Khalid Tawalbeh
Doha
As Qatar is inching closer to hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, all state institutions – both public and private – are gearing up for the big occasion and Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum is no different.
Sheikh Faisal Museum, which boasts of a large collection of unique and extraordinary artifacts from over four continents, has left no stone unturned to make the FIFA World Cup a memorable one. The museum has lined up a series activities, events and new halls for the blockbuster football festival.
The museum is equipped with a special hall displaying all kinds of cars, especially sports, in preparation for hosting the World Cup fans. A theatre has been readied in the museum, which can accommodate up to 500 people, to host lectures and events, introducing visitors to Qatari culture and customs.
In addition to a special children’s museum, a special section of the museum called ‘mud houses’ to show Qatari life in the past was ready to brief visitors on the Qatari history -- past and present habits and customs.
A special section of the museum is dedicated for culture of the Islamic world.
The Arab world is known for personalities that the current generation has forgotten, and therefore they are immortalized in the museum. The museum also contains treasures not only from Qatar or the Gulf, but also from Morocco, Algeria, Indonesia, Malaysia, Andalusia and Asia as all, especially the Quranic treasures. The museum was looking in the field of history for manuscripts, which qualifies it to serve as a legacy to the nation as its owner wanted.
The museum is keen to hold interactive activities during the World Cup for the fans leave an impact on the minds of visitors.
Qatar Tribune visited the museum, which is one of the most important and largest personal museums in the world, and spoke to visitors.
Dr Ahmed Al Tayyeb, a Jordanian historian specializing in the Gulf legacy, said the museum houses a collection of Sheikh Faisal’s personal belongings, as well as a collection of works including Islamic art, Qatari heritage, vehicles, handmade carpets and coins from more than 4 continents.
"The museum also includes a date farm, an equestrian school and an Oryx nature reserve aimed at preserving endangered species, which are also a symbol of the state, and the museum promotes Qatar’s heritage and culture,” he explained.
Al Tayyeb clarified: "The museum consists of 16 sections, each of which represents a museum in its own right, and its contents are distributed among cars, jewellery, weapons, clothing, documents, rare manuscripts, architecture and sculptures”.
Through the journey of visitors to the exhibition between its pavilions, and through special tours organized constantly, they travel through the ages and enjoy viewing the unique collections collected by HE Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim throughout his life.
Amani Hassoun, a Syrian visitor to the museum, said: "This place is not just a museum -- it is a palace of information. It takes you in a journey to history, contains several activities and entertainment venues, as well as a range of cultures, including a museum, an equestrian school and a nature reserve. It’s marvelous.”
"The museum houses more than 30,000 carefully collected artifacts, representing a vast historical, cultural and religious heritage gathered under one roof,” she added.
Spread over 50,000 square metres, the Sheikh Faisal Museum is located outside the capital Doha in the Al Shahaniya area in a castle designed in a traditional style.
Alaa Turki, a journalist, expressed his happiness with these rich and amazing places in Qatar, saying "I loved that prominent section of the museum which includes the Quran room that contains a large number of Qurans, in addition to Al Kaaba, I can’t express how amazed I am!”.
The museum displays more than 700 carpets reflecting various weaving, dyeing and patterns from all over the world, and the automobile museum houses more than 600 antique vehicles, including all types of cars from steam to trucks.
Turki added: "I was stunned by the dressing room that displays some clothes and accessories from different parts of the region, antique furniture and musical instruments complement the collection, and amazed by the walls decorated with works of art and photographs.”