Qatar Museums (QM) has today announced that it has successfully completed the conservation and restoration of two mosques in Qatar, located in Old Salata and Fuwairit.

The project, run under the patronage of its Chairperson, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, is part of a larger initiative by QM’s Architectural Conservation Department in the Division of Cultural Heritage to restore historical and archaeological sites throughout Qatar, helping to preserve Qatar’s architectural identity and heritage whilst also balancing progress and embracing the future.

Located in Al Old Salata, the Bin Obaid mosque was built in 1935. The original structure of the mosque was built from palm tree trucks, with the ceiling made from palm tree branches. The conservation consisted of replacing damaged materials with traditional, internationally recognised materials, whilst also carefully preserving the authenticity and style of the original building. Following the success of the restoration, which took ten months to complete, the mosque is now ready to welcome Muslims for prayers.

The second mosque is located in Fuwairit, an important coastal village in Qatar, approximately 80 km north of the capital Doha. It is an important site for Qatar's oil industry and rose to regional prominence as the home of the Al Thani family during the early 19th century. The mosque was first built in the 1920’s and was later re-built in the early 20th century (late 1960’s) over the traditional design and the ruins of first structure.

The latest conservation and rehabilitation of the Fuwairit mosque included removing damaged plaster layers and waterproof layers off the ceiling, resetting the wall stone structure, treating wooden areas against termites and applying plaster using traditional and waterproof materials.

Ali Al Kubaisi, Chief Archaeology Officer at Qatar Museums said:

“At QM, we are very proud to successfully restore these significant and historical mosques. Qatar is a country with a proud and rich heritage, stretching back over thousands of years, and preserving this history for our future generations is vital. This is not the first time that we have restored an important element of our heritage and it will most certainly not be the last. We will continue our commitment to put local communities, young and old, in touch with their past, reminding them of their ancestors skills, wisdom, and heritage. “

The QM Architectural Conservation Department works hard to manage, conserve, protect and enhance archaeology, architectural conservation and archaeological practices in Qatar. In line with the international standards of UNESCO, the team gives new life to old buildings and historic areas, with the aim of making them accessible to the public once again. Over the last ten years, the QM Architectural Conservation Department has rehabilitated traditional buildings in the North of Qatar, in Al Shamal, Al Ruwais and Abu Dhelouf. The team has also restored mosques in Al Wakra, Sumaisma and Dukhan; palaces in Al Wajba and Al Shamal and the village of Al Mufair. In addition to the two most recent mosques, Fuwairit and Bin Obaid, QM is now finalising the restoration of the Al Ruwais mosque.

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QNE

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