BilAraby Summit: A celebration of Arab voices in Doha
Doha is buzzing with cultural innovation and global energy this week, led by the inaugural BilAraby Summit.
Welcome to Al-Monitor Doha.
Doha comes alive this week with a dynamic lineup of events blending creativity, competition, and culture. At the heart of it all is the BilAraby Summit, uniting leading Arab thinkers and creators to celebrate and reimagine Arabic content. Across the city, the energy continues with a high-stakes padel tournament, a stirring classical concert, and thought-provoking events on sustainability and sensory inclusion.
If you want to receive this newsletter or our other new City Pulse editions — including Dubai, Istanbul and Riyadh — sign up here.
Thanks for reading,
Reve
P.S. Have feedback or tips on Doha's culture scene? Send them my way at contactus@al-monitor.com.
1. Leading the week: BilAraby Summit
The BilAraby initiative announces details of its inaugural summit in Doha on March 8, 2025. (Qatar News Agency)
BilAraby, a Qatar Foundation initiative dedicated to amplifying Arabic voices and creativity, launches its inaugural global summit this week, bringing together changemakers, thinkers and creatives from across the Arab world and beyond.
From the heart of Education City, the BilAraby Summit is reimagining the future of Arabic content. The event will welcome more than 500 participants for a dynamic mix of live talks, interactive workshops, cultural performances and artistic showcases — all with one goal: to elevate Arabic voices and spark meaningful dialogue across sustainability, media, psychology, tech, design and more.
Expect big ideas and bold conversations. Guests are flying in from Yemen, Iraq, Mauritania, Sudan, India, Palestine and beyond. Highlights include musical performances by Loutfi Bouchnak (Tunisia) and Mustafa Saeed (Iraq), a podcasting panel with Mohammed Al Rummash (Saudi Arabia) and Becher Najjar (Tunisia), and an artistic performance by QatarDebate titled “The Abandoned Arabic Language.”
Over two days, the summit will feature over 20 keynote talks and 15 expert-led workshops, covering everything from AI to Arabic grammar to music. Attendees can explore more than 10 pavilions, network with creatives and industry leaders, and witness the reveal of the winning entry from the BilAraby logo competition, which drew over 1,500 submissions.
Dates: April 19-20
Location: Multaqa (Education City Student Center)
Find more details here.
2. Word on the street: Qatar Airways Premier Padel Tour 2025
Premier Padel Major 2025 kicks off in Doha. (QNA)
Doha takes center stage this week as the Qatar Airways Premier Padel Major has returned to the Qatari capital. Running from April 14 to 19, the tournament unites the sport’s elite for six days of high-intensity competition. As one of just four Majors on the 2025 Premier Padel Tour, the event will spotlight the top 16 ranked players in both the men’s and women’s divisions.
Coming just two months after the season opener in Riyadh, the Doha Major sets the tone for the early season, with top contenders eager to build momentum. Across multiple rounds and categories, fans can look forward to a packed schedule and an electric atmosphere both on and off the court.
Part of a global tour spanning 16 countries and 24 tournaments, the Doha Major stands out as a marquee event in the first half of the season. The tournament is hosted in collaboration with the International Padel Federation.
Dates: April 14-19
Location: Khalifa Complex
Find more details here.
3. Doha diary
Grammy-nominated conductor Alastair Willis leads the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra for the world premiere of the Desert Rose symphony by Syrian American composer Malek Jandali, at the National Museum of Qatar in the capital Doha, on Oct. 31, 2022. (KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images)
Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1
The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra presents Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 — a masterpiece of the Romantic era known for its lyrical beauty and emotional depth. Join acclaimed violinist Lyonel Schmit and conductor Elias Grandy for a moving evening of classical brilliance.
Date: April 19
Location: Katara Cultural Village, Opera House
More information here.
Earthna Summit 2024
Earthna Summit returns to Msheireb Downtown for its second edition, bringing together global experts, policymakers and innovators to explore sustainability solutions for hot and arid regions. The program features in-depth panels, hands-on workshops and interactive experiences.
Dates: April 22-23
Location: Msheireb Downtown
More information here.
17th Artistic Gymnastics World Cup
Don’t miss the final days of the 17th Artistic Gymnastics World Cup at Aspire Dome, where the world’s top gymnasts are competing in a spectacular showcase of strength, agility and precision.
Dates: Through April 19
Location: Aspire Dome
More information here.
Sensory Exploration for Autism Awareness
Qatar National Library hosts a family-friendly event focused on sensory engagement and awareness for children with autism, designed to create an inclusive and supportive environment for exploration and learning.
Date: April 19
Location: Qatar National Library
More information here.
4. Book of the week: “The Girl Who Fell to Earth”
In this sharp and poignant memoir, Qatari-American writer Sophia Al-Maria recounts her coming-of-age between cultures. Sent from rainy Washington State to live with her father’s Bedouin family in Qatar, Sophia navigates identity, belonging and rebellion in unfamiliar terrain. Her story moves from the Gulf to Cairo and the Sinai Peninsula, capturing the tension of living between two worlds. “The Girl Who Fell to Earth” is both a personal voyage and a powerful reflection on cultural hybridity, exile and self-discovery.
5. View from Doha
Marc Marquez of Spain and Ducati Lenovo Team celebrates the victory with team under the podium during the MotoGP race during the MotoGP of Qatar - Race at Losail Circuit on April 13, 2025 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images)
6. By the numbers
- Qatar ranked first in the Arab world and 21st globally in the 2025 Health Care Index, according to the latest global report by the NUMBEO database.
- A new 2025 report by DataReportal highlights that Gulf countries lead internet usage in the Arab region, with Qatar ranking fourth with 3.05 million users and a 99% internet penetration rate.