A Space Designed for Curiosity at BilAraby
Stepping into the BilAraby activation area felt less like entering a booth and more like embarking on a journey. Attendees began with a virtual reality tour through Qatar Foundation’s Education City in Doha, a sweeping dive into a community shaped by innovation, sustainability, and lifelong learning.
From there, they moved through hands-on stations:
- ‘Nominate and Subscribe’, where visitors recorded short video ideas, applied to speak at the 2026 BilAraby Gathering, or expressed interest in hosting future sessions.
- ‘Sensory Capsules’, immersive pods using surround sound and visuals to bring inspiring Arab stories to life.
- A lively photo booth for personal keepsakes of the experience.
Human Stories at the BilAraby Majlis
At the heart of BilAraby’s presence was the BilAraby Majlis, a space for honest discussion about innovation, ambition, and the challenges young Arabs face.
A panel featuring Dr Ayoub Al-Subihi, founder and vice-chairman of Falak for Space Sciences and Research, and Lina Al-Thakeer, digital researcher and speaker at the inaugural BilAraby Gathering, explored the realities of building ideas in the Arab world. The conversation, moderated by BilAraby’s Content Supervisor and Lead Trainer, Souhila Abada, resonated with many in the room.
Dr Al-Subihi spoke of the urgent need for investment in knowledge and scientific research, positioning it as the cornerstone of a sustainable Arab renaissance.
Al-Thakeer shared a deeply personal account of pursuing creative work, from navigating the world of game design to publishing her first novel, to winning the 2024 Maida Mohieddin Nazer Prize for Innovation.
“We discussed innovation as a genuine driver of development,” she said. “And we spoke honestly about the obstacles, limited resources, regulations, and the need for supportive ecosystems. Initiatives like BilAraby truly matter.”
A Growing Community. And an Open Invitation
As BilAraby begins its regional tour, the Misk Global Forum has become a symbolic first step one that set the tone for deeper collaboration and a wider youth-driven movement.
BilAraby continues to welcome speaker nominations, registrations, and partnership proposals for the BilAraby Gathering 2026 via its official platform: bilaraby.qa.
