AGP Executive Report

Art & Heritage: Rubaiya Qatar has named more than 120 artists for its first edition, with exhibitions and public art opening in Doha on Nov. 21. Qatar Museums will also premiere Again, a musical theatre production connecting South Africa and Palestine, and present a first major exhibition on designer Erdem Moralıoğlu. Film: Doha Film Festival has selected 22 short films for its Nov. 19–27 competition, spanning stories from Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan and Yemen alongside international work. Wellbeing: Qatar University marked World Mental Health Day with workshops and a call for more dialogue and support on campus. Qatar Foundation researcher Sanaa Al-Harahsheh also urged families to set healthy digital habits early, warning that excessive device use can erode time and connection at home. Creative Qatar: Media City Qatar says more than 30 local projects are in its supported production portfolio, with several films set for Doha Film Festival screenings.

Fashion & Culture: Qatar Museums will present ERDEM: About Time, About Her at M7 from October 27 to December 26. The exhibition marks the designer’s 20th anniversary with more than 150 pieces exploring fashion, memory and cultural storytelling. Film: Doha Film Institute has selected 22 shorts for the Doha Film Festival’s international competition, running November 19–27, with stories spanning the Arab world and beyond. Live Arts: Qatar Museums will premiere Again, a musical theatre work linking South African and Palestinian histories, at Souq Waqif from October 27–31. Women in Art: A Lusail Museum Conversations lecture on October 20 will explore Ottoman painter Mihri and the barriers faced by women artists. Education: Sixty-three private schools and kindergartens earned the top “My White Flag” trophy for three years without violations or official warnings. Community: The “We Run Doha” race, organised with Paris Saint-Germain, will bring runners of all ages to Lusail International Circuit on October 30.

Stage & Story: Qatar Museums will premiere Again, a musical theatre work linking South African and Palestinian histories, at Souq Waqif from October 27 to 31. The production marks the Gulf debut of South Africa’s Isango Ensemble. Arts & Ideas: Lusail Museum’s conversation series continues October 20 with an Oxford scholar’s lecture on Ottoman painter Mihri and the barriers facing women artists. Screen Culture: Doha Film Festival 2026 will spotlight Qatar’s growing film scene with four local features and an original series. Learning Through the Arts: Qatar Foundation’s Showtime! 2026 brought 50 students from six schools together for a bilingual production, building confidence, teamwork and Arabic skills. Reading Culture: Pakistan International School Qatar has launched an annual Readers’ Day to celebrate students’ commitment to books and learning.

Arts & Theatre: Qatar Museums will premiere Again at Souq Waqif from October 27–31. The musical brings South African performers and Palestinian testimony together to explore histories of struggle and self-determination. Film: Doha Film Festival will showcase four Qatari feature films, a milestone for the country’s growing screen industry. The lineup spans a gymnastics documentary, a family drama and films about fishing and journalism. Books: Katara hosted a signing for Aisha El Idrissi’s short-story collection Shortly, After Survival, exploring loss, change and self-discovery. Education & Identity: Opening the Shura Council’s new session, the Amir called for young people to gain workplace skills while strengthening Arabic language and national identity. Qatar Foundation’s Showtime! also wrapped, giving 50 students hands-on experience in bilingual theatre.

Youth & Education: Doha’s Strategic Foresight Forum has launched the Qatar Youth Council, giving young people a platform to help shape future planning. MoEHE has also approved a new council to improve student services across the country’s universities. Screen Culture: Doha Film Festival 2026 will showcase four Qatari feature films and a new original series, highlighting the country’s growing filmmaking scene. Hospitality: Hospitality Qatar opened at DECC with 120 exhibitors from Qatar and abroad, presenting ideas and products for the tourism and hospitality sectors through October 14. What’s On: Trevor Noah is set to perform in Doha on December 4, while Msheireb’s Baraha Musical Concert returns on January 14 and 15 with local singers celebrating regional musical heritage.

Film: Doha Film Festival will premiere four Qatari features in November, its biggest local slate in years, alongside an original series from Katara Studios. Heritage: A new Museum of Islamic Art exhibition brings Uzbekistan’s Islamic heritage to Doha through traditional ceramics, textiles, jewellery and garments. Family Life: 974 Beach hosts a free-for-under-sixs festival on October 16, with arts and crafts, inflatables, bubbles and face painting. Education: Qatar University approved new programmes in early childhood education, environmental science and data science, plus a master’s in clinical practice. Wellbeing: Qatar’s health ministry warned against the unlicensed slimming drink GastroZero, which contains undeclared pharmaceutical ingredients. Community Sport: Registration is open for a men’s padel tournament at Al Sadd Sports Club, November 8–10, for players aged 16 and over.

Learning & Skills: CCQ will launch Qatar’s first associate degree in artificial intelligence alongside a digital media programme in January, with 108 places for the first cohort. Health & Wellbeing: LuLu and Qatar Cancer Society are supporting October’s breast cancer awareness campaign, with proceeds from more than 1,500 products funding outreach. UDST marked World Mental Health Day with student art, activities and information on support services. Heritage & Arts: A Ministry of Culture lecture explored how traditional gypsum ornamentation can inspire contemporary design. Msheireb’s Baraha Musical Concert returns Jan. 14–15, pairing local singers with the Al Jazeera Orchestra and Choir. Community & Events: Inclusive education support now reaches 81 government schools and 18 schools in outlying areas, with staff training and assistive tools part of the expansion. Tickets are on sale for UFC Fight Night in Doha on Nov. 21. Doha’s first CardzCon drew more than 5,000 visitors, reflecting the growth of the trading-card community. Media & Identity: A Qatar Press Centre seminar urged Gulf media to move beyond stereotypes and better represent the region’s cultural and intellectual life.

What’s On: Tickets are on sale for UFC Fight Night in Doha on November 21 at Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena, headlined by Jiří Procházka vs Navajo Stirling. Education: Community College of Qatar will launch associate degrees in artificial intelligence and digital media in January 2027, with applications opening November 1. The AI course is the first associate degree of its kind in Qatar. Arts & Culture: Qatari composer Nasser Sahim presented four original works with the Brussels Philharmonic, blending Gulf musical traditions with contemporary orchestral music. Film: The Doha Film Festival has unveiled its 2026 international competition, featuring 15 films from four continents, with a focus on female filmmakers and Middle Eastern stories. Student Theatre: Qatar Foundation’s Showtime! brought 50 students from six schools together for a bilingual musical about hope and transformation. Wellbeing: Qatar University’s World Mental Health Day programme continues October 13–14 with a workshop, exhibition and panel discussion.

Live Music: Filipino singer-songwriters KZ Tandingan and TJ Monterde brought their In Between tour to Doha, reuniting with the city’s Filipino community at the Qatar National Convention Centre. Student Arts: Qatar Foundation’s bilingual musical The Secret of the Garden put 50 students from six schools onstage, building confidence through Arabic and English performance. Cultural Exchange: Qatari composer Nasser Sahim presented four original works with the Brussels Philharmonic, blending Arab musical traditions with contemporary orchestral sounds. Food & Lifestyle: LuLu’s Festival of Spain runs across Qatar until October 14, with Spanish products, tastings and cooking demonstrations. Design & Heritage: Architect Fanos Panayides says Msheireb Downtown Doha shows how contemporary development can evolve while respecting local heritage. Youth Programmes: Centres and sports clubs across Qatar are expanding after-school activities, from arts and sports to technology and volunteering.

Regional Travel: A new attack at Riyadh airport wounded several people and halted operations; Qatar Airways cancelled flights to the Saudi capital, with some cancellations extending into Monday. Qatari Publishing: HBKU Press is using the Frankfurt Book Fair to promote Qatari authors abroad and negotiate translation and publishing rights, while bringing international titles to Arab readers. Education Access: MoEHE and Education Above All agreed to expand tuition-free Assalam Schools for students who face barriers to mainstream education. Culture & Museums: Qatar Museums is preparing Beyti Beytak: My Home Is Your Home, an exhibition on architecture and belonging, while Doha recently welcomed Mexican orchestral music in “Sounds of Mexico.” Community & Wellbeing: PHCC will mark International Infection Prevention Week from October 18–24 with public awareness activities; Qatar University also marked World Mental Health Day with a programme encouraging dialogue and wellbeing. Cultural Outreach: Visit Qatar’s Garden Souq in Singapore wrapped up after welcoming more than 1,700 visitors.

Qatar Abroad: Visit Qatar’s Garden Souq drew more than 1,700 visitors in Singapore, offering Arabic coffee, Qatari food, oud music, crafts and perfume-making to introduce the country’s culture to race-week crowds. Arts & Culture: Doha’s calendar includes the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra’s “Sounds of Mexico,” part of the Qatar-Mexico Year of Culture, alongside upcoming Qatar Museums exhibitions on architecture and designer Erdem Moralioglu. The Doha Film Festival has also announced a competition lineup spotlighting female filmmakers and Middle Eastern stories. Things to Do: Tickets are now on sale for the U-17 Gulf Cup, which brings 10 teams to Doha from October 16 to November 4. Wellbeing & Education: Qatar University’s World Mental Health Day programme continues October 13-14 with workshops and discussions, while a national seminar has called for stronger online safeguards for children and digital content that reflects Qatar’s cultural identity. A new agreement will also expand tuition-free schooling for students who face barriers to mainstream education.

Youth Football: Tickets are on sale for the U-17 Gulf Cup in Doha, running October 16 to November 4. Ten teams, including guests China and Egypt, will compete; digital tickets cost QR15. Architecture & Belonging: Qatar Museums’ “Beyti Beytak – My Home is Your Home” opens October 26 at Fahad bin Ali Palace, exploring home, hospitality and shared responsibility through work by more than 40 regional and international practitioners. Fashion: M7 hosts “Erdem: About Time, About Her,” a retrospective of more than 150 pieces celebrating the designer’s 20-year career, from October 26 to December 26. Film: The Doha Film Festival has revealed 15 films from four continents for its 2026 international feature competition, with a strong focus on female filmmakers and Middle Eastern stories. Learning: The National Museum of Qatar and Qatar University have introduced future teachers to hands-on STEAM learning rooted in museum collections and Qatar’s heritage.

Tourism Spotlight: Qatar ranked 19th in Condé Nast Traveller’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards, the highest placement among Gulf countries, as its mix of modern attractions and heritage draws international visitors. Museum Highlights: Qatar Museums will stage two major exhibitions this month: a retrospective of designer Erdem Moralioglu at M7, and Beyti Beytak, exploring architecture, home and belonging at Fahad bin Ali Palace. Design Exchange: Qatar-linked designers are showcasing collaborations with Mexican artisans at Design Week Mexico, part of the Qatar, Canada and Mexico Year of Culture. On Screen: The Doha Film Festival has unveiled its international feature competition, with 15 films from four continents and a strong presence of women filmmakers. Community Life: Qatar Foundation’s Ladies Sport Night returns to Oxygen Park on Tuesdays from October 13, offering sports and fitness activities for women and girls.

Doha Film Festival: The 2026 competition lineup is out, featuring 15 films from four continents and a strong focus on female filmmakers. Weekend in Doha: Live music, CardzCon and sporting events offer plenty to do around the city from October 8–10. Local Voices: Plans to bring slap-fighting event Power Slap 27 to Qatar have drawn public criticism over head-injury risks and cultural concerns. Education: Government schools will use a four-period day during mid-term exams, with two periods set aside for tests. Sustainability: Qatar Sustainability Week returns October 31–November 7, inviting organisations and residents to join activities promoting greener habits. Community: A visually impaired Ministry of Public Health employee marked World Sight Day by reflecting on 30 years of service and encouraging people with disabilities to stay active in their communities. Social Development: Qatar reaffirmed its commitment to women’s empowerment and children’s rights at the UN.

Film & Culture: Doha Film Festival has revealed 15 titles for its International Feature Competition this November, including four Palestinian films, among them a Gaza-shot drama and a documentary set in Deir al-Balah. Sustainability: Qatar Sustainability Week returns October 31 to November 7, inviting organisations to host workshops, exhibitions and community events. Education: Qatar’s prime minister honoured 80 government-school teachers at a World Teachers’ Day ceremony, recognising their work in supporting students and shaping future generations. Doha Dining: Msheireb Foodhall has opened at Msheireb Galleria, bringing nine cuisines together, including six homegrown concepts, alongside chef events and workshops. Community Health: A Doha gathering organised by Qatar Cancer Society and partners focused on early detection and wellbeing, with a male breast cancer patient sharing his experience to underline that the disease can affect everyone.

Education: Qatar honoured 80 government-school teachers for World Teachers’ Day, recognising their role in shaping students’ futures. Education Minister Lolwah Al Khater also said the ministry is reviewing teacher-training degrees and wants to attract more local and resident talent. Youth & Values: A nationwide school campaign is using talks, activities and games to encourage responsibility, respect and cooperation among students. Arts & Food: Qatar Museums plans an exhibition on contemporary craft practices in Mexico, while Qatar Tourism’s Taste of Qatar programme is putting local restaurant entrepreneurs in the spotlight. Sporting Future: Qatar is among seven countries in talks with the IOC about hosting the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games.