HE Sheikha Al Mayassa announces the establishment of Qatar Fashion & Crafts Council

Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Qatar Museums, announced the establishment of the Qatar Fashion and Crafts Council, at the initiative of the Innovation Centers and joint efforts between the public and private sectors, to be an advisory board that contributes to drawing the strategic directions of the two sectors, strengthening investment partnerships, and opening new horizons for talent in Qatar and the region to reach global markets.

During a session titled "Investing in Art and Civilization" as part of the ninth edition of the World Investment Forum 2026, Her Excellency stressed that Qatar has the necessary ingredients to lead the creative industries, including advanced infrastructure and museums that inspire generations, support creativity, and open horizons for learning and communication with the world, in addition to the country's abundance of creative and promising talents.

She called on investors and heads of institutions to build investment partnerships that support creative projects and contribute to the development of production chains, stressing that investing in local talents requires time to discover and develop their capabilities, but it opens new areas for production and innovation and contributes to the renewal and development of cultural identity.

She said that building creative industries enriches the national economy and opens new horizons for dialogue between peoples, stressing that the desired future is based on an economy that drives innovation, and human beings, with their culture, talents and ambitions, remain their main focus.

She added that when talking about investing in the future, attention usually turns to technology and infrastructure, but the future in essence starts with the human being and his ability to innovate.

She stressed that the State of Qatar believes that real development starts from providing an incubating and inspiring environment that enables individuals to learn, produce and thrive, which is embodied in the Qatar National Vision 2030.

She pointed out that investing in culture, arts, heritage and creativity represents a sustainable bet on human capital and a vital economic sector, pointing out that Qatar has succeeded for more than two decades in building an integrated and ambitious cultural environment whose impact on the national economy has become tangible.

She said that the UAE has embraced Arab excellence in the fields of cinema, photography, fashion, design, media productions and live arts, stressing that this trend is clearly reflected in the fashion and crafts sectors, which combine inherited craftsmanship and contemporary creativity to produce works that compete in global markets.

She noted that Qatar Museums has worked to consolidate this trend through several initiatives, including Liwan Studios, the Fashion Trust Arabia initiative, and the M7 Center, which provides guidance and support to about 200 designers and artists annually, noting that the work of artists from Qatar and the region is now on display in international museums, while the designs of Qatari and Arab creators have reached international markets.

Qatar Museums currently supports about 7,000 full-time jobs, while Qatar University data indicates that 40 percent of its students have shown interest in creative entrepreneurship, which is a positive indicator for investors wishing to support the sector.

She added that in the era of artificial intelligence, creative skills and the ability to innovate in the jobs of the future are becoming increasingly important, but talent alone is not enough to build a sustainable sector, as innovators need funding, mentorship, and production and distribution networks, which highlights the importance of integration between cultural institutions and the private sector.

For his part, Mr. Noah Horowitz, CEO of Art Basel, stressed that investment in arts and culture is a key pillar to stimulate innovation and build a sustainable creative economy, praising the strategic partnership with the State of Qatar, its future vision and advanced infrastructure.

He added that the selection of Qatar as a regional partner was based on the efficiency of its advanced infrastructure and its long-term vision, pointing out that the country has spent decades building an integrated system that supports innovation and culture, and that the creative economy must be translated into real job opportunities and sustainable projects.

He pointed out that the major investments that Qatar has witnessed in the sectors of architecture and infrastructure will expand to include cultural incubators, which will enhance the ability of the creative economy to keep pace with the challenges of artificial intelligence and modern technologies.

Fashion Trust Arabia award-winning designer Yasmin Mansoor praised the advanced level of infrastructure and cultural sector in Qatar, stressing that the sustainability of projects and institutions with a long-term impact is a key pillar in the process of cultural development.

She said that Qatar Museums and the cultural sector have succeeded in building exceptional paths and initiatives through strategic planning that spanned decades, pointing to the success achieved by Art Basel in its previous edition, and the ongoing preparations to organize a second edition that contributes to supporting the local cultural and artistic system.

She noted the support and sponsorship of the cultural movement in Qatar at various levels, stressing that the integration of advanced infrastructure and technology with major museum projects reflects an ambitious cultural vision for the future.

She expressed her aspiration to continue cooperating with cultural entities in Qatar to create promising opportunities for Qatari youth, and to enhance Qatar's position as a cultural beacon and cultural radiant for the Middle East and North Africa region, in a way that expands the circle of beneficiaries of the growing cultural movement and enhances the role of the country as an influential cultural force at the international level.

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