The UAE’s omission of Qatar from map at Louvre Abu Dhabi museum draws flak
Ever since the illegal siege of the country began on June 5, the UAE has been continuously provoking Qatar through different means.
First, they aired an animation which showed military jets firing missiles at a Qatar Airways plane mid flight. Then a top official said the siege would end immediately if Qatar gave up its rights to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
And now, just when you thought they could not stoop down any lower, they have gone ahead and proved that they can.
In the latest example, the UAE has omitted Qatar from a world map exhibited in front of the recently-opened Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi, reported Gulf Times. The move has drawn widespread condemnation, as it should.
In an analytical piece written by the Washington Institute’s Simon Henderson, entitled The UAE/Qatar rivalry is escalating, the writer noted that a large map of the world featured at the museum ‘completely omits’ the nation of Qatar.
“In the children's section of Abu Dhabi's new flagship Louvre Museum, a map of the southern Gulf completely omits the Qatari peninsula — a geographical deletion that is probably incompatible with France’s agreement to let Abu Dhabi use the Louvre’s name,” he wrote.
The issue was highlighted by Kristian Ulrichsen, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and associate fellow, Chatham House, who tweeted a picture of the map accompanying an exhibit, a vase: “Here is the map from an exhibit in the Louvre Abu Dhabi that omits the Qatari pensinsula from the Lower Gulf.”
Here is the map from an exhibit in the Louvre Abu Dhabi that omits the Qatari pensinsula from the Lower Gulf. The label alongside it reads:
Vase
United Arab Emirates, Ramilah, 1000-500 BCE
Soft stone
Al-Ain National Museum pic.twitter.com/VKrPcDZqOF
In response, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Thani tweeted: “Entirely our fault. We were a little behind on updating the map.”
The picture he posted was the same as that by Ulrichsen, but with a FIFA World Cup trophy superimposed on it.
Entirely our fault. We were a little behind on updating the map. pic.twitter.com/CrwAE2a3SH
Qatar Museums chairperson HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani tweeted “Throughout history museums were a source of reference. People would visit to acquire knowledge and learn about world cultures through the exploration of objects on display. Although the notion of museums is a new one to Abu Dhabi, surely the @MuseeLouvre is not okay with this?” Throughout history museums were a source of reference. People would visit to acquire knowledge and learn about world cultures through the exploration of objects on display. Although the notion of museums is a new one to Abu Dhabi, surely the @MuseeLouvre is not okay with this? https://t.co/k5ikOmSpsd
