Collecting vintage and classic cars a vital facet of Qatar’s heritage

 

The Barahat Classic Cars Exhibition 2022 continues at Msheireb Downtown Doha, featuring a grand selection of vintage and classic, luxury cars that represent a vital period in Qatar’s rich history.The event has been organised by the Gulf Qatari Classic Car Association in partnership with Msheireb Properties. The association curated a selection of cars that mirrored the ones used by the residents of old Msheireb in the 1960s and 1970s.HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Gulf Qatari Classic Car Association, said: “The Barahat Classic Cars Exhibition represents a very important milestone for us, due to the great turnout it witnessed during its inauguration, as well as the keenness of both collectors and enthusiasts of classic cars alike. “It is no secret that the Qatari community are among the most renowned collectors of vintage and classic cars, as collecting represents a very cherished facet of our heritage and history.”Omar Hussain Alfardan, vice-president of the Gulf Qatari Classic Car Association, stressed the importance of hosting the Barahat Classic Cars Exhibition, which has gained a great momentum this year. He said, “Those who count themselves as vintage and classic, luxury car enthusiasts can now revel in the beauty of these showpieces, as we have made it incredibly accessible for them to do so.”He praised the fruitful partnership between the association and Msheireb Properties in organising such an elaborate event, "which is no doubt a vital heritage and tourism forum that is capable of attracting a large number of classic car enthusiasts from all over the world, as well as locally". “We joined forces in order to educate the public, citizens and residents alike, about the value of hosting such events annually, and how it enriches the country’s social events calendar," Alfardan said.He also pointed out that collecting vintage and classic cars is a vital facet of Qatar’s heritage that must be preserved for future generations, noting that the exhibited cars had revolutionised the 20th century. He also praised the efforts exerted by members of the Gulf Qatari Classic Car Association in making sure the exhibition's goals are achieved.HE Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser bin Khalid al-Thani, member of the Board of Directors of the Gulf Qatari Classic Car Association, praised the great turnout at exhibitions organised by the association. He noted that the great success of such exhibitions encourages the association to keep organising them annually, to further expand their activities. He also pointed out that these exhibitions have, above all, proven to be successful in attracting their intended target audience, the younger generation, who have shown a tremendous affinity for vintage and classic cars and for collecting them. "The car show aims to promote the tradition of collecting vintage and classic cars, and that doing so is a great investment. Collecting vintage cars is an undeniable facet of our history and heritage, and we implore our youth to keep up this tradition by collecting themselves, and to further protect this facet of our heritage by spreading more awareness about it, in order for it to live on,” he added. “The exhibition also allows the public to marvel at a highly curated collection of the rarest and most luxurious vintage cars in the world.”Dr Hafez Ali, head of Marketing and Communications at Msheireb Properties, welcomed the decision to host the Barahat Classic Cars Exhibition at Msheireb Downtown Doha this year, citing the great opportunity to attract classic car enthusiasts from all over the country and the world, while shedding light on the history of this great tradition in Qatar.He praised the location of Msheireb Downtown Doha, a landmark that represents the perfect marriage between the country’s rich heritage and the modernity it boasts of, noting that Msheireb Properties constantly seeks to support the interests of the public by hosting major, vital events there. “The exhibition is one of the most significant events for the great value it offers to the audience, highlighting an important era in the history of Qatar, during which the country witnessed great development in all fields, to which these cars contributed a great deal," he said.The official confirmed the continued collaboration with the Gulf Qatari Classic Car Association in the coming period, which will see both parties organising and sponsoring more grand events and exhibitions.