Make the Fanar Islamic Cultural Center one of your first stops on a visit to Doha. This center is a warm and welcoming place to get familiar with Arabic culture, Islamic faith and appropriate etiquette before becoming immersed in the city itself. The state-sponsored edutainment center helps visitors understand the pillars of Islam to appreciate how prayer, the universe, humankind and the oneness of Allah are important influences on the lives of Qatari citizens.
Even before entering the large building in Downtown Doha, notice the unique architecture that is thought by many to look like a wedding cake. A large corner tower rises in a tall spiral topped by an open dome. This design resembles the Great Mosque in Samarra, Iraq.
Attend one of the center’s educational sessions offered in Arabic, English, Tamil, Russian, Tagalog and other languages. Join a Qatari Majlis event featuring subjects related to Islamic culture such as weddings, holidays and home life.
The center offers special programs open only to women including coffee mornings and free crash language courses in Qatari dialect. Five different levels of intensive Arabic language courses are also available. Note that language classes and some other events may require advance registration.
Join one of the tours of mosques throughout the city of Doha sponsored by the center. Khutbah lectures and prayers on Friday mornings include discussion of important religious, ethical, social and family concerns.
Find the Fanar Islamic Cultural Center in Downtown Doha near the Pearl Monument and Clock Tower. Be sure to return to view the building after dark, when the spiral tower is bathed in golden light. While in Downtown Doha, visit the Souk Waqif, the Museum of Islamic Art, MIA Park and the waterfront at Doha Corniche and Doha Port.
You may hear the center referred to as Fanar or as Bin Zaid, a shorter version of the full name, Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center. To get more information about the center, refer to the official government website of Bin Zaid.
