General Manager of the Cultural Village Foundation – Katara Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti on Sunday opened the seventh edition of the Qatar International Arts Festival (QIAF 2025), in presence of a lineup of Their Excellencies ambassadors and media men.

Organized by Katara in cooperation with Maps International, the festival will run from December 7 to 12, with the participation of more than 500 artists from 83 countries, representing a select group of creative talents from Qatar and around the world.

In remarks on the occasion, Dr. Al Sulaiti noted that since its inception, QIAF has become a leading platform for creativity and a welcoming space for cultural dialogue and interaction among peoples, where creative experiences intersect and bridges of communication are built through the universal language of art.

The festival represents a celebration of the arts, an opportunity for cultural exchange, and a chance to reinforce noble human values ​​based on dialogue and understanding, he added.

For her part, Founder and President of Maps International, Rashmi Akarol praised Katara’s pioneering role in embracing the arts and supporting creators from around the world.

She added that the Qatar International Art Festival is not merely a space for displaying paintings and artworks, but a global forum where cultures converge and human visions align through the language of beauty. Art, she emphasized, affirms its enduring ability to bring people together, solidify the values ​​of dialogue and understanding, and build bridges of communication between civilizations, regardless of geographical or linguistic differences.

In this context, Qatari visual artist, Sarah Al Hail told the Qatar News Agency that the festival opens new and broad horizons for participating artists by exposing them to global experiences and innovative creative works.

She explained that she is participating in the festival for the second time with six paintings, employing the Pop Art style, blending old and new cartoon characters with phosphorescent colors.

For her part, Qatari artist, Jamila Al Shuraim, in similar remarks to QNA, expressed her delight at participating in the Qatari Pioneers of Fine Art pavilion, which showcases a collection of their works. She noted that she is participating in the festival with three paintings.

She emphasized that the festival continues its role in building bridges of communication and dialogue, and in facilitating the exchange of experiences and expertise among artists.

Meanwhile, Yemeni artist, Walaa Al Qudsi expressed her happiness at participating in the festival for the first time, alongside a select group of artists from around the world who have illuminated the cultural scene with their creativity. She noted that she is participating with three paintings that express her longing for her homeland.

The accompanying events for the Arab Cup continue along Katara Corniche, drawing large crowds with artistic performances, shows, and diverse interactive activities. Meanwhile, the southern side of the Corniche hosts the Katara Traditional Dhow Festival, which evokes the rich maritime heritage through displays of traditional vessels and related activities, creating a vibrant tableau that embodies the relationship between humanity and the sea, and the legacy of our ancestors.

These integrated events reaffirm Katara’s role as a comprehensive platform for arts and cultures, and a leading destination that brings together creativity, heritage, and sports in a complete cultural experience during the 2025 Arab Cup.