Under the patronage of The Amir, HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, activities of Doha Capital of Culture in the Islamic World 2021 will commence on Monday, 8 March 2021 and will continue throughout the year.
The year-long activities will be under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture and Sports, in cooperation with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO); Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science; the Ministry of Education and Higher Education; the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs; Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF); Qatar Museums (QM); and Katara Cultural Village Foundation.
ICESCO selected Doha to be the ‘Capital of Culture in the Islamic World for 2021’ given its history and legacy, the civilisational components and landmarks in Qatar that reflect the Islamic character, and based on the fact that Doha is considered a venue for dialogue, cultures and openness to civilisations.
Doha’s hosting of this Islamic event promotes the bonds of friendship and respect between Qatar and other countries, in particular the Islamic world, and constitutes an opportunity to highlight the State’s cultural diversity and historic monuments, and the human values of Qatar’s culture and its ancient history.
The activities of Doha Capital of Culture in the Islamic World 2021 seek to promote the eternal Islamic values, especially those based on science and human dignity; promote the Islamic cultural heritage in an interconnected world; encourage creativity and innovation as civilised values that enrich the Islamic civilisation; inspire the new generations in the Islamic world to enrich the global cultural scene through a productive and effective role; focus on cultural diversity as an added value for Islamic countries and the Islamic culture in general; and introduce the cultural experience of Qatar and its efforts in promoting the Islamic culture.
According to the general coordinator of the celebration, Hamad Al Athba, choosing Doha as a capital of the Islamic culture was the result of meeting the conditions that make it a shining Islamic beacon in the sky of the Arab and Islamic world. Qatar is interested in Islamic heritage in particular, and archaeological heritage and history in general, through the restoration of a number of archaeological areas in the country, in addition to its constant endeavour to find historic and Islamic artefacts that highlight the Islamic monuments in the past centuries, as is the case in the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA).
He added that Doha Capital of Culture in the Islamic World 2021 comes in conjunction with the continuous preparations to host FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ and the construction boom the country has witnessed in a short period in various fields, especially in infrastructure.
According to the Secretary-General of Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, Dr Hamda Hassan Al Sulaiti, hosting the Doha Capital of Culture in the Islamic World 2021 comes within the efforts exerted by the State of Qatar to spread the Islamic and humanitarian culture. He noted that the decision to launch Islamic cultural capitals was issued in Doha 20 years ago when it was adopted by the third Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers, and provided for the nomination of three cultural capitals in the Islamic world every year, representing the three Arab, Asian and African regions.
According to the Director of the Culture and Arts Department at the Ministry of Culture and Sports, Faisal Al Suwaidi, Qatar’s hosting of Doha Capital of Culture in the Islamic World 2021 contributes to the Ministry’s strategy for 2018-22, which seeks to provide a developing cultural environment for Qatari society in all its components.
He noted that cooperation between all parties , including strategic partners and participating bodies, resulted in preparing more than 70 diverse events during the current year as part of the activities.
The celebration of Doha Capital of Culture in the Islamic World 2021 represents the Arab region, and it coincides with the same celebration in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, representing the Asian region, and Banjul, the capital of the Gambia, representing the African region.
For more information, visit dcciw.qa or the ICESCO website.
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