Lusail City adopted as Capital of Culture in the Islamic World 2030 during Minsters’ meet in Doha

On Monday, Qatar’s capital city witnessed the launch of the 12th Conference of Ministers of Culture in the Islamic World, being held under the theme ‘Toward Renewing Cultural Action in the Islamic World.’

The conference, hosted by Qatar and organised by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), featured the participation of numerous cultural affairs ministers, delegations from ICESCO member states as well as representatives of several regional and international organisations working in the cultural fields.

The Ministry of Culture represented Qatar at the meeting.

The conference adopted Qatar’s Lusail City as the Capital of Culture in the Islamic World 2030. They selected five other cities to hold the title of Capital of Culture in the Islamic world for the coming years.

In 2024, it will be Shusha in the Republic of Azerbaijan, followed by Samarkand in the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2025, Hebron in Palestine and Abidjan in Cote d'Ivoire (both in 2026).

This will be followed by Siwa in the Arab Republic of Egypt in 2027, leading to the celebration of Lusail in the State of Qatar as the Capital of Culture in the Islamic world in 2030.

The city of Lusail, covering an area of 38 square kilometres, is considered a historical cultural beacon. Its name is derived from Qatar’s authentic heritage and its cultural values. The name is also associated with one of the rarest flowers in Qatar, symbolizing the uniqueness of the city and the seamless blend of Doha’s heritage and modernity.

The city includes four exclusive islands, 19 multi-purpose residential areas, as well as recreational and commercial uses. There are also plans to open the new Lusail Museum in the coming years.

They set documents for developing ICESCO’s Programmes for Capitals of Culture in the Islamic World and nominated different countries to host Capitals of Culture in the Islamic World in the coming period.

The conference also approved the formation of its office for the upcoming session, which will be held throughout 2024 and 25. Qatar has taken over the ICESCO’s presidency from Tunisia and will serve as the Council’s rapporteur, with Senegal as Vice-President.

“The holding of this conference in Doha came after it was chosen as the capital of Islamic culture two years ago. Qatar gives top priority to culture in helping achieve development and building human potential. The country’s rich culture was also showcased during the successful organisation of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022,” said Qatar’s Minister of Culture HE Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al Thani, in his remarks before the opening session.

“The FIFA World Cup wasn’t just a tournament, it proved culture is the bedrock of global events whatever their types are. Qatar showed off its cultural, Arabic, and Islamic heritage and it helped gain the respect of nations around the world,” he added.

Sheikh Abdulrahman also called for safeguarding the country’s cultural identity and protecting the younger generations from subversive ideologies.

“ICESCO discharges its duty in the cultural sphere. Culture isn’t merely a hobby or a badge of social identification, but the pulse of nations in advancing civilization,” said ICESCO’s Director General Salem bin Mohammed Al Malik.

Former UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, who attended the conference as a guest of honour, hailed Islam as a religion of peace and Islamic civilization as a driver for rapprochement among cultures. She said Islamic values promoted science, culture, and civilisational interaction.

Praising Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, she said the country had turned the global mega event into a dialogue of cultures.

The conference took stock of the most important initiatives and final outcomes of the 18th meeting of the Consultative Council for Cultural Development in the Islamic World, which was held on Saturday.