Uzbek Heritage Comes to Doha

Welcome to AL-MONITOR Doha.

This week, Doha invites visitors to travel far without leaving the city. The Museum of Islamic Art opens a rare exhibition exploring more than a thousand years of Uzbekistan’s artistic and intellectual heritage, while the Qatar Toy Festival returns with a monthlong program of family entertainment, interactive experiences and beloved characters. Elsewhere, the city offers plenty of ways to stay active and creative, from karting sessions at Lusail International Circuit and portrait drawing classes at Mathaf to an immersive storytelling experience at Education City’s Lawh Wa Qalam Museum.

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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: ‘Uzbekistan: Heritage in Motion’ 

A blue and turquoise glazed ceramic cenotaph decorated with Arabic calligraphy and floral motifs, on display during the exhibition "Uzbekistan: Heritage in Motion" at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha. (Photo courtesy of MIA)

The Museum of Islamic Art is opening its doors to a culture rarely given center stage in Doha. “Uzbekistan: Heritage in Motion” traces the country’s Islamic heritage from the eve of the 8th century conquest of Central Asia to the present day.

Organized in partnership with Uzbekistan’s Art and Culture Development Foundation, the exhibition unfolds across four themes. It opens by setting the cultural stage just before the conquest, when the region was already a cosmopolitan crossroads with a rich history of its own. From there, it moves into the architectural ingenuity of the Samanid and Timurid dynasties, two periods that historians often describe as Islamic renaissances, before turning to the scholars and thinkers who shaped Islamic intellectual life from these lands, through manuscripts and interactive displays.

The exhibition closes with its largest and most celebratory section, centuries of ceramics, textiles, dress and jewellery, much of it centered around silk, tracing a craft tradition that remains genuinely alive in Uzbekistan today rather than confined to glass cases. The objects on view, from a Timurid Quran folio to Soviet-era jewellery, span well over a thousand years without ever feeling like a history lecture.

Date: until Nov. 28

Location: Sheikh Saoud Al Thani Temporary Exhibitions Gallery, Museum of Islamic Art

More details here.

2. Word on the street: Qatar Toy Festival 2026

Visitors gather during a previous edition of the Qatar Toy Festival at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center, Doha. (Courtesy of Visit Qatar)

The Qatar Toy Festival is back, and this year it is taking over the entire month of July at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center. For families looking for somewhere to channel the energy of the summer holiday, this is one of the city’s best options. Five themed islands, 10 retail stores and nearly 30 entertainment zones make up the floor plan, with stage shows, mascot meet-and-greets, science demonstrations and live music filling the daily program.

The different zones are worth exploring in advance. Champions Land draws on Hot Wheels and Pac-Man; The Studios brings together The Flintstones, Mickey Mouse and more; Fancy Land features Lilo & Stitch, Disney Princess and Frozen; and Cutie Pie Land caters to younger children with Paw Patrol and Ms. Rachel. Teenagers are not forgotten either, with a PUBG real-life experience and a Five Nights at Freddy’s corner for those seeking a little more adrenaline. Limited-edition Labubu merchandise and a Haribo truck round out the shopping experience. 

There is also a summer camp running daily from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. for children aged 4 to 12, and during the final week, the festival will host a Back-to-School exhibition featuring workshops and competitions.

Date: July 1-31

Location: Doha Exhibition and Convention Center

More details here.

3. Doha diary

Drivers take part in a karting circuit experience at Lusail Circuit Sports Club in Lusail, Qatar. (Courtesy of Lusail Circuit Sports Club)

•  Lusail Karting

Karting has long been the starting point for aspiring racing drivers, and the dedicated track at Lusail International Circuit gives that tradition a fitting home. Public sessions run several days a week, giving drivers of all experience levels the chance to test their skills on a world-class circuit in a safe, well-organized setting. Whether it is your first time behind the wheel or a regular outing with friends who take their lap times seriously, it is an exhilarating way to spend an afternoon.

Date: until Nov. 30

Location: Lusail International Circuit

More information here.

• Teeb Al Hazm 13th Edition

Education City’s Lawh Wa Qalam Museum is hosting a free immersive experience centered on storytelling, creativity and imagination, making it an ideal outing for the whole family at no cost. Interactive displays and hands-on exhibits fill the space, inviting visitors of all ages into a world shaped by narrative rather than static objects on a wall. 

Date: The museum is open most days of the week, with shorter opening hours on Fridays, and is closed on Mondays and national holidays. 

Location: Lawh Wa Qalam Museum, Education City

More information here.

• Art Lessons with Ismail Azzam

Mathaf is bringing back its free art classes with Iraqi artist and curator Ismail Azzam. Focusing on portraiture across pencil, charcoal and paint, the sessions are designed for participants with basic to intermediate drawing skills who want a structured space to practise, develop their technique and exchange ideas with fellow artists. Bring your own sketchbook, register for the session that matches your level and be prepared — you may find yourself modelling for someone else’s portrait before the afternoon is over.

Date: Every Sunday and Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Location: Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art

More information here.