By organising dozens of versatile events and festivals throughout the year, Cultural Village Katara is not only preserving authentic Qatari cultural heritage but also promoting it among residents and visitors.
Among other events held according to yearly calendar, the Katara International Arabian Horse Festival has become a milestone and a distinctive mark within the series of Katara festivals and its activities.
The 11-day event, happening until February 11, has earned a reputation as one of the most coveted horse festivals in the region and throughout the world. Eighteen countries are taking part in the event this year, compared to 11 which participated last year. The countries include from the Arab region, Europe and the US.
Since the launch of the festival, clear goals have been set to preserve Qatari authentic heritage and there have been efforts to make the festival among the most famous international horse show festivals.
The main events include the Arabian Peninsula Horse Show, ongoing until February 4; the Arabian Horse Auction on February 6; and the prestigious Title Show, from February 8 to 11. Aside from these, there are daily art displays and live paintings that highlight the magnificent art of equestrianism and horses.
The festival has also evolved into a platform for artists from across the world to exhibit their skills and creations throughout the occasion.
Thanks to the 3rd Katara International Arabian Horse Festival, the public can preview over a thousand horse stamps at the Cultural Village, the oldest of which goes back to the 1930s. The horse stamp exhibition is currently being displayed at the Arab Postal Stamps Museum in Building 22.
The Katara International Arabian Horse Festival continues to impress horse owners, breeders and horse lovers alike. Besides the several categories of the Arabian Peninsula Show, a large number of related activities and competitions are attracting a large turnout of equestrian followers from within and outside Qatar.
The ‘Collectibles’ exhibition for Arabian horses, being held in cooperation with the Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Museum, the Qatar National Library (QNL) and the Arab Postage Stamps Museum, is also witnessing a large turnout.
The ‘Collectibles’ exhibition contains a section on Arabian Horses section at the Heritage Collection area of QNL which also includes many historical sources on horse pedigree and breeds and most notably the book Attributes of Purebred Arabian Horses. Rare Qatari equestrian heritage pieces are also on display at the Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani Museum.
