Russia and Qatar have begun preparations for a large-scale cultural program to mark the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2028, Russian Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova told TASS during the opening of the Russian Culture Days in Qatar.
"In 2028, we will mark the 40th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Russia and Qatar, and our colleagues and I have already started developing an extensive program that will be the highlight of the jubilee year," the minister stated. She noted that such exchange programs allow the people of both nations to experience the full diversity of each other's cultures. Lyubimova added that Russia expects to host reciprocal Qatari Culture Days in 2027 and stands ready to provide all necessary assistance.
Lyubimova emphasized that Moscow places great importance on cooperation with the Islamic world. She recalled the historic first meeting of the ministers of culture from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation held in Kazan in May 2025. The minister also highlighted the flagship international project "Russian Seasons," which saw "tremendous success" in Oman and Bahrain in 2025. Additionally, last year featured Russian Culture Days in the UAE, and a specialized project in Bahrain focused on promoting the Russian language.
In 2026, Kazan has been designated the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World. "This is the first time a Russian city has received such an honorary status, and we view it as a wonderful opportunity to develop cooperation with Arab nations actively," Lyubimova noted.
Regarding plans for the current year, the minister specified that Russia and Saudi Arabia are working on holding exchange cultural events to commemorate the centenary of their diplomatic relations. Bahraini Culture Days are also expected this year. "Countries of the Arabian Peninsula traditionally take an active part in our St. Petersburg International Forum of United Cultures, and we look forward to broad representation from them again this year," she added.
The Russian Culture Days are taking place in the outskirts of Doha from February 11 to 13. The opening day featured performances by ensembles such as "Lezginka" and "Tulpan," the Moscow Folk Choir, and the State Song and Dance Ensemble of the Republic of Tatarstan. The event also includes masterclasses in traditional arts and crafts, alongside exhibitions of traditional Russian costumes from the Sergey Glebushkin collection and the "Patchwork Mosaic of Russia" project by the Vasily Polenov House of Folk Art.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Based on materials from TASS