(MENAFN- Gulf Times) “Countryside: A Place to Live, Not to Leave” exhibition has officially opened in Doha, reimagining the rural landscape as a dynamic space for sustainability, innovation, resilience, and future living.

The exhibition is created by Qatar Museums (QM) in collaboration with AMO led by Samir Bantal and Rem Koolhaas, and sponsored by the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC), Hassad Food, and Kahramaa.

Running until June 30, 2026, across two venues, the Qatar Preparatory School (QPS) and the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ), the exhibition combines research, storytelling, and immersive displays to trace a compelling geographic narrative stretching from Africa through the Middle East and Central Asia to China.

It challenges dominant urban narratives, inviting visitors to explore how rural life offers more humane and ecological solutions to today's global crises.

The exhibition was formally inaugurated by QM Chairperson HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, OMA founder Rem Koolhaas, AMO director Samir Bantal, and a high-level delegation from the QFFD, MoECC, Hassad Food and Kahramaa.

OMA is an international practice operating within the traditional boundaries of architecture and urbanism.

AMO is a research and design studio that applies architectural thinking to domains beyond.

NMoQ director Sheikh Abdulaziz al-Thani described the exhibition as deeply informative, engaging, and innovative, created by one of the world's most brilliant studios for architecture and research.

"As a museum that explores the traditions rooted in Qatar's desert and sea and looks ahead to extraordinary new possibilities on our nation's horizon,” he said,“we are excited to welcome our audiences to 'Countryside: A Place to Live, Not to Leave'.”

QFFD director-general Fahad Hamad al-Sulaiti said that the exhibition serves as a narrative platform that brings to life stories of resilience, innovation, and transformation from the world's rural heartlands.

Throughout the exhibition, compelling narratives of resilience are presented alongside tangible impacts derived from projects supported by the QFFD together with its partners, including the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Gates Foundation.

These displays underscore the critical imperative for collective, multilateral action to address interconnected global challenges, foremost among them, food security, climate adaptation, and inclusive economic growth.

This collaboration reaffirms the QFFD's steadfast commitment to investing in scalable and sustainable solutions that empower rural communities, enhance livelihoods, and enable them to thrive as vital contributors to global stability and shared prosperity.

Serving as a powerful platform for reflection, dialogue, and shared responsibility, the“Countryside: A Place to Live, Not to Leave” exhibition plays a pivotal role in advancing human development and sustainable progress, a statement added.

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