Qatar Museums today unveiled Dadu Gardens, a signature feature of Dadu, Children’s Museum of Qatar. Dadu Gardens, open to the public from 21 November, is dedicated to delivering creative and educational activities to members of the community. The Promise, a public art installation by renowned US-based artist KAWS, has been at Dadu Gardens to mark its official opening.
Ministers in attendance at the Dadu Gardens unveiling included Her Excellency Dr. Hanan bint Muhammad Al-Kuwari, Minister of Public Health; Her Excellency Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi, Minister of Education and Higher Education; and Her Excellency Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al-Misnad, Minister of Social Development and Family.
Dr. Mohamed Al-Sada, President of the Dadu Advisory Committee, said: “Today marks a momentous occasion as we unveil Dadu Gardens – an enriching space for children and families in Qatar to learn and thrive. Dadu Gardens is the first phase of the Dadu, Children’s Museum of Qatar and a place where children can learn about sustainability, the green economy, healthy habits and the environment. We extend gratitude to the founding family members for their generous contributions. The donor model on which the Dadu, Children’s Museum of Qatar is based, means that the private sector and members of the community are able to actively contribute to the future success of Qatar and its people.”
Representatives of the Dadu Founding Family ‒ donors of QAR 3.65million or more to the project ‒
were in attendance during the opening ceremony of Dadu Gardens. The Dadu Founding Family members currently include: Awqaf, Baladna, Baladiya, ConocoPhillips, DAAM, Eni, ExxonMobil, IntesaSanPaolo, Ooredoo, Shell and SLB.
Throughout the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Dadu Gardens invites children and their families to participate in a series of activations centred on the theme of nature and environment, with Dadu, Children’s Museum of Qatar, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, 321 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum and the National Museum of Qatar coming together to deliver vibrant cultural programming to engage and educate the local community and visitors to Qatar.
Dadu Gardens showcases Qatar Museums’ commitment towards sustainability and is located on grounds that includes programming and event spaces, water features and diverse landscapes, an amphitheatre, playgrounds, and picnic areas. The community space comprises an outdoor kitchen, community garden and permaculture garden with different types of edible landscapes including an herb garden, vegetable crops and fruit trees.
As the first-of-its-kind publicly funded national entity in Qatar, the Dadu, Children’s Museum of Qatar aims to make the local community feel empowered through its collective contributions towards enriching the cultural, environmental and social ecosystems in the country.
Advance booking is required to visit Dadu Gardens. Tickets can be booked online at https://qm.org.qa/tickets/
About Dadu, Children’s Museum of Qatar
Dadu, Children’s Museum of Qatar, will provide a unique place for learning and growth through
inclusive, open-ended play, exploration, and experimentation. Through an oasis of stimulating,
interactive, and accessible indoor and outdoor experiences for families in the heart of Doha, Dadu will nurture children’s development, inspire their curiosity, encourage collaboration and dialogue, provide the tools to fuel creativity and instil a sense of social responsibility. Under development by Qatar Museums, the new institution is designed to challenge and inspire children and advance the Qatar National Vision 2030 for human, social, economic and environmental development. Although doors are not yet open, the Museum is already engaging the community in Qatar through programmes from family events with allied organizations to museum-in-residences in schools around Doha. Essa Al Mannai has served as the Museum’s director since 2019.
About Qatar Museums
Qatar Museums (QM), the nation's preeminent institution for art and culture, provides authentic and inspiring cultural experiences through a growing network of museums, heritage sites, festivals, public art installations, and programmes. QM preserves, restores, and expands the nation's cultural offerings and historical sites, sharing art and culture from Qatar, the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA) region with the world and enriching the lives of citizens, residents, and visitors.
Under the patronage of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and led by its Chairperson, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, QM has made Qatar a vibrant centre for the arts, culture, and education in the Middle East and beyond. QM is integral to the goal of developing an innovative, diverse, and progressive nation, bringing people together to ignite new thinking, spark critical cultural conversations, educate and encourage environmental stewardship and sustainable practices, and amplify the voices of Qatar's people. Since its founding in 2005, QM has overseen the Museum of Islamic Art and MIA Park, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, the National Museum of Qatar, QM Gallery Al Riwaq, QM Gallery Katara, and the Tasweer Qatar Photo Festival. Future projects include the soon to open 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, and Dadu, Children's Museum of Qatar.
Through its newly created Creative Hub, QM also initiates and supports projects—such as the Fire Station Artist in Residence, the Tasweer Qatar Photo Festival and the creative hub for innovation, fashion and design M7—that nurture artistic talent and create opportunities to build a strong and sustainable cultural infrastructure.
Animating everything that Qatar Museums does is an authentic connection to Qatar and its heritage, a steadfast commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, and a belief in creating value through invention.
Animating everything that Qatar Museums does is an authentic connection to Qatar and its heritage, a steadfast commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, and a belief in creating value through invention.