The National Museum of Qatar marks 50 years of legacy

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This week, the National Museum of Qatar opens the vault on 50 years of history, from its 1975 beginnings to Jean Nouvel’s desert rose. Meanwhile, Torba Market returns to Education City with something new: Friday mornings and a resale corner for things too good to throw away. Saint Levant brings three languages and multiple genres to Lusail Boulevard, Mo Amer delivers comedy that crosses cultures at Katara and car enthusiasts get two chances to geek out over engines and design at QNCC and The Pearl.

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1. Leading the week: 'A Nation’s Legacy, A People’s Memory: Fifty Years Told'

A display of historical stamps, documents and archival photographs at NMoQ. (Photo courtesy of The Peninsula Qatar)

The National Museum of Qatar marks half a century with an exhibition that traces its journey from the country’s first national museum to its current form as a cultural landmark. “A Nation’s Legacy, A People’s Memory: Fifty Years Told” unfolds across Gallery 13, a dedicated space within the museum for temporary exhibitions, and at the Old Palace, the restored historic residence of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani that forms the heart of the museum complex.

The exhibition begins with archival photographs and documents revealing the museum’s origins in 1972, when HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani initiated the project. The National Museum of Qatar opened in 1975 within the Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Palace, winning the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1980. After closing in 2004 for redevelopment, it reopened in 2019 in French architect Jean Nouvel’s desert rose inspired building.

Personal stories from individuals connected to the museum across generations provide intimate perspectives on its cultural significance. Qatari artist Shouq Al Mana reimagines the original Earth Dome from the 1975 museum, while Khalifa Al Thani uses television installations and artificial intelligence animation to reanimate the Old Palace’s architecture. The exhibition extends into the Old Palace itself, where visitors encounter installations by students from VCUarts Qatar (the Qatar campus of Virginia Commonwealth University), including Yousef Fakhoor’s immersive “Echoes of Time: The Four Doors,” which uses sound, light and video to reveal moments from 1975 through an imagined 2050.

Date: until Feb. 7, 2026

Location: National Museum of Qatar, Gallery 13, and the Old Palace

More information here.

2. Word on the street: Torba Market

Visitors explore the lively Torba Market at Education City, Doha, Nov. 15, 2025. (Photo by Reve Shaaban)

Torba Market, a weekend ritual for many in Doha, returns to Education City for another season. Established in 2017, the market is now in its eighth year. This community-focused space brings together local farms, artisan food producers and freshly prepared meals from Torba Kitchen — Torba’s culinary arm — all in an environment designed for connection and discovery.

The Saturday market runs from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., offering the full range of farms, food makers and artisan stalls that regular visitors have come to love. New this year, a Friday morning market adds a more focused selection of local produce, kitchen favorites and Re-Torba — a resale initiative giving pre-loved items a second life. The program aims to keep perfectly good goods in circulation and out of landfills, closing the loop on waste through community participation.

At its heart, Torba operates as more than a marketplace. It functions as a community builder, a space where grassroots initiatives meet sustainable living and where conversations happen naturally between neighbors and strangers alike. This season carries the theme “Exist to Resist,” encouraging visitors to move beyond mindful living toward active participation in creating change. The market sees itself as a movement, one that supports local producers and fosters the kind of genuine interactions that define community.

Date: Fridays and Saturdays until Feb. 28, 2026

Location: Education City

More details here.

3. Doha diary

Saint Levant stands with his group holding brass instruments. (Doha Film Institute)

• Saint Levant

Lusail Boulevard becomes the setting for music and celebration as the Doha Film Festival presents a series of evening concerts. Among the headliners is Jerusalem-born artist Marwan Abdelhamid, performing as Saint Levant, who brings his distinctive blend of Arabic music, R&B and hip-hop to the Lusail City Stage. The French-Algerian and Serbian-Palestinian artist sings in three languages, drawing from his multicultural background and the global Palestinian experience. 

Date: Nov. 24

Location: Lusail City Stage - Zone 1

More information here.

• The Grand Auto Show 2025

Qatar National Convention Center hosts three days of automotive excellence with the country’s largest car event. The show spans 50,000 square meters (12 acres) of indoor and outdoor space, bringing together 300 unique vehicles displayed across a dramatic 100-meter (109-yard) Car Catwalk that rises 1.5 meters (5 feet) above the ground. Inside, visitors explore the latest models from international brands alongside exhibits from insurance providers, driving schools, spare parts suppliers and customization workshops. Collectors showcase rare, modified and classic cars throughout the space. Outside, an additional 15,000 square meters (3.7 acres) features live drift shows, test drives and interactive experiences.

Date: Nov. 20-22

Location: QNCC

More information here.

• Mo Amer

The Katara Amphitheater welcomes Palestinian-American comedian Mo Amer for a Friday night of sharp wit and fearless humor. The Netflix star, known for his hit series “Mo,” performs alongside fellow Palestinian comedian Adi Khalefa in a show that connects audiences through stories spanning cultures. Amer’s signature storytelling style and charm have made him an international comedy sensation, and he returns to the region with material that promises big laughs and bold insights against the Amphitheater’s waterfront setting.

Date: Nov. 21

Location: Katara Amphitheater

More information here.

• Qatar Luxury Classic Cars Contest and Exhibition

The Qatar Luxury Classic Cars Contest and Exhibition brings together collectors and enthusiasts for five days celebrating timeless vehicles. Rare classics fill the venue, where the craftsmanship and design of legendary automobiles take center stage. The exhibition offers visitors a chance to appreciate the legacy and beauty of classic cars in an atmosphere that matches the sophistication of the vehicles on display.

Date: Nov. 19-23

Location: Medina Centrale, The Pearl Island

More information here.