In celebration of the World Day for Underwater Cultural Heritage, observed annually on 21 August, Qatar Museums, in collaboration with the UNESCO Regional Office for the Gulf States and Yemen, organized a seminar entitled “Coastal and Maritime Cultural Heritage in Qatar” at the National Museum of Qatar. The event brought together archaeologists, heritage specialists, researchers, and cultural professionals to explore the rich maritime legacy of Qatar and discuss approaches to safeguarding underwater cultural heritage in line with the principles of the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage.
The conference highlighted the importance of underwater cultural heritage as an integral part of humanity’s shared history. Discussions focused on research, documentation, conservation, and sustainable management of submerged cultural heritage sites, while emphasizing international cooperation, knowledge-sharing, and the need to balance public access with long-term preservation.
Participants underscored that underwater cultural heritage extends beyond shipwrecks and archaeological artefacts to encompass submerged cultural landscapes, traditional maritime practices, and evidence of historical interactions between people and the sea.
Opening the event, Farida Aboudan, Officer-in-Charge of the UNESCO Office in Doha, welcomed Qatar’s accession to the 2001 UNESCO Convention, describing it as an important milestone that demonstrates the country’s commitment to safeguarding underwater cultural heritage in accordance with international standards. She also commended Qatar Museums for its ongoing efforts to protect archaeological resources and promote awareness of their cultural significance through research, partnerships, and public initiatives.
Jawida Mansour, Culture Programme Specialist at the UNESCO Regional Office for the Gulf States and Yemen, highlighted that hosting activities dedicated to the World Day for Underwater Cultural Heritage reflects Qatar’s growing commitment to preserving this unique dimension of cultural heritage. She noted that the 2001 Convention provides a comprehensive framework for international cooperation in research, documentation, protection, and responsible management of underwater cultural heritage. She further stressed the importance of strengthening local expertise in underwater archaeology, advancing survey and documentation technologies, and fostering collaboration among countries and institutions to address emerging conservation challenges.
The conference also explored the evolving understanding of underwater cultural heritage within the framework of the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage. Participants emphasized that safeguarding underwater cultural heritage extends beyond the preservation of artefacts to encompass the protection of the historical, scientific, and cultural knowledge embedded within submerged sites. Discussions further highlighted the importance of ensuring responsible public access to underwater cultural heritage, where appropriate, as a means of promoting awareness, education, and appreciation while respecting conservation requirements. In this context, Dr. Wafaa Suleiman, Underwater Cultural Heritage Expert at Qatar Museums, underscored the significant contribution of the 2001 Convention in advancing the field of maritime archaeology and strengthening international efforts to protect underwater cultural heritage for present and future generations.
Faisal Abdulla Al Nuaimi, Director of Archaeology at Qatar Museums, emphasized that Qatar’s coastal and maritime heritage constitutes a fundamental pillar of the nation’s history and cultural identity, underscoring the need for continued scientific research, strengthened conservation efforts, and greater public engagement to ensure its transmission to future generations. A dedicated session highlighted the richness and diversity of Qatar’s coastal and maritime heritage through presentations on archaeological sites affected by changing sea levels, historic pearling grounds, submerged freshwater springs, and the masakir (traditional tidal fish traps). In his presentation on the masakir of Qatar, Al Nuaimi noted their widespread distribution along the Qatari coastline and their significant role in local and regional economies during the late Islamic period. He further emphasized that these structures may have supported coastal communities for centuries and called for additional ethnographic and documentary research to deepen understanding of their construction, operation, maintenance, and contribution to trade and subsistence activities.
