To mark Qatar National Sport Day, Q Life interviewed Hassan Al Haydos, captain of the Qatar National Football Team. Al Haydos became the first Qatari to lift the AFC Asian Cup trophy in 2019, which was a huge achievement for the country and its preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Can you describe how it felt to win the 2019 AFC Asian Cup?
Winning the AFC Asian Cup is an indescribable feeling. There are no words for the biggest achievement in the history of Qatari football, and it’s one that I will never forget. I feel proud that I was part of the team who worked so hard to achieve a great goal, one that we have endeavoured to achieve for so long.
How does it feel to have the pride of a nation behind you when competing?
I felt great responsibility towards my country and my people, who had placed such hope in the national team. I feel proud to represent Al Annabi and wear the shirt in any game, be it a friendly or competition final. It’s a privilege and an honour for any football player to represent Qatar and to hold the hopes of an entire nation.
What is your favourite part about playing football?
There are many things that I love about football. Competition. Victory. Winning tournaments. Pleasing fans who look to us to accomplish great achievements. There are honestly so many things that I love about the sport.
What do you think sports means for Qatar as a nation?
Sport in Qatar means a lot. Thankfully, His Highness the Amir of Qatar, our nation’s leader, is also an athlete who loves sports and supports it. As a result, I think that the whole country, its leadership and its people, love sports and are passionate about it.
What advice do you have for an aspiring footballer who would want to follow in your footsteps?
A piece of advice… There are so many. The most important one is that you fight for your dreams, do the impossible to achieve what you want, do not give up under any circumstances. Work hard and be dedicated. Give all that you are capable of in order to accomplish your goal. For me, this is the most important piece of advice.
Qatar’s rising star in photography, Julien Lavergne, has big dreams for Doha’s creative scene. He wants to share with others what he’s found: an opportunity to make a living from your passion. And his first piece of advice is “have fun and take action!”.
Julien is passionate about photography and Doha is the perfect playground. Late last year he won Q Life’s inaugural #SecretQatar photo competition, and we took the chance to catch up with him as an exciting 2020 kicks off.
A short visit to Qatar in 2015 was where it started for Julien. “I quickly understood that Doha was an unexplored city in terms of photography and from this observation I saw the opportunity to document the city and its surroundings”.
Returning in 2019, he was struck by the dramatic change of the urban landscapes of Qatar over just a few short years. That’s when he took the plunge and settled in Doha.
Now he has taken it upon himself to document the rapidly-changing country over the coming years.
From the constantly changing skyline of West Bay to the newly-thriving areas on the outskirts of Lusail, Julien says: “there are always new places to discover and this is not about to stop”.
And he doesn’t plan to stop either. “Having the opportunity to live from my passion […] every day is an incredible chance”.
Being a photographer gives him the opportunity to travel, to meet new people, to discover new cultures, and live new experiences every day. But despite this, he is so far one of just a handful of content creators based in Qatar.
Now he’s looking to change the creative scene in the country. He’s ready to invest his time in starting a project that will bring together photographers who can collaborate across the region.
For those who want to become a photographer, Julien’s main advice is to “have fun and take action”, in particular action that can inspire and have a positive impact on your community.
“We tend to overthink our projects before we really get started” he explains. “We’re lucky to be in the digital age [so] take as many photos as you can. This is how we can learn from our mistakes and therefore improve”.
Finding success in his photography, he says, has given Julien a true sense of freedom: “freedom of expression, flexible hours, and a financial freedom”.
When it comes to spending his own free time, Julien’s favourite spot to visit in Qatar is Education City. He remembers being struck by the futuristic architecture the first time he visited, the symmetrical angles of Qatar Foundation Headquarters blending with the drawn curves of Education City Mosque.
But the place where he loves to spend the most time is specifically Qatar National Library: “I can’t help but spend a few minutes there every time I go to Education City”, he says.
So what’s coming up next for Julien?
West Bay is always a popular location for stunning shots on Instagram by visitors and residents alike. Julien, however, wants to get a new angle on Doha’s iconic towers. His next project will hopefully see him taking to the skies to shoot West Bay from a helicopter as the sun sets – and we’re sure you won’t want to miss the results.
You can follow Julien on Instagram @ju.lavergne. If you’re interested in getting involved in the creative community in Qatar, contact him directly via Instagram direct message.
Football. A game defined by both its complexity and its innate simplicity. A sport that unites the world’s highest-paid professionals with kids excitedly kicking a ball around a dusty backstreet.
Humans have always loved sport. But football is something else – it is the beautiful game. In 2022, Qatar will bring this beautiful game to the Middle East for the first time. In a celebration of the sport’s impact, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy set up its Ambassador programme, harnessing the power of football to create positive social change far and near.
Q Life spoke with four Ambassadors – one Qatari, one Spanish, one Cameroonian and one Brazilian – who embody the spirit of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.
Their work as sporting standard bearers is educating and inspiring young people worldwide and ensuring a lasting legacy for Qatar and the region’s football dreams.
Several of these Ambassadors have been heavily involved in Generation Amazing – a football-for development initiative which uses the sport to educate and inspire young people. It has already reached over 500,000 people across the world, with projects in Brazil, Jordan, Lebanon, Nepal, Pakistan, South Africa and Syria.
Ambassadors have taken part in coaching events and opened facilities, bringing the excitement of the 2022 World Cup to fans globally.
Samuel Eto’o describes the impact of his work, saying: “The World Cup is the biggest competition in football – there is nothing bigger – and I think that for the players who have had the chance to play in the World Cup there is nothing more beautiful.”
“Football goes much further than politics and it’s important that it travels the world because it’s everywhere – it’s an incredible social force. It has an impact on our lives even if some do not like football – we are always paying attention to football and I am happy that Qatar will be the face of it for a month during the World Cup. Qatar will be able to showcase the beauty of the Middle East to the world.”
Other initiatives keeping the Ambassadors busy include the Josoor Institute, the Middle East’s centre of excellence for the sports and events industries, and Challenge 22 – a regional innovation competition that invites people to put forward ideas that will contribute to an amazing tournament in 2022.
For his part, Cafu says: “It is an honour and a privilege to officially become part of the team helping to deliver the World Cup in Qatar. The World Cup has played a dominant role in my life.”
“Through its legacy programmes, such as the Josoor Institute, Generation Amazing and Challenge 22, I have witnessed the Supreme Committee’s commitment to ensuring Qatar’s World Cup looks beyond the 28 days of football to inspire and help people far away and for generations to come. It is for these reasons that I did not hesitate to join the organisation and help it continue to deliver its work.”
Xavi Hernandez says: “I have thoroughly enjoyed supporting the Generation Amazing programme since 2016 and look forward to maintaining a strong relationship with Generation Amazing and the SC during the lead-up to the 2022 World Cup.”
“Through my work with Generation Amazing I have seen first-hand what football can achieve in communities in Qatar and across the region. Football has the power to unite people, dispel stereotypes and break down social barriers.”
Mohammed Saadon Al Kuwari has a particular interest in driving a lasting legacy of national pride. He says: “Like every Qatari national, I remember exactly where I was the moment it was announced that our country would be the host of the FIFA World Cup in 2022.”
“To stand here today as an official member of the team, working to ensure the enormous legacy potential of the tournament is realised, is a great responsibility – and a great honour.”
For all the Ambassadors, this World Cup represents a huge opportunity to bring the positive power of football to a global audience, spreading the golden glow of the tournament far and wide.
Neeshad Shafi is an eco-activist who created the non-profit grassroots organisation Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar. He has received international recognition for his tireless campaigning work.
Earlier this year, you were named as one of the world’s 100 most influential people in climate policy alongside Pope Francis, Al Gore and Greta Thunberg. How proud were you?
It was an honour to appear alongside inspirational figures addressing one of the greatest challenges of our times. I was even prouder to represent Qatar, highlighting the work of the Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar (AYCMQ). This was recognition for all the young Arabs who are waking up to the climate crisis that imperils our future. By showcasing my work as a youth activist, I hope to encourage other young people to follow in my footsteps.
What inspired you to set up the Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar and can you tell us about its mission?
The window of opportunity to address the climate and environmental crisis is narrowing. This is particularly important to young people, since the loss of biodiversity and natural resources will directly impact them. We wanted to give youth in Qatar a platform to make their voice heard. For the last four years, we have made our presence felt. From humble beginnings, we have attended the first UN Youth Climate Summit and organised our first Climate March in Qatar this year.
What activities does AYCMQ undertake, and how can others get involved?
In order to avert ecological disaster, society needs to change – and this will only happen if people realise the extent of the crisis we are facing. Our Earth Talks series brings speakers to Qatar to open our eyes to the environmental crisis. We also have programmes on reducing your carbon footprint.
To what extent do you think Qatar contributes to sustainable development and addressing climate change? Where does more need to be done?
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani’s participation at the UN Climate Action Summit is an example of Qatar’s high-profile role globally. The nation’s contribution of US $100 million to the Green Climate Fund helps poorer nations cope with the climate crisis. Nevertheless, Qatar is facing major environmental challenges, particularly around water security, carbon emissions, increasing energy efficiency, and protecting our marine environment.
What is your favourite place in Qatar to enjoy the natural environment and why?
One location in particular is the Al Thakira mangroves. It’s a welcome surprise to find a mangrove forest such a short distance from industrial Al Khor. Because of the harsh natural environment, we have few native plants, and mangroves are one of those which help in the carbon cycle. Also, the mangroves attract migratory birds such as flamingos, which is a spectacular sight.
There is surely no worthier mission than making a child smile. Box of Happiness does just that. The Qatari charity delivers new and used toys to underprivileged children in the region and has recently expanded its work to cover Bangladesh and Jordan.
“Our focus is to collect more toys and spread more happiness,” asserts Box of Happiness founder Alya Al-Maadheed. The charity ran a workshop in the Doha Festival City Mall during Ramadan, setting a challenge to fill one thousand boxes, to go to one thousand underprivileged children. In the event, people and corporations donated 6,577 toys, exceeding the goal by some margin.
The toys were then sorted by gender and age, to make sure that the right box was sent to the right child. Hundreds have already been distributed, many to children living in conflict zones or extreme poverty.
Al-Maadheed says: “We are planning other workshops to collect more toys and make more children happy.”
There are some challenges – for instance making sure all the gifts are in pristine condition. “The quality of the content of our boxes is really important to us,” says Al-Maadheed. ”We put a lot of time into sorting the toys, to ensure that the toys are clean and in perfect condition.”
The charity is spreading its wings globally, with the help of international partners. Al-Maadheed explains: “Our first trip was to Bangladesh. There we participated with Qatar Red Crescent, who performed operations for 71 children with heart diseases.”
“We wanted to be a part of spreading happiness there, so we distributed 510 boxes among the cardiology hospital children and at orphanages.
Recently we joined Qatar Airways in their ward opening in King Hussain Cancer Center, and we took the opportunity to distribute 123 boxes for the children.”
While the children who are recipients are often living in difficult situations, there is a joy in giving them something that lifts them from their current circumstances.
“When I was in Bangladesh, I saw the condition children are living in, I saw the lives that they should not be living. This gave me the courage to step forward and make an impact beyond Qatar’s borders.”
“Making children happy and giving them a chance to live their childhood regardless of all that they’re going through makes it worth taking on more responsibilities and effort.”
Qatar Airways and the Red Crescent are special partners, but Box of Happiness hopes to develop further collaborations in order to reach more children around the world with this simple yet successful formula.
Toys of course unleash a child’s imagination – something that can unlock potential, and transcend day-to-day struggles, allowing them to communicate with other children and adults through play.
Al-Maadheed says this is the essence of her work. “Every time we distribute our Happy Boxes, we feel joy seeing the happiness on the children’s faces, and we feel happy,” she says. “Whenever we see a child happy with the toys it is a special moment for us.”
Salam Shawa is responsible for the global marketing and communications for Qatar Airways. Q Life sat with Salam to discuss the airline’s global, ambitious vision – and how she and her team work tirelessly to make it happen.
Doha is the ideal location for an airline, being situated in a strategic location between East and West. Can you give an example of how Qatar Airways is able to take advantage of Qatar’s global positioning?
Doha is indeed ideally placed to serve as the ultimate hub to the world. In December we welcomed the world’s top football clubs representing each of FIFA’s six regional Confederations as they converged on Doha, backed by thousands of supporters, to compete for the title of global champion club. Qatar’s global position just a four-hour flight from two billion people makes it the perfect host for top-level global sporting events.
What factors does Qatar Airways take into consideration when exploring possible new destinations?
We look at passenger and cargo demand, as well as competition to each destination, to ensure that flights are sustainable. We also look at seasonality of demand, for example in the summer we operate flights to Malaga, Spain whereas in winter we instead send the aircraft to Chiang Mai, Thailand. New destinations should complement our existing portfolio of more than 160 destinations worldwide and ultimately our objective is to maximise profitability with each new destination that we launch.
Qatar Airways is much more than just an airline. It has become a symbol of the State of Qatar for many people around the world. What makes you most proud when you think about the work you do for Qatar Airways?
Seeing Qatar Airways’ name in the sky despite all the challenges we faced, especially with the unjust blockade against Qatar. We dealt with it with class. We stayed positive and under the visionary leadership of Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr Akbar Al Baker, we continued to expand our reach, launching a number of new and exciting destinations. We might have lost 18 routes but managed to launch 25 new routes since the blockade and will continue to launch more and bring people together from around the world.
We are now less than three years away from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which promises to be a unique and exciting opportunity for Qatar and the people of the Middle East. How is Qatar Airways positioning itself internationally ahead of the largest sports event in the world?
Qatar Airways is proud to be the Official Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 with its global audience of over 3 billion people. The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will be the first mega sporting event of its size in the region and will bring with it the greatest influx of sports fans the region has ever experienced. As an airline we continue to offer our passengers the five-star service they expect, reflecting Qatar’s hospitality, warmth and cultural diversity and are excited and ready to welcome millions of our loyal and new passengers to Qatar over the next three years and beyond.
What do you think will be the most pressing challenges facing Qatar Airways over the next 10 years? How do you plan to tackle these?
Adversity and challenges serve only to make us stronger as an airline and as professionals. Qatar Airways is more resilient than ever since the blockade. We continue to recruit the best talent in the business, to keep working hard to push new boundaries, to break through frontiers and to move forward with innovation and creativity. We strive for excellence in all we do and the next 10 years at Qatar Airways promises to be as exciting and successful a journey as the last 10.
What do you do when you reach the summit of Everest in the middle of the night, but you’re out of oxygen? And your regulators, including the spare, have been ruined beyond repair by the -40°C cold?
It is in these moments that the years of mental, physical and emotional preparation are the difference between life and death. Failure is not an option.
Fahad Badar’s manner is intense but calm as he recounts this experience from his office at the Commercial Bank of Qatar. We are worlds away from the cold darkness of Earth’s highest peak, which Fahad returned from summitting in May of last year after a guide from another expedition was mercifully able to lend him a spare regulator.
Despite the peril, you get the sense he was just as composed then as he is now.
“In the mountains, everything tries to kill you,” Fahad says. “You just have to know in your mind why you’re doing this, otherwise giving up is all too easy. Despite everything, it’s important to really try and enjoy it.”
The only times he struggled to find enjoyment were occasional dark moments when the summit felt out of reach. “I wanted to reach the summit no matter what,” he continues. “At a time when you cannot breathe, your body is aching from pain, and you are freezing, still you are pushing yourself to climb. It’s an emotional experience that I don’t think you can reflect in any other sport.”
What could have inspired this senior banker to invest so much energy, resources and risk into one of mountaineering’s ultimate challenges? “I was not seeking the attention”, he emphasises. “Sure, it was an incentive [to be the second Qatari to climb Everest], but not the only thing.”
It was a chance sighting of Everest during a backpacking trip around Asia in his twenties that sowed the seeds of a dream Fahad would finally come to realise some 15 years later. “I think it was 2016 when I realised I was missing something. When I started reflecting, I realised I need to follow my dreams,” explains Fahad.
And what a way to realise that dream. In taking on both Everest and the neighbouring Lhotse last May, Fahad became the first Arab man in history to scale both in the same expedition – an incredible feat that stunned even Nepal’s most-experienced Sherpas.
Standing on top of the world, Fahad also used his climb as an opportunity to showcase several causes close to his heart, including Qatar Cancer Society and the FIFA World Cup 2022.
“People internationally know about the World Cup, but they don’t know Qatar very well,” he observes. “They don’t know the ability of Qatar, and the success we’ve had in arranging lots of international tournaments. For me, part of my mission was to raise awareness about what we are doing.”
Since returning to Doha, Fahad has also worked hard to give back to the country that hosted him for almost two months – Nepal. “The Nepalese population in Qatar is one of the largest expatriate groups – they help us to construct so much of our infrastructure,” he says, adding that this has inspired him to volunteer with the country’s embassy in Doha and take up a role as an Ambassador for the Visit Nepal 2020 programme.
Remarkably, the Everest-Lhotse expedition is just one stage of a far greater journey Fahad is undertaking, one that has most recently seen him travelling to the South Pole.
It wasn’t until 1985 that a human being had conquered the Seven Summits, the highest mountain on each of the seven continents, and Fahad intends to add his name to this exclusive list.
“I think for Everest the biggest challenge was the altitude and the isolation. For the South Pole, it’s the isolation, but also the extreme cold there, and the ability to push myself,” he says with an air of disarming coolness.
Thousands of miles from civilisation, battling the coldest temperatures on the planet, armed only with a pair of skis and a small team, failure will never be an option for Fahad Badar.
With the launch of Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA) last year, an initiative dedicated to finding and nurturing young talented designers, Doha is establishing itself as one of the world’s most exciting new fashion capitals.
Founded by Tania Fares, under the auspices of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani, the initiative is the only one of its kind in the Arab world.
Every year, finalists will present their collections to some of the most recognisable faces in the fashion industry. At the last awards ceremony, the judging panel included the likes of Diane von Furstenberg, Victoria Beckham, Alexander Wang, and Erdem Moralioglu. The project extends far beyond an annual show, however.
Fares explains: “FTA is a network designed to support MENA designers regionally, serving as a bridge to the international community.”
“Beyond financial support and mentorship, we want to give an opportunity for young Arab designers to show the world what great talent we have in the Arab world. We’re creating a support system that otherwise does not exist in our part of the region. We’re looking forward to seeing this community grow on a global scale.”
Fares has personal experience of bridging this world. She says: “I was born in Lebanon to a Jordanian mother and Lebanese father, but I grew up mostly between Beirut and Paris.” Her passion was ignited when she began as an intern in Paris for the house of Pierre Cardin.
Fares achieved huge success early in her career. She says: “Before founding the Fashion Trust, I colaunched the brand Lulu and Co with Lulu Kennedy. That really opened me up to the challenges that young designers face when breaking into the industry.”
Early on, she established networks to further the work of young designers, working first with the British Fashion Council to create a support system for young British designers, co-founding its charitable arm, the Fashion Trust.
She says: “Being based in London was a great way for me to build relationships with designers. Today, we have supported the careers of numerous designers such as Emilia Wickstead, Roksanda, Mary Katrantzou, Marques Almeida and Palmer Harding and now with Fashion Trust Arabia, we are supporting the six winners of the 2019 prize.”
In particular, she wants to empower Arab youth in design. She explains: “Empowering young fashion designers is something I can personally relate to with the many challenges I faced with my own label back in 2007.”
“There are a lot of organisations that support young artists and other creatives, but there were very few dedicated to young emerging talent from the fashion industry, so I felt it was the right time to step in.”
“You can be extremely talented, but not know the ins-and-outs of the industry, especially the business and operational aspects. Having great partners and mentors along the way can really shape your career as a designer.”
She adds: “With no support system similar to that of Fashion Trust in the UK, I realised that it was time for me to bring the same level of opportunities to young Arab designers. It was more than production, distribution, and exposure that the fashion communities lacked.”
“They needed the guidance that we knew we could provide. I ran the idea by Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa who has graciously offered her support, and that is how Fashion Trust Arabia came to inception.”
In March 2019, FTA saw its first fashion prize being awarded. It is made up of three pillars: a financial grant, international recognition, and a one-year mentorship. Supported by partner matchesfashion.com, some of the designers will see their collections stocked in Harrods.
Fares tells finalists: “Be authentic and stay true to who you are and what your brand represents. It will help you achieve recognition. It is very easy to fall into trends and what others are doing, but maintaining your identity is what will make you stand out.”
Fares, who currently splits her time between Lebanon, London and Los Angeles, believes the future is bright for Arab fashion.
She says: “There is real potential for young Arab designers and Middle Eastern-based labels with the international market, and we’re looking forward to showing it.”
As we reflect on 2019, there are many moments that remind us how far Qatar has come in recent decades.
In 1971, Qatar became an official member of the United Nations, proudly taking its seat on the international stage. In 2019, we hosted the UN’s anniversary celebrations in New York and welcomed representatives from over 190 countries.
In 1992, Qatar won its first ever medal at the Olympics. Last year, we hosted 2,000 athletes from over 200 countries at the World Athletics Championships in Doha, winning two medals in the process.
We are proud to see Qatar playing a growing role on the global stage – from arts and fashion, to sports and diplomacy. We are an open, outward-looking nation and seek to be a role model for our region.
These achievements wouldn’t be possible without the imagination, ambition and determination of the Qatari people.
We have decided to devote this edition of Q Life Magazine to those who have pushed the boundaries and represented our country on the world stage. One magazine can never do justice to all the people who have contributed to this success. Each of these achievements is made possible by a host of individuals working tirelessly behind the scenes.
In these pages we meet with Mutaz Barshim, Qatari Olympic high jumper, to discuss his pride at winning gold on home turf during the World Athletics Championships. We speak with composer Dana Al Fardan about how it feels to share her music at the United Nations and on London’s West End.
Q Life also sits down with Her Excellency Sheikha Alya bint Ahmed Al Thani, Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations, to uncover what drives her to lead Qatar’s significant multilateral efforts. And we explore the ambitions behind Fashion Trust Arabia in Qatar, launched to support young designers across the region.
In all these stories, men and women have pursued their passion for music or adventure or sport, and aspired to share their success beyond Qatar’s borders.
For us, 2019 was equally an exciting year. This Winter, we are thrilled to launch the re-brand of this publication as Q Life Magazine. We recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of Q Life, having met with Michelin Star chefs, Olympic Athletes, CEOs and many inspiring youth over our first 12 months.
Following such a successful start, we have decided to combine both platforms and take Qatar’s stories to the world. All features from this magazine, as well as countless others, are available on www.qlife.com along with exclusive video content – and we warmly invite you to visit.
Whether you are reading this magazine in London, Paris, Doha or elsewhere, we hope you enjoy discovering Q Life, and that it inspires you to follow in the footsteps of our Qataris Abroad.
From culture and sports, to economy and sustainability, this National Day we celebrate the milestones that continue to support Qatar’s rise in global prominence.
Each year on 18 December, the people and residents of Qatar celebrate one of the most important days that have shaped Qatar’s history.
This is known as Qatar National Day (QND), a public holiday that commemorates the nation’s unification in 1878.
As the year comes to an end, Q Life looks back on some of Qatar’s most notable achievements.
When the National Museum of Qatar opened its doors in March, Qatar shared with the world the country’s rich history within a mesmerising architectural masterpiece. Then, in what seemed like lightning speed, the Doha Metro’s red, gold and green lines began to operate, transforming the way we move.
Jumping into sustainability, Qatar continues to demonstrate its commitment to promoting a greener future, whether through its self-sufficiency in dairy, or through developing the world’s first sustainable downtown regeneration project, Msheireb Downtown Doha.
Qatar’s 2019 milestones represent a major source of national pride. To celebrate these achievements, Q Life teamed up with Qatari athlete Mariam Farid. Having been part of the Qatar Team in this year’s IAAF World Championships, Mariam Farid celebrates these milestones by jumping over hurdles in five iconic locations across Qatar.
As inspiring as they are, these achievements are not the end, and Qatar has plenty more in store.
Looking towards the future, there are countless architectural marvels that are yet to open. Qatar will continue to overcome hurdles and strive towards achieving its national vision.
With a focus on the past, present, and future, Q Life invites you to look forward to 2020 and beyond, building excitement around what is to come for Qatar and its people.
