Ministry working to develop Darb Al Saai as a permanent venue for cultural activities

Published: 14 January 2025

Minister of Culture addresses Shura Council on Ministry’s 2024-30 strategy to
enhance cultural scene and preserve national identity

 NT Bureau

Doha

The Ministry of Culture is working to develop Darb Al Saai as a per­manent venue for cul­tural and heritage activities, with the aim of enhancing the presence of Qatari culture in the minds of the youth.

This was stated by Minister of Culture H E Sheikh Abdul­rahman bin Hamad Al-Thani at the weekly session of the Shura Council held on Monday.

The session hosted the Min­ister of Culture along with sev­eral specialists from the Minis­try of Culture (MoC), to present the key points of the Ministry’s 2024-30 strategy and its efforts to enhance the cultural scene and preserve the national identity.

The Minister also said that the Ministry has made efforts to provide an appropriate climate to ensure freedom of expression and the right of citizens to ac­cess and disseminate informa­tion, in a manner that does not conflict with Qatari principles and values.

In his speech about the key challenges facing the Ministry, the Minister explained that the cultural scene faces challenges that require concerted national efforts to achieve the desired goals, indicating that the pri­mary challenges are balancing cultural heritage and national identity with technological de­velopments and modernity, and enhancing intellectual protec­tion for society as culture is a national security.His Excellency pointed out that enhancing com­munity participation in cultural activities requires the develop­ment of innovative platforms that meet the interests of differ­ent segments of society.

At the beginning of the ses­sion, the Shura Council Speaker and members praised the MoC’s efforts in enhancing the national cultural scene, protecting the Qa­tari heritage, and achieving Qa­tar National Vision 2030.

The Minister explained that the Ministry seeks to develop qualitative programs that con­tribute to reviving the cultural heritage by organizing national festivals and events, in addition to launching innovative initia­tives that highlight traditional and contemporary arts to en­hance cultural belonging.

The Council members touched on the lack of diverse cultural events, and stressed the need to increase the number of cultural events that meet the interests of different segments of society, with a focus on diversity in the cultural content provided.

Members pointed to the lack of cultural activities and pro­grams in external areas, and called for expanding their scope to include all regions in the coun­try to ensure that culture reach­es all members of society.

In response to the Council members’ comments and ques­tions, HE Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al-Thani stressed the Ministry’s keenness to develop various programs and activities that include all segments and regions.