Katara (cultural Village)

Katara is a cultural village in Doha, Qatar, located on the eastern coast between West Bay and the Pearl. It was soft-opened in October 2010 during the Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF), an event it has hosted ever since.

Katara, a culturally significant city in the center of Qatar, is developing into a popular tourist attraction and a regional center. Through cutting-edge technology and heritage revival, Katara tells the story of Qatar while showcasing the creativity and diversity of the city. Katara is a breeding ground for such creativity, known for its prominent cultural events, services, facilities, and top-tier international events. A million square meters of this magnificent cultural hamlet appears to more than 10 million tourists through such artistic events, which bring people from all over the world to this renowned Arab cultural destination in Qatar.

Etymology

"Katara" was the historical name used for Qatar prior to the 18th century. Geographer Claudius Ptolemaeus referred to the Qatar Peninsula under the name 'Catara' in 150 AD and in the middle of the second century AD, in the Historical Atlas of Islam.

Overview

Many Qatari organisations have their offices in Katara. These include the Qatari Society for Engineers, Qatar Fine Arts Society, Visual Art Centre, Qatar Photographic Society, Childhood Cultural Centre, Theatre Society and Qatar Music Academy. The QMA manages the QMA Gallery, a public art venue in the village. The buildings and facilities at Katara were deliberately arranged in order to reflect the country's cultural and architectural heritage.

Development projects

Doha Bay with the district of Katara. It is set for completion by 2021.

A project dubbed "Katara Plaza" was launched in April 2015. It will feature a number of retail outlets.

Facilities

Katara has an open amphitheater, an opera house, a multi-purpose cinema, a multi-purpose conference hall, a beach, and a souq. A museum showcasing the country's maritime heritage was opened in November 2015. It is also site of AlBahie Auction House.

Cultural organizations

Katara hosts the following cultural organizations:
*Al Gannas Association, an organization for hunting and falconry.
*Al Bahie Auction House, dedicating to auctioning works of art.
*Arab Postal Stamp Museum, a museum covering the postal history of 22 countries.
*Bedaya Center, a career center dedicating to helping young Qataris find employment.
*Brooq Magazine, a monthly cultural magazine established in 2003.
*Doha Film Institute, a film production company that promotes local and regional filmmakers.
*Forum of Arabic and International Relations, a cultural organization formed to promote intraregional relations and dialogue.
*Katara Art Center, an art center founded in 2012.
*Katara Art Studios, an organization that holds art workshops and organizes local art-related events.
*Katara Beach Club, a sports and wellness club.
*Katara Planetarium, a planetarium which has a capacity for 200 viewers and boasts a 22-meter display.
*Poet Majles, a center dedicated to Arabic poetry.
*Qatar Fine Arts Association, one the oldest artist societies in the country.
*Qatar Music Academy, a government-sanctioned academy that trains students in music.
*Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, an orchestra that performs both western and Arabic music.
*Qatar Museums Gallery-Katara.
*Sout Al Khaleej, an Arabic-language public radio station.
*Visual Art Center, which showcases the work of local artists and holds educational workshops.
*Youth Hobbies Center, a youth center that holds workshops on activities such as photography, stamp collecting, animation and video games.

Events

Fath Al Kheir journey

Fath Al Kheir's journey, organized by Katara management, promotes Qatar's maritime heritage. The first voyage occurred in the Persian Gulf from 22 November to 18 December 2013. A second voyage launched on 6 October 2015, crewed by 40 Qataris in traditional attire and sailed around the Arabian Sea, with the key destinations being Oman and India. The Indian ambassador to Qatar hailed it as a milestone in the countries' bilateral relations.

Katara Art Forum

A two-day discussion forum for the arts began its inauguration in Katara in 2014. An annual event, the forum features international and local researchers who deliver speeches on topics such as the history of Arab art and Arab art groups.

Aida

In October 2012, an event featuring Giuseppe Verdi's classic opera Aida hosted in Katara's amphitheater is one of the first operas in Qatar. The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra featured in the opera; alongside it were at least 80 singers and 35 actors.

2021 FIFA Arab Cup Draw

The group stage draw for the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup took place on 27 April 2021 at Katara's opera house.

Arabic Novel

By supporting and recognizing innovative Arab novelists, this award hopes to increase public interest in literature.

Quran Recitation

A Quran reading tournament is typical in the Islamic world, where the winners receive prestigious awards.

Horse Festival (KIAHF)

The Qatar Equestrian Federation imports exceptional Arabian horses from domestic and foreign sources. It features sporting competitions and cultural events, making it the ideal location for anybody who appreciates the beauty of Arabian horses.

Dhow Festival

Unprecedented regional, national, and local events' primary focus is on free pearl diving, sailing, and traditional dhow transportation.

Oud Festival

Many professional and amateur oud players gathered to display their skills. This four-day event includes lectures, musical nights, and workshops.

Suhail Festival

This falconry-focused show is one of Qatar's first major international gatherings. It displays articles about hunting supplies and tools.

Arab Postal Stamp Museum

It contains one of the rarest stamps from 22 Arab nations.

Transport

Currently, the underground Katara Metro Station is under construction, having been launched during Phase 1. Once completed, it will be part of Doha Metro's Red Line North.

Management

Dr. Khalid Bin Ibrahim Al-Sulaiti

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