Publications
Empowering Communities through Pop-Up Exhibitions: A Case Study of the Portal to Al Zubarah Pop-Up Exhibition in Qatar
Pop-up exhibitions can effectively empower local communities and amplify underrepresented voices while strengthening collaboration between institutions and the public. This was demonstrated by the 'Portal to Al Zubarah' initiative, a mobile exhibition that engaged Qatar's community with the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Al Zubarah. The study found that such pop-ups serve as powerful tools for participatory heritage interpretation, fostering inclusive design and institutional learning. Researchers used visitor questionnaires, interviews, and peer reviews to assess the impact, revealing that these exhibitions bridge gaps between cultural institutions and communities, enhancing collective engagement with heritage.
Qatar in the Ottoman and British Strategies in the Arabian Gulf (1305–1331 AH/1888–1913 CE): A Historical Study in the Light of Ottoman Documents
The 1913 Convention marked the first formal recognition of Qatar as a distinct political entity under the Al-Thani family, reshaping its sovereignty amid rivalry between the Ottoman Empire and Britain. This study reveals how Qatar became a strategic battleground, with Ottomans consolidating control through administrative and legal measures while Britain sought dominance via settlement projects in al-Zubarah and al-`Udayd to secure routes to India. Ottoman documents highlight this as a pivotal moment, transitioning Qatar from contested territory to an independent entity within broader geopolitical struggles between Islam and Western colonialism.
Assessing Coastal Vulnerability to Sea Level Rise in Qatar: An Index-Based Approach Using Analytic Hierarchy Process
Qatar's coastline is predominantly highly vulnerable to sea level rise (SLR), with the exception of Doha, which exhibits low risk due to extensive coastal modifications and protective infrastructure. This finding emerges from a study that employs an index-based approach using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to assess vulnerability. The research integrates both physical and socio-economic parameters, calculating separate Physical Vulnerability Index (PVI) and Socio-Economic Vulnerability Index (SVI) scores, which are then combined into a final Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI). Areas such as Al Khor, Ras Laffan, Dukhan, and Al Zubarah show significantly higher vulnerability, underscoring the urgent need for targeted adaptation and resilience strategies to mitigate SLR impacts in Qatar.
Riding in the Desert
The Tour of Qatar has successfully revitalized road cycling culture in the country, overcoming its late 20th-century decline due to socio-economic changes. This revival is attributed to grassroots initiatives, including local rider integration, the establishment of the Tour of Al-Zubarah, and the creation of the Qatar Cyclists Cycling Club. However, challenges such as gender participation gaps and cultural stigmas remain obstacles to further growth. The chapter highlights the event's legacy in fostering structured cycling development while emphasizing the need for sustained efforts to address these barriers.
A benthic habitat sensitivity analysis of Qatar's coastal zone
A sensitivity analysis of Qatar's coastal benthic habitats identifies six high-risk zones, characterized by seagrass meadows, mangrove forests, and coral reefs, which are particularly vulnerable to natural and anthropogenic stressors. These areas include the Al Zubarah offshore reefs, the Al Ruwais fringing reef, the east-coast bays of Al Khor and Al Dhakira, the Mesaieed shore-attached reef complex, Jazirat al Bushayriyah offshore high, and Halul Island's shelf. The study builds on a high-resolution, ground-truthed benthic habitat map covering 4500 km², assigning sensitivity scores from 1 (low risk) to 5 (high risk). This analysis provides critical data for marine spatial planning and ecosystem-based management, supporting sustainable development in rapidly-developing coastal regions.
Virtual Reality Application of the Fortress Al Zubarah in Qatar Including Performance Analysis of Real-Time Visualisation
A virtual reality (VR) application for the Al Zubarah Fortress in Qatar demonstrates that CAD models significantly enhance real-time visualization performance compared to meshed models, achieving optimal frame rates of approximately 90 fps. This finding highlights the importance of balancing data volume and hardware capabilities to ensure smooth VR experiences. The study analyzed different digital 3D models with varying resolutions, revealing that reduced data volume in CAD models leads to better performance, which is crucial for immersive cultural heritage visualization in museums and educational settings.
Society in Qatar before the Oil Industry in Light of Archaeological Evidence
Archaeological excavations in Qatar have uncovered significant remains of towns and villages from the 18th to early 20th centuries, providing unprecedented insights into pre-oil industrial society. The study focuses on two key sites: al-Zubarah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013, and Ra’s ‘Ushayrig, along with adjacent settlements like al-Ruwaydah and al-Burayqa. Analysis of architectural structures, material culture such as vessels and tools, and other artifacts reveals the communal identity and micro-history of Qatar during this period. The research highlights the importance of these sites in reconstructing the social fabric and cultural dynamics of Qatar before the oil industry's influence.
The urban fabric of Al Zubarah city: Unveiling an urban regeneration vision for modern urbanism in Qatar
Al Zubarah Archaeological Site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Qatar, offers a unique glimpse into the urban design principles of Islamic cities. The study reveals that the city's preserved urban fabric, untouched since its abandonment in the early 1900s, reflects sociocultural and economic factors that shaped its development. Analyzing the site using Petruccioli's methodological approach, which examines the urban organism, urban fabric, and building types on three scales, the research demonstrates how Al Zubarah manifests key principles of Islamic urbanism. These findings provide valuable insights for modern urban regeneration projects in Qatar, offering a vision for sustainable and culturally informed urban development.
Imagining the past visitor specific applications for Al Zubarah Archaeological Site, Qatar
Mobile applications with augmented reality (AR) elements and interactive components have been successfully developed to enhance the visitor experience at Al Zubarah Archaeological Site, Qatar. Since its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List, visitor numbers have nearly tripled, necessitating innovative solutions to protect fragile remains while engaging audiences, particularly younger visitors. The applications, created in collaboration between the Qatar Islamic Archaeology and Heritage Project and DNP, aim to support the dissemination of ongoing excavation findings by providing immersive, educational experiences that encourage reflection on the site's historical significance.
“Society and Daily Life Practices in Qatar Before Oil Industry, A Historic Study in light of Texts and Archaeological Evidence”
Al-Zubarah, a 17th to mid-20th century walled town in Qatar, offers profound insights into pre-oil society and daily life practices in the Gulf region. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its strategic coastal location, fortified architecture, and rich material culture reveal its significance as a major pearl and trade hub. Excavations, led by Qatari missions and later the University of Copenhagen in collaboration with Qatar Museum Authority, uncovered palaces, courtyards, mosques, markets, and tools from diverse regions, providing a comprehensive view of Islamic trade planning, social structures, and cultural exchanges. This study reconstructs societal dynamics, gender roles, communal identity, and regional interactions through architectural remains, material artifacts, and textual evidence, offering a nuanced understanding of Qatar's historical landscape before the oil era.
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