Qatar Pavilion celebrates National Day with special showcase at Expo 2025
The event was attended by Minister of Culture HE Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al Thani; Her Imperial Highness Princess Hisako Takamado, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Japan and Commissioner General HE Jaber bin Jarallah Al Marri; Deputy Commissioner General and Chair of Qatar's Expo 2025 Organising Committee HE Sheikh Ali bin Alwaleed Al Thani; and Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture HE Dr Ghanim bin Mubarak Al Ali. They were joined by senior officials, diplomats, and pavilion visitors from around the world.
In his remarks, Ambassador Al Marri emphasised that celebrating Qatar National Day at such a global platform reflects a deep pride in national identity and cultural heritage, and embodies the core values upon which the State was founded, such as unity, generosity, and openness to the world.
He also highlighted that Qatar's participation at Expo 2025 reaffirms the depth of the strategic partnership with Japan and reflects the country's commitment to addressing regional and global priorities. The celebration, the Ambassador added, offered a valuable opportunity to strengthen mutual understanding and people-to-people connections between the Qatari and Japanese communities, as well as with the broader international audience. The Expo offers a multicultural environment that promotes cultural exchange and international cooperation, in line with Qatar National Vision aimed to foster intercultural dialogue and global cooperation.
Dr Ali affirmed that the National Day celebration is a significant opportunity to share Qatar's cultural heritage with a global audience. He noted that the Ministry's participation underscores its commitment to promoting cultural exchange, fostering meaningful dialogue.
Sheikh Ali emphasised that hosting Qatar's National Day celebration marks a proud milestone in the country's broader participation at this global event. He noted that the celebration not only introduces the Japanese and international communities to Qatar's rich culture and aspirations but also reflects the forward-looking vision shaping its future through the Pavilion's distinctive immersive design and interactive programming.
The event featured a documentary about the State of Qatar, produced by the Ministry of Culture, followed by a series of cultural performances showcasing Qatari cultural heritage.
Following the event, the Minister of Culture and Her Imperial Highness, accompanied by officials and diplomats, toured both the Qatari and Japanese pavilions.
The Qatar Pavilion, under the theme 'From the Coastline, We Progress', drew significant interest from the Expo visitors, offering a vivid reflection of Qatar's national identity and the country's ongoing development journey.
The pavilion presents a rich, multi-sensory interactive experience, beginning with Qatar's maritime heritage and extending across key themes including hospitality, identity, art, architecture, nature, and innovation. It also showcases the facets of cooperation between Qatar and Japan in education, energy, economy, and culture.
At the conclusion of the event, the organising committee extended an invitation to visitors from around the world to explore the Qatar Pavilion and immerse themselves in the rich cultural essence and enduring charm of the nation.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
5 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
Sheikha Asma conquers Nanga Parbat Summit in Pakistan
Doha Qatari mountaineering legend Sheikha Asma bint Thani Al Thani has reached the summit of Nanga Parbat in Pakistan, adding yet another remarkable achievement to her extraordinary record. At 8,126 meters, Nanga Parbat is the ninth highest peak in the world. With this latest accomplishment, Sheikha Asma has now successfully climbed 9 of the 14 mountains globally that exceed 8,000 meters in elevation. Currently in Pakistan, Sheikha Asma is focused on her next challenge—reaching the summits of Gasherbrum 1, Gasherbrum 2, and Broad Peak. Upon completion, only the peaks of Shishapangma and Cho Oyu will remain, positioning her to become the first woman in history to conquer all 14 peaks over 8,000 meters and achieve the "Explorers Grand Slam"—a groundbreaking milestone in mountaineering. Beyond her remarkable climbs, Sheikha Asma's expeditions serve as a platform for raising awareness of important global issues. Through her journeys, she aims to encourage women and youth in the region to overcome barriers and follow their dreams. Sheikha Asma has partnered with several international organizations, including Ooredoo and the UNHCR, to advance humanitarian and social causes through her adventurous expeditions.
ILoveQatar.net
19 hours ago
- ILoveQatar.net
Schools in Qatar to adopt new academic calendar for years 2025-2026 to 2027-2028
The Ministry of Education and Higher Education has approved the new academic calendar for schools in the State of Qatar for the academic years (2025-2026, 2026-2027, 2027-2028), taking into account various educational, cultural, and national considerations, in light of the Ministry's vision to develop a flexible and comprehensive educational system. The calendar was approved after a comprehensive review of various influencing factors, including the Shura Council's proposals to harmonize public and private school holidays. The decision was made to set the mid-year break for the last third of December, which will help unify the school calendar across the country and provide families with greater planning and organization. The calendar also included adjusting the date of the first-semester final exams to be held before National Day, in response to the Ministry of Culture's recommendations. This allows students to actively participate in national events that contribute to strengthening identity and belonging. To ensure students' religious and psychological well-being, the Ministry ensured that the second-semester midterm exams do not coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, allowing students to invest the holy month in worship and related social and cultural activities. In consideration of the religious and social significance of the holy month of Ramadan, the new academic calendar includes two additional days off for students and school staff, in addition to the official holiday approved by the state during the holy month, for the 2025-2026 and 2027-2028 academic years. One of the most prominent features of the new calendar is the adoption of a "Test Day - Rest Day" system. This system is used exclusively for second-semester exams for high school students. This allows students ample time to review material and regain focus between each exam. It also helps prepare them mentally and psychologically to achieve the best possible performance in second-semester exams, which represent a student's final opportunity to improve their academic achievement and GPA. It was also decided to establish an extended weekend break following the midterm exams for the second semester of each year, as part of the Ministry's efforts to support student well-being and enhance their educational balance. In order to ensure the efficient organization of the educational process, the calendar was designed to achieve an objective balance between the two semesters, while ensuring that all curricula are covered within the approved number of school days. The Ministry of Education and Higher Education affirms that this evaluation comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to develop educational policies that serve the interests of students, teachers, and parents, and enhance the effectiveness of the educational system in Qatar. This stems from its commitment to the Qatar National Vision 2030, which places human capital development at the forefront of its priorities toward building an advanced knowledge-based society. You can view the new academic calendar for the academic years (2025–2026, 2026–2027, 2027–2028) through this link. Source and cover image credit: Ministry of Education and Higher Education
Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar working to bridge gaps in Gaza ceasefire talks: Al Ansari
Hanane Djoua Doha Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari has affirmed that the indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas, currently hosted by Doha, aim to bridge the gap between the two parties regarding the negotiating framework. 'Both the Palestinian and Israeli delegations are in Doha, and discussions are currently under way with each delegation separately, with the aim of creating anappropriate environment for agreement on key issues between the two sides,' Dr Al Ansari said during the weekly media briefing on Tuesday. He said separate discussions are being held with each side in an effort to bridge the gap between them. The focus, he said, is on establishing a 'negotiation framework'—a document that precedes official talks. This framework would serve as a foundation for agreement on core issues before entering the final phase of negotiations. 'The negotiations are still ongoing, and it is too early to provide impressions about their outcome. But we can say that the discussions are continuing, and the parties are present and engaged here in Doha.' Dr Al Ansari expressed appreciation for the role of the United States in supporting the mediation efforts and noted that both the Qatari and Egyptian mediation teams are working around the clock in Doha in pursuit of a viable negotiation framework. He added that there is still hope surrounding the current efforts. Dr Al Ansari also addressed reports of statements made by Israeli officials regarding plans for the displacement of Palestinians, reiterating Qatar's clear and longstanding opposition to any such actions. He stressed that Qatar is against any forced transfer of Palestinians, whether outside or within their homeland. 'Palestinians, like any people in the world, have the right to exist where their land lies,' he said, referencing international law. He called on the international community to support Qatar's position and noted that there is widespread international rejection of any attempts to remove Palestinians from Gaza. 'This is their land,' he said. Dr Al Ansari clarified that the discussions currently under way do not represent the start of formal negotiations but are aimed at agreeing on a framework to reduce the time needed for actual talks once they begin. 'We are still in the framework stage,' he noted. 'That's why we are discussing principles that will allow the negotiations to be more efficient. It is too early to speak about where the negotiations will lead, but there is engagement from both sides.' He stressed that the Qatari and Egyptian mediation teams continue their work with the goal of building consensus around the framework. 'This process needs time,' he said. 'We are working around the clock, but it's too soon to provide a timeframe.' Dr Al Ansari affirmed that the ultimate goal of the mediation efforts is to end the war and the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Gaza. He explained that the document under discussion is an agreed framework for the negotiations, not a final agreement. It includes the conditions for a ceasefire and the guarantees required to ensure that the truce leads to positive outcomes. 'We are not yet talking about a final agreement,' he said. 'We are focusing on the ceasefire and what it could lead to in terms of resuming talks toward a lasting solution to this humanitarian catastrophe.' Turning to the Afghan file, Dr Al Ansari confirmed that Qatar continues to communicate with the caretaker government in Afghanistan and maintains confidence in its role supporting the Afghan people. He reviewed Qatar's contributions to peace and stability in Afghanistan, including the mediation between the Taliban and the United States that led to the US troop withdrawal, representation of foreign missions including American interests in Kabul, and the hosting of meetings between UN envoys and Afghan officials in Doha. He emphasized that the question of recognition is a sovereign matter and part of broader international understandings, with each country free to handle it as it sees fit. He said Qatar welcomes the security and stability measures taken by the Afghan caretaker government but acknowledged there are still areas of ongoing discussion. Qatar continues its role as a mediator between the Afghan authorities and the international community. 'There is currently no new information regarding formal recognition or natural resumption of Egyptian relations,' he said. 'However, there is a functioning Afghan mission in Doha, and we hope to strengthen ties with the caretaker government and the Afghan people.' Dr Al Ansari referenced recent statements by US President Donald Trump supporting progress in the Gaza talks and affirmed that Qatar builds on this through joint mediation with the United States. However, he clarified that issues beyond the scope of mediation—such as bilateral matters between Israel and the US—do not fall within Qatar's role, except where they directly relate to the American stance on mediation. He stated that the ongoing Gaza negotiations in Doha are now in their third day and that both delegations remain present in the country. While no timeline can yet be given, he described the presence of the delegations and their engagement as positive. 'This is still the early phase,' he said, cautioning against premature expectations. 'Mediation is, by definition, a difficult process. We are sitting between two sides in the context of an ongoing war.' Nonetheless, the fact that both parties are engaging seriously and remain in Doha, he concluded, is itself a positive development.
