
Msheireb Downtown sees 30pc rise in visitors during Ramadan
Msheireb Downtown Doha experienced an unprecedented surge in visitors and cultural engagement during Ramadan, with footfall and participation figures surpassing the previous year. Between March 1-19, it welcomed more than one million visitors — a 30% increase compared to 2024.
Dr Hafiz Abdulla, Senior Director of Corporate Communications at Msheireb Properties, said: 'Ramadan at Msheireb Downtown Doha continues to be a time of deep spiritual reflection, cultural enrichment, and community gathering. The growth in visitor numbers and engagement this year reflects how the downtown brings together tradition and modernity, offering meaningful experiences to all who visit.'
'We are proud to see families and visitors from all over Qatar and the region come together to celebrate and share in the rich cultural heritage of our downtown during this special time,' he added.
The Garangao celebrations on 14 and 15 March attracted thousands of families, with 1,800 children and parents enjoying a themed tram ride featuring traditional drummers and Garangao songs. Children received sweets and visited Msheireb Downtown Doha residents in traditional attire to share the festive spirit.
Hosh Msheireb's Garangao event on 15 March saw more than 2,000 visitors, doubling last year's attendance. A highlight was the Kids' Fashion Show, where children showcased traditional attire, and the winner received a family staycation at a prestigious Msheireb hotel.
Furthermore, Hosh Msheireb remained a prominent community space, welcoming a total of 12,000 visitors. The venue hosted a variety of cultural and educational activities, including 1,000 visits to the Company House. The Kids' Zone saw over 8,000 children engaged in its activities, while the 'Back to Msheireb' exhibition attracted over 1,500 visitors, further contributing to the area's significance as a hub for cultural exchange and learning.
Msheireb Downtown Doha also reinforced its status as a spiritual hub, hosting esteemed scholars and reciters, including Sheikh Raad Al Kurdi, Sheikh Mohammed Al Awadhi, Sheikh Abdulaziz Sahim, and Mufti Ismail Menk, whose special sermon attracted over 3,000 attendees at the Eid Musala. Attendance at Isha and Tarawih prayers reached 70000 worshippers, marking a 75% increase from 2024.
Meanwhile, the downtown's appeal extended beyond cultural and spiritual activities, with its luxury offerings attracting significant interest. At Mandarin Oriental, Doha, Ramadan dining exceeded expectations, with Suhoor and Iftar drawing an exceptional turnout. Approximately 9,000 guests were served, marking a 54.5% increase and highlighting the growing demand for luxury dining in Msheireb Downtown Doha.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Tribune
5 days ago
- Daily Tribune
AI, drones, cameras to keep hajj pilgrims safe
AFP | Mecca Working day and night in front of maps, screens and seemingly endless data, Saudi officials have harnessed artificial intelligence to help manage the million-strong sea of pilgrims during the hajj. The technology has proven pivotal to track the overwhelming amount of footage from more than 15,000 cameras in and around the holy city of Mecca. The systems are tuned to spot abnormal crowd movements or predict bottlenecks in foot traffic -- a potential life-saver at a packed event with a history of deadly stampedes. Software is also used to help guide more than 20,000 buses deployed to transport pilgrims between holy sites during one of the world's biggest annual religious gatherings. It is all part of the tech arsenal that Saudi Arabia is deploying as 1.4 million faithful from across the globe descend on Mecca and its surrounds. 'In our traffic control room, we use specialised cameras that have AI layers to analyse movements, crowded areas' and predict behaviours, said Mohamed Nazier, chief executive officer for the General Transport Centre at the Royal Commission for Mecca. The centre has a main control room in Mecca filled with screens and maps, where staff use high-tech tools including AI for round-the-clock monitoring. About a dozen staff members sit in rows before desktop computers with a large display at the front, zooming in on crowd movements around the holy sites. On hillsides nearby, cameras that resemble little white robots film buildings, roads and pathways along the hajj route, which winds more than 20 kilometres (12 miles) between Mecca and Mount Arafat. Nazier said the constant monitoring is aimed at averting traffic collisions with pedestrians on crowded routes while also making sure there are buses available to minimise walking time in the desert heat. 'Our eye on the ground' With its cutting-edge technology, 'the control room is our eye on the ground,' said Mohammed al-Qarni, who oversees the hajj and the year round umrah pilgrimage at the transport centre. Artificial intelligence helps to determine 'the flow on the (roads to the holy sites), and detects emergency situations even before they occur', he told AFP, adding that the technology can help assess the number of people in a single place. Cameras and AI can estimate if a site has reached maximum capacity, allowing authorities to divert the flow of pilgrims, Qarni said. During the holy month of Ramadan this year, the system spotted when the Grand Mosque had reached full capacity. 'The flow to the Haram (Grand Mosque) was stopped and the process cont rolled,' he said.


Gulf Insider
29-05-2025
- Gulf Insider
Oman Bans Power And Water Cuts During Exams, Holidays And Night Hours
The Authority for Public Services Regulation (APSR) has reiterated that electricity and water services must not be disconnected during certain sensitive periods, including exam seasons, holidays and nighttime hours. According to APSR, utility disconnections are prohibited between 5pm and 7am, as well as on the last working day before weekends or official holidays. Additionally, no power or water cuts are allowed during the General Education Diploma (GED) exams and throughout the month of Ramadan, in coordination with education authorities. These regulations apply to both the electricity and water sectors, ensuring uninterrupted service for residents during crucial times for families and students. In a move to ease financial pressure on households, Oman has also reduced residential electricity bills for the summer months of May to August 2025, when demand is at its peak. Eligible residents are encouraged to register for the National Subsidy System, which provides additional support based on income and residency criteria. The announcement comes amid strong growth in the energy sector. In 2024, Oman's electricity production rose by 7.5%, reaching 45,388 gigawatt-hours by the end of November. Growth was driven by increased output in North and South Al Batinah, Al Dhahirah, and Dhofar. The electricity and water sectors contributed 2.5% to Oman's GDP in 2024, with total investments in regulated sectors reaching 2.837 billion Omani riyals from 2020 to 2024. Of this, 450 million riyals were directed toward electricity generation. Looking ahead, the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts Oman's electricity consumption to grow by around 3% annually over the next three years, while APSR continues to advance renewable energy and infrastructure development.


Gulf Insider
21-05-2025
- Gulf Insider
Belgian Cyclist Completes Epic 9-Country Journey To Perform Hajj In Mecca
After nearly three months of cycling thousands of kilometers, 26-year-old Belgian Anas Al Razqi has reached Saudi Arabia to fulfill his lifelong dream of performing the Islamic pilgrimage, Hajj. Starting his journey at the beginning of Ramadan in March, Al Razqi pedaled through nine countries — including Germany, Austria, Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina — facing diverse weather conditions and occasional loneliness. Crossing into Saudi Arabia was a surreal moment. 'It's hard to describe,' he said. 'This is a dream. I didn't believe I would be in Mecca,' Al Razqi told Saudi TV channel Al Ekhbariya after arriving at the Halat Ammar border crossing near Jordan. 'I feel blessed to have arrived in the kingdom.' Al Razqi said the sincere prayers and warm smiles of those he met along the way gave him strength. 'They kept me going,' he told Saudi news portal Sabq. Crossing into Saudi Arabia was a surreal moment. 'It's hard to describe,' he said. 'I felt I was approaching a dream I've cherished for years. Now, I just want to reach the closest point to the Kaaba and see it for the first time.'