‘In Qatar, we have had a dream that our country would be one of the prosperous nations whose people would enjoy well-being and prosperity, and we invested decades of planning and comprehensive development work to make this dream come true,’ said His Highness the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2023. This spirit has long been shown in the state of Qatar, a small peninsula in the Arabian Gulf, a country that rose from Bedouins and pearl divers to become one of the wealthiest countries in the world. In the past few years alone, it has become the first Arab country to host the FIFA World Cup and has firmly established itself as the cultural and design capital of the Middle East.

A beautiful bound, silk-covered tome deserving of coffee tables in the region, and the world over, Assouline’s latest travel read, Qatar: Our Home pays homage to this dynamic and pioneering peninsula. The book details Qatar’s transformation from fishing and pearl-diving settlements and desert expanses into one of the world’s wealthiest nations – chronicling the journey with emotive and captivating imagery that honours the past, while showcasing Qatar’s gleaming vision for the future.

Taking place over just a few decades, Qatar’s transformation is spellbinding, and Qatar: Our Home captures the moments along the way. At the heart of the story is Doha, the capital, standing as an open-air architectural marvel hosting masterpieces like I. M. Pei’s Museum of Islamic Art, Jean Nouvel’s National Museum of Qatar and Rem Koolhaas’ Qatar National Library. Driven by the Qatar Royal family, by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned and her daughter, Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Qatar has fostered a thriving art scene and cemented itself as the art and design capital of the Middle East. Art seamlessly interviews with city life – Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Urs Fischer, and Richard Serra’s works can be found in hospitals, public spaces and its world-class Hamad International Airport. This, in turn, has nourished a new generation of Qatari artists, with the capital home to the region’s leading creative college, VCUarts Qatar – Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts Qatar, and incubation and exhibition spaces like Mshreib Downtown Doha, M7 and the Fire Station Gallery.

Despite the rapid modernization, Qatari culture remains deeply rooted in tradition, which is evident in the coexistence of towering skyscrapers in West Bay and the century-old Souq Waqif, where local spices and traditional garments are showcased. Visitors to the souq will marvel at dhow boats, falcons and camels set against the twinkling and futuristic skyling of West Bay.

‘In 2010, when Qatar won the bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022, the world regarded it as an anomaly. Labelled conservative and traditional, Qatar is actually the epitome of a modern society that has grown from the roots of proud heritage through foundations laid by the country’s founder, Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani,’ reads the opening of the latest coffee table read. ‘While the nation grows in leaps and bounds, Qatari heritage unites its people to be responsive representatives of a magnanimous homeland that upholds its sovereignty and principles.

‘Qatar’s rich heritage is a melting pot of cultures that have graced this peninsula over for centuries. Qatar owes much of its panache to diversity, whether it be art, culture, food or its eclectic style. From Pearl-Qatar to Souq Qawif and Lusail City to Wakra Souq, this book traverses seamlessly through the modern and traditional, offering people an oiut-of-this-world experience’.

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