Participants during the introductory session.
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Education and Higher Education organised an extensive introductory session on the Doha Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language, attended by Maha Zayed Al-Qaqqa Al-Ruwaili, Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Affairs.
The session aimed to explore ways to invest in this significant scholarly achievement to further develop the educational system and strengthen students’ national identity.
At the outset of the session, Maryam Noman Al-Emadi, Director of the Educational Guidance Department, delivered the Ministry’s address. She emphasised that the Dictionary represents a civilisational project and a qualitative addition to human knowledge, as it re-examines the history of Arabic vocabulary within its chronological and cultural contexts. She noted that the initiative reflects the State of Qatar’s commitment—under the gracious patronage of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to supporting major knowledge-based projects.
For his part, Dr. Mohammed Al-Obaidi, Executive Director of the Dictionary, described it as “Qatar’s gift to the nation,” stressing that it restores the Arabic language to its rightful status among the world’s major languages. He highlighted that the project overcame challenges that had hindered similar attempts since the early twentieth century, thanks to a rigorous scientific methodology and strict editorial standards throughout its development.
Dr. Al-Obaidi explained that the Dictionary’s importance in the educational field lies in protecting both students and teachers from interpreting heritage texts according to contemporary meanings. It also opens new horizons for renewing teaching methods by transforming language lessons into engaging journeys of discovery.
