Qatar Museums to host cultural programme at heritage sites

Qatar Museums (QM) is set to launch a series of engaging and educational cultural activities at Al Zubarah Unesco World Heritage Site and the newly restored Al Ruwais police station.

The Zubarah Cultural Fair will offer participants hands-on experience of traditional practices, while the “Window to the Past” exhibition at Ruwais is designed to inform visitors about traditional life in Qatar.

Starting December 15 and running until March, QM said visitors can admire traditional craft exhibits in a series of tents, participate in a number of exciting hands-on workshops, enjoy camel rides and sample food and refreshments.

The aim of the workshops is to educate the local community about the traditional crafts and materials that played a significant role in the country’s history, which will help participants appreciate their ancestors’ skills, wisdom and heritage.

The activities will take place at the newly re-opened Museum and Archaeological Site at Al Zubarah from 9am to 5pm and entrance is free.

The old Police Station at Al Ruwais, located only a 15-minutes drive north of Al Zubarah, has been restored and now serves as a permanent exhibition space with an onsite café.

The “Window to the Past” exhibition, on show at the police station, will feature objects found during excavations at nearby sites and encourages visitors to explore historical buildings in the neighbourhood, such as the recently restored, oldest mosque in Qatar.

The exhibition will open on December 15 at 11am with free traditional Qatari food, which will also be served on Qatar National Day. The onsite café will operate on weekends from 10am to 5pm through March, while the museum will be open all year 9am to 5pm, free for visitors.

This initiative comes as part of QM’s continued efforts to increase awareness of Qatar’s history, develop youth appreciation and respect for heritage, and put local communities, young and old, in touch with their past.