Strengthening Cohesion Across the Arab World
Qatar Foundation (QF) has focused on Qatari and Arabic culture, identity, and language for decades to bring communities together and strengthen the social fabric of Qatar. QF maintains a strategic focus on advancing social progress in favor of human development in Qatar, supporting strong families and engaged youth, and providing opportunities for people of all abilities. At school and in the community, QF celebrates Qatari and Arab heritage by promoting the Arabic language and traditional knowledge and cultural practices.
Inclusivity within the QF community reflects the diversity of Qatari society. QF advocates for inclusive and accessible standards and practices that provide equal opportunities for people with disabilities. Our work on strengthening women’s inclusion has also broken ground in Qatar and beyond through impactful initiatives that positively influence society, including initiatives such as Al-Mujadilah Center and Mosque for Women and programs supporting women in sports and fitness.
QF’s ecosystem of education, research, and community development supports a thriving and values-based society rooted in Qatar’s cultural heritage and identity. In 2024, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) launched Arab Global Scholars (AGS), an innovation-focused community that connects Arab scholars and research institutes and private sector partners to advance science, research, and capacity-building projects. It already counts more than 1,000 Arab scholars who are united through their shared interest in sustainable engagement on the advancement of Qatar and the region, developing societies at large.
Further advancements to global dialogue were facilitated by QatarDebate, which hosted the 7th International Universities Debating Championship with over 650 participants from 50 countries connecting through debate.
Doha Debates further highlights voices from the Global South and Global North, engaging young people from more than 230 nations and territories. In 2024, Doha Debates’ Ambassador Program featured a cohort of 98 emerging leaders from around the world, including 20 young people studying and working in Qatar, promoting sustainable solutions about critical global issues through skilled dialogue.
Qatar Foundation (QF) has focused on Qatari and Arabic culture, identity, and language for decades to bring communities together and strengthen the social fabric of Qatar. QF maintains a strategic focus on advancing social progress in favor of human development in Qatar, supporting strong families and engaged youth, and providing opportunities for people of all abilities. At school and in the community, QF celebrates Qatari and Arab heritage by promoting the Arabic language and traditional knowledge and cultural practices.
Inclusivity within the QF community reflects the diversity of Qatari society. QF advocates for inclusive and accessible standards and practices that provide equal opportunities for people with disabilities. Our work on strengthening women’s inclusion has also broken ground in Qatar and beyond through impactful initiatives that positively influence society, including initiatives such as Al-Mujadilah Center and Mosque for Women and programs supporting women in sports and fitness.
QF’s ecosystem of education, research, and community development supports a thriving and values-based society rooted in Qatar’s cultural heritage and identity. In 2024, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) launched Arab Global Scholars (AGS), an innovation-focused community that connects Arab scholars and research institutes and private sector partners to advance science, research, and capacity-building projects. It already counts more than 1,000 Arab scholars who are united through their shared interest in sustainable engagement on the advancement of Qatar and the region, developing societies at large.
Further advancements to global dialogue were facilitated by QatarDebate, which hosted the 7th International Universities Debating Championship with over 650 participants from 50 countries connecting through debate.
Doha Debates further highlights voices from the Global South and Global North, engaging young people from more than 230 nations and territories. In 2024, Doha Debates’ Ambassador Program featured a cohort of 98 emerging leaders from around the world, including 20 young people studying and working in Qatar, promoting sustainable solutions about critical global issues through skilled dialogue.
| QF Community | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Visits to Education City | 3 million |
| Participants in Qatar National Library’s Arabic language and culture offerings | 8,500 |
| Participants in Qatar Foundation International’s Arabic language and culture offerings | 4,300 |
| Participants in QF programs for people with disabilities | 1,600 |
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Perpetuating Cultural Heritage
Education City featured 60 offerings promoting Arab culture, language, and heritage in 2024.
Among the programs that debuted during the year was Herfah at Al Khater House, which offers a year-long Qatari and Islamic crafts program and workshops. QF also launched the BilAraby initiative, which celebrates and promotes Arabic language and culture, showcasing innovators and creatives from the Arabic-speaking world.
A cultural events highlight was Al Ghorrah for Literature and Arts, celebrating the cultural heritage and art of Arab Islamic civilizations in all its forms, with over 7,000 people attending performances, workshops, and lectures in both Arabic and English.
Qatar Foundation International (QFI) continued to advance Arabic as a global language, working with teachers, schools, administrators, and universities to make Arabic teaching and learning accessible, and further supported research on Arabic language education. In 2024, a further 4,300 participants attended QFI events that promoted the Arabic language, values, and culture internationally.
Meanwhile, QF remained steadfast in amplifying Palestinian voices and standing in solidarity with Palestine. Its school students raised over QAR 20 million in support for Palestine through a host of initiatives and events raising awareness about the plight of Palestinians, underscoring the role of QF’s education landscape in the development of change-makers.
Georgetown University in Qatar held ‘Reimagining Palestine’ as part of its Hiwaraat conference series. The conference featured 1,000 attendees and 66 speakers who engaged in academic discourse on Palestine. Central to the conference was the meaningful engagement of participants in a dialogue that challenged the status quo and envisioned new possibilities for justice and peace.
Education City featured 60 offerings promoting Arab culture, language, and heritage in 2024.
Among the programs that debuted during the year was Herfah at Al Khater House, which offers a year-long Qatari and Islamic crafts program and workshops. QF also launched the BilAraby initiative, which celebrates and promotes Arabic language and culture, showcasing innovators and creatives from the Arabic-speaking world.
A cultural events highlight was Al Ghorrah for Literature and Arts, celebrating the cultural heritage and art of Arab Islamic civilizations in all its forms, with over 7,000 people attending performances, workshops, and lectures in both Arabic and English.
Qatar Foundation International (QFI) continued to advance Arabic as a global language, working with teachers, schools, administrators, and universities to make Arabic teaching and learning accessible, and further supported research on Arabic language education. In 2024, a further 4,300 participants attended QFI events that promoted the Arabic language, values, and culture internationally.
Meanwhile, QF remained steadfast in amplifying Palestinian voices and standing in solidarity with Palestine. Its school students raised over QAR 20 million in support for Palestine through a host of initiatives and events raising awareness about the plight of Palestinians, underscoring the role of QF’s education landscape in the development of change-makers.
Georgetown University in Qatar held ‘Reimagining Palestine’ as part of its Hiwaraat conference series. The conference featured 1,000 attendees and 66 speakers who engaged in academic discourse on Palestine. Central to the conference was the meaningful engagement of participants in a dialogue that challenged the status quo and envisioned new possibilities for justice and peace.
An Inclusive Outlook
QF promotes inclusion in education and beyond, broadening access for the whole community, including people with disabilities and their families.
Over 350 young people participated in QF’s inclusive sports programs in 2024, including Al Shaqab’s Equine-Assisted Therapy Program and the Ability Friendly Program’s community sports offerings. Through programming at Qatar National Library, over 600 participants with disabilities and their families attended events. QNL also features over 6,000 audiobooks and over 260 items in Braille, offered in both Arabic and English.
This year, WISE published ‘Action Plan for an Inclusive Education Policy in the State of Qatar’, which highlights progress and gaps in achieving inclusive education and employment for persons with disabilities in Qatar. Stakeholders who contributed to this framework included disability advocates, educators, policymakers, and researchers from QF and beyond.
QF played a central role in developing the National Women’s and Girls’ Sports Strategy, which outlines how best to support women and girls to excel in athletics as competitors, coaches, referees, or team managers. It also highlighted the benefits of programs designed exclusively for women in female-only contexts, such as Ladies Night events at the Education City Stadium and Education City’s Oxygen Park, which welcomed over 18,600 participants in 2024.
Among the programs that QF debuted in 2024 are the Creating Pathways Program, which launched its women’s track and field program at Qatar’s first women-only track, and Al Farrisa, the first ladies-only dressage competition in Qatar, launched by Al Shaqab’s Equestrian Center.
QF promotes inclusion in education and beyond, broadening access for the whole community, including people with disabilities and their families.
Over 350 young people participated in QF’s inclusive sports programs in 2024, including Al Shaqab’s Equine-Assisted Therapy Program and the Ability Friendly Program’s community sports offerings. Through programming at Qatar National Library, over 600 participants with disabilities and their families attended events. QNL also features over 6,000 audiobooks and over 260 items in Braille, offered in both Arabic and English.
This year, WISE published ‘Action Plan for an Inclusive Education Policy in the State of Qatar’, which highlights progress and gaps in achieving inclusive education and employment for persons with disabilities in Qatar. Stakeholders who contributed to this framework included disability advocates, educators, policymakers, and researchers from QF and beyond.
QF played a central role in developing the National Women’s and Girls’ Sports Strategy, which outlines how best to support women and girls to excel in athletics as competitors, coaches, referees, or team managers. It also highlighted the benefits of programs designed exclusively for women in female-only contexts, such as Ladies Night events at the Education City Stadium and Education City’s Oxygen Park, which welcomed over 18,600 participants in 2024.
Among the programs that QF debuted in 2024 are the Creating Pathways Program, which launched its women’s track and field program at Qatar’s first women-only track, and Al Farrisa, the first ladies-only dressage competition in Qatar, launched by Al Shaqab’s Equestrian Center.
Policy and Partnership
A new multidisciplinary thinktank, the Global Institute for Strategic Research, was launched by HBKU to address global challenges of governance, advancement, and peace. Senior experts from international thinktanks and research centers attended the launch in support of strong coherence and collaboration between policymaking at national, regional, and global levels.
QF’s policy centers further encouraged global dialogue and action through international convening. Doha International Family Institute, with the support of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, convened the 30th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family Conference on Family and Contemporary Megatrends, with over 3,200 attendees. The conference concluded with the Doha Call to Action 2024 that included over 30 recommendations shared with the United Nations Secretary-General. The recommendations included prioritizing family needs and humanitarian support amid war and conflict; integrating lessons on family relationships and values, and intergenerational respect, into school curricula; and making family policies a cornerstone of social justice.
For the health community, the seventh edition of the WISH summit, under the theme ‘Humanizing Health: Conflict, Equity, and Resilience’, was held in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) with nearly 4,000 attendees. WISH developed three WHO-led collaborative research projects, in addition to reports developed with local and international partners for the summit on areas such as health systems, ethics, physical health, and mental health.
A new multidisciplinary thinktank, the Global Institute for Strategic Research, was launched by HBKU to address global challenges of governance, advancement, and peace. Senior experts from international thinktanks and research centers attended the launch in support of strong coherence and collaboration between policymaking at national, regional, and global levels.
QF’s policy centers further encouraged global dialogue and action through international convening. Doha International Family Institute, with the support of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, convened the 30th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family Conference on Family and Contemporary Megatrends, with over 3,200 attendees. The conference concluded with the Doha Call to Action 2024 that included over 30 recommendations shared with the United Nations Secretary-General. The recommendations included prioritizing family needs and humanitarian support amid war and conflict; integrating lessons on family relationships and values, and intergenerational respect, into school curricula; and making family policies a cornerstone of social justice.
For the health community, the seventh edition of the WISH summit, under the theme ‘Humanizing Health: Conflict, Equity, and Resilience’, was held in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) with nearly 4,000 attendees. WISH developed three WHO-led collaborative research projects, in addition to reports developed with local and international partners for the summit on areas such as health systems, ethics, physical health, and mental health.
QF graduates of social progress-related programs – 2023/24 Academic Year
| Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar | Bachelor of Arts in Art History | 550+ |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Fine Arts (four programs) | ||
| Master of Fine Arts in Design | ||
| Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar | Bachelor of Science in Business Administration | |
| Northwestern University in Qatar | Bachelor of Science in Communication | |
| Bachelor of Science in Journalism | ||
| Georgetown University in Qatar | Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service | |
| HEC Paris, Doha | Executive MBA | |
| Specialized Masters in Strategic Business Unit Management | ||
| Hamad Bin Khalifa University | Master of Arts (College of Humanities and Social Sciences) | |
| L.L.M, (College of Law) | ||
| Juris Doctor (College of Law) | ||
| Master of Arts (College of Islamic Studies) | ||
| Master of Science (College of Islamic Studies) | ||
| PhD in Islamic Finance and Economy (College of Islamic Studies) | ||
| Master of Public Policy (College of Public Policy) | ||
| Master of Social Policy and Program Evaluation (College of Public Policy) | ||
| Master of Science, Sports and Entertainment Management (College of Science and Engineering) |
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