Doha’s MIA showcases Afghanistan beyond headlines
Also this week: smart farming showcases, Arab-classical fusion and Ramadan markets
Welcome to AL-MONITOR Doha.
This week, Doha straddles two worlds. Anticipation is building toward Ramadan, a season that reshapes how the city gathers and celebrates. But before the fast begins, there’s still time to wander through centuries of Afghan artistry, taste new varieties of dates at Souq Waqif and imagine what classical music sounds like when Eastern and Western traditions meet. There’s space to think about food security while making lanterns with your hands. The city moves between reflection and preparation, between looking back at what endures and looking ahead to what’s coming. It’s the kind of week where everything feels more intentional, more aware of time passing and seasons changing.
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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: ‘Empire of Light: Visions and Voices of Afghanistan’
A manuscript illustration depicting Iskandar fighting the tribes of Gog and Magog during the “Empire of Light: Visions and Voices of Afghanistan” exhibition at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha. (Photo courtesy of the Museum of Islamic Art)
Afghanistan is often reduced to headlines, flattened into a single narrative. This exhibition refuses that reduction. “Empire of Light: Visions and Voices of Afghanistan” arrives at the Museum of Islamic Art with nearly 100 objects spanning 5,000 years, telling the story of a place where cultures met, ideas flourished and creativity took forms that still resonate today.
What emerges is a country far more complex than today’s news cycle allows. Ancient cities, sacred sites, precious textiles and refined paintings reveal the people who shaped its destiny. A brass ewer from medieval Herat carries centuries of metalworking mastery. Manuscripts from the Timurid period showcase the artistic brilliance that made Afghanistan a hub of cultural exchange. A Quranic folio in kufic script evokes spiritual depth, while a bottle from the Samanid period glows with the precision of now-lost techniques.
The exhibition doesn’t stop in the past. Contemporary works sit alongside these historical treasures. Video installations and photographs by artists like Francis Alys and Kiana Hayeri reflect Afghanistan’s living, evolving present. The message is unmistakable: this is not a country frozen in history, but a living culture continuously bridging its rich past with its unfolding future.
Presented in partnership with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, the exhibition asks us to see what we’ve been conditioned to overlook: Afghanistan’s legacy belongs not to headlines but to centuries of human creativity, spiritual expression and artistic brilliance. That matters — especially now.
Date: until May 30
Location: Sheikh Saoud Al Thani Temporary Exhibitions Gallery, Museum of Islamic Art
More details here.
2. Word on the street: AgriteQ 2026
Overview of Qatar International Agricultural Exhibition 2025 (Photo courtesy of agriteq)
If you’ve ever wondered what the future of food looks like, AgriteQ 2026 has answers. The 13th edition of Qatar’s International Agricultural Exhibition opens at Katara, and it’s the kind of event that doesn’t pretend agriculture is boring. It’s where the real conversations happen about how we’re going to feed ourselves in a changing world.
This isn’t just about looking at tractors. The exhibition spans everything from plant production and livestock farming to fish production, food processing and smart farming solutions. Live demonstrations show how these technologies work, interactive pavilions invite hands-on engagement and specialists are eager to share what they’re building.
What makes it worth your time is the caliber of people who attend. Leading companies, global experts, entrepreneurs, investors and government entities converge in one place. Whether you’re looking to build partnerships, explore new technologies or understand where the agricultural sector is heading, the conversations happening this week will offer real clarity.
It’s also a moment to reflect on Qatar’s relationship with food security and agricultural development. The exhibition highlights how the country is preparing for future challenges while building a more sustainable approach to farming and food production.
Date: Feb. 12-16
Location: Katara Cultural Village
More details here.
3. Doha diary
Omar Rahbany at a concert in Lebanon, Aug. 7, 2019. (Photo courtesy of Ticketing box office)
- Classical Arabesque
What would Bach sound like filtered through the Arabic maqams? What if Chopin’s nocturnes had grown up with quarter tones and intricate rhythmic patterns? Classical Arabesque poses exactly these questions. Ghady Rahbani and Omar Rahbany, alongside the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, reimagine the dialogue between Eastern and Western musical traditions in a two-act performance lasting just over an hour. It’s a fascinating experiment in what happens when you let classical masterpieces breathe in the Arab world.
Date: Feb. 14
Location: Katara Cultural Village, Opera House
More information here.
- Ramadan Bazaar 2026 at Heenat Salma
Ramadan calls for celebration, and Heenat Salma is ready. The bazaar brings the whole family together with free experiences like a children’s play zone and cinema screenings, plus hands-on workshops where you can make lanterns, try your hand at calligraphy, throw pottery or pour candles. It’s the kind of place where creativity and tradition meet.
Date: until March 18
Location: Heenat Salma
More information here.
- Souq Waqif International Dates Exhibition 2026
The fourth edition of Souq Waqif’s Dates Exhibition returns, turning the Eastern Square into a celebration of one of the Gulf’s most prized ingredients. The event runs through mid-February, offering the chance to explore different varieties, taste regional specialties and pick up something special for your table.
Date: until Feb. 16
Location: Eastern Square, Souq Waqif
More information here.
- Rouda AlMalki Exhibition
Rouda AlMalki is hosting a women-focused exhibition at the Qatar National Convention Center dedicated to Ramadan and Eid preparations. Fashion and perfume designers showcase their work alongside curated dining experiences, making it a destination for both inspiration and indulgence.
Date: until Feb. 16
Location: Hall 9, Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC)
More information here.
4. Documentary of the week: ‘Qatar: Nature and development at a crossroads’
A scene from “Qatar: Nature and Development at a Crossroads.” (Photo courtesy of Al Jazeera)
Qatar’s wealth is measured in oil and gas, in skyscrapers and infrastructure projects that reshape the skyline at breathtaking speed. But there’s another kind of richness here, one that exists in the coastal waters and desert landscapes most of us never see. This Al Jazeera documentary takes you into that hidden world, exploring Qatar’s little-known wildlife and asking a question that matters: What happens to nature when development moves faster than protection?
The documentary doesn’t offer easy answers or simple blame. Instead, it opens a genuine conversation about what it means to be a wealthy nation confronted with choices about what to preserve and what to sacrifice. It’s the kind of documentary that changes how you see the place you live in and makes you notice the birds, the sea and the desert in a new way.
5. View from Doha
People look at the skyline covered in fog in Doha on February 9, 2026. (Photo by Mahmud HAMS / AFP via Getty Images)
6. By the numbers
- Web Summit Qatar 2026 concluded following four days of discussion on Feb. 4, drawing a record 30,274 participants from 127 countries — an 18% increase from the previous year — along with nearly 1,000 investors and 1,637 startups, according to the Government Communications Office.
- In December 2025, Qatar ranked third among Arab countries for Swiss watch imports, totaling $27.1 million, according to the Swiss Watch Industry Federation.