The National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) has unveiled Mal Lawal 4, the one-of-its-kind platform in the region that celebrates the art of collecting. The exhibition will be on view in Msheireb Sahat Al Nakhel Unit X04 until 10 April 2025.
Held under the patronage of Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums (QM), Mal Lawal aims to showcase the local heritage and offer insight into the lives of private collectors, collections, and the practice of collecting in Qatar.
With a focus on the 1990s, this edition of Mal Lawal (in English: ‘From the old times’) adopts a curatorial approach exploring the history of gaming before the turn of the millenium, marked by the evolution of advanced graphic capabilities which spurred remarkable growth in the gaming world. The exhibition aims to highlight how collectors have preserved memories of this crucial time in gaming through their collections. Among the highlight objects are consoles and games that date back to the mid seventies, such as Fairchild channel F console and games lent by Fahad Al- Kuwari; Sakhr AX-170 keyboard from 1986 lent by Dr. Mohammad Al-Kuwari; Atari 2600 console from 1980 lent by Kamal Naji Muhammad, among many more unique objects.
Commenting on the occasion, Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Thani, Director of the National Museum of Qatar said: “Since 2012, NMoQ has offered the public a rare glimpse into the private collections of Qatar’s collectors, bringing to life their unique stories in an innovative, holistic and immersive way. As such, Mal Lawal 4 is the perfect platform to bring people together under one roof with a shared passion for preserving memories. In this exhibition, we go beyond the walls of our museum and gather diverse communities in this historic location to experience memories of an exciting and crucial time in gaming history. We invite everyone to take a trip down memory lane to this special time with us.”
The selection of the exhibition’s location at Msheireb Downtown Doha, specifically near the storied Kahraba Street, is no coincidence; Kahraba Street, meaning "Electricity Street," holds a special place in Doha’s legacy as the first street in the city to receive electricity. This milestone marked Qatar's embrace of modernity and progress, and in the decades that followed, Kahraba Street became the go-to spot for electronics shops. While certainly a delightful look at vintage gaming, the exhibition also celebrates the spirit of curiosity and discovery that Kahraba Street represented. Through this thoughtful alignment of venue and theme, Mal Awal 4 and Msheireb Properties came together to honor the origins of Qatar’s technological journey.
Speaking on the occasion of the exhibition opening, Msheireb Properties Senior Director of Corporate Communications Dr Hafiz Ali Abdulla, said: “The Mal Awal exhibition of vintage gaming items is a tribute to the deep connection between technology, culture, and community in Doha’s history. Msheireb Downtown Doha’s sustainable, smart city framework provides a contemporary lens through which visitors can explore the evolution of gaming technology and reflect on how electronics have shaped personal and communal experiences over time.”
For more information, please visit https://nmoq.org.qa/en/calendar/mal-lawal-4/
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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) 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.
About National Museum of Qatar
The National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) preserves and celebrates the history of Qatar. It engages with its present and inspires the country's ambitions for the future. The Museum, which opened in March 2019, gives voice to the country's culture and heritage through artefacts, oral histories, music, films, and artworks. The NMoQ takes the visitor on an immersive and multisensory journey of its 1.5 km thematic and chronological galleries. The iconic building, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel, is inspired by the desert rose and comprises of large interlocking disks of different diameters and curvatures that surround the restored historic palace of the late Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani, ruler of Qatar (1880 - 1957). Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Thani serves as director.
About Msheireb Properties
Msheireb Properties is a subsidiary of Qatar Foundation for Education, Sciences and Community Development and Qatar’s leading sustainable property developer, supporting the goals of Qatar’s 2030 Vision and Qatar Foundation’s objectives.
Its mission is to change how people think about urban living and improve their overall quality of life through innovations that encourage social interaction, respect for culture, and greater care for the environment.
Its signature project, Msheireb Downtown Doha, is one of the smartest, most sustainable city districts, which employs a new approach to urban planning by combining traditional methods and modern technology to preserve Qatar’s environment and cultural identity. All buildings are either Gold or Platinum LEED-certified.
It is an integrated city that embraces modern, fully furnished residential units, a range of mixed- use and commercial buildings that offer a wide array of retail and business services, and cultural facilities. It is also the home to Msheireb Museums, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Al Wadi Hotel - MGallery by AccorHotels, Park Hyatt Hotel, Msheireb Galleria, and Barahat Msheireb- the biggest open-air covered pedestrian square in the region.
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