Doha, May 17 (QNA) - The world celebrates International Museum Day on May 18 each year, an event that was officially launched in 1977 by a resolution of the General Assembly of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) during its meeting in the Russian capital, Moscow. The day aims to raise global awareness about the role of museums, culture, and heritage in societies and to unify the creative efforts of museum institutions around the world.

This day is an annual occasion to highlight the importance of museums as active cultural platforms that contribute to supporting sustainable development and enhancing quality of life, in addition to their pivotal role in cultural exchange, and in promoting the values of mutual understanding, cooperation, and peace among peoples.

Regarding this year's celebration, which carries the theme "Museums Uniting a Divided World," Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Museums (QM) and President of the Arab Regional Alliance of the International Council of Museums of Arab countries (ICOM Arab) Mohammed Saad Al Rumaihi revealed in exclusive statements to Qatar News Agency (QNA) that Qatar Museums has prepared an extensive program of educational activities, interactive experiences, and cultural events across its network of institutions, noting that this year's celebration coincides with the 50th anniversary of the National Museum of Qatar, marking a significant milestone that reflects on the country's exceptional cultural journey

He explained that these activities are being organized as part of the "Nation of Evolution" campaign, which celebrates Qatar's cultural journey over the past fifty years since the establishment of the National Museum of Qatar and highlights the major milestones that have shaped the nation's cultural identity.

He said that under the umbrella of the Qatar Creates initiative, the campaign honors the cultural past while looking toward the future, making International Museum Day 2026 a moment to celebrate what has been achieved and anticipate what lies ahead. He also invited the public to follow Qatar Museums’ platforms for the latest updates and events related to the occasion.

On the role of museums in Qatar in presenting an image of the country's openness to its geographical and human surroundings, the CEO of Qatar Museums said that museums in Qatar go beyond the traditional role of preserving and displaying collections, evolving instead into dynamic cultural and intellectual platforms that reflect the nature of Qatari society as one that is open and actively engaged with its regional and international environment. He explained that the narrative presented by Qatar Museums connects the local with the global, showcasing the Qatari experience within a broader context of civilizational and human interactions that shaped the region's history and contributed to its cultural development throughout the ages.

As an example, he pointed to the story presented by the National Museum of Qatar, which traces the emergence and evolution of Qatari society through the relationship between people and the desert and marine environments, along with the associated lifestyles, trade patterns, and cultural exchanges that reflected a spirit of openness and interaction with other peoples.

In contrast, the Museum of Islamic Art highlights the vast civilizational legacy of the Islamic world, positioning Qatar within a cultural network that extends from Andalusia to Asia and reflecting the contribution of Islamic civilization to the development of knowledge, arts, and the humanities.

He added that this role extends beyond museums within the country to Qatar Museums’ international cultural presence through its overseas participation, exhibitions, and global partnerships that strengthen Qatar’s position on the world cultural map. He cited Qatar’s participation in the Venice Biennale, one of the world’s most prominent art and architecture events, as a clear example of this approach. Such participation helps present the Qatari and Arab cultural narrative to a global audience while creating spaces for dialogue on issues related to art, identity, sustainability, and cultural exchange.

He continued by saying that through its international exhibitions, cultural programs, and initiatives such as the "Years of Culture," Qatar Museums works to build bridges between peoples and foster mutual understanding through culture and the arts. From this perspective, museums have become an essential instrument of cultural diplomacy, helping to reinforce Qatar's image as a country that invests in culture as a form of soft power and a driver of dialogue and human connection, while also supporting the creative economy and strengthening Doha's status as a global center for arts and culture.

Regarding the diversity of museums in the State of Qatar and how this reflects the country's rich archaeological and heritage holdings, CEO of Qatar Museums and President of ICOM Arab Mohammed Saad Al Rumaihi said that the diversity of museums in Qatar is a direct reflection of the multiple layers of the nation's cultural identity.

Qatar's heritage wealth is not limited to one aspect, but rather encompasses maritime, desert, architectural, and archaeological elements, in addition to traditional and contemporary arts, he noted, pointing out that this diversity is embodied in the nature of the institutions affiliated with Qatar Museums, as there is a museum dedicated to Islamic art showcasing global heritage, another focused on national history and the local narrative, as well as institutions devoted to modern and contemporary Arab art, design, sports, and more.

Archaeological sites, such as Al Zubarah Archaeological Site, reflect the depth of the region's economic and commercial history and highlight Qatar's role as a center of cultural interaction in the Gulf, he said. At the same time, he emphasised that this diversity is not presented in isolation, but rather within an integrated vision that connects the past with the present and underscores the continuity and evolution of Qatari culture. Museums, he said, do not merely preserve heritage, but reinterpret and present it to new generations through contemporary approaches.

Speaking about the museum renaissance in the Gulf region over the past twenty years and the factors behind this development, the President of ICOM Arab stated that the museum renaissance in the Gulf during the last two decades represents a strategic transformation in the role of culture within national development plans. Museums, he said, have evolved from being symbolic projects into integrated institutions that contribute to building the creative economy, strengthening national identity, and supporting cultural tourism.

He explained that this transformation is linked to several factors, most notably the presence of a clear leadership vision that recognizes the importance of culture, investment in museum infrastructure, the attraction of global expertise, and the desire to present local narratives that reflect the history of the region from its own perspective.

In Qatar, this comes within the framework of a comprehensive vision that began with the establishment of Qatar Museums and has evolved to encompass an integrated network of museums, cultural centers, and future projects, reflecting a long-term commitment to building a sustainable and influential cultural sector, he added.

As President of the International Council of Museums Regional Alliance of Arab Countries (ICOM Arab), Mohammed Saad Al Rumaihi spoke about the contribution that Arab museums can make in bringing Arab peoples closer together and highlighting the diversity of their heritage. He noted that Arab museums possess significant potential to serve as unifying platforms that reflect the unity of Arab culture within its rich and diverse framework.

He explained that this role goes beyond preserving and displaying heritage, extending instead to reintroducing it as a living space for dialogue, interaction and the shaping of the region’s cultural future, noting that rather than focusing on separate narratives or narrow geographic boundaries, Arab museums can highlight the shared civilizational ties that connect Arab societies — such as language, history, arts, traditional crafts, and ways of life — while at the same time preserving the distinctiveness of each society and its unique local experience.