QC+ has officially opened MIHAD in Doha Design District, unveiling a new contemporary commercial art and design gallery dedicated to championing creative talent and connecting artists and designers with collectors and audiences. The opening introduces a space shaped by the idea of “Living with Art and Design”, bringing the work of Qatari, regional and international artists and designers into conversation with the objects, ideas and experiences that form part of everyday life.
With its opening, MIHAD brings “Living with Art and Design” into practice: visitors can explore exhibitions, discover collectible design and experience hospitality within the same setting. Private and corporate collectors can purchase works and discuss commissions, creating direct opportunities for the artists and designers presented. Talks, workshops and activations will extend these encounters, giving audiences reasons to return as the programme evolves.
Commenting on the occasion, Kirstin Mearns, CEO of QC+, said “Opening MIHAD gives us a place to turn our commitment to artists and designers into lasting opportunities. For QC+, championing talent means creating opportunities for work to be seen, understood and collected, and for the relationships around it to grow. We want MIHAD to contribute to Qatar’s creative life through the quality of its programme and the connections it makes possible. Today marks the beginning of that work, and we look forward to building it together with artists, designers, collectors and our audiences.”
Visitors can now experience Panadería Rosetta by Mexican chef Elena Reygadas at MIHAD Café, where the Chef-in-Residence programme brings contemporary Mexican food together with ceramics by Mexican designer Perla Valtierra. Running until 15 November 2026, the residency brings a selection of the bakery’s signature breads and pastries to the gallery, creating a dialogue between contemporary culture, hospitality and design. Reygadas, chef-owner of Mexico City’s Michelin-starred Rosetta, was named The World’s Best Female Chef in 2023 by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Valtierra’s handmade ceramics form part of the café experience, with the collection presented during the collaboration available to purchase exclusively through MIHAD Café.
“Our opening programme invites people to look more closely at things that may feel familiar: a landscape, a letterform or a handmade object,” said Irina Kaletinkina, Gallery Director at MIHAD. “Understanding the ideas, materials and craftsmanship behind a work can be the beginning of a personal connection with it. At MIHAD, we want to help that interest develop, whether someone is discovering an artist for the first time, considering an acquisition or discussing a commission. Bringing artists and designers into conversation with collectors is central to how we see the gallery’s role.”
The inaugural programme introduces three exhibitions, open to the public from 5 November and on view until 31 December 2026: rooted/ elsewhere, Beyond the Letters and Traces of the Desert Light by SANAE. Together, they offer perspectives on landscape and belonging, the cultural dimensions of typography, and the knowledge and memory carried through materials and craftsmanship.
Presented in celebration of the Qatar, Canada and Mexico 2026 Year of Culture, and curated by Claire Kyle, Director of Commercial Art & Design at QC+, rooted/ elsewhere examines how the places people inhabit, leave and remember shape their understanding of home. Works by Wadha Alathba, Amna Al Baker, Hamad AlFayhani, Joanna Johnston, Tessar Lo and Karl Mata Hipol bring together photography, textiles and mixed media, moving between observations of Qatar’s natural environment, the Canadian Prairies and experiences of migration.
Beyond the Letters, curated by Ali Asali and Basma Hamdy, with VCUarts Qatar, takes Arabic and Persian typography beyond the printed surface. Presented in collaboration with Design Doha Biennial 2026, the exhibition considers the historical, geographical, spiritual and performative contexts of script through audiovisual installations, live performances, textiles, sculpture, jewellery and experimental publications. It foregrounds traditional practices and heritage from Southwest Asia and North Africa often marginalised within Western-centric design discourse.
Light, craftsmanship and cultural memory come together in Traces of the Desert Light by SANAE. Curated by Tine De Beck and also presented in collaboration with Design Doha Biennial 2026, the exhibition features textiles, sculptural seating, ceramics and wooden forms that reveal the knowledge embedded in handmade objects. Participants include Morevi with Majdulin Nasrallah; Shaikha Al Sulaiti with Ángela Ramos Garcés; Noro Khachatryan; Ayşe Habibe Küçük; and Moss Studio.
The launch of MIHAD reflects QC+’s commitment to bringing culture and commerce together, connecting creative talent with audiences and collectors through exhibitions, design and hospitality.
MIHAD welcomes the public from 5 November at Doha Design District, where visitors can discover art and design available to purchase, and experience Panadería Rosetta at MIHAD Café until 15 November. Those interested in collecting or commissioning work can speak with the gallery team, while updates on forthcoming talks, workshops and activations will be shared through MIHAD's official Instagram page.
Location: MIHAD, Doha Design District, 1st floor
Gallery and MIHAD Café hours: Saturday – Thursday: 11am-7pm | Friday: 3pm-9pm
Inaugural exhibitions: 5 November–31 December 2026
Panadería Rosetta residency: 5–15 November 2026
Instagram: @MIHADGallery
About QC ENTERPRISES (QC+)
QC+ is a cultural strategy and experience group shaping how culture is lived, shared and activated across art and design, hospitality, retail, tourism and cultural destination development.
Operating at the intersection of culture, commerce and experience, QC+ develops strategies, platforms and multidisciplinary concepts that connect cultural insight with commercial opportunity, creating new ways for people to engage with culture while driving creative and commercial growth.
Its portfolio includes Qatar Creates, MIHAD and award-winning dining destinations including Jiwan and IDAM by Alain Ducasse, alongside a growing range of cultural, hospitality and commercial ventures.
We don’t just preserve culture - we cultivate it. QC+: The Art of Cultural Commerce™.
FIND US ONLINE: QC+
Instagram: @qcplus.qa | LinkedIn: QC+
About MIHAD
Located in Doha Design District, MIHAD presents a changing programme of contemporary art and design from Qatar, the region and internationally. Exhibitions and design presentations sit alongside talks, workshops, activations, retail, and hospitality, creating different ways for audiences to discover and engage with art and design.
MIHAD operates as a commercial Art & Design gallery, connecting artists and designers with private and corporate collectors.
FIND US ONLINE:
Instagram: @MIHADGallery
About Years of Culture
The Years of Culture initiative, chaired by Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, spearheads long-lasting cultural partnerships between Qatar and other nations. It exists to promote respect and understanding among diverse cultures and serves as a catalyst for bringing people together, nurturing connections, encouraging dialogue, and deepening understanding. At its core, Years of Culture is a portal for making connections across various sectors, including cultural heritage, creative industries, social and economic development, and innovation, which enriches Qatar’s ties with partner countries beyond the dedicated year.
Each year is organised with support from Qatar and partner countries’ cultural institutions, ministries, foundations, and private and public sector partners, with assistance from Embassies in Qatar and abroad. Programmes are tailored to explore the unique nature of each partner country. Previous Years of Culture have included: Qatar-Japan 2012, Qatar-UK 2013, Qatar-Brazil 2014, QatarTürkiye 2015, Qatar-China 2016, Qatar-Germany 2017, Qatar-Russia 2018, Qatar-India 2019, QatarFrance 2020, Qatar-USA 2021, Qatar-MENASA 2022, Qatar-Indonesia 2023, Qatar-Morocco 2024, and Qatar Argentina and Chile 2025.
FIND US ONLINE:
Years of Culture
Website: yearsofculture.qa
X: @YearsofCulture | Instagram: @YearsofCulture | Facebook: @YearsofCulture
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 MENASA region and beyond. 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 Director, with Glenn Adamson as Artistic Director.
The second edition of Design Doha will take place from 5 November 2026 to 31 January 2027.
Opening Days: 5–7 November 2026
Exhibitions on view: 5 November 2026–31 January 2027