Al Rayyan from Qatar wins the Pearl Diving Competition The Second Annual Dhow Exhibition, a spectacular five day exhibition which honors traditional transportation across the shores of the Arabian Gulf, came to a close this weekend. Attended by the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage, Dr. Hamad bin Abdul Aziz Al Kawari the exhibition held at Katara, ran from Tuesday 13th - Saturday 17th November. Held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, The Emir of Qatar, the event attracted thousands visitors and brought together 100 Dhows from Bahrain, Kuwait, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and Oman. A key highlight of the Second Annual Dhow Festival was the Pearl diving competition which was won by Al Rayyan from Qatar for collecting the most pearls. AbdulRahman AlKhulaifi, President of Katara said, “The Second Annual Dhow Festival was extremely successful among both local Qataris and expatriates alike. Thousands of people came to join the cultural activities which celebrate our cultural heritage and honors the brave men who shared their secrets of the sea, providing a window in to the past. We look forward to welcoming the dhows to Qatar’s shores again next year.” Visitors were entertained by a variety of activities including, a light show, a rowing competition, performances of traditional music by renowned regional bands, dhow cruises, fireworks, children’s workshops and museum displays from galleries across the Gulf. Additionally a series of lectures on the history of the Dhow provided visitors with a deeper understanding of the dhow trade. A library offering further anecdotes of information was also made available to visitors in Katara’s Traditional Village. Katara – Cultural Village Foundation Ahmed Al Hitmi, Dhow Festival Committee Manager, commented: “We are extremely pleased with the positive response we have received for the Dhow Festival. It has been truly inspiring to see people of all ages and races come together and engage in the variety of unique activities on offer. We would especially like to thank our sponsors, Barwa Real Estate Group, Qatar Airways, Seashore Group and Katara. We would also like to thank the honorable men who dedicated their lives to diving the seas in search of pearls.”The Second Annual Dhow Festival honours the traditional form of transportation across the shores of the Arabian Gulf, recognizing the importance of the Dhow in Qatari culture. For the last 13 centuries, dhows were used as the main trading vessels sailing to India and East Africa and were commonly used by fishermen and pearl divers. Commenting on the celebration of the closing ceremony of The Second Annual Dhow Festival, Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, General Manager of Katara said: “The Second Annual Dhow Festival reflects the heritage and history of the Qatari people who experienced the period of prosperity as a result of the harsh desert environment. The Festival honors the importance of the seas in Qatari culture, the pearl diving era reflects our heritage and to this day we still value the significance of our waters. The festival communicates this heritage through various traditional and cultural performances. It is a way to connect the Qatari people with their past and traditions. “On behalf of Katara we would like to thank those involved in bringing this festival together and making it a great success. We look forward to welcoming guests to enjoy next year’s festival,” he added ILQ NEWS

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