Design Doha, Qatar Museums’ biennial showcase for excellence and innovation in the design community in Qatar and the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) is pleased to announce the launch of the Urban Space Design Competition in partnership with architect Javier Peña Ibáñez, founder of the Concéntrico Festival.
The competition is part of Design Doha’s Public Design Commissions, an ambitious initiative that invites designers to reimagine and enrich Doha’s urban spaces through site-specific, community-oriented interventions.
This first-of-its-kind competition is open to architects, designers, artists, and urban-planning professionals from the MENASA region to submit proposals for permanent urban installations in Doha that promote public engagement and enhance the city's unique physical, cultural, and social identity. The winning designers will each receive awards of 25,000 QAR and a production budget of up to 120,000 QAR for the installation of works at key urban locations across Doha as part of Doha Design 2026.
The Urban Space Design competition promotes the reimagination of Doha’s public spaces by transforming parks, heritage sites, waterfronts, traditional markets, and metro station exteriors into vibrant, community-oriented areas. Each installation will be evaluated for cultural relevance, innovation, adaptability, and sustainability, responding to specific site categories. The competition highlights the intersection of design and local identity, encouraging public interaction through inclusive and accessible urban design. In support of Qatar’s sustainable development goals, designs should incorporate locally sourced materials.
Fahad Al Obaidly, Acting Director of Design Doha, said, “The Urban Space Design Competition is a unique opportunity for designers from the MENASA region to make innovative, sustainable, and publicly beneficial interventions across Doha. As part of the Public Design Commissions and a key component of Design Doha 2026, the winning designs will weave into the cultural and social fabric of Qatar. We are proud to partner with Javier Peña Ibáñez, a visionary architect and founder of Spain’s Concéntrico Festival, for this exciting new initiative.”
Javier Peña Ibáñez, founder of the Concéntrico Festival, said “I look forward to working with Design Doha and emerging and established designers from the Middle East and North Africa to create new public art and design for Doha. This is the kind of project designers dream of, and it is my honour to help bring some remarkable projects to this one-of-a-kind cityscape.”
Selected proposals will be produced in collaboration with designated production partners. Participants are encouraged to use eco-friendly and durable materials, explore innovative shading and cooling techniques tailored to the local climate, and integrate modularity and reuse in their proposals.
Applicants can submit multiple proposals, which must be presented digitally via the Design Doha website, by 26 July 2025.
For more information please visit:
https://designdoha.org.qa/en/calendar/urban-space-design-competition/
-ENDS-
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 and expands the nation’s cultural offerings, 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, and amplify the voices of Qatar’s people. Since its founding in 2005, QM has overseen the development of museums and festivals including the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) and MIA Park, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, the National Museum of Qatar (NMOQ), 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, QM Gallery Al Riwaq, QM Gallery Katara, the Tasweer Qatar Photo Festival, and Design Doha. Future projects include Dadu: Children’s Museum of Qatar, Art Mill Museum, Qatar Auto Museum and the Lusail Museum.
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, M7, the creative hub for innovation, fashion and design, and Liwan Design Studios and Labs —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. For more information visit https://qm.org.qa
About Design Doha
Established in 2024 by Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, Design Doha is a premier international design biennial celebrating contemporary design, innovation, and creativity in the MENA region and beyond. Spanning three months, Design Doha serves as a global platform for exhibitions, installations, awards, and special events, bringing together designers, industry leaders, and visionaries from local Qatari institutions and around the world. Fahad Al Obaidly serves as Acting Director, with Glenn Adamson as Artistic Director.
The second next edition of Design Doha will take place from 16 April to 30 June 2026, with an exclusive three-day opening ceremony from 16–18 April 2026.
FIND US ONLINE:
Qatar Museums
Twitter: @Qatar_Museums | Instagram: @Qatar_Museums | Facebook: @QatarMuseums
Design Doha
Instagram: @designdohabiennial
Website: https://designdoha.org.qa/en/
Media Contact
Mohammed Khamis Al Abdulla
Isobel Smith