Diverse cuisine, family-friendly entertainment and the chance to meet and learn from some of the region’s most talented chefs are all part of this year’s edition 

Qatar Tourism celebrated the opening of the 12th edition of the annual Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF) this Saturday at the newly-minted Al Sa’ad Plaza on Lusail Boulevard.

The opening ceremony was attended by HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani with opening remarks presented by Qatar Tourism Chairman and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, HE Akbar Al Baker.

Ongoing until 21 March 21, QIFF is Qatar’s longest-running food and beverage festival and is a headline event in the country’s annual social calendar. In partnership with Qatar Airways, the festival features over 80 exciting and popular culinary vendors and is expected to attract more than 7,000 visitors a day.

QIFF 2023 will run daily from 4 pm until 10 pm on weekdays and from 4 pm until 1 am on weekends. Entrance is free, with pre-registration available at the Visit Qatar website.

Among this year’s official partners are talabat, Ooredoo Qatar, Askar, Qatar Museums: the Qatar-Indonesia 2023 Year of Culture, and Expo 2023 Doha Qatar.

HE Akbar Al Baker said that QIFF is a celebration of the country’s unique and diverse melting pot of cultures and for more than a decade has shone an essential spotlight on Qatar’s thriving culinary scene.

With so many recent world-class restaurant openings, Qatar’s gastronomic landscape is incredibly exciting and we are delighted to showcase all that’s on offer to residents and visitors this March.

Plenty to eat, see, do

Phil Lawrie the general manager of IN-Q Enterprises, the commercial arm and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Qatar Museums, shared that their decade of partnership with world-renowned Michelin-star Chef, Alain Ducasse, has brought to Qatar elevated dining experiences through IDAM in the Museum of Islamic Art, Jiwan at the National Museum of Qatar and Café #999 at the Fire Station.

He said they are grateful to be part of QIFF 2023 as the event is an opportunity to introduce more people to the signature flavours and pleasures of their outlets.

Our restaurants offer a variety of menu options, from French to modern Qatari cuisine to authentic Italian, to satisfy the varied cravings and diverse culinary preferences of the local populace and visitors.

Commenting on the festival, talabat Managing Director Francisco de Sousa, said they are once again delighted to be participating in one of the key food festivals in Qatar, as well as in the region. He said that with diverse culinary offerings, the festival is a testament to the country’s commitment to promoting local and international cuisines and fostering cultural exchange.

At talabat, we believe in the power of food to bring people together, and we are honoured to be part of this exciting event that showcases the best of Qatar’s food culture.

Expo 2023 Doha, represented by its Secretary General, Engineer Mohamed Ali Al-Khouri, saw a great opportunity at the festival to raise awareness about the Expo, its pillars and what it stands for, especially when it comes to putting horticulture and innovation and technology at the service of sustainability. He said that sustainability extends to food waste and leftovers and that QIFF is the perfect forum to start this conversation.

Ooredoo Qatar CEO Sheikh Ali Bin Jabor Al Thani said they are delighted to partner with Qatar Tourism for this year’s festival. He said they are committed to supporting the country and the local community, and helping showcase the many incredible events and activities on offer in Qatar.

Learn from the region’s best chefs

QIFF 2023 will have five daily live cooking theatres with 29 participating chefs, featuring some of the region’s most dynamic and respected chefs.

Food-loving festival-goers can also attend the ticketed interactive food masterclasses where they will have the unique opportunity to sharpen their skillset with some of the industry’s finest including Rachel Allen, Chef Wan, East Levant and more.

Immersive dining experiences

There will be a host of unusual – and delicious – dining options available for guests

  • High-end afternoon tea at Harrod’s
  • The festival’s customary cornucopia of world cuisine food trucks is making a return this year. From sumptuous Mexican tacos to gorgeously flavoursome Filipino kare-kare, guests are sure to find something mouth-watering among the melee of carts
  • There will be a dedicated area to Indonesian cuisine, as part of the celebration for the Qatar-Indonesia Year of Culture 2023
  • An entire section exclusively for vegan cuisine and healthy food options

World-class entertainment

A suite of varied and lively entertainment options for the entire family will also be on offer at QIFF 2023. Throughout the festival, there will be roaming acts, a nightly fireworks show and a publicly-accessible VIP section.

Guests can get their skates on at a custom-made skate ring, and an entire Kids Section will be available for the little ones, with entertainment organised by Aura Entertainment.

QIFF 2023 can be easily accessed via Doha Metro (QNB Station) and car, with several parking options in close proximity to Lusail Boulevard. On a daily basis, all leftover food will be collected and distributed by the festival’s charity partner Hifz Al NAENA.

SEE ALSO: Qatar International Food Festival 2023

For more details about QIFF 2023, check out visitqatar.com. 

Check out Marhaba’s FREE e-Guides for everything you need to know about Qatar.