STUDY IN QATAR
Museum of Islamic Art Designed by architect I M Pei, the creator of the Louvre Pyramid in Paris, this landmark museum is a marriage of razor-sharp lines and curves, its bold design suggesting the image of a veiled woman. With its five floors topped by an upscale restaurant, it’s an architectural marvel in limestone. Equally breathtaking is the collection — ranging from textiles and manuscripts to glass and ceramics — all beautifully and lovingly curated. Other draws include the Education Centre library, its programme of cultural events and its MIA Café (located in the atrium), which serves up striking West Bay skyline views. It’s currently being renovated but is due to reopen before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 kicks off.
MIA Park Essentially, the manicured grounds surrounding the Museum of Islamic Art above, MIA Park — home to the impressive 7 sculpture — is one of the city’s pre-eminent green lungs. It’s a great place to wander, study and gather your thoughts, watched over by the city’s futuristic skyline. Equally, it’s a great space to socialise and catch up with friends, perhaps while sharing a bite at MIA Park Café (which offers some good-value picnic basket offerings) or hiring a paddle boat. From concerts and fitness classes to the weekend bazaar, there’s much to enjoy.
National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) French architect Jean Nouvel’s striking design for this museum (inspired by the Qatari desert rose) is as bold as its mission statement: to tell the story of the nation and its people. Located just off the Corniche, this grand, immersive space, which opened in 2019, incorporates the former palace of Sheikh Abdullah Bin Jassim Al Thani, a former ruler of Qatar. Admission is free for locals, and students will appreciate the extensive onsite resources — not least the research centre and digital archives, complete with an excellent cafe in the landscaped grounds, replete with indigenous plants.
Souq Waqif Having undergone a facelift in 2006, this vibrant bazaar, just off the Corniche, is a great place to shop for local goods and souvenirs, grab a bite, or meet and stroll with friends; its narrow alleyways and traditional Qatari-style architecture giving a nod to the country’s rich heritage. Areas of interest that must be explored include the Gold Souq, Spice Souq, the Art Centre and the Al Rayyan Theatre. It’s also the setting for various cultural events, such as concerts during the holiday seasons.
Falcon Souq Lying adjacent to Souq Waqif is a large, arcaded area given over to all things falcon. Falconry has long played a central role in Qatari culture, its roots among the Bedouin tribes who used them for hunting. The welfare of the national bird is taken very seriously, as the state-of-the-art Falcon Hospital attests; it’s an interesting place to tour when not busy people-watching those who come to browse the birds and chat with the merchants in time-honoured fashion. Everything needed for falconry can be purchased here: from feathered lures to hoods for the birds.
Katara Cultural Village This sprawling collection of theatres, concert halls and galleries was conceived as a world-class space capable of hosting major multicultural events. Constituting the country’s ‘largest and the most multidimensional cultural project’, it’s a great place to catch local, regional and international talent, from award-winning shows and performances to concerts and exhibitions. Aside from offering locals a window on the world, the area is central to the aims and objectives of the government’s forward-thinking Qatar National Vision 2030 programme.
Qatar National Library Whether browsing or borrowing its physical materials or availing yourself of its 24/7 online resources such as the Qatar Digital Library, QNL is a goldmine of resources, blessed with a great choice of reading and study areas. The innovation stations, fostering skills in areas such as 3D printing, videography and photography, are another nice touch, backed by the onsite programme of IT training and tutorials. It’s a beautiful building too, with tiers of marble bookcases.
2022 | Study in Qatar 9
IMAGES:ALAMY; ERIK ALMAS; QATAR TOURISM
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