MEI Salon Cultural Segment III – Al Zubarah: The Past, Present and Future of a Pearling Town

Added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2013, the Al Zubarah Archaeological Site is Qatar’s first entry in this international register. Once a thriving pearl fishing and trading port in the 1760s, the Al Zubarah site showcases impressive, excavated findings. These include a city wall, ancient residential palaces and structures typical of an urban centre – including markets, living and industrial areas. Stretching from Fort Zubarah lining the coast to the early inland settlement of Qal’at Murair, the site provides a reimagination of a Gulf merchant town in the 18th and 19th centuries. Middle East Institute, NUS, in collaboration with the Qatar Embassy in Singapore, will welcome Dr Ferhan from Qatar Museums to take our audience on a virtual tour of Al Zubarah. Beyond nostalgia, the speaker will also share his knowledge about contemporary uses of the Zubarah Fort, for instance. This public talk was conducted online via Zoom on Friday, 21 January 2022, from 2.00 pm to 3.00 pm (SGT). For more information about this event, click here: https://mei.nus.edu.sg/event/bridging-the-gulf/