Al Khor Urban Futures opens at Design Doha Biennial 2026

Doha, Qatar — Qatar Museums has unveiled Al Khor Urban Futures, the inaugural showcase of the Al Khor Heritage Trail, a large-scale initiative to rejuvenate the coastal town's historic heart. This exhibition, part of the Design Doha Biennial 2026, will be on display from November 5, 2026, through January 31, 2027, at Houses 37, 38 and 39 and Plaza A2 in Al Asmakh, Doha.

The core of the exhibition is a concept for the town, crafted over the past two years through dialogues with residents, elders, craftspeople, farmers, and business owners, alongside government entities. Visitors are now encouraged to critique, scrutinize, and contribute to this vision.

Mohammed Saad Al Rumaihi, CEO of Qatar Museums, emphasized the project's mission: "Al Khor's heritage is the cornerstone on which its future will be built. Our goal is to amplify the town's cultural vibrancy and forge enduring prospects for its residents. Al Khor Urban Futures engages the community from the outset, ensuring local insight and aspirations drive every facet of the vision. We aspire to illustrate how heritage and design can steer the town's enduring renewal while safeguarding its distinct identity."

Integral to the project are the voices of Al Khor's people. The Al Khor Content Committee, composed of local residents, reviews and guides the content to reflect the community's understanding and aspirations.

Inside the three historic houses, the exhibition guides visitors from the town's historic past to its potential future. Engagement is facilitated through a large town map, a contribution wall, and QR codes in each room, with all feedback feeding into the project's progression.

At Plaza A2 stands the Al Khor Canopy, designed by Kébé Architecture and constructed by Seashore Group. This structure serves as a communal hub and a full-scale prototype of the shade planned along the trail, drawing on Kébé's mastery of lightweight structures and local architectural practices.

Francis Kébé, founder of Kébé Architecture, remarked, "Al Khor boasts a rich historical legacy. For the Al Khor Urban Futures project, we aim to unite the heritage trail with the community, making it visible, accessible, and interconnected. By constructing canopies that provide shade along the trail and gathering spaces, we foster stronger ties within the city and entice both residents and tourists to invigorate the area with their energy.

The collective vitality will inspire forthcoming development, while the space itself will possess the capacity to expand and adapt."

The exhibition is curated by the Qatar Museums Heritage Cluster, the National Museum of Qatar, Kébé Architecture, MATERIA, and the Al Khor Content Committee. MATERIA oversees the regeneration strategy and its execution in tandem with Kébé Architecture, while Qatar Blueprint has mapped heritage sites and destinations in northern Qatar to support the trail.

Lucio Frigo, founder of MATERIA, commented, "Al Khor Futures marks the commencement of an ambitious endeavor to reimagine a city, grounded in its heritage and molded by its inhabitants. Building upon Kébé Architecture's design philosophy, MATERIA is committed to realizing H.E. Sheikha Al Mayassa's vision by integrating urban design, social life, and institutional innovation into a collaborative transformation process.

Our aspiration is for Al Khor to pioneer a novel approach to urban regeneration, serving as a model for how cities can evolve with their communities at the forefront."

An accompanying public program will include community majlis sessions, planning workshops with residents and stakeholders, guided heritage walks, and additional details will be released soon.