Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), in collaboration with the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Qatar, celebrated Emirati heritage at an event held at the HBKU Student Center in Education City on March 15th. Students from across universities in Qatar were invited for a chance to experience the Emirates’ unique history, culture, and contributions to the region. 

The event, which was attended by His Excellency Mr. Saleh Mohammed Bin Nasra, Ambassador of the UAE to Qatar, is part of the International Culture Day series that takes place from October through March each academic year. Countries invited to showcase their achievements and core values are representative of the diverse student body at HBKU and its partner universities across Education City. Previously this year HBKU have featured the embassies of Palestine and Iran, both of which have showcased their culture and heritage.

The event presented a traditional UAE folk band show belonging to the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, after which attendees had a chance to visit booths managed by organizations affiliated with the country that operate in Qatar, including UAE airlines Emirates and Etihad, perfume franchise Hind El Oud, and Dolphin Energy. 

On display and available for consumption was authentic Emirati cuisine, traditional dresses, arts and crafts, perfumes, and books authored by UAE nationals. Other activities included henna painting and travel booking.   

Speaking at the event, His Excellency Saleh Mohammed Bin Nasra, UAE Ambassador to Qatar, said: “Events like the Emirati Culture Day build bridges of understanding and relationship between different countries and between the students who come from all over the world. Our presence is very important to enrich such exhibitions that represent the UAE and other GCC countries, especially in highlighting our rich heritage.”

Maryam Hamad Al-Mannai, Vice President of Student Affairs at HBKU, noted: “A celebration of UAE’s culture shows us that we have so much in common with our neighbors. We are pleased that they have chosen to share their culture and heritage with residents of Qatar through the platform provided by HBKU’s International Culture Day. The initiative aims to highlight the importance of celebrating other nationalities and encourage students to collaborate with diverse ethnic groups.” 

To find out more about HBKU, its various community initiatives, and public events, visit hbku.edu.qa.