A leading maritime heritage festival going back in time to discover the history of Qatari culture is set to take place this week in Katara, a cultural village in Doha.

Katara’s Third Traditional Dhow Festival will be held from November 19 to 23, under the patronage of HH Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar.

As part of the festival, Fath El-Kheir journey, a prominent event, will start on November 22.

The festival is held in cooperation with the Qatar Museums Authority aims to revive ancestral heritage in travelling and navigation through sailing and preserving local heritage and Qatar’s maritime legacy.

Dr Khalid Bin Ibrahim Al-Sulaiti, Katara general manager, said: “We are extremely honoured to host this event for the third time in Qatar and proud to teach our younger generation how to travel using dhows, and educating them about our Qatari history. Katara is committed to preserving Qatari culture and providing a strong platform for arts and culture to our community.”

The festival will exhibit more than 100 vessels from Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, and Qatar. Owners and crews of these traditional sea vessels will be present to greet visitors, and share their secrets of the maritime trade in an effort to showcase Qatari culture.

Along the Katara beach, visitors will get the chance to experience daily cruises, attend dhow maintenance workshops and cultural sessions, and listen to live traditional music by performers from across the Gulf.

There will also be a pearl diving competition and a rowing competition on November 21 and a sailing competition on November 20. - TradeArabia News Service