Doha, April 19 (QNA) - The Ministry of Culture marked World Heritage Day 2026 with a series of cultural events and activities aimed at showcasing the richness of Qatari folklore and highlighting national efforts to preserve and sustain cultural heritage.

The event was held in the presence of HE Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture Dr. Ghanem bin Mubarak Al Ali, along with a number of officials, intellectuals, and heritage specialists.

Through the celebration, the Ministry seeks to strengthen national identity among younger generations, highlight heritage as a cornerstone of Qatari collective memory, explore modern methods for documenting and preserving heritage, and reinforce culture's role as a bridge for civilizational dialogue.

Director of the Heritage and Identity Department at the Ministry of Culture, Sheikha Najla bint Faisal Al-Thani, said heritage is not limited to handicrafts or historical buildings, but represents a comprehensive way of life reflecting the values and spirit of Qatari society.

She stressed that the occasion underscores the importance of preserving cultural heritage as a reflection of national identity and collective memory across generations. She also highlighted Qatar's ongoing efforts to promote its heritage internationally through cooperation with regional and global organizations, particularly UNESCO and ALECSO.

In light of global challenges and rapid change, Sheikha Najla called for preserving cultural roots while leveraging modern technologies to document heritage and ensure its continuity for future generations.

She added that heritage preservation extends beyond safeguarding the past, serving as a key pillar for enhancing quality of life and supporting sustainable community development. She emphasized that protecting cultural heritage is a shared responsibility between institutions and individuals.

This year's celebration expanded beyond traditional venues, with activities held in shopping malls to engage wider audiences and promote national identity in public spaces.

An accompanying exhibition organized by the Heritage and Identity Department at the Ministry's headquarters showcased various aspects of Qatari identity, including documentary photographs highlighting efforts to preserve heritage for future generations.

Mohammed Saeed Al Balushi, an expert at the Heritage and Identity Department, presented a paper reviewing Qatar's efforts over the past 60 years to collect and preserve heritage. He traced the evolution from individual initiatives in Al Zubarah to the establishment of institutions such as Qatar National Library, Qatar Radio, and the Department of Culture and Arts, founded in 1977 under the Ministry of Information.

Al Balushi highlighted key milestones, including the Arab Gulf States Folklore Center, established in 1982 based on a Qatari proposal and later closed in 1995. He also referred to historical manuscripts, noting the existence of four copies of the "Zubarah Qur'an" preserved in Qatar Museums, Qatar National Library, Saudi Aramco, and Bahrain.

He also outlined the institutional evolution from the Heritage Committee to the Heritage House, culminating in the establishment of the Heritage and Identity Department in 2021. The department now maintains an archive of more than 3,800 documents, including materials related to Qatar in British archives, with ongoing efforts to explore Indian and Russian archives.

During the session, Al Balushi stressed that heritage is not static, noting that major events and crises contribute to shaping new narratives within collective memory.

He also highlighted the limited presence of Qatari folk tales in media and drama, calling for their adaptation into formats such as animation and theater to strengthen national identity among younger generations.

During a symposium titled "Qatar's Efforts in Preserving Heritage," moderated by media personality and researcher Saleh Gharib Al Obaidli, discussions addressed the documentation of historical photographs.

Al Balushi noted that rights to Qatari photographs dating from 1951 to 1958 are held by the Geographic Information Systems Center, stressing the need to establish a centralized archive to support researchers and the public.

He also reviewed the historical development of the Amiri Diwan building from the 1940s to the present, emphasizing the importance of accurate architectural documentation in preserving landmarks, citing the transformation of the National Museum of Qatar from an old palace into a modern cultural landmark. (QNA)