecting the East to the West and the North to the South through artwork that reflects the unique human heritage of various cultures.Dr al-Sulaiti emphasised the significant role of Arabs in promoting Arab culture along this historic trade route.He also noted that the exhibition highlights Katara's ongoing efforts to foster collaboration with various organisations to promote the importance of cultural exchange, understanding, and peace among nations.Zaki Khaled described the exhibition as an expression of the Unesco's celebration of the community and cultural participation of youth through the activities of the Unesco Silk Roads Programme of the Unesco Social and Human Sciences Sector, and voiced his appreciation of the efforts of the Katara Cultural Village in co-operation and joint work.He said that through the international competition exhibition "Youth Lens on the Silk Roads", the Unesco aims to enhance youth engagement with their cultural heritage and share their ideas with the world.Zaki Khaled noted that the exhibition showcases vibrant perspectives from young artists living or travelling along historical routes, reflecting their spirit of creativity and collaboration.Speaking to the Qatar News Agency (QNA), he said the contest, in its fourth edition for 2024, received 300 applicants from 21 countries, of which 30 were selected.They completed their works that reflected the cultural heritage of their countries, which are located on the Silk Road.In a related context, photographer Abdulrahman Abdullah from Bangladesh shared that his contribution to the exhibition was inspired by a heritage festival in Katara, highlighting Qatar's cultural legacy.His photograph features a person holding a falcon, symbolising the care for heritage.Abdullah said that Katara's support for such exhibitions fosters the development of artists' talents, particularly among emerging photographers. – QNA

Building on the enduring cultural and historical connections between the Arab world and Latin America and the Caribbean, Unesco organised the “Arab Latinos! Shared Roots, Shared Horizons” event at the United Nations House in Doha.The gathering highlighted the need to foster sustainable South–South solidarity and mutual support in the face of today’s global challenges, while also showcasing how literature, archives, and cinema can advance inclusive narratives, promote intercultural dialogue, and contribute to peacebuilding.The event brought together representatives of more than 32 embassies alongside academics and cultural leaders, underscoring broad international support for the Arab Latinos! initiative and its role in strengthening cultural cooperation between regions.‘’Arab Latinos! is not only a celebration of this legacy, but also a strategic platform for South-South co-operation, echoing the spirit of the United Nations Day for South-South Co-operation,” said Salah Khaled, the Unesco representative to the Gulf States and Yemen and director of Unesco Office in Doha.“Through education, culture, the sciences, and communication, this initiative seeks to foster inclusive dialogue, collaborative knowledge production, and solidarity across regions of the South,” he said. “Through this event, we are proud to contribute to the Qatar-Argentina-Chile 2025 Year of Culture.”The first roundtable discussion on Al-Mahjar focused on the literary heritage of Arab migrants in Latin America and emphasised the importance of preserving the archives of Arab Latinos.Refqa Abu-Remaileh, associate professor in residence at Northwestern University in Qatar, and Tan Huism, executive director of the Qatar National Library, stressed that the preservation, documentation, and accessibility of these sources require the co-ordinated engagement of governments, national institutions, academia, and civil society.In a second roundtable, “Cinema as a Bridge”, experts retraced the history of the Arab Latinos cinema and its powerful medium for promoting intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding.Prof Geraldo de Campos from the Department of International Relations at the Federal University of Sergipe in Brazil and Christian Mouroux, the director of the LatinArab International Film Festival in Buenos Aires, illustrated how LatinArab co-productions create opportunities for collaborative storytelling that reflect diverse identities and self-narratives.These partnerships enrich artistic expression, transcend borders, and challenge stereotypes, thereby advancing South-South solidarity co-operation in line with Unesco’s mission of promoting international co-operation through its fields of expertise.Building on the exchanges, participants emphasised the importance of advancing the Arab Latinos! initiative through concrete follow-up actions, including expanding access to archives, fostering cultural exchanges, and reinforcing bilateral co-operation between national institutions.

As part of its commitment to preserving documentary heritage and fostering regional cooperation, the National Archive of Qatar, in collaboration with Unesco, announced the establishment of the Memory of the World Regional Committee for the Arab States.The announcement came during a regional conference hosted in Doha in January 2025 on strengthening co-operation on documentary heritage in the Arab region.At the conference, organised under the patronage of the National Archive of Qatar and Unesco, Secretary-General of the National Archives of Qatar Dr Ahmed Abdullahal-Buainain was elected chair of the committee. That was a milestone that underscored Qatar's growing role in supporting Arab documentary heritage.Additionally, Qatar National Library inaugurated the regional office of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) to strengthen co-ordination between institutions dedicated to preserving documentary heritage in the Arab world and the Middle East.In the same context, Qatar also announced the formation of the National Committee for the Implementation of the Unesco Memory of the World Programme. This national mechanism will oversee the preparation of a Qatari registry for documentary heritage, nominate eligible Qatari documents for inscription in the global Memory of the World register, and co-ordinate with the programme's secretariat, the Gulf regional committee, and national stakeholders.Commenting on this initiative, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture Dr Ghanem bin Mubarak al-Ali, told QNA that the committee was established by a Cabinet decision to implement the Unesco programme designed to safeguard the world's documentary heritage. He noted that the committee will propose partnerships with public and private sector entities, organise programmes and events to raise awareness of the programme, and promote the importance of protecting documentary heritage in co-operation with authorities concerned.PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS PLANNEDDr al-Ali said that the committee is currently working on collecting and categorising documents and preparing mechanisms to identify and classify originals. The initial phases of the Memory of the World project are underway, and the coming period will see a series of workshops aimed at training participants on conservation techniques and highlighting the significance of preserving heritage for future generations. Public awareness campaigns and events are also planned in collaboration with national institutions.He stressed that Qatar attributes great importance to safeguarding documentary heritage as a sustainable legacy for future generations. In this regard, the committee works hand in hand with Unesco to co-ordinate responsibilities, carry out its mandate, and implement programmes. Co-operation with Unesco, he added, is continuous and intensive, serving the broader effort to preserve documentary heritage globally.Dr al Ali emphasised that Qatar seeks to expand its initiatives in this field by supporting local, regional, and international efforts to preserve historical documents and raise awareness of their importance, highlighting that documentary heritage is a cornerstone of nations' identity and history. Protecting it, therefore, is a shared responsibility that requires integrated efforts to ensure its continuity for generations to come.In light of the transformations taking place across the Arab world, and the growing risks threatening national archives and the historical memory of people, the importance of the role of the Memory of the World Committee for the Arab Region under Unesco has come to the fore. Qatar was elected chair of this committee in January, reflecting the significant confidence the Arab world places in Qatar and its distinguished role in safeguarding documentary heritage.AMBITIOUS STRATEGYIn this context, Dr Ahmed Abdullah al-Buainain, who serves as Secretary-General of the National Archive of Qatar and Chair of the Memory of the World Committee for the Arab Region, told QNA that preserving Arab documentary heritage is a collective responsibility requiring institutional co-ordination and strategic vision. He pointed to Qatar's efforts through an ambitious strategy and pioneering projects built on advanced infrastructure and strong technical expertise in digital preservation and preventive conservation.Dr al-Buainain said that the committee represents a regional organisational framework with a strategic function in preserving Arab documentary heritage. It helps raise awareness of the importance of historical documents as an inseparable part of collective memory and a pillar of national identity. He noted that since Unesco launched the Memory of the World Programme in 1992, it has relied on a structure consisting of regional committees and national committees.He said that the committee established plays a pivotal role in co-ordinating Arab efforts and directing them toward integrated work to face the challenges confronting preservation, documentation, and digitization.He added that the creation of the committee also highlights the importance of Arab documentary heritage, which remains underrepresented in the global Memory of the World register at only 4%. He stressed that the figuret does not reflect the richness, long history, and geographic breadth of Arab heritage.Dr al-Buainain stressed that the committee bases its approach on regional co-operation as a practical tool to enhance institutional capacities in Arab states. Its activities focus on joint initiatives including professional training, sharing expertise, and best practices in documentary heritage preservation. It also supports collective nominations to Unesco's Memory of the World register, enhancing knowledge integration among states with historical or cultural ties.Regarding co-ordination mechanisms among Arab states within the committee, he said that it relies on national focal points in each member state, along with subcommittees and working groups on different aspects of preservation. Regular meetings, training workshops, and partnerships with regional and international bodies ensure a high level of technical and institutional co-ordination, enabling flexible and integrated field responses.The Secretary-General of the National Archive of Qatar and Chair of the Arab Committee outlined the main areas of the committee's plans to preserve Arab documentary heritage. The first area focuses on training and qualification through specialised programmes in preservation, cataloguing, and restoration to raise staff skills in archives and documentation centres. The second focuses on digitization by supporting national and regional projects to convert paper documents into long-term digital copies. The third is on nominations, helping Arab countries prepare comprehensive files for the inscription of their historically valuable documents in Unesco's Memory of the World register. The fourth concerns building unified databases to allow systematic access to historical documents and enhance academic research and co-operation.On Qatar's contributions, Dr al-Buainain said the country was a regional model in preserving national memory, thanks to its sustained support for documentary projects of both local and regional importance. He highlighted Qatar's forward-looking vision, which ties documentary heritage to sustainable cultural development, as well as its strong support for regional institutions.He recalled the key role played by the National Archive of Qatar in organising an international conference on supporting the preservation of documentary heritage in the Arab region. The conference took place in Doha last January. He said that the conference was a turning point, resulting in the launch of the Arab Regional Memory of the World Committee in co-ordination with Unesco. Prior to this event, Unesco had held three virtual preparatory meetings over three months with Arab heritage experts to finalise the committee's bylaws and prepare for the election of its executive bureau, which was successfully completed at the conference.On the role of the National Archive of Qatar, he emphasised that it plays a central role in preservation based on ambitious strategies, advanced infrastructure, technical expertise in digital archiving, preventive conservation, and document treatment. It also trains professionals and participates in Arab documentation projects, making it a leading reference in the region for safeguarding historical memory.Dr al-Buainain concluded by stressing that preserving Arab documentary heritage is not only a technical or professional task, but a collective responsibility requiring the combined efforts of institutions, researchers, and societies. He added that a document is more than a static record: it embodies identity, builds historical awareness, strengthens knowledge, and preserves national and cultural identity for future generations.Director of national collections and special initiatives at Qatar National Library Abeer Saad al-Kuwari emphasised that the library's selection as the first regional office of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) in the Middle East and North Africa represents a historic achievement for the Arab world. She noted that it reflects the library's leading role in spreading knowledge and safeguarding heritage.NEW HORIZONS TO BOLSTER REGIONAL CO-OPERATIONIn remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA), she said that this selection opens new horizons for strengthening regional co-operation and advancing the library sector in the Arab world. It is also a strategic step that underscores Qatar's commitment to building an advanced information infrastructure in the Middle East and North Africa, and consolidating a partnership based on a shared vision of adopting international standards in information and library science while respecting the region's cultural identity.Speaking about the library's role as the IFLA regional office, she clarified that the office functions as IFLA's co-ordinating branch for the region, implementing IFLA programmes and initiatives locally, supporting Arab libraries and information institutions, and enabling co-ordination among 22 Arab countries. The office also promotes training programmes, policy development, and exchanges of knowledge and expertise with international libraries. She described it as a platform for regional co-operation, one that enhances IFLA's role and drives initiatives for knowledge dissemination and heritage preservation across the Arab world.She pointed out that the office strengthens Arab representation in IFLA's decision-making in an unprecedented way. Its presence in Doha, she said, makes it easier to access global expertise hosted by the library through exhibitions and events, while also providing Qatar National Library with direct exposure to international experiences in digitization and conservation. This, she noted, facilitates collaboration with policymakers and experts on joint projects in areas such as heritage disaster management and training specialists in manuscript and document preservation.Al-Kuwari highlighted that the regional office boosts the library's capacity to serve cultural heritage. Through it, the library will launch regional projects to preserve manuscripts and historical documents, and to combat the illicit trade in documentary heritage and cultural treasures, in co-operation with partners.She added that the library is committed to training preservation specialists from different countries on modern conservation and restoration techniques. Since becoming IFLA's regional center for the preservation and conservation of library materials in 2015, the library has led initiatives in this field, organising workshops and training courses to help Arab libraries adopt best practices.She further explained that Qatar National Library has also spearheaded efforts to fight the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage. Through its Himaya (Protection) project, it works to counter the smuggling of manuscripts and historical documents in the Middle East and North Africa, in collaboration with international bodies such as Unesco and Interpol. She stressed that these efforts reinforce the protection of Arab and Islamic heritage, ensuring it is passed down to future generations and strengthening identity and awareness of the region's civilisational history.On the library's efforts to preserve Arab and Islamic heritage, she said that this mission is one of its main priorities. To this end, the library established its Heritage Library, which houses a vast collection of rare manuscripts, historical books, maps, and photographs, preserving invaluable treasures that reflect the history of Arab and Islamic civilisation. She noted that the library has digitized more than 16mn pages of heritage and cultural material, and that this effort is ongoing to safeguard them for future generations.She also pointed to the launch of Qatar Digital Library in partnership with international institutions, which offers millions of documentary and historical pages freely online to researchers and the public. In addition, the library has developed the most advanced conservation and preservation centre in the Arab region, where manuscripts and documents are restored using state-of-the-art scientific methods.Alongside its research support, Qatar National Library regularly organises lectures, seminars, and exhibitions that shed light on significant moments in Arab and Islamic history. This year's highlights included an exhibition on the history of manuscript bookmaking in Morocco.DIGITIZATION PROJECTRegarding future plans, al-Kuwari revealed that the library intends to expand its preservation work, building on what has already been achieved. She confirmed that the library will continue its comprehensive digitization project to fully safeguard Arab and Islamic heritage and transform it into an enduring digital legacy of inestimable value. These initiatives, she said, underscore the library's vision of preserving collective memory and strengthening the region's role as a source of inspiration and innovation globally.Concluding her remarks to QNA, she said that the library will continue its partnerships and initiatives to unify Arab efforts in heritage protection. She added that awareness programs will be launched to engage the wider community, particularly youth, in valuing cultural heritage and participating in its preservation through volunteering, research, and documentation. As IFLA's regional office, she confirmed, Qatar National Library will soon announce joint action plans with IFLA to strengthen the library sector and promote heritage documentation and restoration projects across the Arab world. The goal, she stressed, is for the library to remain a beacon for protecting and disseminating heritage and a bridge linking the Arab nation's past with its present and future.