Leading up to the biggest sports event in history, a number of activities and activations, including art exhibitions, motion picture performances, and electronic games, will be held at the conveniently placed Msheireb Downtown Doha in Doha. Shops will also stay open till two in the morning.
At a press conference held yesterday at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Msheireb Properties’ Dr. Hafiz Ali Abdulla, Director of Marketing and Communication, and Maryam Al Jassem, Manager of PR and Communication, made the news. Msheireb Downtown Doha is the company’s signature venture.
Dr. Abdulla said: “Msheireb Downtown Doha will be the place where visitors and football fans from around the world will meet and celebrate this global event, to reflect the impact of sports on building bridges and relations between cultures.”
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Meanwhile, Al Jassem noted that the aim of the various activations is to highlight the welcoming hospitality of Qatar, the spirit of positivity and the joy of togetherness. “We are confident that these comprehensive and diverse activities will add real value to the visitors’ experience. We welcome everyone in the heart of Doha, in our sustainable and smart city, which truly reflects the essence of Qatari culture and heritage.”
Although Al Jassem didn’t disclose the number of visitors they are expecting during the World Cup, she said they are anticipating “a massive number coming from everywhere because our location is in the middle, facing Souq Waqif, Corniche and also Msheireb station, which is the main Metro station.”
She also revealed that they will be showing football matches in the downtown. “We have the premier zone in Al Baraha which is for reservations also we have in our hotels where they’ll be having live screening.” The said hotels are Mandarin Oriental Doha, Park Hyatt Doha, and Alwadi Doha – MGallery.
The Msheireb Downtown Doha activations cover sports, dining, culture and arts, entertainment, wellness and hospitality and are distributed in three zones – Baraha Zone, Sikka Zone and Heritage Zone.
The Baraha Zone will be the hub for watching the matches on a giant screen or in special pods. Also at the said zone at M7 is the Forever Valentino Exhibition. Maison Valentino pays homage to its founder Valentino Garavani with its largest exhibition to date and its first presentation in the Middle East.
At the Heritage Zone visitors can experience various activities and explore the essence of authentic Qatari heritage. Located at the company house at Msheireb Museums, Al Annabi Village is the Qatar National Team’s celebration hub. The Universo Olivetti – Italian Exhibition is at Mohamed Bin Jassem House, and the Frida Kahlo Immersive Art Exhibition is at the lower gallery of Bin Jelmood House.
The Sikka Zone is where you can find art exhibits, cinematic works and interactive activities where fans can play games and unwind at cafes and restaurants. Here you can find the Intaj – Film, Television, and Theatre Exhibition that highlights Qatar’s history of cinema, filmmaking and theatre; Quest Gaming District; Art Exhibition, a creative showcase of local and international artists; HomeGrown Store, a concept store featuring Qatari goods; The Hangout, a space to relax and enjoy and Onside Doha, a pop-up cinema space where visitors can watch a series of “Doha Outside,” showcasing stories and films.
In the aforementioned region, starting on November 18, the Al Sikka International Festival, a street-long festival of cultures, will also take place.
Along with the immersive South American football experience Conmebol Tree of Dreams and the Mawater Warehouse Exhibition, which displays rare autos, the Sikka Zone also has media facilities.
