December
Through showcasing creativity and the arts, opening up new avenues in the Arabic language, and celebrating the nation’s continuing journey, the final weeks of 2024 illustrated QF’s commitment to perpetuating the cultural heritage of Qatar and the Arab-Islamic world.
Social Progress
A Vibrant IdentityFrom theater and musical performances to poetry readings, educational workshops, and activities for people of all ages to immerse themselves in, Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Al Ghorrah for Literature and Arts showcased how creativity and cultural heritage stand as enduring pillars of identity.
The five-day showcase of creative talent rooted in the cultural heritage and arts of Arab-Islamic civilizations entertained and enlightened thousands of visitors from across Qatar and beyond, including through a closing performance by Hamza Namira, one of the Arab world’s leading singers and musicians.
Sponsored by the Social & Sport Contribution Fund (DAAM), and with partners including the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Qatar Calendar, and Qatar Television, Al Ghorrah also featured performances by Mustafa Said and the Asil Ensemble, and Yemeni orchestra Sada Alebda, as well as a Qatari-Moroccan musical medley featuring Asmaa Mnor.
“This unique platform highlights the beauty of diverse artistic expressions, from traditional heritage to contemporary creativity,” said Namira. “Joining Al Ghorrah allows a connection between audiences and fellow artists in a meaningful cultural exchange."
From theater and musical performances to poetry readings, educational workshops, and activities for people of all ages to immerse themselves in, Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Al Ghorrah for Literature and Arts showcased how creativity and cultural heritage stand as enduring pillars of identity.
The five-day showcase of creative talent rooted in the cultural heritage and arts of Arab-Islamic civilizations entertained and enlightened thousands of visitors from across Qatar and beyond, including through a closing performance by Hamza Namira, one of the Arab world’s leading singers and musicians.
Sponsored by the Social & Sport Contribution Fund (DAAM), and with partners including the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Qatar Calendar, and Qatar Television, Al Ghorrah also featured performances by Mustafa Said and the Asil Ensemble, and Yemeni orchestra Sada Alebda, as well as a Qatari-Moroccan musical medley featuring Asmaa Mnor.
“This unique platform highlights the beauty of diverse artistic expressions, from traditional heritage to contemporary creativity,” said Namira. “Joining Al Ghorrah allows a connection between audiences and fellow artists in a meaningful cultural exchange."
Al Ghorrah is an attempt to seek refuge in the cultural constant against the various existential calamities of our time.
Social Progress
In The SpotlightAlongside theatrical performances from established artists, Al Ghorrah acted as a vibrant platform for the expression of young artistic talent.
Its Theatrical Performance Competition – held in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education – invited young artists to submit plays inspired by 1001 Nights, with the winners taking to the stage at Education City’s Oxygen Park during Al Ghorrah to perform in front of Qatar’s community.
The event was also the setting for the winners of Al Ghorrah’s Arabic Poetry Competition, organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, to take their turn in the spotlight; while Al Ghorrah’s Talent Stage allowed a diverse range of artists to display their talents, supporting the artistic community of Qatar and the region.
Meanwhile, visitors flocked to Al Ghorrah’s daily parade, combining traditional music and colorful costumes; workshops for children and families offered the opportunity to explore and experience everything from Arabic calligraphy and Islamic geometric patterns to puppet making to leatherworking; and culinary experiences from an array of nations blended food with storytelling.
Alongside theatrical performances from established artists, Al Ghorrah acted as a vibrant platform for the expression of young artistic talent.
Its Theatrical Performance Competition – held in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education – invited young artists to submit plays inspired by 1001 Nights, with the winners taking to the stage at Education City’s Oxygen Park during Al Ghorrah to perform in front of Qatar’s community.
The event was also the setting for the winners of Al Ghorrah’s Arabic Poetry Competition, organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, to take their turn in the spotlight; while Al Ghorrah’s Talent Stage allowed a diverse range of artists to display their talents, supporting the artistic community of Qatar and the region.
Meanwhile, visitors flocked to Al Ghorrah’s daily parade, combining traditional music and colorful costumes; workshops for children and families offered the opportunity to explore and experience everything from Arabic calligraphy and Islamic geometric patterns to puppet making to leatherworking; and culinary experiences from an array of nations blended food with storytelling.
Al Ghorrah for Literature and Arts served as an important platform for celebrating Arab-Islamic heritage and fostering cultural understanding among diverse communities.
Social Progress
The Light of LiteratureCelebrating, perpetuating, and promoting Arab-Islamic cultural heritage and the Arabic language is the inspiration for, and driving force behind, a new award launched by QF and the University of Granada in December.
Honoring the legacy of the iconic Egyptian novelist, writer, literary critic, and professor from whom it takes its name, the Radwa Ashour Award for Arabic Literature is open to writers who create their works in Arabic, and will be awarded annually to two exceptional writers selected by a panel drawn from Ashour’s literary circle.
The recipients will be based in the Spanish city of Granada for an extended residency, which – alongside writing, research, and creative development – will also see them engage with local literary and cultural communities.
“Throughout history’s most challenging times, humanity has turned to literature – its enduring mirror,” said Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation. “Great literature, therefore, transcends its artistic form to become essential – a vessel of memory, resistance, and hope.”
Celebrating, perpetuating, and promoting Arab-Islamic cultural heritage and the Arabic language is the inspiration for, and driving force behind, a new award launched by QF and the University of Granada in December.
Honoring the legacy of the iconic Egyptian novelist, writer, literary critic, and professor from whom it takes its name, the Radwa Ashour Award for Arabic Literature is open to writers who create their works in Arabic, and will be awarded annually to two exceptional writers selected by a panel drawn from Ashour’s literary circle.
The recipients will be based in the Spanish city of Granada for an extended residency, which – alongside writing, research, and creative development – will also see them engage with local literary and cultural communities.
“Throughout history’s most challenging times, humanity has turned to literature – its enduring mirror,” said Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation. “Great literature, therefore, transcends its artistic form to become essential – a vessel of memory, resistance, and hope.”
This award aims to encourage literary creation in the Arabic language – a universal language, and also one of the languages of Spain.
Social Progress
Where Arabic Voices EchoWith the aim of empowering and amplifying the voices of Arabic speakers across the world – and their inspiring and innovative ideas – December also saw QF unveil BilAraby.
An initiative designed to provide Arabic-speaking talents across the world with opportunities to create new and meaningful content, BilAraby reflects QF’s commitment to nurturing ideas, experiences, and stories that inspire others and drive positive social change.
With its slogan being ‘Ideas have a voice and an echo’, BilAraby will host regional events throughout the year, concluding with an annual summit – the first of which will take place in Doha in April 2025 – where thought-leaders, creators, and innovators will share their innovative ideas. Meanwhile, BilAraby’s digital platform offers a virtual space for ideas to be shared and knowledge to be exchanged, with its multimedia experienced tailored to users’ interests and aspirations.
The ethos of BilAraby is to enhance intellectual engagement by fostering meaningful discussions on diverse topics, and encouraging people to reconnect with their roots and shared identities, while providing a supportive environment for participants to swap expertise and work together on projects and initiatives.
With the aim of empowering and amplifying the voices of Arabic speakers across the world – and their inspiring and innovative ideas – December also saw QF unveil BilAraby.
An initiative designed to provide Arabic-speaking talents across the world with opportunities to create new and meaningful content, BilAraby reflects QF’s commitment to nurturing ideas, experiences, and stories that inspire others and drive positive social change.
With its slogan being ‘Ideas have a voice and an echo’, BilAraby will host regional events throughout the year, concluding with an annual summit – the first of which will take place in Doha in April 2025 – where thought-leaders, creators, and innovators will share their innovative ideas. Meanwhile, BilAraby’s digital platform offers a virtual space for ideas to be shared and knowledge to be exchanged, with its multimedia experienced tailored to users’ interests and aspirations.
The ethos of BilAraby is to enhance intellectual engagement by fostering meaningful discussions on diverse topics, and encouraging people to reconnect with their roots and shared identities, while providing a supportive environment for participants to swap expertise and work together on projects and initiatives.
We seek to spark intellectual curiosity and critical thinking with a modern approach that aligns with our Arab and Islamic values, supporting our mission of fostering a strong, shared identity and promoting positive societal progress.
Artificial Intelligence
Arabic in the Age of AIA major milestone in elevating Arab culture and the Arabic language in the era of AI was reached in December, with the inauguration of Fanar – The Arab Artificial Intelligence Project.
Created through a collaboration between the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and QF’s Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Fanar is a groundbreaking model providing in-depth understanding of Arabic across all its dimensions, dialects, and cultural expressions. Able to generate, write, summarize, rephrase, and explain Arabic text with exceptional accuracy, it began as an integrated research initiative within HBKU’s Qatar Computing Research Institute.
“Fanar is a further reflection of our university ’s commitment to developing responses to challenges of national and global relevance which enhance the country’s prowess in the field of AI and related technologies based on the Arabic language,” said Dr. Ahmad M Hasnah, President of HBKU.
Meanwhile, AI’s impact on the future of work was explored at the latest edition of QF partner university Georgetown University in Qatar’s Hiwaraat conference series, while HBKU’s Qatar Center for Quantum Computing forged a new alliance of knowledge with one of Canada’s leading drivers of innovation, and QCRI co-hosted a national competition designed to reinforce Qatar’s cybersecurity resilience.
A major milestone in elevating Arab culture and the Arabic language in the era of AI was reached in December, with the inauguration of Fanar – The Arab Artificial Intelligence Project.
Created through a collaboration between the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and QF’s Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Fanar is a groundbreaking model providing in-depth understanding of Arabic across all its dimensions, dialects, and cultural expressions. Able to generate, write, summarize, rephrase, and explain Arabic text with exceptional accuracy, it began as an integrated research initiative within HBKU’s Qatar Computing Research Institute.
“Fanar is a further reflection of our university’s commitment to developing responses to challenges of national and global relevance which enhance the country’s prowess in the field of AI and related technologies based on the Arabic language,” said Dr. Ahmad M Hasnah, President of HBKU.
Meanwhile, AI’s impact on the future of work was explored at the latest edition of QF partner university Georgetown University in Qatar’s Hiwaraat conference series, while HBKU’s Qatar Center for Quantum Computing forged a new alliance of knowledge with one of Canada’s leading drivers of innovation, and QCRI co-hosted a national competition designed to reinforce Qatar’s cybersecurity resilience.
The Fanar project exemplifies Qatar’s commitment to supporting research projects and transforming them into strategic governmental initiatives that position Qatar as a leader in Artificial Intelligence and modern technologies.
Fanar is built on a database of:
- More than 300 billion words
- Over a trillion Arabic phonetic segments
- A technical architecture comprising seven billion parameters
Social Progress
Expanding the Reach of SportsFollowing its launch earlier in the year, QF’s Creating Pathways Program – designed to empower women and girls to embrace and participate in sports, as part of QF’s FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ legacy – continued to expand in December, as volleyball became its second elite sport.
Through a partnership with the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and the FIVB Volleyball Foundation, QF will become the knowledge hub for training and educational opportunities offered by these bodies, with the target audience being young girls. Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation, has been appointed to the board of the FIVB Volleyball Foundation, which harnesses the sport’s reach to benefit communities worldwide.
As the volleyball partnership was announced, QF hosted leading local sportswomen and experts to discuss how women athletes can be provided with access to greater sporting opportunities.
Staying with sports, Qatar’s high-jump hero Mutaz Barshim visited QF’s Qatar Academy Doha to discuss a book published by QF’s Hamad Bin Khalifa University Press chronicling his historic victory at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, when he chose to share the gold medal with a fellow athlete.
Following its launch earlier in the year, QF’s Creating Pathways Program – designed to empower women and girls to embrace and participate in sports, as part of QF’s FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ legacy – continued to expand in December, as volleyball became its second elite sport.
Through a partnership with the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and the FIVB Volleyball Foundation, QF will become the knowledge hub for training and educational opportunities offered by these bodies, with the target audience being young girls. Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation, has been appointed to the board of the FIVB Volleyball Foundation, which harnesses the sport’s reach to benefit communities worldwide.
As the volleyball partnership was announced, QF hosted leading local sportswomen and experts to discuss how women athletes can be provided with access to greater sporting opportunities.
Staying with sports, Qatar’s high-jump hero Mutaz Barshim visited QF’s Qatar Academy Doha to discuss a book published by QF’s Hamad Bin Khalifa University Press chronicling his historic victory at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, when he chose to share the gold medal with a fellow athlete.
This collaboration will enable us to expand mass participation programs, reaching even more individuals and empowering them through our sport. Together, we are taking another step in championing inclusivity and serving the world through volleyball.
Precision Health
Sharing Insights, Making BreakthroughsGlobal perspectives on personalized healthcare were shared at QF’s Education City as Sidra Medicine staged its Precision Medicine and the Future of Genomics Summit, where topics included Qatar’s potential as a hub of biomedical innovation, the role of international collaborations in driving genomics research, and the ethical, legal, and social implications of integrating genomic date into healthcare.
The world-leading women’s and children’s hospital also broke new medical ground, becoming the region’s first hospital to successfully perform a high-risk cesarean section, and carrying out Qatar’s first industry-sponsored pharmaceutical trial for pediatric congenital hyperinsulinism.
Meanwhile, crucial insights into how COVID-19 immunity and the evolution of viruses have shifted since the pandemic were unlocked through a study led by researchers at QF partner university Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) and involving six Qatar-based institutions.
And WCM-Q’s Assistant Professor of Research in Population Health Sciences, Dr. Hiam Chemaitelly, received a top regional award for her contributions to infectious disease epidemiology – while HBKU faculty were also honored for their work in the fields of AI and 3D content, health education, and tackling global corruption in sports.
Global perspectives on personalized healthcare were shared at QF’s Education City as Sidra Medicine staged its Precision Medicine and the Future of Genomics Summit, where topics included Qatar’s potential as a hub of biomedical innovation, the role of international collaborations in driving genomics research, and the ethical, legal, and social implications of integrating genomic date into healthcare.
The world-leading women’s and children’s hospital also broke new medical ground, becoming the region’s first hospital to successfully perform a high-risk cesarean section, and carrying out Qatar’s first industry-sponsored pharmaceutical trial for pediatric congenital hyperinsulinism.
Meanwhile, crucial insights into how COVID-19 immunity and the evolution of viruses have shifted since the pandemic were unlocked through a study led by researchers at QF partner university Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) and involving six Qatar-based institutions.
And WCM-Q’s Assistant Professor of Research in Population Health Sciences, Dr. Hiam Chemaitelly, received a top regional award for her contributions to infectious disease epidemiology – while HBKU faculty were also honored for their work in the fields of AI and 3D content, health education, and tackling global corruption in sports.
This summit serves as a platform for empowering knowledge sharing, where insights on cutting-edge research, clinical applications, and emerging technologies in genomics can be exchanged to shape the future of healthcare.
Progressive Education, Social Progress
Connecting Through IdeasThe creativity, passion, and growth of learners in QF schools was showcased in December through ‘Ru’ya’ – a TEDx-style event led by Education City High School, where talks from students and parents delved into their ideas, perspectives, and personal journeys of transformation.
Beyond Qatar, Arabic language educators from across the US joined Qatar Foundation International’s (QFI) annual Winter Workshop in Washington, D.C., to connect with language teaching experts and essential tools for evaluating and enhancing student learning outcomes in their schools’ Arabic programs. Meanwhile, three QFI studies on Arabic education topics were presented to educators, researchers, and policymakers from across Europe.
QF’s Doha Debates posed the question ‘Global Order – Which Principles Should Shape Our Future?’ at an Education City-based townhall event where students and experts debated the competing ideas and values that underpin different societies.
Elsewhere, QF partner university Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar became the first university in the Middle East and North Africa region to secure a top eco-campus accolade, while the work of students from fellow partner university Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar received an international audience in Tokyo – encouraging people to think deeply about technology’s impact on our lives.
The creativity, passion, and growth of learners in QF schools was showcased in December through ‘Ru’ya’ – a TEDx-style event led by Education City High School, where talks from students and parents delved into their ideas, perspectives, and personal journeys of transformation.
Beyond Qatar, Arabic language educators from across the US joined Qatar Foundation International’s (QFI) annual Winter Workshop in Washington, D.C., to connect with language teaching experts and essential tools for evaluating and enhancing student learning outcomes in their schools’ Arabic programs. Meanwhile, three QFI studies on Arabic education topics were presented to educators, researchers, and policymakers from across Europe.
QF’s Doha Debates posed the question ‘Global Order – Which Principles Should Shape Our Future?’ at an Education City-based townhall event where students and experts debated the competing ideas and values that underpin different societies.
Elsewhere, QF partner university Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar became the first university in the Middle East and North Africa region to secure a top eco-campus accolade, while the work of students from fellow partner university Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar received an international audience in Tokyo – encouraging people to think deeply about technology’s impact on our lives.
Ru’ya highlights that education extends beyond classrooms and exams. It reminds the community that learning is a dynamic process that happens through collaboration, creativity, and shared experiences.
Social Progress
The Pride of a NationAs the people of Qatar were immersed in collective unity and pride on Qatar National Day, celebrations across QF’s schools honored the nation’s heritage, culture, and traditions – including cultural displays, creative art workshops, and student-led performances themed around Qatar’s journey.
This sense of citizenship flowed through an event hosted by QF’s Pre-University Education that brought together more than 1,300 children and their families, featuring a Qatar National Day film screening by QF’s edutainment children’s show Siraj, and an exhibition of artworks by QF students expressing their love for, and loyalty to, Qatar.
Qatar National Day was marked in Washington, D.C., where a celebration by the Embassy of the State of Qatar in the United States saw QFI support Arabic calligraphers to write guests’ names in Arabic; while Qatar National Library, based at QF’s Education City, honored the winners of a student competition recognizing Qatar’s achievements under His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Father Amir.
And ahead of Qatar National Day, a special edition of QF’s Education City Speaker Series Bel Arabi saw Qatari writer and poet Dr. Hasan Ali Al-Nimah – who is Cultural Advisor to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of Qatar – emphasize how cultural heritage is a pillar of society that young people must be empowered to embrace.
As the people of Qatar were immersed in collective unity and pride on Qatar National Day, celebrations across QF’s schools honored the nation’s heritage, culture, and traditions – including cultural displays, creative art workshops, and student-led performances themed around Qatar’s journey.
This sense of citizenship flowed through an event hosted by QF’s Pre-University Education that brought together more than 1,300 children and their families, featuring a Qatar National Day film screening by QF’s edutainment children’s show Siraj, and an exhibition of artworks by QF students expressing their love for, and loyalty to, Qatar.
Qatar National Day was marked in Washington, D.C., where a celebration by the Embassy of the State of Qatar in the United States saw QFI support Arabic calligraphers to write guests’ names in Arabic; while Qatar National Library, based at QF’s Education City, honored the winners of a student competition recognizing Qatar’s achievements under His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Father Amir.
And ahead of Qatar National Day, a special edition of QF’s Education City Speaker Series Bel Arabi saw Qatari writer and poet Dr. Hasan Ali Al-Nimah – who is Cultural Advisor to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of Qatar – emphasize how cultural heritage is a pillar of society that young people must be empowered to embrace.
Watching the Siraj National Day film helped my children realize their important role in serving and building their nation. It was moving to see my children speak proudly about their country and consider ways to contribute to its future.
Progressive Education
An Ecosystem of HopeWith 2024 drawing to a close, the global dialogue platform Doha Forum saw the world’s policy leaders discuss the most critical challenges we all face – with a QF-led session gathering educators from East and West to explore opportunities, challenges, and risks surrounding globalized learning and higher education in an increasingly polarized world.
Among the Doha Forum speakers was Dr. Jill Biden, the first Lady of the United States, who, during her time in Qatar, experienced QF’s unique ecosystem of knowledge for herself as she visited Education City.
And in her remarks at the forum, she praised what QF has built and continues to make possible, saying: “Looking out at all of those world-renowned learning institutions, I thought of the incredible minds, cultures, and ideas coming together.
“I met a medical student who is studying why the risk of ovarian cancer goes up with a particular gene mutation. Another student is designing a surgical device that can clean the lens of a camera during an operation – without removing it from a patient’s body. That will make surgeries more precise.
“It’s promising work. But what fills me with even more hope is meeting the people who are powering these discoveries. Students from Qatar – and countries from all around the world – at an American academic institution, located here in Doha, uncovering health breakthroughs that have the potential to improve people’s lives in this region and globally.”
Education, innovation, and opportunity. Rooted, but with a global outlook. Strengthened through partnerships. Built for impact. And dedicated to helping to shape a better world for all.
This is what Qatar Foundation is all about – throughout 2024, and every year.
With 2024 drawing to a close, the global dialogue platform Doha Forum saw the world’s policy leaders discuss the most critical challenges we all face – with a QF-led session gathering educators from East and West to explore opportunities, challenges, and risks surrounding globalized learning and higher education in an increasingly polarized world.
Among the Doha Forum speakers was Dr. Jill Biden, the first Lady of the United States, who, during her time in Qatar, experienced QF’s unique ecosystem of knowledge for herself as she visited Education City.
And in her remarks at the forum, she praised what QF has built and continues to make possible, saying: “Looking out at all of those world-renowned learning institutions, I thought of the incredible minds, cultures, and ideas coming together.
“I met a medical student who is studying why the risk of ovarian cancer goes up with a particular gene mutation. Another student is designing a surgical device that can clean the lens of a camera during an operation – without removing it from a patient’s body. That will make surgeries more precise.
“It’s promising work. But what fills me with even more hope is meeting the people who are powering these discoveries. Students from Qatar – and countries from all around the world – at an American academic institution, located here in Doha, uncovering health breakthroughs that have the potential to improve people’s lives in this region and globally.”
Education, innovation, and opportunity. Rooted, but with a global outlook. Strengthened through partnerships. Built for impact. And dedicated to helping to shape a better world for all.
This is what Qatar Foundation is all about – throughout 2024, and every year.
There are problems that cannot be solved through one model and in one place – there is every reason to be collaborating, both in terms of our needs as institutions and in terms of solving human problems.