Al-Rayyan is a large city in the similarly named municipality of Al Rayyan, in Qatar. The city and its suburbs comprise the largest population center in Qatar outside of Doha proper, immediately to its east. Consisting of all of the districts in the municipality’s easternmost section, its western boundary is roughly where the Al Majd Highway runs through the municipality. The city is a part of the Doha Metropolitan Area. It was one of the venues for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. read more…
Saadiyat Island (for “Island of Happiness”) is a natural island and a tourism-cultural environmentally friendly project for Emirati heritage and culture that is located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The project is located in a large, low-lying island, 500 metres (1,600 ft) off the coast of Abu Dhabi island. A mixed commercial, residential, and leisure project is currently under construction on the island. When completed, Saadiyat Island is expected to become Abu Dhabi’s cultural centre, mostly for the Island’s Cultural District that is expected to include eight museums. Due to the Corona pandemic, some projects have fallen noticeably behind schedule, but are now on the way to completion. read more…
Qaryat Al Faw was the capital of the first Kindah kingdom. It is located about 100 km south of Wadi ad-Dawasir, and about 700 km southwest of Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia. The Al Faw archeological site reveals various features such as residential houses, markets, roads, cemeteries, temples, and water wells. It is home to a 1st century BC Old Arabic inscription written in the Ancient South Arabian script which is one of the oldest of its kind in South Arabia. read more…
The Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) (Arabic: Mat?af al-Fann al-Isl?m?) is a museum on one end of the seven-kilometer-long (4.3 mi) Corniche in Doha, Qatar. As per the architect I. M. Pei’s specifications, the museum is built on an island off an artificial projecting peninsula near the traditional dhow harbor. A purpose-built park surrounds the edifice on the eastern and southern facades while two bridges connect the southern front facade of the property with the main peninsula that holds the park. The western and northern facades are marked by the harbor showcasing the Qatari seafaring past. In September 2017, Qatar Museums appointed Julia Gonnella as new director of MIA. In November 2022 the MIA became the first carbon-neutral certified museum in the Middle East Region. The museum participates in the Expo 2023 Doha from October 2023 until March 2024, with workshops and events focusing on biodiversity and sustainability. read more…
