Al Daayen Park: A place that pays homage to Qatar’s heritage, caravans and herdsmen

Al Daayen Park’s design draws inspiration from the Arabic word Al-Daayen, which implies camel beauty and the resting place of caravans, said, Maryam Al Kuw...

Al Daayen Park’s design draws inspiration from the Arabic word Al-Daayen, which implies camel beauty and the resting place of caravans, said, Maryam Al Kuwari, project design manager at the Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar. Decades ago, Al-Daayen had been a resting spot for caravans coming from the north and south of Qatar.Kuwari said that aesthetic lighting is another feature of the park that honours its link to the Qatari heritage. She said the illumination arrangement was in such a way that the light falls on metal partitions to create shades that depict the movement of the caravan behind its herdsman. Memorial photos are placed on spots where the light falls, giving a distinctive outlook to the park.The park design, Kuwari noted, also factored in its proximity to schools and Al Daayen Service Centre in making it a suitable nearby place for people of the region to spend leisure time during weekend, or to engage in physical activities.Saeed Al Yafei, Student Affairs Officer at Simaisma Primary School for Boys said, “Tree planting, increasing green spaces, and preserving the environment are basic values we are trying to instil in students through the educational process.”Mariam Ateeq Al Qubaisi, Laboratory Attendant at Al Daayen Primary and Preparatory School for Girls, said, “I loved participating in tree plantation today in Al Daayen Park as part of our efforts to enrich Qatar’s environment and to encourage students to love agriculture by planting trees in the park, leaving their footprint on the land of Qatar.”