Katara (cultural village)

Katara is a cultural village in Doha, Qatar. It is located on the eastern coast between West Bay and the Pearl.
It was soft-opened in October 2010 during the Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF), an event that it has hosted ever since.
Etymology.
"Katara" was the historical name used for Qatar prior to the 18th century. Geographer Claudius Ptolemaeus referred to the Qatar Peninsula under the name 'Catara' in 150 AD and in the middle of the second century AD, in the Historical Atlas of Islam.
Overview.
Many Qatari organisations have their offices in Katara. These include the Qatari Society for Engineers, Qatar Fine Arts Society, Visual Art Centre, Qatar Photographic Society, Childhood Cultural Centre, Theatre Society and Qatar Music Academy. The QMA manages the QMA Gallery, a public art venue in the village. The buildings and facilities at Katara were deliberately arranged in order to reflect the country's cultural and architectural heritage.
Development projects.
Doha Bay crossing (also known as Sharq Crossing) is a causeway between 600 m and 1,300 m which will link Hamad International Airport with the district of Katara. It is set for completion by 2021.
A project dubbed "Katara Plaza" was launched in April 2015. It will feature a number of retail outlets.
Facilities.
Katara has an open amphitheater, an opera house, a multi-purpose cinema, a multi-purpose conference hall, a beach, and a souq. A museum showcasing the country's maritime heritage was opened in November 2015. It is also site of AlBahie Auction House.
Cultural organizations.
Katara hosts the following cultural organizations:
Events.
Fath Al Kheir journey.
Fath Al Kheir journey is a voyage organized by Katara management to promote Qatar's maritime heritage. The first voyage took place in the Persian Gulf from 22 November to 18 December, 2013. A second voyage was launched on 6 October, 2015. The ship was manned by 40 Qataris in traditional attire and sailed around the Arabian Sea, with the key destinations being Oman and India. The Indian ambassador to Qatar hailed it as a milestone in the countries' bilateral relations
Katara Art Forum.
A two-day discussion forum for the arts was inaugurated in Katara in 2014. An annual event, the forum features international and local researchers who deliver speeches on topics such as the history of Arab art and Arab art groups.
Aida.
In October 2012, an event featuring Giuseppe Verdi's classic opera Aida was hosted in Katara's amphitheatre. It was the first opera to be held in Qatar. The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra were featured in the opera, alongside at least 80 singers and 35 actors.
Transport.
Currently, the underground Katara Metro Station is under construction, having been launched during Phase 1. Once completed, it will be part of Doha Metro's Red Line North.
Management.
Dr. Khalid Bin Ibrahim Al-Sulaiti is the General Manager of Katara Cultural village.