Katara's Blue Mosque is a Popular Destination for Non Muslims Visitors

Katara's Blue Mosque

The Great Katara Mosque (Blue Mosque), one of the many attractions at the Cultural Village Foundation (Katara), has long been a major attraction. Even non-Muslim travelers are so intrigued by the mosque's courtyard that many of them enter and take photos as keepsakes.

With hundreds of events planned to coincide with the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, The Katara has attracted thousands of people every day.

It has installed a lounge close to the mosque, and there is a sign there that reads: “Ask me about women in Qatar.” At the lounge, foreign women visitors can sit and drink tea and coffee, and learn about social life in Qatar with a number of volunteers answering their queries.

Volunteer Umm Ahmed said: “The aim of preparing this place near the mosque is to introduce foreigners to the Qatari culture of clothing, food and drink, customs and traditions, and most of their questions are about social relations of the Qatari family and marriage traditions. Their social questions are mostly on the life of a Muslim based on Islamic values. Many of the visitors admit that their view of Islam and Muslims was tainted by a lot of unjustified prejudice, but being in Qatar has helped change their views a hundred and eighty degrees.”

Employees and preachers from the Qatar Guests Center for Introducing Islam of the Eid Charity Foundation are present at the mosque's entrance. They welcome non-Muslim visitors and respond to their queries about the mosque. In order to give visitors a chance to experience a mosque's interior ambience, they also plan their arrival inside the building after services.