Doha: As the skyline of Doha continues to expand with designs that reflect its unique heritage and forward-looking ambitions, the Indian Ocean Working Group at Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) has invited award-winning author and architect Ibrahim M. Jaidah to present a lecture on Qatar’s early modern architecture on November 6 at 1:00 pm on campus. 

The public event, which will be held on the university’s campus, will focus on the author’s recent publication, “Discovering Arabian Deco: Early Modern Architecture in Qatar,” and feature discussions on the transformative urban development of Qatar from the 1950s to the 1970s, following the discovery of oil.

Jaidah, who is the Group CEO and Chief Architect of the Arab Engineering Bureau, will recount the stories from his book of Qatar’s development, a time marked by newfound oil wealth and rapid urbanization. His expert insights will shed light on the history of iconic buildings and places around Doha, a tribute to a time when the nation laid the foundation for its future. 

He will also discuss the never-before-seen photographs, drawings, and buildings from his private collection and the Arab Engineering Bureau (AEB) archives that accompany the stories in his book.

Jaidah’s architectural philosophy is reflected in his company’s contributions to the country's skyline. His work celebrates the past while constructing a sustainable future, a vision underscored in his co-founding of the Qatar Green Building Council,.

Formed in 2014, the Indian Ocean Working Group (IOWG) at GU-Q convenes researchers from across the world to build collaborative expertise across the boundaries of traditional area studies to remap the Indian Ocean World through historical circularities of people, culture, knowledge, ideas, commodities, technology, architecture, labor, and capital.

About Georgetown University in Qatar

Established in 1789 in Washington, DC, Georgetown University is one of the world’s leading academic and research institutions. Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q), founded in 2005 in partnership with Qatar Foundation, seeks to build upon the world-class reputation of the university through education, research, and service. Inspired by the university’s mission of promoting intellectual, ethical, and spiritual understanding, GU-Q aims to advance knowledge and provide students and the community with a holistic educational experience that produces global citizens committed to the service of humanity.

Located in Doha’s Education City, GU-Q offers the same internationally recognized Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service degree as Georgetown’s campus in Washington, DC. This unique, interdisciplinary program prepares students to tackle the most important and pressing global issues by helping them develop critical thinking, analytical, and communication skills within an international context. GU-Q alumni work in leading local and international organizations across industries ranging from finance to energy, education, and media. The Qatar campus also facilitates the Executive Master in Diplomacy and International Affairs along with the Executive Master’s in Leadership graduate degree programs.

For more information please contact Nahla El Sherif