Darb Al Saai bursts to life with the Fereej Arts & Design Festival
Plus: Mathaf’s 'we refuse_d,' the MIA Bazaar, and pop hits by the Philharmonic.
Welcome to Al-Monitor Doha.
Darb Al Saai becomes a creative hub this week as the Fereej Arts and Design Festival opens with 120 artists from 21 countries. Watch live demonstrations from Japanese bingata to Indian fabric printing or jump into 14 workshops. Over at Mathaf, "we refuse_d" explores art made under pressure. Want spectacle instead? Salman Khan brings Bollywood to the Asian Town Amphitheater, the Qatar Philharmonic delivers pop hits and the MIA Bazaar returns for weekend browsing.
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: Fereej Arts and Design Festival
HE Minister of Culture Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al Thani at the second edition of the Fereej Arts and Design Festival at Darb Al Saai, Nov. 9, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Qatar News Agency)
Darb Al Saai becomes a living gallery this week as the Ministry of Culture launches the second edition of the Fereej Arts and Design Festival, bringing together more than 120 artists from 21 countries. The festival expands significantly from its inaugural run, now featuring over 12 exhibitions and 14 workshops that span everything from Japanese bingata to Kuwaiti glass fusing, Australian natural color making to Indian fabric printing. It’s an ambitious effort to create genuine cultural exchange rather than simply displaying work side by side.
The festival’s structure reveals its intent. Six main artistic sections organize the experience: exhibition spaces, workshop areas, dedicated houses for calligraphy and ceramics, artists’ studios offering live demonstrations, and spaces for seminars and children’s activities. The festival is not intended as a passive viewing experience. The emphasis falls on participation, dialogue and learning, with workshops teaching techniques that merge traditional practices with contemporary approaches.
The festival programming runs from morning through evening, with children’s paint-pouring workshops, live drawing in open spaces, panel discussions bringing together artists and critics, and performances that activate the entire Darb Al Saai complex. For anyone interested in how different cultures approach materials, techniques and aesthetic questions, the festival offers rare access to working artists willing to demonstrate and discuss their processes.
Dates: Until Nov. 14
Location: Darb Al Saai, Umm Salal Mohammad
More information here.
2. Word on the street: we refuse_d
Taysir Batniji, Untitled, 1997, key imprints on rolled canvas, 20 elements of 30 cm each. (Photo courtesy of the artist and Sfeir-Semler Gallery, Beirut; Hamburg)
At Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, the exhibition “we refuse_d” brings together 15 artists whose work reflects on resilience, persistence and the act of creating under pressure. The exhibition is part of Mathaf’s 15th anniversary, and it asks what it means to make art when voices are restricted or histories are challenged. Rather than showcasing refusal as a simple opposition, it presents it as a continuous, lived process of holding on, repairing and imagining futures.
The curatorial vision draws inspiration from the spirit of the historical Salon des Refuses, where artists found power in being set apart from official narratives. Here, that spirit resonates in quiet gestures and thoughtful interventions. Many of the works are new commissions that move between personal memory and shared experience, tracing stories of heritage, community and collective endurance. There is a sense of art operating as witness and as companion, offering presence when words are not always possible.
“we refuse_d” invites visitors to slow down, look closely and consider what remains when systems falter and voices are strained. It is an exhibition that understands art not only as expression, but as a way of remaining alive to the world.
Date: Until Feb. 9, 2026
Location: Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art
More information here.
3. Doha diary
An outdoor view of the Museum of Islamic Art park. (Photo courtesy of Qatar Museums)
- MIA Bazaar
The Museum of Islamic Art Park transforms into a weekend marketplace where local creativity takes center stage. The MIA Bazaar returns with vendors showcasing handmade crafts, artwork, fashion, jewelry and unique creations against the backdrop of Doha’s skyline. The waterfront location provides an ideal setting for families to browse, sample international delicacies and enjoy the pleasant winter weather. Open every Friday and Saturday until April 2026, the bazaar has become a beloved gathering spot that celebrates the city's cultural diversity and entrepreneurial spirit.
Date: Fridays and Saturdays until April 2026
Location: MIA Park, Zone 1
More information here.
- Pop’s greatest hits
The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra joins forces with a stellar lineup of vocalists for an evening dedicated to pop music’s most iconic moments. Under Grammy-nominated conductor Alastair Willis, guest artists including Wakasa, Samantha Echevarria Vigo and Ahmed El Helou deliver renditions spanning Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” to Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black.” The concert fuses orchestral arrangement with contemporary and classic pop hits, creating a musical journey that bridges generations and genres.
Date: Nov. 13
Location: U venue
More information here.
- Salman Khan (Da-Bangg The Tour - Reloaded)
Asian Town Amphitheater prepares for what’s being billed as the largest Bollywood spectacle ever staged in Qatar. Salman Khan headlines the Da-Bangg The Tour - Reloaded alongside Jacqueline Fernandez, Tamannaah Bhatia, Sonakshi Sinha, Prabhudheva, Manish Paul, Sunil Grover and Steben Ben in an evening of music, dance and entertainment. With over 15,000 fans expected, the event represents a significant moment for Bollywood's presence in the Gulf, bringing the industry's signature energy and glamour to Doha's stage.
Date: Nov. 14
Location: Asian Town Amphitheater, Doha
More information here.
- Night Run for Her
Old Doha Port hosts a ladies only running event designed to create a safe and welcoming environment for women of all ages and fitness levels. “Night Run for Her” combines the energy of a race with community connection, featuring warmups led by female trainers, a fan zone and post-race celebrations. The scenic evening route along Doha’s waterfront offers participants a chance to celebrate health, wellness and friendship in an inclusive setting.
Date: Nov. 15
Location: Old Doha Port
More information here.
4. Book of the week: 'The Future of Education Policy in the State of Qatar'
“The Future of Education Policy in the State of Qatar” brings together a group of scholars and policy experts to explore how Qatar’s education system has evolved and where it is headed. The book looks closely at the country’s efforts to balance global educational models with local context and identity, while also addressing the importance of early childhood education and more inclusive learning environments. Through examining both progress and ongoing challenges, the authors shed light on what it takes to strengthen education in a rapidly changing region and competitive job market. It is a thoughtful resource for anyone interested in understanding how education shapes national development and how policy can support meaningful, lasting change.
5. View from Doha
Visitors take a selfie picture as a light display created using drones is performed during the Qatar Boat Show on Nov. 6, 2025. (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images)
6. By the numbers
- Qatar launched a regular passenger maritime route between Al Ruwais Port and Bahrain’s Sitra Port, covering approximately 35 nautical miles (about 65 kilometers), with trips lasting between 70 to 80 minutes, according to the Ministry of Transport.
- Qatar ranked 99th globally and 11th among Arab countries in daily cash usage, with only 25% of transactions conducted in cash, according to Forex.