Mohammed Abdulaziz Al Naimi, Chief Operations Officer at Qatar Foundation, during the Thriving Together event by Qatar Foundation at QNCC yesterday. Pic: Kammutty VP / The Peninsula
Education City, the flagship community of Qatar Foundation (QF), expects more visitors from public in 2018, and to familiarise with some of its renowned facilities.
As well as being home to prestigious universities and schools, cutting-edge research centres and laboratories, Education City is also home for facilities such as the unique Qatar National Library (QNL), Oxygen Park and the Al Shaqab.
“One of the major things we are expecting in 2018 is more people to visit the Education City. We have different asserts, such as the Oxygen Park, Al Shaqab, the student centre and QNL. The Education City campus is very much open, people don’t need to have prior permission to come. They can visit any time and enjoy the facilities,” Mohammed Abdulaziz Al Naimi, Chief Operations Officer, QF told The Peninsula, speaking on the sidelines of ‘Qatar Foundation Thriving Together,’ event held yesterday at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC).
“We are trying to introduce a more friendly campus to people of Qatar. Also the Community Development Department is working on an outreach programme to encourage visitors,” he added.
The unique Oxygen Park features 117 types of plants sprawled over more than 130,000 square metres. It has a covered walkway, running track, gardens, equestrian track and a sports pitch.
Also the Al Shaqab Hotel, located on the grounds of the world-renowned Al Shaqab Equestrian Center in Education City, the 70-room boutique hotel provides guests with plenty of opportunities for indoor and outdoor recreation.
Al Naimi also said that opening of the landmark QNL and Northwestern University Qatar’s new campus building are major success reached in 2017. QNL is considered as a new hub of learning and culture at Education City. Visitors to the state-of-the-art building can register for membership, check out books, enjoy the reading and study areas, and used QNL’s creative and collaborative facilities, including the Writing Center and Innovation Stations.
QNL has already hosted dozens of events since it opened to the public on November 7, offering something for everyone in the local community.
Education City aims to become a car-free campus and encourage people to use trams, which are expected to be introduced by 2018. Public can visit Education City until 10pm daily.
