Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), in collaboration with the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Qatar, celebrated Emirati heritage event at the HBKU Student Centre in Education City on 15 March. Students from different universities in Qatar were invited for a chance to experience the Emirates’ unique history, culture, and contributions to the region.
The event, which was attended byAmbassador of the UAE to Qatar, HE Saleh Mohammed Bin Nasra, is part of the International Culture Day series that takes place from October through March each academic year. Countries invited to showcase their achievements and core values are representative of the diverse student body at HBKU and its partner universities across Education City. Previously this year, HBKU featured the embassies of Palestine and Iran to showcase their culture and heritage.
The event presented a traditional UAE folk band show belonging to the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority. Guests also had the chance to visit booths managed by organisations affiliated with the UAE and is operating in Qatar, including UAE airlines Emirates and Etihad, perfume franchise Hind El Oud, and Dolphin Energy.
Also featured were authentic Emirati cuisine, traditional dresses, arts and crafts, perfumes, and books authored by UAE nationals. Henna painting and travel booking were also offered to guests during the event.
HE Saleh Mohammed Bin Nasra said that these kinds of events build bridges of understanding and relationship between different countries and between the students who come from all over the world.
HBKU Vice President of Student Affairs Maryam Hamad Al Mannai, said that the Emirati heritage event was a reminder that Qatar have a lot in common with neighbours like UAE. She said that HBKU’s International Culture Day highlights the importance of celebrating other nationalities as it encourages students to collaborate with the diversity of various ethnic groups.
To find out more about HBKU’s various community initiatives and public events, visit hbku.edu.qa.