His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani officially opened the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) in its new building yesterday, becoming the first visitor to the magnificent museum.

Tonight we welcomed our first visitor HH the Emir of Qatar Sheikh @TamimBinHamad, the Qatari community and the rest of the world. Welcome to the @NMoQatar!#NMoQ #QatarCreates pic.twitter.com/7MompnGm9L

— Al Mayassa Al Thani (@almayassahamad) March 27, 2019

“The National Museum tells the story of our people. It also encourages the discovery of the nature of the country and its historical effects, economy and urban development and much more. It provides a space to reflect on what Qatar has done and what it aspires to do,” HH the Amir said on the occasion, marking the official launch of the museum. The momentous occasion convened distinguished leaders from around the world including the Vice President of the Republic of Turkey Fuat Oktay, Prime Minister of the French Republic Edouard Philippe, HE Kuwait's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Minister of Heritage and Culture of the Sultanate of Oman Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said and Minister of State for International Culture at the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany Michelle Muntefering.

it was a very special occasion in #Doha I'm really happy with with the inauguration of the National Museum of Qatar, masterpiece of History & Culture @TamimBinHamad @NMOQatar @almayassahamad #NMoQ #QatarCreates #qatar #Art #History #Culture #Museum pic.twitter.com/wPSIE5NYEz

— AHMED ALMAADHEED (@ahmedbinmajed) March 28, 2019

Former President of the French Republic Nicolas Sarkozy, Mayor of Rome in the Italian Republic Virginia Raggi, Adviser at Republic of Azerbaijan Souda Mohammed Aliev and a number VIPs, sheikhs, ministers and heads of diplomatic missions accredited to the State were also in attendance, reported Gulf Times.

Several local dignitaries in addition to a number of distinguished international cultural personalities, artists and celebrities participated in the historic ceremony.

In his speech, HH the Amir paid tribute to HH the Father Amir for his initiative to expand the museum, which was originally built in 1975 in the old palace of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, and for “launching a process in which modernity is integrated with our Arab and Islamic civilization and Qatari heritage.”

HH the Amir paid tribute to the initiative of HH the Amir Father to expand the museum and, above all, His Highness vision and launching a process in which modernity is integrated with our Arab and Islamic civilization and Qatari heritage #QNA

— Qatar News Agency (@QNAEnglish) March 27, 2019

Qatar is enriching its cultural landscape through such programs and educational exhibitions, including the country’s universities, other institutions, pluralistic media, the national library, which contains a million books in its prestigious building, the annual book fair, as well as festivals and numerous artistic activities in Katara, old souqs, art galleries, and many other institutions and initiatives, His Highness underlined. 

“Our goal is to build a knowledge-based economy and [to further] human development,” he added.

Stating that Qatar has achieved a lot for the benefit of its citizens, in terms of improving the quality of life and in the fields of education, health and environment, HH the Amir said, “progress through diversity and tolerance remain at the core of our commitment to development and nurturing of a harmonious and prosperous society guided by human values and fitness.”

اليوم افتتح حضرة صاحب السمو أمير البلاد المفدى #متحف_قطر_الوطني بمشاركة عدد من الشخصيات القطرية والعربية والعالمية ..
المتحف الوطني هو ثمرة جهد كبير قامت عليه عقول وطنية مبدعة ..@TamimBinHamad @almayassahamad pic.twitter.com/x3D3LUfesy

— جوعان بن حمد (@JoaanBinHamad) March 27, 2019

“Qatar has become much stronger since June, 2017. Its citizens and residents work together to build the country, strengthen the economy, maintain human dignity and defend the truth, get to know each other and exchange experiences, and most importantly, they exchange friendship and respect,” HH concluded, according to Qatar Tribune.

Qatar’s National Museum, which mirrors the nation’s rich past, remarkable present, and highly promising future, is an architectural masterpiece designed by Pritzker Prize-winning French architect, Jean Nouvel. 

Inauguration of the National Museum of Qatar.
A new museum emerges from the sand.
A new voice for Qatar and its people.#JeanNouvel #NMoQ #QatarCreates@NMOQatar @Qatar_Museums @VisitQatar
Photos © Ateliers Jean Nouvel / Iwan Baan pic.twitter.com/pPJCoeLpae

— Jean Nouvel (@ateliersjnouvel) March 27, 2019

Fashioned after the ‘Desert Rose’ that is found in the Qatari desert, the $434 million building is a sprawling array of curved discs, cantilevered angles and surprising intersections.

Amid a host of facilities for visitors of all ages, NMoQ offers a highly interactive and immersive experience, that showcases Qatar in three different chapters: Beginnings, Life in Qatar, and Building the Nation, all of which comes in 11 stunning galleries.

NMoQ officially opens to the public today. Visiting timings are from Saturdays to Thursdays 9 am to 7 pm and Fridays 1.30 pm to 7 pm. Tickets will be available at the front desk with special prices for Culture Pass members.

Are you excited about the opening of the National Museum of Qatar? Let us know in the comments below!
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