Day: November 28, 2025

Following the designation, Katara has announced it would host the first edition of the Arab Opera Festival from December 8 to 11.

The Arab Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) officially designated Katara Cultural Village in Doha as the “Arab Opera City,” recognising its role in promoting Arab opera at both regional and international levels.

The decision, announced during a ceremony held at ALECSO headquarters in Tunisia on Wednesday, reflects wider acknowledgement of Katara’s long-standing efforts supporting musical arts and preserving Arab cultural identity. 

The ceremony was attended by Director General of the Katara Cultural Village Foundation Khalid bin Ibrahim Al-Sulaiti, Director General of ALECSO Mohamed Ould Amar, Qatar’s ambassador to Tunisia Zayed bin Saeed Al Kumait Al Khayarin and a number of the ambassadors of Arab countries in Tunisia.

Al Sulaiti described the title as both an honour and a renewed commitment, as well as “a tribute to the Foundation’s efforts in supporting musical creativity and preserving Arab cultural identity,” according to Qatar News Agency.

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As part of the new status, Katara will host the first edition of the Arab Opera Festival from December 8 to December 11.

The festival will bring together 13 Arab opera houses, feature performances by orchestras including the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra and the Cairo Opera Orchestra, and include workshops on operatic singing and performance. 

In addition, an online platform dedicated to Arab opera houses was also revealed, offering access to their schedules and programmes throughout the year, an initiative aimed at enhancing visibility of opera across the Arab world.

This latest recognition adds to Katara’s growing legacy. In previous years it was honoured as the “City of the Arabic Novel” and as the “Cultural Heritage City of Arabian Horses,” underscoring its central role in cultivating diverse strands of Arab cultural heritage. 

source/content: dohanews.co

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QATAR

Oman has been elected as a member of the International Coordinating Council of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO) Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme.

The country, represented by its Environment Authority, will serve on the Council for the term from 2025 to 2029. The election took place on the sidelines of the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, Republic of Uzbekistan.

The election highlights Oman’s continuous efforts to promote environmental sustainability and reflects its commitment to achieving a balance between national development and the preservation of ecosystems, in line with Oman Vision 2040 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The MAB Programme works to foster scientific and research cooperation among member states, concentrating on expanding nature reserves, conserving biological diversity, and tackling climate change challenges through sustainable innovation.

Oman has previously achieved international recognition within the programme by successfully integrating two sites, the Al Sareen Nature Reserve and the Jabal Akhdar Scenic Reserve, into the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

source/content: wam.ae (headline edited)

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OMAN