Qatar Museums revives the spirit of MF Husain
Also this week: seafaring elegance, coffee rituals, family fairs and camel pride.
Welcome to Al-Monitor Doha.
This week in Doha, the city’s cultural calendar lights up with immersive art, maritime luxury and unexpected traditions. MF Husain’s visual poetry takes over Qatar Museums Gallery through projection and animation, while superyachts anchor at Old Doha Port for the boat show. Coffee connoisseurs can explore 100 booths of beans and brewing techniques, families hunt for treasures at the shopping fair, and camel enthusiasts gather in Ash-Shahaniyah for the Mafareed Challenge Festival. Art, design, heritage and discovery all converge in one eventful week.
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Reve
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1. Leading the week: “The Rooted Nomad: MF Husain”
A view from "The Rooted Nomad: MF Husain" exhibition at Qatar Museums Gallery, Katara. (Photo courtesy of author)
Qatar Museums Gallery at Katara opens its doors to an artist who spent his life moving between worlds, absorbing everything he encountered and transforming it into a visual language that belonged entirely to him. "The Rooted Nomad: MF Husain" arrives in Doha after its Venice Biennale premiere, offering an immersive encounter with one of India’s most significant modernist painters through projection mapping and digital animation rather than physical canvases.
MF Husain (1913-2011) was largely self-taught, shaped not by formal academies but by walking streets and observing the rhythms of everyday life across India. Born in Maharashtra, he developed an artistic practice that refused easy categorization, drawing from mythology, folk traditions and living culture while absorbing global influences. His work dissolved boundaries between fine art and craft, between the sacred and the ordinary, creating something that felt simultaneously ancient and utterly contemporary.
The exhibition’s title captures the essential tension in Husain’s life and work. He remained deeply connected to India’s cultural fabric while maintaining the restlessness of a perpetual wanderer. His journeys, both physical and intellectual, took him through cinema, poetry, music and performance, always returning to portray India as a complex cultural mosaic rather than a singular narrative.
What makes this Doha presentation particularly compelling is how it translates Husain’s visual vocabulary into an immersive experience. Developed by Visioni Srl and conceptualized by the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art in collaboration with Qatar Museums, the exhibition uses projection and animation to create a living, multisensory environment. You move through spaces where his forms and colors surround you — where the vitality that defined his canvases becomes architectural.
For audiences unfamiliar with his work or who’ve only encountered it in reproduction, this exhibition offers an intimate entry point into an imagination that continues influencing artists across generations.
Date: Until Feb. 7, 2026
Location: Qatar Museums Gallery, Katara, Building 10
Find more information here.
2. Word on the street: Qatar Boat Show 2025
People visit the Qatar Boat Show on Nov. 5, 2025, showcasing luxurious yachts, boats, fishing as well as innovations and entertainment. (MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images)
The spirit of the sea returns to Old Doha Port this week as the Qatar Boat Show 2025 drops anchor for its second edition. Bringing together some of the world’s finest yacht builders, marine innovators and design enthusiasts, the event transforms the port’s picturesque harbor into a showcase of maritime excellence and contemporary lifestyle.
Visitors will find an impressive lineup of superyachts and sailing boats alongside the latest in marine technology and craftsmanship. Beyond the vessels, the atmosphere blends sophistication and discovery, inviting guests to explore how Qatar’s maritime heritage continues to inspire its future as a global hub for luxury and innovation. The setting itself plays a starring role: Old Doha Port, with its blend of tradition and modern charm, offers the perfect backdrop for this celebration of seafaring culture.
In 2024, nearly 20,000 visitors flocked to see 495 exhibitors and more than 74 boats and yachts. Whether you come for the design, the business opportunities or simply the view, the Qatar Boat Show 2025 promises an experience that captures the beauty and ambition of the nation’s evolving waterfront.
Date: Nov. 5-8
Location: Old Doha Port
Find more details here.
3. Doha diary
An outdoor view of the Tegahwa International Coffee Exhibition 2024 (Photo courtesy of Al Hazm)
- Tegahwa International Coffee Exhibition 2025
Coffee lovers and industry professionals have a date at Galleria Al Hazm with the second edition of the Tegahwa International Coffee Exhibition. The event gathers over 100 booths showcasing coffee beans, brewing equipment and accessories from around the world. Visitors can sample diverse coffee flavors, explore the latest preparation technologies, and attend barista workshops to learn new skills and modern brewing techniques. The luxurious setting of Al Hazm transforms the exhibition into a full coffee experience, offering a chance to connect with local and international brands.
Date: Until Nov. 14
Location: Galleria Al Hazm
Find more information here.
- Doha Family Shopping Fair
Families can enjoy a shopping adventure at the Doha Family Shopping Fair, where vendors offer clothing, handicrafts, dates, perfumes, honey and other products. The fair provides a lively environment for exploring unique items, finding gifts and enjoying a day out with family.
Date: Until Nov. 8
Location: DECC
Find more information here.
- Mafareed Challenge Festival 2025
The Qatar Camel Mzayen Club hosts the Mafareed Challenge Festival, bringing together camel owners from across the GCC. The festival features competitions and contests celebrating the tradition of camel Mzayen. It is a vibrant gathering where enthusiasts can witness the majesty of these animals and the rich culture that surrounds them.
Date: Nov. 6-10
Location: Ash-Shahaniyah
Find more information here.
4. Film of the week: “43 Stations... and They’re All Me”
Written by Mohammad Al-Marri, “43 Stations … and They’re All Me” is a collection of personal reflections that explores self-discovery and emotional growth. Through 43 thoughtful stations, the author shares intimate moments of introspection, examining the relationships that have shaped his life and the lessons learned from those who have come and gone. Rather than seeking to assign blame, the book presents honest meditations on personal growth and maintaining one’s integrity even as circumstances change. It’s a meaningful read for anyone navigating life's transitions while holding on to their core values.
5. View from Doha
A man works on a miniature wooden boat while another holds a net during the Qatar Boat Show on Nov. 5, 2025, showcasing luxurious yachts, boats, fishing as well as innovations and entertainment. (MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images)
6. By the numbers
- Qatar Airways was named the “Best Airline in the World” for 2025 by Business Traveler Awards.
- Qatar ranked fourth among Arab countries in sovereign wealth fund assets in 2025, with the Qatar Investment Authority’s total holdings amounting to $557 billion.