Al Faisal Publishing House was officially inaugurated Monday, with an aim to document the historical memory of Qatar. Chairman HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani stated that the initiative comes within the framework of the great efforts made by the official authorities in the country and the Ministry of Culture to spread knowledge and document history and heritage.
“We seek to provide reliable content based on scientific foundations, while being keen to translate our publications to ensure that knowledge reaches a wider audience. The first publications of the house will embody this vision, as we shed light on topics that document heritage and history from unconventional angles,” he explained.
HE Sheikh Faisal expressed his hope that Al Faisal Publishing House would become a leading institution at the regional and international levels, contributing to the dissemination of knowledge about Qatar and its relations with the Arab and international world, especially in the field of heritage and historical documentation.
“Our first releases will reflect our vision by highlighting heritage issues through the lens of historical documentation, in collaboration with the Al Faisal Global Foundation for Culture and Knowledge, which provides us with scientific sources and trusted academic references,” said Ibrahim Badawy, general manager of Al Faisal Publishing House.
Three books have been published initially. A book on Al Meqnas explores the significance of falconry in Qatari and Gulf cultures and its evolution from a survival necessity to a heritage sport and elite hobby.
The second release, titled A Historian Without a Pen, is a unique work that delves into the importance of traditional carpets as historical documents in the pre-camera era, illustrating through threads, knots, and patterns the heritage stories and historical events we did not witness firsthand.
He also mentioned that the third release will be the French edition of Qatar Through My Eyes by Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani. This special edition offers a glimpse into Qatar’s development through firsthand accounts and well-documented historical insights. It is set to be launched at the Paris International Book Fair (Festival du Livre de Paris 2025) next April, following the successful launch of the Malayalam edition at the New Delhi World Book Fair earlier this month.
Badawy also announced the upcoming launch of Al Faisal Publishing House’s official website, which will serve as an interactive platform for ordering publications and engaging with readers and researchers.
