Doha, September 21 (QNA) - The Qatar Calendar House launched the " Gulf Calendar " app on Monday, a unified digital platform providing astronomical and calendar services for users across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

The launch took place during a ceremony celebrating the 75th anniversary of the calendar's founding in 1951, tracing its journey from handwritten copies to digital expansion across the GCC.

The event was attended by HE Minister of State and President of Qatar National Library Dr. Hamad Abdulaziz Al-Kawari; HE President of the Civil Service and Government Development Bureau Dr. Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al Khalifa; HE Undersecretary of the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs Dr. Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Ghanem Al-Thani, alongside GCC ambassadors and board members.

Vice Chairman of Al Ansari Complex Dr. Ibrahim bin Abdullah Al Ansari stated in his address said Qatar Calendar House, since its establishment, has served astronomy through a legal and religious framework that connects life with faith. The house inherited a legacy spanning decades since the time of the late Sheikh Ibrahim bin Abdullah Al Ansari, Judge of Al Khor, passing through the creator and author of the Qatari Calendar, the late Sheikh Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al Ansari, and ending with the efforts of the Qatar Calendar House, which transformed this legacy into a non-profit, cross-generational national institution.

He added that celebrating 75 years marks the culmination of successive generations' efforts. The calendar evolved from limited handwritten copies 75 years ago, through widespread printing and distribution, to the electronic Qatari Calendar app, which served over 160,000 users, and today's launch of the Gulf Calendar app.

This progress, he stressed, is due to the continuous support of the state and leadership, and the Qatar Calendar House will persist in its service to the nation.

In his speech, HE Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kawari highlighted the life of Sheikh Abdullah Al Ansari, recounting his educational and cultural contributions.

Born in Al Khor in 1914, he said, Sheikh Al Ansari memorized the Quran at age 13, studied under his father, traveled to Al Ahsa at 16 to study Hadith and interpretation, and spent five years in Mecca before returning to Qatar in 1953 at the invitation of Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al-Thani to establish Qatar's first primary school and first religious institute in 1954.

He also advocated for female education, Al Kuwari said, leading to the opening of the first girls' school in 1955, oversaw the printing of the Holy Quran and over 365 books, supervised the construction of 36 mosques across Arab nations, and opened a public library in 1975 housing over 23,000 titles.

Regarding the calendar's evolution, Dr. Al Kawari remarked, the calendar moved from paper to screen, and from Qatar to the Gulf, covering 50 cities and offering daily dates, prayer times, astronomical knowledge, star seasons, Ramadan schedules, Qibla direction, and a perpetual calendar.

He stressed that 75 years represents a legacy of scientific contribution, noting that the launch of the Gulf Calendar comes as an extension of this journey, reflecting the house's eagerness to keep pace with technological advancement and present astronomical knowledge through modern methods that meet the needs of GCC users while preserving this scientific heritage for future generations.

Executive Director of Qatar Calendar House Eng. Faisal Al Ansari provided a detailed presentation on the application's features, including Hijri and Gregorian dates, prayer times, astronomical data, and regional seasonal events.

The ceremony concluded with the distribution of replica copies of the original 1951 Qatari Calendar authored by Sheikh Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al Ansari, alongside a documentary film on his life. (QNA)