Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali inaugurated Thursday a new branch of the Nomas Center in the old market of Al-Wakra, as part of the centers expansion plan in different regions of the country, and in implementation of its mission to be a professional school and an incubator for culture and heritage in the State of Qatar.

During the inauguration, HE the Minister of Culture and Sports was briefed on the various departments of the center, some of which were devoted to youth activities, in addition to the sections devoted to girls, including old handicrafts. His Excellency also watched a number of short films explaining the center’s activities to preserve the Qatari identity.

The opening of the Nomas Center branch in Al-Wakra comes within the program of hosting Doha, the capital of culture in the Islamic world 2021, due to the center’s achievement of highlighting the richness of local culture and the human values of the culture of the State of Qatar and its ancient history.

The Director of the Heritage and Identity Department at the Ministry of Culture and Sports Sheikha Najla Faisal Al-Thani said in a speech on this occasion that the opening of a new branch of the Nomas Center in the ancient city of Al-Wakra came to achieve the center’s goals in developing youth and working to invest their free time in learning and practicing many activities related to the heritage and authentic customs of the people of Qatar in terms of solution and travel, on land and sea, all within a framework of religion and morals, and equipping them with skills that qualify them for self-reliance and responsibility.

She emphasized the interest of the State of Qatar in heritage, which is clearly evident in Qatar National Vision 2030, which pays great attention to heritage and preserving it as the main pillar of the national identity, as it works to consolidate the popular heritage in the hearts of generations and promotes human values and gains in the hearts of future generations through many mechanisms, perhaps the most important is the presence of the Heritage and Identity Department at the Ministry of Culture and Sports.

At the end of her speech, she praised the efforts of the people in charge of the Nomas Center in creating generations aware of the importance of heritage, expressing her hope that the new center, through its programs and activities, will be a mirror of the rich heritage of the State of Qatar and contribute to strengthening the Qatari identity. (MORE)

General coordinator of the celebration of Doha, the cultural capital of the Islamic world in 2021 Hamad Al Athba said that the opening of a new Nomas Center branch is an implementation of the Ministry of Culture and Sports’ strategy on identity as a framework for preserving culture and promoting citizenship, noting that this step comes after the center’s distinguished role in the past years by promoting a spirit of belonging and citizenship among young people, consolidating the values and traditions of society and preserving its heritage, affirming a value system based on human dignity and openness to others, and preserving the national identity.

This step, he added, is a continuation of the Ministry’s plans for expansion outside Doha to reach various regions in the country to meet the cultural, youth, and sports needs of the community and support youth, believing in the importance of their role in achieving progress and prosperity through an accelerated development process while preserving Islamic identity and values.

Director of the Nomas Center Salah bin Ibrahim Al Mannai said that the opening of a new branch of the center in the old market of Al-Wakra within the activities of Doha, the capital of culture in the Islamic world 2021, indicates the Ministry of Culture and Sports’ keenness to hold distinguished events on the occasion of this choice that Doha deserves as a result of the great position of the Qatari culture in the Islamic world, pointing out that this branch will serve the residents of Al-Wakra, and the visitors of the ancient market from Arabs and foreigners, as it is one of the archaeological and historical monuments in the country.

He pointed out that the new branch will provide its services to its members in the old market of Al-Wakra, stressing that these services are currently delivered amid the precautionary measures in force in the country in order to preserve public health and ensure safety for all, pointing out that the expansions of the Nomas Center will not be limited to the city of Al-Wakra as similar branches of the center will be opened in other cities in the country, within the framework of ensuring that the center’s services are accessible to all Qataris in various cities, in accordance with the directions of the Ministry of Culture and Sports.

Nomas Center was established in 2014 as an educational center that contributes to investing the youth’s spare time in learning and practicing many activities related to the heritage and authentic customs of the people of Qatar.

The activities of Doha Capital of Culture in the Islamic World 2021 seek to promote the eternal Islamic values, especially those based on science and human dignity; promote the Islamic cultural heritage in an interconnected world; encourage creativity and innovation as civilized values that enrich the Islamic civilization; inspire the new generations in the Islamic world to enrich the global cultural scene through a productive and effective role; focus on cultural diversity as an added value for Islamic countries and the Islamic culture in general; and introduce the cultural experience of the State of Qatar and its efforts in promoting the Islamic culture.