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Msheireb Museums, Qatar’s pioneering heritage destination in the heart of Msheireb Downtown Doha, welcomed families for “Explore Msheireb: The Smart City of Tomorrow,” a learning event held in collaboration with Qatar Reads, an initiative under Qatar National Library, as part of its Family Reading Program for the month of October. Set within the museums’ restored heritage houses, the event invited children to discover how Qatar’s past continues to shape the cities of the future.
The event marked the launch of Smart City Explorer, a new activity booklet developed jointly by Msheireb Museums and Qatar Reads. Designed for children and families, the booklet uses Msheireb Downtown Doha as a living classroom, guiding young readers through the principles of smart and sustainable cities with playful, interactive activities. It will be distributed as part of the Family Reading Program for the month of October, extending the museums’ educational impact beyond their walls and into homes across Qatar.
In keeping with Msheireb Museums’ award-winning approach to heritage education, the program was built around hands-on discovery. At the Msheireb Smart Houses Workshop, children explored coding, microcontrollers, and sensors, building interactive smart-home systems and learning how technology can support more sustainable ways of living. The Msheireb Patterns Clay Workshop brought heritage and innovation together, as participants shaped clay using 3D-printed molds inspired by traditional Qatari motifs and the architectural language of Msheireb Downtown Doha.
The day’s activities continued with a guided tour of Mohammed Bin Jassim House, where families followed Msheireb’s journey from its historic roots to the smart, sustainable city it is today. The tour showed how the principles of traditional Qatari architecture and community life have informed a modern urban model that places people, culture, and the environment at its center.
Fatima Al Mansouri, Manager of Museums Education at Msheireb Museums, said: “Our heritage houses have always been places where Qatar’s story is told, and we want the next generation to see themselves as part of that story. By working with Qatar Reads, we were able to turn Msheireb’s history into a starting point for children to imagine the cities they will one day help to build. Smart City Explorer allows that curiosity to continue at home, and we hope it brings many families back to explore Msheireb Downtown Doha together.”
Fatema Al-Malki, Manager of Qatar Reads, said: “At Qatar Reads, we foster a nation of readers by making learning a dynamic experience that extends beyond the page. The ‘Smart City Explorer’ booklet brings this vision to life, transforming Msheireb Downtown Doha into a living storybook. By blending cultural heritage with sustainable innovation, we are empowering our youth not just to read about the future, but to actively shape it.”
The event reflects Msheireb Museums’ commitment to making heritage accessible and relevant to younger audiences, and to partnerships that connect Qatar’s identity with learning, innovation, and sustainable urban living.