Afaaf Alqorane is Qatar’s first female professional boxer, who is changing the sports scene for women in the country. Q Life interviewed Afaaf to learn more about her dreams to represent her country in the ring, and to encourage young girls in Qatar to recognise their strength and power.
Afaaf knew she wanted a career in sports from a young age, choosing to study physiotherapy “as a way to be involved in the sports scene and help myself and other players.”
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Her sporting ambitions were later inspired by Nasser Al-Aisri, a grandmaster from Oman; “Nasser is the one who created the world of boxing for women in Qatar. He is the one who took me into this world, and is the reason I stay motivated.”
Afaaf attended boxing camps in 2017 and 2018, before becoming recognised by the Boxing Federation and Olympic Committee and now representing Team Qatar in the sport. She is passionate about making an impact in the sports world, and understands the importance of ensuring that boxing has female representation and role models.
“It is hard, but everything can and will change. I hope that our community will learn more about the sport and its benefits, which are not only physical but mental.
“It is important to note that there are different types of boxing, such as Olympic and professional. I’ve hosted workshops in an attempt to raise awareness to help people understand the contrast between them. When people think of women in boxing, they also think we can be easily injured, but I try to explain it’s not always what you see on TV.”
Afaaf emphasises the key role of training that goes on behind the sport, which has had a huge impact on both her boxing development and her wider growth.
“Focusing on exercise, eating well, self-motivation, and mental health has allowed me to face and accept many of the difficulties I come across. Boxing has changed the way I live my life. It’s like fighting in a good way, full of respect, focus, and resilience.”
Afaaf has dreams of growing women’s boxing in Qatar into a community; “I want to be a role model, and help coach and encourage girls to participate, believe in themselves, and achieve their dreams. Boxing is not about fighting with another person but fighting for your rights and dreams. Chase them, because once you do, everything has so much more meaning.”
Lucid Credo is a 29-year-old born and raised Qatari who has made his mark on the local art scene, His impact is profound and despite, being relatively new to this art world.Credo is known for his signature vintage and retro style, which touches the hearts of those who have watched Qatar’s incredible development over recent decades.
Lucid Credo chooses to go by his artistic name as a way to keep his art the focus of attention “I chose to be anonymous, so people judge my work as an artist, not as a person, who I am, or what I look like”. This decision is one that is not only admirable, but ensures that the viewer can appreciate the artwork for what it truly means.
His artistic journey began in childhood and evolved throughout his teenage years, from graffiti art to digital art, his area of expertise today. “My best friend introduced me to photoshop. From there, I got into graphics, designing, advertising, freelancing and photography. It has been my passion ever since.”
Credo’s art is known for combining Qatar’s modern elements with vintage and nostalgic twists. “I would not describe my art as unique, there are many other collage artists around the world, but each one has its own unique style.” This combination is what has made his work not only as popular as it is, but appealing to all audiences and age groups.
Music is a crucial source of inspiration for Credo, “Even though I’m a 90’s kid, I do enjoy listening to more classical musicians such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Ella Fitzgerald. When I listen to these songs, my mind comes up with so many ideas.”
Lucid Credo incorporates impactful retro photos from the 1920s-1970s, a time before Qatar’s modern metropolis. “During the beginning of the pandemic and first lockdown, I decided to begin creating collages based in Doha. I had made around 6-10 images and shared them on Instagram. Within hours, likes, followers and DMs kept showing up on my phone, and I gained around 2000 followers in less than a week!”
The supportive feedback from Qatar’s community motivated Lucid Credo to continue sharing his work online. “I am incredibly grateful and appreciative of the Qatari community for supporting me. However, followers and likes have never been my focus, my priority is creating my art, and that’s what every artist and creator should do, keeping creating.” This commitment to the craft, not popularity, is admirable.
“The reason I believe a lot of my work has gone viral is because of how realistic it can appear – from the people to cars and streets. However, I have to clarify that linking retro collages with Qatar’s scenery does not mean the photos represent Qatar cultures and traditions. Retro imagery from the Middle East is much more difficult to source and find in colour.”
Lucid Credo’s work creates a powerful wave of nostalgia for many individuals local to Qatar. “Knowing the history of places in Doha that existed throughout our youth creates a powerful feeling, as I recreate locations in Qatar that have been removed years ago, such as roundabouts, restaurants and amusement parks from our childhoods.”
Credo hopes to start his prints business as followers become increasingly keen to have his artwork in print form. “I do look forward to seeing my work in Qatari homes, restaurants and coffee shops as wall art. I plan to keep creating more retro collages and widen my collections through never-ending creativity!”
Mal Lawal is a National Museum of Qatar exhibition that has taken place several times since its first launch in 2012, offering local collectors the opportunity to display the grandest highlights from their collections. Mal Lawal, meaning “of the past”, supports the preservation of local heritage and the promotion of Qatari collectors, allowing them to share their knowledge and artifacts with Qatar.
This third edition of the exhibition features 28 Qatari collectors, whose collections can now be viewed by the large and captive audiences which are found at the National Museum of Qatar. These collections often carry great personal significance, and can contain a trove of family heirlooms. Hidden treasures that have been carried through generations allow the public to dive deeper into Qatar’s cultural landscape and legacy.
This edition of the exhibition features manuscripts, weapons, maps, coins, ethnographic and heritage items, jewellery, clothing, and accessories. There is also a section dedicated to the private collections of two esteemed Qatari car collectors.
The Mal Lawal 3 Virtual Exhibition is running parallel to the physical exhibition. This online version explores collecting practices ranging from recreational to professional, and includes a number of photos taken by the public sharing their personal collections in their homes.
The nostalgic and sentimental aspects of collecting are strongly highlighted throughout the two exhibitions, including the power of history to bring people together. As stories are carried behind each item, conversations happen, and heritage continues to lives on.
Mubaraka Alnaimi happened upon the game of tennis almost by chance. At only six years old, she accompanied her older brother to the Qatar Tennis Federation so he could register. Mubaraka was immediately captivated by the sport, and insisted on signing up too.
Mubaraka has been on the Qatar National Team since she was nine, and decided to pursue tennis professionally after winning her first Asian Championship at 13. Now 20, she has big ambitions for what she wants to achieve in the sport.
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“I have been through many ups and downs as a tennis player, but one thing I kept telling myself was to never give up. I believe in my talent and my hard work. One day I will be even more successful as a tennis player and will reach the height of my career”.
Having strong role models to look up to was a large source of inspiration for Mubaraka. “My role model is Serena Williams. I’ve been watching her career ever since I was a young kid. I’m proud of her as a player and a mum”.
Mubaraka is now passionate about encouraging more girls into the sport. She hopes to lead by example and be a role model for the next generation, encouraging others to follow in her footsteps and conquer the game.
“My advice is for kids to join tennis because it’s a very fun game. You learn a lot of discipline and focus. You also get to travel the world and meet people from all cultural backgrounds,” she says.
“I hope to see you on the courts soon, especially the young girls”.
Waleed Majid’s passion for pool began from a young age, by watching his father play. Now a professional player on Qatar’s national team, Waleed has dedicated his life to the game.
“Representing Qatar in the local and world tournaments makes me very proud and gives me the opportunity to raise up the name of Qatar,” he says.
Waleed has already achieved an impressive level of success, winning more than 35 titles locally and internationally. Some of his career highlights include placing fifth in the 2015 World Cup of Pool and 2015 World Pool Masters. He is also the six-time Qatar Ranking Tournament winner.
“My proudest moment was the year I ranked 12th in the world rankings”.
Known as the “Black Mamba,” Waleed earned this nickname from his friend and fellow professional pool player John Morra, for his stealthy skills at the pool table.
Building on his already accomplished career, Waleed is now training for even more accolades. “I am planning to become stronger in the game to achieve more local and global titles. My greatest ambition is to win the WPA World Nine-Ball Championship, the biggest title that any pool player can dream about”.
Michael Demain is an instructor at the EsQalar rock climbing centre, and has been a resident of Qatar for ten years. Q Life interviewed him to learn more about Michael’s journey as an instructor, and hear his thoughts on Qatar’s growing rock climbing community.
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When did your passion for rock climbing develop?
I was introduced to rock climbing here in Qatar by a small climbing group that was taking shape around eight years ago. We would climb in places like Zekreet and Dukhan, located about 75 kilometres west of Doha.
Since then, I have fallen in love with the sport. It incorporates so many skills, including body awareness, balance, physical strength, and flexibility. It also engages your mental resilience through problem-solving skills and helps fight the fear of heights. It’s a full-body exercise.
Tell us about the launch of EsQalar.
The EsQalar team was built in 2018, and we began operating in April that year.
The name EsQalar comes from the Spanish translation of climbing, ‘Escalar’. We then replaced the letter C with a Q, which represents Qatar.
How has the local community responded to EsQalar?
The reaction from the community has been inspiring. Over the last few years, we have built a community of locals and expatriates, with a mixture of men, women, and children, who are all so passionate about climbing.
Something we take great pride in is that around 85% of our current members tried climbing for the first time right here at EsQalar.
Which of your programmes have been the most successful?
As many people come to try climbing with us for their first time, our most high-demand programmes are the induction trainings. These include the three-day introductory course for adults and the climbing academy programme for children, schools, and scouts.
What have been some of EsQalar’s most significant achievements and challenges?
We take pride in being involved in many local and international climbing events, from the SAMLA Race to partnering with the Qatar Olympic Committee for various competitions.
We also organised the bouldering competition as part of the 2020 International Olympic Beach Games, in collaboration with the International Federation of Sports Climbing (IFSC).
Climbing outdoors definitely makes it more enjoyable, taking you closer to the authentic experience. The heat during the summer months can sometimes be a challenge, but we don’t let this stop us.
What are your hopes for the future of rock climbing in Qatar?
To represent the community we have formed, we aspire to start a local climbing federation under the IFSC’s umbrella. We also want to build a local climbing team to represent Qatar in future Olympic Games. Last but not least, we would like to host the first regional climbing competition in Qatar for other teams across the Gulf and the Middle East.
Welcome to Qatar, the host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup™.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup™ will be the first of its kind. It will be the first World Cup in the Middle East, as well as one of the most sustainable and accessible in the tournament’s history.
Learn more about the people who call Qatar home. Join them kitesurfing down Qatar’s coasts, drinking coffee in Katara Cultural Village, or cycling across Qatar’s desert landscape.
Sporting excellence from the ground up
Having hosted more than 500 international sporting events in the past 15 years, Qatar has already brought the world together for events ranging from athletics and golf to tennis and football.
This World Cup will be no different. All FIFA World Cup™ stadiums in Qatar will be no more than an hour’s travel time from any other, allowing fans to watch two games in one day.
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A coast perfect for water sports, a desert made for adventure
Travelling even short distances out of the capital transports you to untouched landscapes.
Drive up the coast to see sparkling blue water perfect for kitesurfing. Qatar’s mangrove reserves provide a serene location perfect for kayaking and paddle boarding – also home to flamingos and other birds migrating through Qatar.
If you decide to go south, Sealine Beach brings adventure to your stay, with dune bashing, camel riding and camping under the stars.
Culture around every corner
Qatar’s culture can be seen and felt throughout the country, as you stroll through Downtown Msheireb or drink tea in Souk Waqif.
Many of practices in Qatar are often inspired and shaped by those that came centuries before. Learn more about Qatar’s vivid and unique history, and how it is preserving its rich traditions for future generations.
Buildings that will leave you in awe
Qatar’s stadiums, museums and buildings will make you rethink what architecture is. Our modern marvels do not leave the past behind – with every wall, floor and ceiling influenced by both the past and the present.
Visit our National Museum which defies gravity, understand the motifs within our stadiums and witness how international architects have left their mark on Qatar.
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In early April of this year, Asma Al-Thani took to Mount Everest to conquer her “biggest challenge yet”. Through her journey, Asma hoped to become only the third Qatari and first Qatari woman in history to stand 8,848 metres above sea level.
Having already completed multiple expeditions across the world, mountain climbing has been a lifelong passion for Asma. “I have dreamed of climbing mountains ever since I was young. A dream which has always been ignited by my love of sport and its ability to inspire”.
After reaching 8000 metres, the summit expedition was called off due to unfavourable and unsafe weather conditions. Asma hopes to return to the Mount Everest and tackle the summit next year. “Grateful and hopeful. Tired and determined, but I still see myself on the summit and I will be there one day, God willing”.
“I aim to shatter the stereotypical image of the traditional explorer and demonstrate women’s empowerment in Qatar while inspiring a new generation of women across the region to dream bigger”.
She has surely achieved this aim, despite not reaching the summit. Her courage and determination to conquer the challenge all over again next year proves her unwavering vision and passion for the sport.
Asma has big dreams for her future, beyond just climbing Everest. “Ultimately, I want to become the first woman from the Middle East to complete the Explorers Grand Slam, and summiting Everest is just a milestone on my journey to inspire others to push past their limits, break down barriers and live their dreams”.
Located roughly 45 kilometres from Doha and tucked away in Umm Al Shabrum lies one of Qatar’s most breath-taking hidden treasures. It is estimated to have been formed up to 500,000 years ago, has a 40-foot wide opening, and dives over 325 feet below the earth’s surface.
As the largest, and one of the most accessible, sinkhole caves in Qatar, the Musfur Sinkhole has become an increasingly popular tourist attraction. Scientists have noted that further down, as the temperature drops and daylight grows scarce, an even more extensive cave system exists, which visitors can try and catch glimpses of when scrambling and bouldering across the rocks.
The mild temperatures within the sinkhole make it a particularly attractive destination for during the summer months.
One of the many exciting features of the Musfur Sinkhole is the traces of small mammals and nesting birds that you can find in its rock and sediment layers, as well as the many bugs which have adapted to the unique ecosystem, offering a glimpse into the power of nature and the natural history of Qatar.
The Musfur Sinkhole has particularly become a popular spot for photographers, offering stunning shots and backdrops. For anyone looking to see Qatar from a different angle, a visit and exploration into the sinkhole shouldn’t be missed.
Born and raised in Qatar, Matthias Krug has travelled the world in his work as a sports journalist. Through writing for the BBC, CNN, and the Huffington Post, Matthias has been able to incorporate his home of Qatar into his work. “I’m proud to be able to contribute to the legacy and literature of Qatar’s hosting of the greatest football tournament in the world, the FIFA World Cup 2022”.
Matthias has also been passionate about reading since his school days, and recalls spending his time reading almost anything he could get his hands on. The sports-journalist-turned-author describes his career change as a “long-held dream”. His time as a journalist covering sporting events both in Qatar and across the world inspired him to find a way to pass that passion and knowledge on to future generations.
Matthias found the perfect collaborator in his book publishers, the Qatar- based Hamad Bin Khalifa University Press. “It has been a fantastic experience working with a leading publisher to write books for adults, young adults, and children,” he says.
His first book, ‘Journeys on a Football Carpet’, told the story of Qatar’s evolution as a sporting hub. From the first games played on sand, to the Qatari team that reached the final of the 1981 FIFA Youth World Championships in Australia, to winning the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, Matthias chronicles the rich history and rapid development of sports in Qatar.
“Told through the inspiring stories of the sporting pioneers and legends that I was able to interview, the book has helped clear the misconception that Qatar has no sporting history,” he says.
Although his book spans the sporting history of a nation, it was also a deeply personal story. It features the story of how his father came to Doha in 1982 as one of the first athletics coaches at the Qatar Athletics Federation. For Matthias, it recounts how he grew up as part of this developing global sports hub.
His book has gone on to win two international book awards and received praise from readers and media across the world. “Whether from readers or colleagues, to family and friends, I am very grateful for all the support and positive feedback received to date”.
Matthias has also published three more books for children and young adults with HBKU Press. “I am always inspired by the way children react to my stories and to see how it helps them on their own personal development journeys”.
Through his writing, Matthias hopes to engage audiences with the magical stories he comes across in his hometown of Doha. “I hope to inspire children to take up sports and to follow their dreams. No matter what obstacles they may encounter, sports teach youth important life skills and values which I narrate in these books”.
