Doha, Qatar: The sixth Summer Forum at the Sheikh Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center, affiliated with Qatar’s Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs, officially began on Sunday, August 2, 2026, with the participation of 120 male and female students who are non-native Arabic speakers.
The participants are evenly divided between boys and girls as part of the centre’s ongoing efforts to strengthen Islamic identity among expatriate communities in Qatar, instil Islamic and humanitarian values, and develop students’ academic, cultural and social skills during the summer holiday.
The forum is one of the centre’s annual flagship programmes designed to help students make productive use of their summer break through a well-rounded package of educational, religious and recreational activities that combine learning with enjoyment while fostering balanced personal development and reinforcing authentic Islamic values.
The two-week programme features a diverse range of activities tailored to the needs of non-Arabic speaking participants. It combines religious, cultural, recreational and sports activities to create an engaging and motivating learning environment.
The programme includes sessions on correcting and improving Quran recitation, lessons on essential Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) relevant to daily life, and awareness and educational programmes aimed at deepening participants’ understanding of Islam through simplified content suitable for different age groups.
The forum also includes sports activities and educational visits to some of Qatar’s leading cultural and heritage landmarks, including the National Museum of Qatar, the Museum of Islamic Art, the Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, and Al Rayyan Sports Club. These visits are intended to introduce participants to Qatar’s cultural and civilisational achievements, broaden their knowledge, and strengthen their connection with Qatari society and its cultural institutions.
The first two days of the forum focused on participant registration, orientation sessions introducing the programme’s objectives and themes, and a number of educational sessions aimed at enhancing Quran recitation and interpretation skills.
Participants were also introduced to the Sheikh Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center, its facilities and the wide range of services it provides to expatriate communities, new Muslims and non-Arabic speakers.
Interpretation sessions on Surah Al-Fatihah highlighted its profound spiritual and educational meanings.
The Sheikh Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center continues to fulfil its religious and cultural mission of introducing Islam and promoting its values among all segments of society. The centre offers specialised educational and awareness programmes for non-Arabic speakers, helping to build sound religious understanding while promoting intercultural dialogue and positive coexistence among diverse communities.
The centre continuously develops its programmes and initiatives to meet the evolving needs of expatriate communities by providing balanced educational content that combines authenticity with contemporary approaches while supporting participants’ integration into society without compromising their Islamic identity and moral values.
The sixth edition of the Summer Forum builds on the success of previous editions, which attracted strong participation from students and received widespread praise from parents, who observed significant improvements in their children’s religious knowledge, behaviour, values and productive use of leisure time.
