D’reesha festival to highlight Arab culture during World Cup

Qatar Foundation (QF)’s D’reesha Performing Arts Festival, taking place during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 from December 11-17 – is set to celebrate Qatar’s culture, heritage, and traditions.
This year, the festival is being held under the theme *Travel and Adventure.
Inspired by the explorer Ibn Battuta, it will showcase a variety of performances in Arabic and English, from storytelling, music, and poetry to visual arts and theatre.
“Through this strategic partnership, the Ministry of Social Development and Family seeks to enhance the concept of Qataris as being productive, and to change the culture of consumption to one of innovation and creativity,” said HE the Minister of Social Development and Family Mariam al-Misnad. “At the ministry, we are always keen to support productive families, and to increase their presence and productivity within the community.”
“Their participation in the D’reesha Performing Arts Festival will provide them with an opportunity to showcase their efforts and to increase their integration in national events in Qatar,” she said, adding: “This is especially since D’reesha is a cultural event that will gather together different elements of society in line with the hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.”
Main performances during the festival include *Ibn Battuta, which features regional artists, QF students, and members of the community, *RUMI: The Musical, and Ajyal Tunes.
The festival will also feature cultural performances from Qatar and other nations such as Morocco, Senegal, Turkiye, and Greece.
STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) shows and workshops will also take place during the festival as part of D’reesha of Invention, which is being sponsored by ConocoPhillips Qatar, showcasing scientists, scholars, and researchers from the Arab world.
Local heritage will play a large part in the festival, with Al Khater House hosting the Poetry Majlis, traditional games, and film screenings, along with merchandising and the return of Torba Farmers Market.
A number of artistes will present poems about Palestine during the festival, including Rawdah AlHajj and Anas al-Dogheim, while Dalal Abu Amneh will showcase the history of the Arab and Islamic world by combining music with art and science.
“The D’reesha Performing Arts Festival is an opportunity for us to share Qatar’s rich cultural heritage with guests from around the world, as well as encourage international dialogue and engage our local community,” said QF chief communications officer Mayan M Zebeib.
“The D’reesha Performing Arts Festival is a space for cultural communication between people, and the importance of this year’s edition of the festival is that it takes place during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, allowing visitors to Qatar from different cultural backgrounds to explore Qatari heritage and culture,” said Dr Ghanem Bin Mubarak al-Ali, cultural advisor at Ministry of Culture.
“This is the first FIFA World Cup is taking place in the Middle East. This is a momentous occasion,” said QF community programme manager Al-Jazi al-Hanzab. “So, by hosting the D’reesha Performing Arts Festival during the World Cup, we will be able to take our rich culture and heritage to new, global audiences.”
“Our jam-packed schedule features a diverse range of fun and educational activities, events, and performances covering key themes such as science, research, education, and community,” she added. “And open to all, it has been designed to cater to people of all ages, interests, and nationalities.”
“The festival aims to promote, preserve, and celebrate the identity and spirit of the Arab world and it does so by combining tradition and modernity for a unique, educational experience,” al-Hanzab continued. “It will shed light on Qatar today, and Qatar in the past, including traditional lifestyles, clothes, and food.”
“It is also focused on where the arts fit in Qatari society,” the official said.
Tickets for the festival are on sale, and daily passes are QR35 for those aged 3-11, and QR50 for those above 12 years.
Children aged under three can enter for free.
Tickets can be purchased at Virgin Megastore – online or in-store.