Today, the State of Qatar has joined the countries registered for the file “For the Palm…Knowledge, Skills, Traditions and Practices” in the list of intangible cultural heritage of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization “UNESCO”.

This came during the seventeenth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization “UNESCO” in Rabat, currently, and will continue until December 4, with the participation of the State of Qatar.

The State of Qatar is represented in the work of the seventeenth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO, H. E. Dr. Nasser bin Hamad Al-Hanzab, Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to UNESCO, and Mr. Abdulaziz Al-Mutawa, Head of the Heritage Department in the Department of Heritage and Identity at the Ministry culture.

E. Dr. Nasser bin Hamad Al-Hanzab, the permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to UNESCO, stressed in a statement on this occasion that the State of Qatar pays great attention to the preservation and protection of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, and has placed the protection of intangible heritage at the core of its national policies and international efforts within the scope of the work of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

He added that the accession of the State of Qatar to the countries registered for the “Palm” file is a testament to the connection of the history and culture of the State of Qatar with this important element, which has a cultural, social and economic dimension in the local society in the State of Qatar. Especially since the palm enjoys a long and authentic heritage in the culture of Qatari society and the Arab region, and it has an exceptional symbolism of giving, around which many foundations in our culture revolve. In terms of building and communicating with other cultures, the palm tree remained a staple in Qatari and Arab society throughout the ages.

Qatar’s permanent representative to UNESCO also appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Culture represented by the Department of Heritage and Identity for its efforts to prepare the palm tree file and many files are in the process of being prepared.

It is worth noting that after the State of Qatar joins the palm file, the countries registered for this file will be Kuwait, UAE, Tunisia, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Mauritania, Palestine, Oman, Sudan, and Yemen, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia