Latest News from Qatar

This Saturday 22nd November is the opening party for the Museum of Islamic Art (have any QLers been invited?), and on the 1st December it will finally throw open its doors to the public.

The art world is getting excited, and I think the museum is something Qatar should be very proud of, despite the issues and delays encountered during its construction.

Even if you're not an art fan you wont want to pass up the chance to visit the museum. It's not everyday something like this opens on your doorstep so make the most of the opportunity.

The following article gives an insight into what you can expect. I've only posted the first few paragraphs but please follow the link at the end to read the rest as it's very interesting.

Art's New Oasis

As global art sales fall, a $300 million museum is set to open in the Gulf state of Qatar. An inside look at what the institution backers want to make into the Met of the Middle East.

By Kelly Crow

Next week, the art world will descend on the tiny Gulf country of Qatar to see the museum that oil and gas built.

Qatar's emir, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, has given only a few people a peek into his country's first major art institution, the I.M. Pei-designed Museum of Islamic Art. Now, with the financial crisis and falling art sales dampening the global mood, the $300 million-plus museum's Nov. 22 opening party is turning into a major event of the art season. Some 1,000 major collectors and museum directors, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Philippe de Montebello, are flying in for the occasion. Many are also getting booked into the city's fleet of new hotels for free.

The museum's curved staircases

The museum is hard to miss, sprouting from an artificial island in the Persian Gulf located just off the sandy shore of Doha, the capital city. The architect Mr. Pei, inspired by the geometric forms of a 13th-century fountain at a mosque in Cairo, shaped the five-story museum like a staggered set of creamy building blocks, each cube adjusted just enough to catch a triangle of harsh light or deep shadow.

Visitors can reach it by boat -- there is a dock for dhows, an Arabian-style fishing vessel made of wood -- or by traveling a palm-lined path and crossing a small bridge.

Oh boy, I hope this stays calm. The Islamic Republic News Agency is reporting that

A group of students from various universities staged a protest in front of the Qatari embassy here on Saturday to condemn the move orchestrated by some Arab countries on normalizing ties with the Zionist regime.

The protestors carried placards, some of which read: 'No Compromise, No Submission', 'Fight Until Destruction', 'Muslims Should Be United', 'Zionist Regime Should Be Wiped Off the World Map'.

At the end of the protest, the students issued a statement to denounce the move.

Oh boy, I hope this stays calm. The Islamic Republic News Agency is reporting that

A group of students from various universities staged a protest in front of the Qatari embassy here on Saturday to condemn the move orchestrated by some Arab countries on normalizing ties with the Zionist regime.

The protestors carried placards, some of which read: 'No Compromise, No Submission', 'Fight Until Destruction', 'Muslims Should Be United', 'Zionist Regime Should Be Wiped Off the World Map'.

At the end of the protest, the students issued a statement to denounce the move.

The US State department has updated their international travel advice on Qatar and apparently they have good things to say about our lovely home.

They sent out a message earlier today confirming what most QLers already know: "Qatar is a dynamic, modernizing, rapidly developing country".

Full report here.

Anyone seen this article about Osama Bin Laden's son being deported to Qatar?

http://news.bbc.co.u...

Poor guy looks like he doesn't have much to do with his Dad and is a victim in some ways of world hysterics. Anyway, you may be bumping into him on the Corniche soon.

Anyone concerned or all think live and let live...

This morning's Peninsula has been redesigned. The business section is syndicated from the Financial Times, and there's a new supplement called Oasis.

My favourite bit is the TV guide, which I helped with. Last year, I got very annoyed with the poor quality of newspaper's TV guide, and I think the Peninsula's guide is now pretty close to fabulous.

What do you all think about the new Peninsula?

After attending the Qatar Philharmonic Concert in Qatar National Theatre, one of the musician told me that they have another concert in Aspire building on Thursday 6th of November.

Qatar Philharmonic at Aspire from novita77 on Vimeo.

The "THIS SITE HAS BEEN BLOCKED" message in a new blue theme

Moderator Note : This is the old blocked message, reproduced for historic purposes :

I'm posting this mainly for the photos. It's good to see Palm Island getting used for something once and a while! More details about the tournament can be found here; http://www.qatarliving.com/events/14oct2008/sony-ericsson-championships-...

Update: Qatari has now kindly embedded a video of the event, to offer some proof to those who thought the photos were fake :p

To mark the start of the prestigious Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha, Sony Ericsson staged a unique tennis game in a place that has never been played in before - a desert island. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Doha skyline, Ana Ivanovic and Elena Dementieva rallied on a replica tennis court, specially built for the occasion, on Palm Island in the middle of Doha Bay in the Arabian Gulf.

After the game, 2008 Roland Garros Champion Ana Ivanovic said: "It was such a fun way to start the Sony Ericsson Championships; it was amazing and so unusual to be playing tennis on a deserted island with no one there but Elena, myself and the ballboys. I'm really looking forward to the tournament here in Doha and a great finish to the 2008 season."

Dear All just to let you guys know that the Cameras on the Wakra to Mesaeed went live this morning. Although these cameras have been installed for almost a year but had not being functioning for a simple reason, because there was no Electrical supply.

As the Street lighting was energised yesterday so these cameras are also went live. So please drive safely as you always do. Just incase you did not get a ticket for speeding in this section is explained as above. So take care and avoid speeding to avoid getting a speeding ticket resulting in fine and points on your licence..

Happy and Safe Driving..