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Doha, Qatar, 19 November 2018:

Msheireb Museums, the leading cultural destination at Msheireb Downtown Doha, has signed an agreement with Qatar Shell, a global leading energy company, to make Qatar Shell the sponsor of the Company House, one of the four heritage houses that form Msheireb Museums.

The agreement was signed by Rashid Majed Al-Sulaiti, Deputy General Manager of Qatar Shell, and Ali Al-Kuwari, Acting CEO of Msheireb Properties, in the attendance of Hafiz Ali, the Director of Msheireb Museums.

Qatar Shell’s sponsorship of the Company House adds great value to the museums. Qatar Shell was one of the first international companies that started exploitation of oil in Qatar and has strong effort in documenting this history.

The Company House is one of the four heritage houses that were renovated at Msheireb Downtown Doha and form part of Msheireb Museums. It was once used as the headquarters for Qatar’s first oil company, and tells the story of the pioneering Qatari petroleum industry workers and their families who helped transform Qatar into a modern society. In this house, visitors witness first-hand accounts of the men who labored in this industry, not just to provide for their families, but also to lay the foundations for their emerging nation.

Qatar Shell’s sponsorship of the Company House is part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, that supports various segments and sectors including Education, Sports, Health, Culture and the Environment. It aims to enhance the national capabilities and effectively contribute to the four pillars of the Qatar National Vision 2030.

Ali Al-Kuwari, Acting CEO of Msheireb Properties said: “The agreement with Qatar Shell reflects Msheireb Properties’ vision in preserving the national heritage, which is one of the missions of the company. In addition to our mandate as a developer of the sustainable Msheireb Downtown Doha,

Media Coverage Report November 2018

Msheireb Properties is committed to social responsibility as a fixture to the values of human civilisation in Qatar”.

“We thank Qatar Shell for its valuable collaboration and looking forward to building more partnerships with such prestigious national and international organisations”, he added.

According to the agreement, Qatar Shell supports the Company House and the archive documentation of Qatar’s oil and gas history. It will also contribute in organizing events and programs that raise awareness on the importance of this sector and its impact on the current generations.

Hafez Ali, Msheireb Museums Director said: “We are delighted to sign this agreement with Qatar Shell, one of the leading energy companies in the world. We have selected Qatar Shell because of its successful record in documenting history and preserving the national heritage in the communities it has worked. We highly appreciate this mission and that’s what motivated us to sign this partnership. This agreement will enhance the archive documentation effort of the Company House and activate our programs of events, to make this museum a major hub that preserves the important history of our country to the next generations”.

In his turn, Rashid Majed Al-Sulaiti, Deputy General Manager of Qatar Shell said: “This sponsorship is part of our social responsibility to support the development strategy of the Qatar National Vision 2030 .. We hope this sponsorship will be a catalyst to accomplish this vision by preserving Qatar’s cultural heritage and to and accomplish sustainability and self-sufficiency of Qatar tourism sector on the long term, making Qatar a main tourist destination in the region”.

The Company House encompasses a collection of equipment and items that were used in the oil company at old times. It also tells the story of workers who build a better future for kin and country, and together with young Qataris today, find inspiration in their tenacity and dedication to the building of modern Qatar

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Doha, Qatar. November 2018:

Msheireb Museums, the cultural destination at Msheireb Downtown Doha, hosted an introductory seminar conducted by Qatar Genome Programme and Qatar Biobank. The seminar intended to raise awareness on the importance and role of bio banks and genome science, and encourage the people of Qatar to register in the program.

Held at the education centre at Bin Jelmood House at Msheireb Museums, the seminar was attended by representatives from the three partners and guests. It is an extension to the existing ‘A Journey to the Heart of Life’ exhibition launched last year at the museum.

The seminar is one of a series promised within a memorandum of understanding signed recently by Qatar Genome Programme, Qatar Biobank and Msheireb Museums, to strengthen mutual collaboration through the delivery of events, seminars, scientific tours and lectures on bio banks and genome science.

Each of the planned seminars will provide essential information to introduce people to the role of bio banks and genome sciences, and experts from both entities will participate in the scientific tours and workshops organised in Msheireb Museums for school students in Grade 6 and above.

Commenting on the MOU signing, Dr. Asmaa Al Thani, Chair of National Genome Committee, and Deputy Chairperson of Qatar Bio Bank said: “We are pleased to sign this partnership with Msheireb Museums, as it will allow us to educate the community on Genome science, and how we can leverage medical sciences to maintain the health of Qatar’s people and residents, today and in the future.”

“This agreement will enable us to raise awareness on the vital role of Qatar Bio Bank and Qatar Genome Program in developing personalised medicine for each patient”.

Hafiz Ali, Msheireb Museums’ Director said: “Msheireb Museums is proud to partner with two leading organisations which seek to enhance people’s knowledge on such an important topic. We are pleased to host the first seminar which supports Msheireb Museums educational and scientific mission, and feel that the museums provide the perfect environment to promote such a vital topic. In collaboration with national organisations, we will continue to organise events and forums that benefit our community”.

Dr. SaidIsmail, theQatar Genome Programme(QGP) Managersaid: “This partnership with Msheireb Museums will enable our local community to get better information and knowledge on our program, and feel great pride in the progressive sciences sector in Qatar, which is one of the few countries in the world that has a fully-fledged genome program in place”.

“The workshops and scientific tours are a great method to introduce our role in improving healthcare to the people of Qatar”, he concluded.

During the seminar, Mohammad Al-Dosari, Head of Communications and Participants Recruitment at Qatar Bio Bank, presented an overview of the Qatar Bio Bank and its mission, calling on the people of Qatar to register for a program that aims to collect samples and personal data of the healthcare and lifestyle of the people of Qatar. He explained that the long-term healthcare initiative aims to provide the people of Qatar with better opportunities and methods to avoid diseases, and enhance the health of future generations by providing personalised medical treatment for each patient.

Dr. Mashael Al-Shafei, Researcher at Qatar Genome Program and Assistant Professor at the Department of Health Sciences at Qatar University, introduced the audience to Qatar Genome Program, which seeks to present the first Qatari gene chip for the implementation of precision medicine in Qatar. She indicated that Qatar is one of a handful of countries that has a national genome project, a project which is crucial in the journey to improving people’s health.

The educational tours will be carefully tailored to meet the needs of different age groups and will help students to develop a better understanding of the concept of genome research and introduce them to the different methods that support efforts in the field of genome research both in Qatar and globally. The tours will also educate the students on the latest scientific explorations that support their academic study, enabling them to consider future careers in this sector.

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Doha, Qatar, October 29, 2018:

Msheireb Museums, the cultural destination at Msheireb Downtown Doha, celebrates its 3^rd anniversary, cementing its position as a major cultural and touristic destination in Qatar with an exceptional list of accomplishments achieved since opening in 2015.

On this occasion, Msheireb Museums added a new collection of artifacts to its premises to enrich the museum’s existing collection, which is now on display for guests to visit.

Since its inception Msheireb Museums has made huge progress in terms of attracting visitors, winning awards and gaining recognition, thanks to its distinctive and rich programs of events and activations, and partnerships with prominent institutes and academic organizations. In addition to its touristic role, Msheireb Museums enhanced its position as a leading educational and scientific landmark, acting as a reference for students and professionals on the history of Qatar; exploring its journey to modernism and the present day.

The museums also won many local and international awards from prominent art and culture institutes, adding to the global recognition of the wider cultural and touristic offering of Qatar.

Hafiz Ali, Msheireb Museums’ Director said: “Since launching Msheireb Museums three years ago, we have accomplished great achievements and recorded success on many levels. Today, we mark a new step on the creative and development plan, which is part of the journey to transform the museums into the top leading culture and heritage destination in Qatar, and the region. I would like to thank Her Highness Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser, the Chair of Qatar Foundation, for her wise vision and support in founding Msheireb Museums, which is helping to preserve our heritage and history as a country. Her leadership has played a fundamental role in making this project a success”.

“On this occasion, we would also like to send our thanks and gratitude to our employees and volunteers at Msheireb Museums; without their dedication and hard work such accomplishments would not have been achievable. We also extend our thanks to Msheireb Properties management who renovated the heart of Doha, reviving it with innovation in mind while preserving its heritage houses. We are proud to announce today that a new collection has been added to our houses, and thank those who donated the pieces, to be enjoyed by the people of Qatar and international visitors. These contributions are vital”.

Msheireb Museums is a significant milestone for Msheireb Properties in realising the vision of Msheireb Downtown Doha, Qatar’s first sustainable and smart city regeneration project. The museums celebrate the history of four historic heritage houses in the heart of Doha; Bin Jelmood House (raising awareness of formerly enslaved people), Company House (sharing a history of Qatar’s petroleum industry), Radwani House (providing insights into the Qatari family life over generations), and Mohammed Bin Jassim House (a journey through Msheireb district over time).

Located within the oldest district of the capital, they form an important part of Qatar’s national history. These reconstructed buildings and gallery spaces allow the community to engage with and learn about significant aspects of Qatar’s heritage, culture and traditions prior to the country’s rapid economic development.

Heritage houses with state-of-the-art technology

Since its opening, three years ago, Msheireb Museums has received around eighty thousand visitors from Qatar and the wider region, as well as tourists and students of schools and universities.

Msheireb Museums encompasses four heritage houses that have been renovated and equipped with interactive modern technology, taking visitors on a journey to the past in which they can experience history in an interactive and engaging way. Visitors are given the opportunity to provide feedback and give their opinions through commenting on interactive screens, surveys and social media channels, and the museums management always responds to feedback and takes it into consideration to improve the overall experience.

Along with the galleries, Msheireb Museums includes special departments for scientific and educational courses and training, creating an entity with comprehensive services that assists tourism, entertainment, and education under one roof. In line with its mandate to support youth and culture, Msheireb Museums provides full support to entrepreneurs and volunteers who are willing to organize exhibitions or offer new artistic ideas.

Additionally, Msheireb Museums has built strong connections with academic institutions, regularly collaborating with universities, colleges, and research programmes to ensure better engagement with the museums’ offerings and content. Visitors of the museums also have access to the valuable digital resources of Qatar National Library.

Strong connections with the local community

Msheireb Museums has strong connections with the community; the people of Qatar are major contributors, donating collections to the museums and helping in the process of documenting the country’s history. Since announcing the establishment of Msheireb Museums, the Qatari people have donated their personal belongings and collections inherited from their ancestors, to the museums, to ensure they are well preserved for future generations to enjoy and learn from. Many of the older generation visited the museums to document their memories as part of drive to obtain verbal historical source material, ensuring that these precious, unique and personal experiences will not be lost.

Training programs

Msheireb Museums launched a program last year, geared towards activating the tourism sector. The ‘Msheireb Museums Friends’ programme is a mutually-beneficial volunteering scheme which aims to train teachers and educational leaders the skills required to become tour guides in the museums, enhancing their ability to lead student tours. The programme also enables students to enhance their leadership skills while introducing the community to the country’s rich culture.

This programme received great attention, with many authorities and organisations taking part, including Qatar Tourism Authority and Qatar Youth Center, in addition to school teachers from national and international schools.

Awards

Msheireb Museums has received many awards, acknowledging its role and position since opening in 2015. Bin Jelmood Houserecently wonan award in the category of ‘Green Cultural Building’ atthe 2018 Qatar Sustainability Awards, which was held as part of Qatar Sustainability week 2018.

Internationally, Msheireb Museums was recognized by the International Committee for Education and Cultural Action (CECA), winning the ‘Best Educational Practice Program’ award during the 2018 CECA Conference and Awards event.Its winning project, the Bin Jelmood Educational Programme, introduces the story of Bin Jelmood House, using innovative methods to reach a young target audience in an effective and engaging way.

In 2018, the site was also included on the prestigious Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) list of the world’s best new buildings.

Exhibitions and conference

Msheireb Museums has hosted many exhibitions and conferences that add great value to the cultural scene in Qatar. Last year, Msheireb Museums hosted the ‘Back to Msheireb’ Exhibition in Mohammed Bin Jassim House, which documented Msheireb’s transformation into a centre of commercial activity and an intercultural crossroads for people of diverse origins between the years 1980 and 2009.

Earlier this year,‘We are the daughters of Qatar’ Exhibition aimed to raise awareness on the role of women during the pre-oil era of discovery and reflected on the various social and economic changes made throughout history to enable women’s empowerment.

These exhibitions, organized by UCL Qatar, give students the opportunity to get involved in the educational experience of the museums. They also have the chance to organize their own fully-fledged conferences and exhibitions in the museums.

Msheireb Museums also added a permanent exhibition titled ‘A Journey to the Heart of Life’, located at Bin Jelmood House at Msheireb Museums. The exhibition is a collaboration between Msheireb Museums and biomedical research institutions including Qatar Genome Programme, Qatar Biobank, Sidra Medical Research Center and Weill Cornell Medical College. The exhibition focuses on DNA and includes six sections that give visitors an opportunity to explore genetic inheritance and prehistoric human migrations. It aims to further guests’ understanding of the advances in modern medicine and genomics, and its capacity to help with early detection of disease, as well as creation of personalised medicine.

International Museum Day was celebrated by hosting workshops, presentations and a panel discussion in collaboration with CECA.

These programs act as a vital platform to support various educational initiatives of the museums. They aim to keep the research process on Qatar culture and its history alive and play a major role in motivating the younger generation to improve their understanding of Qatar.