Qatar in Colour |
Foreword
I am excited to present to you the sixth edition of Q Magazine, which
highlights the cultures and communities that make Qatar such a vibrant
and diverse country.
In Qatar, there is no place that demonstrates our multicultural society
more vividly than Doha’s Corniche, or waterfront promenade, where
locals and visitors can walk from landmark to landmark and discover how
Qatar’s traditions are reflected in a modern skyline.
| His Excellency Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed
Al Thani
The traditional ships, or dhows, bob up and down along the waterfront
beside the iconic, newly-opened National Museum of Qatar, and the
Museum of Islamic Art, which have helped Qatar be recognised as a global cultural hub.
Souq Waqif showcases our ancient culture, with spices, falconry, and pearls on display. As the sun goes down
over the Arabian Gulf, the souq comes alive, with the people of Doha enjoying the vibrant city nights.
In this edition of Q Magazine, we see that as Qatar grows, our traditions are celebrated. Qatar’s artists have
built giant steel sculptures inspired by traditional Qatari dress, while kite surfers go into the water to connect
with our familial pearl diving heritage. Our sporting communities thrive and events such as the Qatar
International Food Festival are allowing our palate to grow.
The magazine looks at culture through a different lens and puts the spotlight on the people who have
developed, supported, and celebrated the various communities of Doha. Because of these people and
influences we have found that in Qatar today, there is not one definition of culture.
Finally, and in recognition of the Qatar-India Year of Culture, we dive into Qatar’s strong and historic ties
with India, setting out the personal stories that are behind the continuous trade of cuisine, sports, and culture
between the two countries.
In addition to this beautiful new edition of Q Magazine, I would like to invite you to visit our online platform
Q Life.com, which not only contains all Q Magazine stories, but also insightful documentaries that are based on
the people and entities featured in the magazine. If you are looking to browse through some breath-taking
pictures, please discover Q Life on Instagram (@qlife_com).
I am sure that this Q Magazine will give you the opportunity to get to know Qatar and our diverse society
better, and I hope that we will be able to welcome you to our country soon, so you can further discover Qatar’s
cultural treasures.
Saif bin Ahmed Al Thani
Director of the Government Communications Office
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