Past Events

Professor Trinidad Rico, Professor and Director of Cultural Heritage and Preservation Studies at Rutgers University, will visit GU-Q as the inaugural guest speaker of the new Arts, Heritage, and Cultural Diplomacy minor. On Wednesday, October 7, she will deliver a public lunchtime lecture titled “Heritage Internationalism and Nation-Building in Qatar,” drawing on her recent book The Heritage State: Religion and Preservation in Contemporary Qatar. The talk will examine how Qatar has developed locally grounded heritage traditions while simultaneously participating in international heritage preservation and safeguarding initiatives, with particular attention to heritage expertise, nation-building, cultural authority, and global heritage agendas. Professor Rico will also lead a guest teaching session in Art, Heritage, and Identity, one of the minor’s core courses.

H.E. Dr. Majed Al-Ansari will join Dr. Gerd Nonneman for a moderated discussion on the evolving security landscape of the Gulf region. This conversation comes at a critical juncture: the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States has underscored the fragility of the region’s security architecture and prompted calls for tighter Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) coordination. This event offers a unique opportunity to gain insight into current regional dynamics and their implications.

It is no easy task to tell the Syrian tale, one that is written—and still being written—in the midst of both darkness and light. Yet, Syrian literature and art have taken up this task: not only to record events threatened by historical erasure, but to transform a time stained with blood into an anthem of resistance.

About Step inside the Georgetown University in Qatar “GU-Q” experience and discover the people, ideas, and opportunities that shape life at GU-Q. The Fall 2026 Virtual Open House: Passport to Georgetown University in Qatar offers prospective students the chance to hear directly from current students about their experiences and connect with staff who can share…

Experience Egyptian musical styles from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, brought back to life by the pioneering ensemble Oxford Maqam. Featuring selected works from this period, the concert offers a rare opportunity to experience this music performed live.

Explore Egyptian musical styles from the late 19th and early 20th centuries with pioneering ensemble Oxford Maqam. This conversation reveals how historical Arabic musical traditions are being rediscovered, reinterpreted, and kept alive for new generations. It will be followed the next day by a live concert featuring selected works innovatively revived from this period.

Embark on a journey with the Fall 2026 Open House: Passport to Georgetown University in Qatar, an invitation for prospective students to explore Georgetown University in Qatar. This interactive event offers a firsthand look at Georgetown University in Qatar’s “GU-Q” academic programs, student life, hands-on research, personalized advising, financial aid, and career opportunities, showcasing how global perspectives and multidisciplinary learning intersect. Early registration is encouraged; reserve your spot today to get a firsthand look at the GU-Q experience.

This year, Israel adopted a new death penalty law that applies only to Palestinians. In this event, Professor Ralph Wilde will explain what the new offences are and how they seriously violate fundamental rules of international law. Professor Diana Buttu will discuss the long history of Israel’s attempts to pass this law and implications for the West Bank, Israel, and Gaza. Professor Noha Aboueldahab will moderate a discussion between Professors Buttu and Wilde.

The Dean’s Distinguished Speaker Series returns this fall with Ambassador Fahad bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah. Ambassador Al-Attiyah previously led Qatar’s National Food Security Programme before serving as Qatar’s Ambassador to Russia and then the United Kingdom. He is also the founder and owner of Caravane Earth and Heenat Salma Farm. Drawing on that experience, Ambassador Al-Attiyah will talk about how Heenat Salma Farm came to be, what he has learned from building it, and how its work connects sustainability with Qatar’s cultural heritage. The conversation will also consider what those lessons might mean for Qatar’s future. Professor Patrick Laude will moderate.

How do we understand nationalism as it actually functions, changing, remerging, reappearing, beyond just a fixed category? This talk explores how nationalism and national identity in the region is being reshaped by several factors: migration, economic change, and generational shift. This event will be followed by a reception.