All pictures by Hana Ramadan / The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar: The Qur'anic Botanic Garden (QBG), a member of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), has concluded its educational programmes for the 2025/2026 academic year with a closing ceremony held on Wednesday, May 7, 2026. The event saw participation from environmental experts, academics, government representatives and partners.
The programmes aim to enhance environmental awareness among students and connect theoretical knowledge with practical application in the fields of sustainable agriculture and food security, benefiting nearly 400 students from around 51 schools across Qatar.
The educational programmes included Food Security Programme, the Young Researcher Programme, and the “Learn and Have Fun” programme, which features competitions including Young Farmer, Young Narrator, Recycling and Herbarium Colouring.
Eng. Ali Sultan Al Muftah, Director of Business Development at the Qur'anic Botanic Garden, said "the educational programmes were not merely activities, but an integrated journey aimed at instilling sustainability concepts, enhancing environmental awareness among students and linking theoretical knowledge with practical application.".
The ceremony featured student presentations highlighting their practical experiences and the skills they gained throughout their participation, in addition to a visual showcase of the key outcomes of the educational programmes.
One of the programme’s notable achievements was the qualification of a scientific research project by students from Qatar Banking Studies and Business Administration Secondary School for Boys to the final round of the Secondary School Scientific Research and Innovation Competition organised by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. The research explored the role of aspirin, aloe vera gel, iodine and cinnamon in the hydroponic vegetative propagation of athel plants.
In the Young Researcher category, Rawda Rashed Secondary School for Girls secured third place, Qatar Banking Studies and Business Administration Secondary School for Boys came second, while Qatar Preparatory School for Girls claimed first place.
Maitha Mohammed Almurakhi, a third-place winner from Rawda Rashed Secondary School for Girls, said: “We participated in the Young Researcher competition at the Quranic Botanic Garden and won third place. We are very happy with this achievement, and hopefully we will do even better in the future.”
Abdulrahman Mohammed Al Salama, a participant from Jassim bin Hamad School for boys, said their aim behind participating was to develop agricultural skills and invest in agriculture. He noted that students cultivated several plants and produced different products from them, while hoping to achieve further accomplishments and certificates in the future.
In the Food Security competition, Doha Secondary School for Boys won third place, Qatar Science and Technology Secondary School for Boys came second, while Muaither Secondary School for Girls secured first place.
As part of the “Learn and Have Fun” programme, Thani Khalid Al Shaib from International Preparatory Academy won first place in the Young Farmer competition, while Mohammed Musallam Al Nabit Al Marri from Awsaj Academy secured first place in the Young Narrator competition.
Saif Al Din Al Saoub from Othman Bin Affan Independent School won the Recycling competition, while Humaid Mansour from The Ideal Indian School claimed first place in the Herbarium Colouring competition.
Al Muftah added that QBG looks forward to further cooperation and shared achievements in the future, praising the role of schools, students and partners in the success of the educational programmes.
The event also honoured environmental experts, academics and representatives of government entities in recognition of their support for the educational programmes.
