Not a student? Not a problem! 7 things to do in Education City

Wanted to visit Education City but didn't know what to do? We got you covered. Here's a list of interesting places to visit whether you're a student or not.

1. Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art

Qatar’s footprint in the art world continues to grow. The Mathaf Museum, holding over 9,000 works, is the world’s largest specialized collection of its kind. It hosts both temporary and permanent exhibitions, featuring artists from all over the region.

Its Permanent Collection exhibitions include works by Shakir Hassan Al Said, Mohammed Melehi, Saloua Raouda Choucair and many more. The art featured in these exhibitions tackles the rise of nation states, colonial struggles, post-independence projects of reconstruction, the development and influence of the oil industry and other major themes that are relevant to the region.

Its current Solo Exhibition features Bouthayna Al-Muftah’s Echoes. Using various artistic media and materials, Al-Muftah explores stories and practices from Qatari cultural heritage. Her work centers around the traditional Qatari game ‘tag ‘tag ‘tagya.

This exhibition is available until September 10^th, 2018.

Museum opening times:

• 9 am to 7 pm from Saturday to Thursday
• 1:30 pm to 7 pm on Fridays

Last admissions are 30 minutes before closing.

For more information, check out their website.

2. Qatar National Library

Officially inaugurated in April 2018, the Qatar National Library (QNL) has become one of the most renowned landmarks of Education City. The library has more than one million books in its collections and more than 500,000 eBooks, periodicals and newspapers.

Open to the public, it offers programmes, workshops and activities that are suitable for all ages. Its facilities include many reading spaces, study rooms, computer labs, a writing center and an Innovation Station, a space that offers creative media and a wide range of equipment.

You can enjoy a peaceful afternoon read, take your kids to the children section, do extensive research, attends one of their many workshops, take a course in 3D printing or just enjoy an espresso in their café. The number of activities you can do there is endless.

Upcoming events:

• Design Your Own Game: Auditorium, Friday, August 17^th, 4:40 pm to 6:30 pm
• Google Drive 2: Advanced Tips and Tricks: Computer Lab 2, Friday, August 17^th, 6 pm to 7:30 pm
• Henna Art: Children’s Library, Saturday, August 18^th, 4 pm to 5:30 pm
• Teen Crafts: Young Adults Area: Young Adults Area, Saturday, August 18^th, 4 pm to 6 pm
• Book Club for the Blind: The Prophet, by Khalil Gibran, Main Plaza, Saturday, August 18^th, 5 pm to 7 pm

For more events, go here.

For more information on how to become a member, make sure to check out this article.

For more information about the library, check out their website.

3. Education City Mosque

photo courtesy of Abdulla AlHor

One of Mangera Yvars’ architectural masterpieces, the Education City Mosque is a spectacular building worth checking out. Through its design, the mosque incorporates many references to Islam, such as its ground-laying five large columns, representing the five pillars of Islam.

Every side of the building has fascinating designs, and you can never get enough. You will keep discovering little hidden gems in the architecture. The mosque is surrounded by four Islamic gardens traversed by four streams of water, each representing milk, wine, honey and water.

The College of Islamic Studies (CIS) shares the same building. It offers two postgraduate degree programs. To know more about the college, make sure to check out their website.

photo courtesy of Abdulla AlHor

The mosque also hosts different Sheikhs for Friday prayer. You can keep track of that on their Instagram account @ecmosque. 

4. Oxygen Park

photo courtesy of Abdulla AlHor

Oxygen Park is the “green lung” of Education City. Inspired by the fluid aspect of the desert, the park features many smooth designs, such as running tracks, tunnel segments, green hills and much more. It is divided in many sections, each fulfilling a different purpose. From shaded gardens to a water plaza, Oxygen Park offers its visitors a variety of activities and sceneries to enjoy.

photo courtesy of Abdulla AlHor

This place is perfect for a morning walk, a late-night run, a picnic with your friends and family, skateboarding, cycling, rollerblading, playing all kinds of sports, watching the sunrise/sunset, and I'm sure you can come up with so much more.

5. Al Shaqab Equestrian Center

photo courtesy of Abdulla AlHor

Al Shaqab is an equestrian center dedicated to preserving Qatar’s heritage by improving and promoting the Arabian horse breed.

Al Shaqab provides an educational experience for the community by offering tours, workshops and programs. The tours are available for schools, institutions, the general public, with the purpose of raising awareness on the equestrian culture. It also hosts events such as Qatar Sports Day, Qatar Auction of Arabian Horses and the Horse Auction of Riding Academy.

photo courtesy of Abdulla AlHor

For more information, visit their website. 

6. Chef’s Garden

Located in the Marwan Club in Al Shaqab Equestrian Center, Chef’s Garden is a café and restaurant that serves healthy food that you can enjoy in their beautiful venue. Partnered with different local organic farms, the restaurant offers menu options are fresh and organic. It also has an indoor kids club and outside play areas for your children to enjoy.

photo courtesy of Chaïmaa Benkermi

Chef’s Garden also has dedicated spaces for private events, such as business meeting or birthday parties. The restaurant is open from 7 am to 10 pm from Saturday to Thursday; and 7 am-11 am and 1 pm-10 pm on Fridays.

Here’s their Instagram account @chefsgardendoha for more information. 

7. Ceremonial Court

source: www.keoic.com

The Ceremonial Court is a great venue for photographers (or people who like getting photographed). Those of you who take their Instagram posts seriously, the Ceremonial Court is a perfect venue for aesthetic photos.

The Ceremonial Court is a vast open space with a reflecting pool in the center, guarded by two beautifully lit towers.

It previously hosted events such as Qatar National Day, university graduations, or Torba Farmers Market. Fun fact: Kanye West shot a music video here.

photo courtesy of Abdulla AlHor

Have you been to any of these places? Let us know in the comments!