Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs H E Ghanem bin Shaheen bin Ghanem Al Ghanim laying foundation stone for the Sheikh Ali Bin Abdullah Al Thani Endowment Library in Umm Ghuwailina yesterday.
Doha, Qatar: Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs H E Ghanem bin Shaheen bin Ghanem Al Ghanim has laid the foundation stone for the Sheikh Ali Bin Abdullah Al Thani Endowment Library in Umm Ghuwailina, launching a landmark educational project designed to strengthen the role of endowments (waqf) in supporting education, research and community development.
Located in Umm Ghuwailina on a 4,015-square-metre site, the Sheikh Ali Bin Abdullah Al Thani Endowment Library has been designed as a multi-purpose endowment complex combining education, administrative and investment facilities.
The foundation stone ceremony, yesterday organised by the General Directorate of Endowments, was attended by H E Dr. Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Ghanem Al-Thani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, and other senior government officials and figures from Qatar’s educational and endowment sectors.
The project follows modern architectural standards for public libraries while ensuring long-term financial sustainability through revenue-generating components.
The development includes three underground basement levels covering 6,213 square metres and providing infrastructure and parking for 156 vehicles. The library itself will occupy the ground floor through the second floor with a total built-up area of 5,534 square metres.
Facilities will include spacious reading halls, dedicated research and study rooms, a multipurpose hall, a cafeteria, a VIP area, and supporting visitor services. Separate entrances and circulation routes have also been incorporated to distinguish library users from office tower occupants, enhancing operational efficiency.
The mezzanine floor will feature additional reading spaces and a dedicated children’s library, while the first floor will include an open research courtyard, reading halls and modern classrooms equipped for educational activities.
The second floor will house the library’s administration, along with additional reading facilities.
Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs H E Ghanem bin Shaheen bin Ghanem Al Ghanim, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs H E Dr. Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Ghanem Al-Thani and other officials during the foundation stone laying ceremony for the Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al Thani Endowment Library in Umm Ghuwailina. PIC: Salim Matramkot/ The Peninsula
Above the library, the project includes an investment office tower extending from the third to the seventh floors, providing 35 flexible office units ranging from 98 to 226 square metres across a total area of 7,870 square metres. Income generated from these offices will support the library’s cultural and educational activities, creating a sustainable financial model that combines knowledge dissemination with endowment investment.
Architecturally, the building draws inspiration from traditional Islamic design while incorporating contemporary features. Natural stone façades decorated with Arabic calligraphic motifs and patterns inspired by the Arab scientific heritage symbolize the central role of knowledge and the Arabic language in Islamic civilization.
Extensive glass panels maximize natural lighting, while coloured vertical sunshades and interactive digital displays enhance both environmental performance and public engagement. A distinctive entrance featuring giant book sculptures reflects the concept of the “dynamics of knowledge” and symbolizes the continuity of learning and scientific inquiry.
The foundation stone ceremony itself reflected the project’s educational mission. After a visual presentation outlining the library’s strategic objectives, the minister placed a symbolic “book” into the project model, representing knowledge as the foundation of civilization.
The ceremony concluded with interactive lighting effects illuminating the model, symbolizing the spread of knowledge from the future cultural landmark.
Speaking during the event, Director-General of the General Directorate of Endowments Eng Hassan bin Abdullah Al Marzouqi, described the project as a pioneering model for sustainable scientific and cultural endowments. He said it revives the legacy of the late Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al Thani, who believed that knowledge is the cornerstone of national development and that endowments provide a lasting mechanism for preserving and advancing this mission across generations.
Al Marzouqi added that the project demonstrates how endowments can simultaneously serve society and generate sustainable returns. Supported by the Scientific and Cultural Development Endowment Fund, the initiative will strengthen scientific research, expand educational opportunities and preserve donors’ intentions while supporting Qatar’s broader national development goals.
Established in 1982 under the founder’s endowment, the Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al Thani Library has long served as one of Qatar’s leading endowment libraries, offering reading halls, children’s services, periodicals, cataloguing, lending services and cultural programmes.
Upon completion of the new facility, the library is expected to become a major destination that combines traditional library services with digital technologies, research programmes and community initiatives, reinforcing Qatar’s commitment to knowledge, innovation and sustainable development.
