Qatar's Museum of Islamic Art reopens

Qatar Museums has announced an exchange of exhibitions, programmes, and scholarly cooperation with New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art, on the occasion of the reopening of Doha's reinstalled and reimagined Museum of Islamic Art. 

As part of the institutions' collaboration, works from The Met's collection will go on view in Doha on October 26 in the inaugural special exhibition Baghdad: Eye's Delight at the Museum of Islamic Art.

Meerat Ramadan offers a one-stop shop for Ramadhan shopping, family fun

Source: Katara Facebook page. Poster for Meerat Ramadan.

Meerat Ramadan at Katara Cultural Village, Doha, Qatar, offers a wide range of consumer goods, family activities and traditional games to visitors, especially families, in one place.

​Al Meera Consumer Goods Company, Widam Foods Company, Arab Qatari Company for Poultry Production, Dandy and Ghadeer are some of the companies participating in the annual Ramadhan market, in its second year this year.

HE Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, GM, Katara Cultural Village, said the event aims to provide a blend of shopping and entertainment, helping families to buy different food items they want during Ramadhan in one place.

"This annual shopping event at Katara has become a major attraction for citizens and expatriates with the rich variety and diversity of the goods on offer," said Al Sulaiti.

Details:
 
Meerat Ramadan runs from 8pm to midnight every evening till June 20, at the open area near the beach in the southern region of Katara Cultural Village.

Hashtags: #Meerat, #Ramadan, #Katara

Katara initiative provides drinking water to birds

Source: Katara. Specially designed bird boxes provide
drinking water for birds.

Katara Cultural Village is offering custom made wooden boxes to the public free to provide drinking water to pigeons and other birds in summer. Current highs reach 39^o C.

The initiative coincides with Ramadhan, the month of kindness, where mercy is shown not only to human beings but also to animals and birds.

Qatar, with its parks, gardens and growing green areas is home to a rich variety of birds and also attracts a number of migratory birds every year. Many Qatari households already use traditional methods to give water to birds. Katara aims to popularise this tradition and encourage people to take proper care of the living beings around them.

More than 1,000 wooden boxes have been prepared. The wooden box is open from all sides, allowing birds to enter and perch on the wood to drink. There is a glass container for water, and a plastic hose to collect water from a tap. The hose automatically stops the water flow when the glass container is full.

"By this initiative, Katara aims to revive a Prophetic tradition that encourages believers to show mercy to all creatures. We also want to inculcate the love for nature and the environment in all members of the society, especially the younger generation," said HE Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, GM, Katara Cultural Village.

The Pigeon Tower in Katara is one of its most photographed tourist attractions.

The Pigeon Tower at Katara.

Details:

The boxes are available at Katara Building 15.

Quran competitions at Katara

Source: Katara. A hundred contestants are vying for five prizes in the second Katara Prize for Quran Recitation.

The second Katara Prize for Quran Recitation, conducted by Katara Cultural Village, hosts 100 contestants from across the world. The contestants were selected from a total of 1,429 submissions.

Five winners will be announced on 26 Ramadhan. The first prize winner will get cash prize worth QR500,000 while the second and third prizes carry cash prizes of QR400,000 and QR300,000, respectively. Winners of the fourth and fifth positions will get QR200,000 and QR100,000, respectively.

Winners will be selected based on their recitation style, voice quality and tajweed (تجويد‎) rules, among other factors.

Katara will produce a CD containing the full Quran as recited by winner of the first prize in the competition. It will be recorded at the Katara studios.

Meanwhile, the seventh Holy Quran Memorisation Competition for children is on-going. This will continue until May 31.

Fifty children aged 10 to 12 years are participating. Orientation sessions for the participants included lessons in selected verses from the Quran and hadiths, prayer, Islamic history and Islamic etiquette. Winners will be awarded prizes at the end of the competition.

The sessions for boys are taking place at the main mosque in Katara and for girls at the Golden Mosque in Katara after asr prayers from Sunday to Thursday over two weeks. The annual competition aims to keep children attached to the Islamic identity and values, through the study, memorisation and recitation of the Quran.

Four Seasons Hotel Doha offers Eid family getaway

Source: Four Seasons Hotel Doha. A getaway for Eid.

The Four Seasons Hotel Doha, an oasis-like property in the heart of Doha, is inviting families to enjoy the Eid holiday with unique experiences and packages.

The hotel boasts a 250m private beach, with eight grotto pools and nine distinct restaurants and lounges, as well as a Spa and Wellness Centre. The hotel’s youngest guests can participate in the complimentary Kids For All Seasons programme, which features daily activities such as art and crafts, movie nights, and water polo.

The Doha Escape package features a 20% savings with a starting room rate of QAR1,100 per night for two adults, with a minimum two-night stay.  The package includes the following:

• Complimentary use of Kids for All Seasons
• Special welcome amenity
• Complimentary use of pool, beach and spa facilities
• Complimentary valet parking

Additionally, the Hotel is offering a Stay Longer in a Suite – Third Night Free package beginning at QAR1,600 per night.  The package includes the following:

• Complimentary third night with every two consecutive paid nights in a sea view suite
• Complimentary Internet access
• Complimentary use of Kids for All Seasons
• Special welcome amenity
• Complimentary use of pool, beach and spa facilities

Nobu Doha will reopen its doors on Eid. The award-winning restaurant features a curated culinary menu by celebrity chef Nobuyuki “Nobu” Matsuhisa, complemented a main dining room and three distinct lounges in the tri-level restaurant. Chef Andrew Bozoki, Nobu Doha head chef, has prepared a new special omakase menu to delight guests this summer.

Interested?

Room reservations can be made by calling +974 4494 8700

Stay and have iftar at the Marriott Marquis Doha

Indulge in Arabic dining during Ramadhan at Wanassa, the Ramadhan tent set up at the Marriott Marquis City Center Doha Hotel with private majlises*, freshly-prepared foods, live entertainment and a wide variety of shisha.

Source: Marriott Marquis City Center Doha Hotel. View of the Marriott Marquis City Center Doha Hotel building complex.

Iftar from sunset to 9pm, daily
A buffet of favourite Ramadhan delicacies, freshly-prepared at live cooking stations. Shisha and traditional Ramadhan beverages are available.

QR210 per adult, QR110 per child inclusive of food, Ramadhan juices and soft beverages.

Call +974 4419 5000 with questions

Suhoor delights from 9.30pm to 1.30am daily
Take suhoor at Wanassa with an àla carte menu featuring Ramadhan specialities, Arabic sweets, selected Ramadhan beverages and live entertainment along with shisha.

Call +974 4419 5000 with questions

Group bookings
Celebrate with family and friends at Wanassa. There are exclusive prices for groups of 20 or more.

For more information call +974 4419 5028

Outdoor catering
The Marriott Marquis City Center Doha Hotel also offers catering services for iftar and suhoor, for a minimum of 25 persons. Mobilisation charges apply and are based on the number of guests and location.

For more information call +974 4419 5029

Ramadhan stays
Valid through 24 June, 2017, stays start at QR875 and include 25% off at the Saray Spa.

 • Deluxe room
 • Complimentary iftar buffet for one at Wanassa
 • Discount of 25% off any Saray Spa treatment
 • Free high-speed Wi-Fi in-room
 • Access to a 35m outdoor pool

Book a stay or call +974 4419 5000 with questions. Be sure that promotional code UY7 appears in the corporate/promotional code box when making an online reservation. Room reservation is based on availability. Terms and conditions apply

Saray Spa Ramadhan offer
Book any 80-minute treatment or spa package, and get iftar on the house at Wanassa. Terms and conditions apply. Treatments and packages begin from QR580.

For more information call +974 4419 6090

Interested?

Marriott Marquis City Center Doha Hotel
Omar Al Mukhtar Street, Area 61
Al Dafna, Street #850
Doha, Qatar

*A majlis is a parlour for meetings, typically with Arabic furniture. People usually sit on the floor.

Katara Ramadan Festival revisits Muslim hospitality traditions

Source: Cultural Village Foundation- Katara website. Graphic for the Katara Ramadan Festival.

The Katara Ramadan Festival has focused on the hospitality traditions of Muslims in different countries. Lectures, exhibitions, competitions, entertainment and educational activities have been organised for visitors.

One of the activities is a treasure hunt. The free Find your treasure competition at Katara is on at Beach 01 from 2:30 am to 4:30 am on Friday evenings, after taraweeh prayers.

Ten boxes have been hidden at Katara for all to discover with the help of downloadable maps that are distributed every Thursday. Those who discover the boxes can check if they have won at the competition kiosk in Meerat Ramadan at Katara’s southern area. Three winners will be named each week, winning financial awards worth QAR2,000 each, among other prizes.  No registration is required.

Another highlight is Grangao night, a children's festival which marks the mid-point for Ramadhan. 

Source: Cultural Village Foundation-Katara website. Graphic for Grangao night.

For Grangao night, the Cultural Village Foundation-Katara has organised celebrations at Cornich Katara in front of the amphitheatre from 9pm on 9 June till 4.55am on 10 June. 

Interested?

Katara Ramadan Festival 
Katara Cultural Village
On till June 25
3:00pm to 4:55am
Free

Check out the Ramadhan 2017 activities (PDF)

Download the map for the treasure hunt

posted from Bloggeroid

Chaos as airlines scramble to suspend flights to Doha

The suspension of diplomatic ties between various countries and Qatar, announced 5 June, has led to the cancellation of flights to and from Doha for airlines headquartered in the countries involved. Under the various announcements, there are to be no land, sea or air connections between Qatar and the countries involved, which include Bahrain, KSA, and UAE in the Middle East.

Gulf Air, Bahrain’s national carrier, has suspended daily services between Bahrain and Doha with effect from 23:59, 5 June 2017 local time until further notice.

The last Gulf Air flight from Bahrain to Doha (GF530) will depart at 8:55pm on 5 June and the last Gulf Air flight from Doha to Bahrain (GF531) will depart at 10:40pm on 5 June (all times local).

"Gulf Air regrets any inconvenience this may cause to passengers affected by the suspension. A dedicated customer services team from the Gulf Air 24-hour Worldwide Contact Centre has been set up and is contacting affected passengers to offer alternative options, including full refunds on unused tickets and free rebooking to the nearest alternate Gulf Air destinations.

The airline would like to thank all its customers for their patience and understanding and advises them to contact the Gulf Air Worldwide Contact Centre on +973 1737 3737 for further information," the airline stated on its website.

Etihad Airways has suspended all flights to and from Doha, Qatar as of the evening of 5 June, until further notice.

The last flight from Abu Dhabi to Doha will depart as EY391 at 9:35pm (local time) on 5 June. The last flight from Doha to Abu Dhabi will depart as EY398 at 10:50pm (local time) on 5 June, the airline said.

All customers who are booked on Etihad Airways flights to and from Doha are being provided with alternative options, including full refunds on unused tickets and free rebooking to the nearest alternate Etihad Airways destination.

Detailed information is available by calling the Etihad Airways Contact Centre on +971 (0) 2599 0000, or by visiting‎ etihad.com.

"Etihad Airways regrets any inconvenience caused as a result of the suspension," the airline said in a statement.

"As instructed by the UAE government, Emirates will suspend its flights to and from Doha, starting from the morning of 6 June 2017, until further notice," Emirates stated on its website, apologising for the inconvenience caused to customers.

Emirates’ flights to and from Doha on 5 June, will operate as normal. The last flight from Dubai to Doha will depart as EK847 at 2:30am on 6 June. The last flight from Doha to Dubai will depart as EK848 at 3:50am on 6 June, the airline said.

Travellers bound for Doha, who are boarding their flight from airports around the Emirates network on 5 June are being advised to make alternative arrangements. "All customers booked on Emirates’ flights to and from Doha will be provided with alternative options, including full refunds on unused tickets and rebooking to alternate Emirates destinations," the airline said in the online statement.

Customers who booked with Emirates can process refunds for their tickets at online or contact their local Emirates office. Customers who booked through a travel agency should contact their travel agents.

Emirates is headquartered in Dubai while Etihad is headquartered in Abu Dhabi, UAE. 

Saudia's website carried a similar announcement, confirming that Saudi Arabian Airlines has suspended all flights to and from Qatar starting Monday 5 June.

"Due to the current situation of Qatar it has been decided to waive all tickets’ restrictions (rebooking / rerouting / refund and no-show ) of affected passengers holding confirmed reservations on flights departing from / to Qatar effective 5th of Jun’17 until further notice," the airline stated online.

There were no announcements on the Qatar Airways website at the time of writing, though media reports have noted that it has also suspended flights to various destinations. 

Meerat Ramadan sells what you need in Doha

Source: Katara. Meerat Ramadan graphic.

The Cultural Village Foundation-Katara is holding Meerat Ramadan at Katara for all Ramadhan shopping needs. Entry is free.

Katara is part of a vision to position Qatar as a cultural beacon in the Middle East through activities around theatre, literature, music, visual art, conventions and exhibitions.

Interested?

The event runs till June 29, from 4pm to 9pm before Ramadhan, and 9pm to 2am during Ramadhan, at Parking Area 04. Check directions

Download the Katara mobile app

Hashtag: #Katara

Hashtag: #Katara

Katara offers Arabic calligraphy exhibition and workshops by Chinese artists

Source: Katara Twitter account. Poster for the Arabic Calligraphy by Chinese Artists Exhibition and Workshop.

The Cultural Village Foundation-Katara has put together the Arabic Calligraphy by Chinese Artists Exhibition and Workshop at the Katara Art Studios.

Katara is part of a vision to position Qatar as a cultural beacon in the Middle East through activities around theatre, literature, music, visual art, conventions and exhibitions.

Interested?

Both the exhibition and the workshops will be held from 15 to 20 May. The exhibition will be held from 10am to 10pm at Building 19, Gallery 02, Katara Art Studios. The workshops will also be at Building 19, from 5pm to 9pm. Call +974 4408 0233 to register

Download the Katara mobile app

Hashtag: #Katara

Registration open for Katara Quran Memorization sessions

Source: Katara Twitter account. Poster for the Katara Quran Memorization sessions.

Stemming from its keenness to raise the young generation and enforce their bond with their Islamic identity and principles of their religion, the Cultural Village Foundation-Katara is organising its 6th consecutive edition of the Quran Memorization Sessions, during Ramadhan.​

The event is open to children born between 2003 and 2010​.

Katara is part of a vision to position Qatar as a cultural beacon in the Middle East through activities around theatre, literature, music, visual art, conventions and exhibitions.

Interested?

The sessions will run from May 28 to June 15, from 8.30pm to 9.30pm, at the Katara Masjid. Registration is open from May 14 to 18. Register

Check directions

Download the Katara mobile app

Hashtags: #Katara, #Quran

Burger Federation, Spizzico open at Hamad International Airport

Source: Qatar Airways. Spizzico is one of two new restaurants in the North Node at Hamad International Airport.

Qatar Duty Free (QDF), in partnership with HMSHost International, which provides dining experiences for travel venues has announced two new restaurants in the North Node of Hamad International Airport (HIA) in Doha.

Burger Federation, a casual dining concept, opened its doors to travellers in the North Node of HIA’s main terminal. The restaurant serves burgers that have been reinvented as contemporary gourmet cuisine. HMSHost responded to customers’ growing demand for high-quality meat with a menu of locally and internationally-inspired burgers made from premium Angus beef and fresh toppings.

Guests are welcome at Spizzico, a quick-service, contemporary bread and pizza bakery offering an assortment of gourmet pizzas, freshly-baked paninis, pastries and salads.

Senior Vice President, QDF, Luis Gasset said: “We invite travellers to try Burger Federation and Spizzico located at the North Node as well as the more than 30 restaurants and grab-and-go-style establishments offering an extensive selection of cuisine from all corners of the globe, strategically placed across the South and North Duty Free Plazas and along Concourses A, B, C, D and E.”

Walter Seib, CEO of HMSHost International, said: ”After the opening of Doha’s first Harvest Market restaurant in HIA in January, we are thrilled to announce the opening of two more restaurants that will appeal to hungry travellers. The strategic partnership with one of the fastest-growing airports in the Gulf, helps us in delivering our mission and conveying our promise of Feeling Good while on the move. Also, this partnership enables us to grow our footprint worldwide with our mixed brand portfolio.”

HMSHost operates international brands and proprietary concepts in more than 100 airports around the globe. Through its HMSHost International division, the company has food and beverage operations in 21 airports across the Middle East, Asia, and the Asia Pacific region.

QDF is a duty-free operator in the Middle East, offering its customers an extensive range of international brands including Moncler, Bally, Burberry, Coach, Hermès, Hugo Boss, Rolex, Bulgari, and Harrods.

Free night's stay in Doha for Qatar Airways transit passengers

Source: Qatar Airways. Doha skyline.

Qatar Airways has launched a stopover package in partnership with Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) to promote and market Qatar as a destination of choice for international travellers.

The package offers transit passengers the opportunity to discover Doha with free luxury hotel stays and complimentary transit visas. The unique offer is part of a broader campaign called +Qatar designed to encourage transit passengers to consider adding Qatar to their itinerary.

The promotion invites all Qatar Airways transit passengers to add Doha to their vacation by taking advantage of a free one-night hotel stay from a selection of the country’s best four- and five-star hotels in the capital city. Throughout the summer (Q2 to Q3), the national carrier, with the support of QTA, will offer a night's accommodation at hotels such as The Four Seasons, Marriott Marquis, Radisson Blu and the Oryx Rotana. They can stay a little longer with a second night’s stay for a US$50 booking fee.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, HE Akbar Al Baker, said: “Qatar Airways is more than just a national flag-carrier for Qatar; we are proudly patriotic and want to share Qatar’s many exciting attractions with our passengers from around the world. This exclusive initiative provides the opportunity to add an extra element to our passengers’ existing travel plans with a complimentary hotel stay in some of Doha’s finest hotels. We want to ensure that our passengers have a memorable experience every time they travel with Qatar Airways, and now, we’re going even further to make sure that we exceed their expectations.”

Chief Tourism Development Officer, Qatar Tourism Authority Hassan Al-Ibrahim said: “It was a great source of pride for all of us in Qatar when we launched the transit visa last November. We have already seen a surge in stopover passengers, with a 53% increase recorded in March 2017, compared to the same month last year. With the launch of +Qatar today, we aim to convert a larger portion of the 30 million passengers passing through Hamad International Airport into stopover visitors. We are delighted to make Qatar more accessible to people from around the world and invite them to discover our country, our cultural heritage and our natural treasures.”

Interested?

To be eligible for this offer, passengers must book their flight online at www.qatarairways.com/plusqatar, select ‘multi-city’ and choose their hotel once they receive their flight confirmation. The online transit visa application is also free and is eligible for those in transit between five and 96 hours. This offer is available to Qatar Airways passengers flying both Premium and Economy, and demonstrates the airline’s commitment to its brand ethos of Going Places Together. Additional stopover packages are offered by Discover Qatar.

Museum of Islamic Art focuses on carpets in new exhibition

Imperial Threads: Motifs and artisans from Turkey, Iran and India will run at the Museum Of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar till 4 November 2017.

This exhibition will focus on the exchange of artistic and material cultures between the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal empires. Highlighting MIA's masterpiece carpets, among other artworks from Turkey, Iran and India, these objects will be contextualised within the historical circumstances of politics and artistic production of their time, primarily from the 16th to the 18th centuries.

Interested?

Watch the introductory video on Imperial Threads

Attend events inspired by Imperial Threads:

School workshops
Every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday to 9 November 2017, 8:30am to 10:30am (1.5 hours)

School workshops based on the themes of the exhibition are available throughout the exhibition for group plus of up to 25 students. To book, please contact +974 4422 4268 or email educationmia at qm.org.qa

Introduction to Carpet Weaving
19 to 23 March, 4pm to 8pm

A practical course to learn the principles of traditional carpet design as well as essential weaving techniques with Shorsh Saleh, lecturer at the Princes School of Traditional Arts in the UK.

posted from Bloggeroid

Inaugural Mahaseel Festival in Doha focuses on fresh agricultural produce, livestock

Source Cultural Village Foundation-Katara. The Mahaseel Festival.

The first edition of the Mahaseel Festival hosted by the Cultural Village Foundation-Katara in collaboration with the Qatari Agricultural Department at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment was launched on January 7. The new initiative stems from Katara's vision of serving the community, by working with and supporting local businesses, institutions and charities.

The Mahaseel Festival features agricultural produce and livestock as well as competitions, exhibitions and interactive events to promote public awareness and interest in Qatari food produce. Restaurants at the cultural village will support the venture by sourcing all their fresh produce from participating outlets at the festival.

GM, Cultural Village Foundation-Katara, HE Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al-Sulaiti said, "The festival will continue to host 22 sales outlets and 12 mobile vending vehicles which will offer visitors the best quality of produce including fruits, vegetables, honey, poultry and dairy products in addition to flowers."

In addition to these events, the festival features a date palm exhibition, Nakheel, to raise public interest about the natural life cycle of the palm tree, and to increase awareness of its health and commercial benefits. The festival also elaborates on the significance of the palm tree in the Quran.
In order to avoid undue wastage of fresh produce, Katara coordinates with various charitable organisations to ensure that any leftover produce at the end of each day is distributed to needy families in the country.

Interested?

The festival continues every weekend from 1pm to 2am until May 1 in Katara's southern area (Parking Area 05). Entry is free.

Participate in the associated sketching competition

Katara brings prize-winning Arabic novels to Doha International Book Fair

Source: Katara. The Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) made prize-winning works available at the Doha International Book Fair.

The Cultural Village Foundation-Katara, a platinum sponsor of the 27th edition of the Doha International Book Fair,  showcased 28 publications that have won Katara’s Prize for Arabic Novel at the expo.

​The winning novels include translated copies of English and French publications as well as the work of Qatari novelists Shama Al-Kuwari and Ahmad AbdulMalek, which were distributed free to readers.



Winners of the second Prize for Arabic Novel included:

In the published category, Ibrahim Nasr Allah for Kilmanjaro Souls, Ilyas Khori for Sons of Gitto, Eman Hamedan for Fifty Grams of Heaven, Nasser Iraq for Al Azbakia, and Yahia Yakhalf for Wind Rider.  

In the unpublished category, Salmi Al-Nasser for Blue Tongues, Saad Mohamed Raheem for Desire Banks, Ali Ahmad Al-Rifai for Mero Family Genes, Mohamed Al-Gharbi Omran for Heights Queen, and Mostafa Al-Hamdawi for Princess Shadows.

Katara's prizes for research and studies went to Dr Ibrahim Al-Hajri, Dr Hassan Al-Mowadn, Dr Hossam Safan, Dr Zohor Karam and Dr Mohamed Abo Azza. ​

Nasser Iraq wrote the best drama in the published category, which was awarded US$200,000, while Ali Ahmad Al-Rifai took home US$100,000 for the best drama in the unpublished category. The top five published submissions were also awarded US$60,000 each, while the top five unpublished submissions received US$30,000 each.

The top five unpublished studies from the research, evaluation and literary criticism category were each awarded US$15,000. The top five unpublished young-adult novels won US$10,000 each.

Five awarded authors from the first Katara prize for Arabic Novel from the non-published novels category were also present to sign their works throughout the event.

The Doha International Book Fair had Read as its theme. Four hundred and ninety publishers from 33 countries presented more than 104,000 books, including 15,219 new titles.

Museum of Islamic Art focus on China in new exhibit

Source: MIA Facebook page. The Treasures of China exhibition is on till 7 January 2017. 

The Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) in Doha, Qatar is running the Treasures of China exhibition till 7 January 2017.

The famous terracotta warriors of Xian, China from the first emperor’s terracotta army are on show as part of the exhibition. Divided into The Birth of Civilisation, Ceremonies and Kingdoms, Splendid Unification, Prosperity and the Silk Road and Porcelain, Imperial China and the Royal Arts, the exhibition involves all major historical periods of ancient China and displays 116 pieces dating from the Neolithic period to the Qing dynasty, the last dynasty before China became a republic.

Islam arrived in China within 20 years of the Prophet Muhammad's death, according to Wikipedia.

The museum plans to feature carpets next year in Imperial Threads: Motifs and artisans from Turkey, Iran and India in 2017. From 15 March 2017 to 4 November 2017 visitors to the MIA can study the exchange of artistic and material cultures between the Ottoman (Turkey), Safavid (Iran), and Mughal (India) empires. Exhibits from the museum's collection will be contextualised within the politics and artistic production of their time, primarily from the 16th to the 18th centuries.

Interested?

Plan your visit

Hashtag: #TreasuresofChina

Museum of Islamic Art honours Muhammad Ali

Source: Museum of Islamic Art Facebook page. View of boxing gloves.

Muhammad Ali: Tribute to a Legend is an exhibition dedicated posthumously to world boxing legend Muhammad Ali (1942 to 2016). The temporary exhibition is curated by Qatar Museums’ 3-2-1 Olympic and Sports Museum and will present a collection of artefacts from the boxing legend’s career, including photography from Ali’s outdoor exhibition bout at the Doha Stadium in 1971; memorabilia spanning his journey to the 1960 Rome Olympics; Ali’s world title winning bout against Sonny Liston in 1964 and his final world title winning fight against Leon Spinks in New Orleans in 1978.

The museum has also developed augmented reality features for its app that can be used with the Muhammad Ali exhibition.

Interested?

The exhibition, at the Eastern Gallery, 4th Floor, Museum of Islamic Art, runs till the end of July. Admission is free.

View the video on the augmented reality app 

Download the augmented reality app for iOS 

Hashtag: #LegendAli

posted from Bloggeroid

Dior pop-up returns to Hamad International Airport with enticing new experiences

• Passengers at Hamad International Airport, Doha can explore Dior’s gardens in the French Riviera
• Qatar Duty Free and Dior to gift scented roses to travellers in celebration of Dior’s new La Colle Noire scent 

The Dior Les Parfums installation is inspired by the Provence rose.

The beauty of the south of France has been recreated in Doha by Qatar Duty Free and Dior with the unveiling of a wall of pink roses at Hamad International Airport (HIA). The 180 sq m Dior Les Parfums installation, inspired by the rose de mai (Provence rose) – the signature bouquet of Dior’s new fragrance La Colle Noire – will greet visitors with a full sensory experience from July until September 2016.

Visitors to Qatar Duty Free can enjoy a perfumed flower garden modelled after Dior’s flower garden in the Château de La Colle Noire, France, while listening to live violin music. Visits to the Dior garden will be completed with a scented rose gift that embodies the beauty and delicacy of the new fragrance.

Qatar Duty Free is also gifting free perfume personalisation to all customers who purchase one of Dior’s exclusive La Collection Privée range from the stand, with the opportunity to have the perfume bottle engraved with a name or message.

Senior Vice President Qatar Duty Free Luis Gasset said: “Shopping at Qatar Duty Free is truly an extraordinary experience for our customers. Our range of luxury brands and exclusive offers are complemented by excellent customer service and incredible experiences that make a visit to Qatar Duty Free in HIA an unforgettable part of the journey.

“This exclusive Dior promotion, the latest brand collaboration for Qatar Duty Free, is part of our ongoing strategy to customise and tailor our offers for our customers who have the opportunity to choose from one of the biggest collections of beauty brands, fragrances and cosmetics, in any airport in the world.”

Commercial Director Travel Retail at Dior, Frank Dagher Hayeck said: “After the great success of the first edition held in 2015 at HIA, we are glad to present our brand new Dior Les Parfums Pop Up 2016 in collaboration with Qatar Duty Free. This year, we will go even further with this partnership, proposing to all the travellers passing through HIA from July to September a unique customer experience while exploring our exclusive podium and all of its numerous treasures: its hundreds of Grasse roses rising up to five metres high, La Colle Noire, (the) famous Christian Dior house, a true quete d’essence with Francois Demachy (Editor's note: Perfumer-Creator, Dior) and many more while getting unique Dior personalised gifts for themselves or their loved ones.”

Qatar Duty Free operates the retail experience at Hamad International Airport (HIA) in addition to an outlet at Doha Port. It is the second-largest duty free operator in the Middle East. At HIA Qatar Duty Free offers 40,000 sq m of combined retail, food and beverage facilities, establishing the retailer as a premier shopping and dining destination.

Etihad celebrates 10 years of flying to Qatar with more flights a week

Etihad Airways is celebrating 10 years of flying to Qatar this year by launching nine additional weekly flights on the Abu Dhabi-Doha route, reinforcing its commitment to one of the airline’s key markets in the Gulf.

Effective 1 August 2016, the national airline of the UAE will increase weekly frequency to Qatar’s capital city to 37 services. The new daily morning flights as well as the early evening departures on Thursdays and Saturdays provide more flexibility and greater convenience and have been timed to cater to the needs of business travellers both in Abu Dhabi and Doha.

The extra frequencies will provide travellers to and from Doha with greater choice and travel options on Etihad Airways’ network across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia, Indian Subcontinent and North America. The new services are also timed to coincide with the peak summer (roughly Q2 to Q3) travel months.

Since the Doha route was launched in 2006, Etihad Airways has steadily increased frequency to meet demand, and to offer more connectivity to the growing number of global destinations served from its Abu Dhabi hub.

Daniel Barranger, Etihad Airways Senior Vice President Global Sales, said: “Qatar is a key market for Etihad Airways. Since 2006, we have progressively developed the Abu Dhabi-Doha route to four daily flights, and what better way to celebrate our 10th anniversary linking the two capital cities than by upgrading this important route with nine new flights each week, further demonstrating our commitment to the Doha market.

“With an improved schedule to and from Doha, greater network reach and more connectivity, we look forward to giving our guests increased choice and access to even more destinations we fly to via our Abu Dhabi hub.”

New flights in the Daily flight schedule between Abu Dhabi and Doha, effective 1 August 2016. All departures and arrivals are listed in local time.

Flight	Origin	Destination	Depart	Arrive	Aircraft	Frequency
EY 399	Abu Dhabi	Doha	2:50	2:55	A320	Daily
EY 390	Doha	Abu Dhabi	4:00	6:15	A320	Daily
EY 331	Abu Dhabi	Doha	7:45	7:50	A320	Daily
EY 332	Doha	Abu Dhabi	8:50	11:05	A320	Daily
EY 393	Abu Dhabi	Doha	8:45	8:50	A321	Daily
EY 394	Doha	Abu Dhabi	9:55	12:10	A321	Daily
EY 395	Abu Dhabi	Doha	15:30	15:35	A321	Daily
EY 396	Doha	Abu Dhabi	16:45	19:00	A321	Daily
EY 353	Abu Dhabi	Doha	17:30	17:35	A320	Thursday & Saturday
EY 354	Doha	Abu Dhabi	18:35	20:50	A320	Thursday & Saturday
EY 391	Abu Dhabi	Doha	21:35	21:40	A320	Daily
EY 398	Doha	Abu Dhabi	22:50	1:05	A320	Daily

Interested?

All fares are bookable online, through any Etihad Airways’ reservation office or through a local travel agent.