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97-811: Education City is an educational and research hub located in Al Rayyan Municipality in the Doha Metropolitan Area of Qatar . Developed by the Qatar Foundation , it was established by Sheikha Moza bint Nasser to advance education, research, and innovation in the region. spanning 12 square kilometres (4.6 sq mi) property houses various educational facilities, including satellite campuses of eight international universities. Beyond higher education, Education City features research centers, cultural institutions, and community spaces, symbolizing Qatar’s vision of becoming

194-507: A "Qatar-based terrorist financier and facilitator who has provided money and material support and conveyed communications to al-Qa'ida and its affiliates in Syria, Iraq, Somalia and Yemen for more than a decade." Qatar was involved in Libya's civil war in 2011 as part of the multi-state NATO-led coalition, mainly by arming and funding groups fighting to topple the dictator Gaddafi. According to

291-510: A "group of armed AQAP associates that intended to carry out attacks on Yemeni government facilities and institutions, including a Yemeni government building in al-Bayda Governorate". About ten months after being sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury, Nuaimi was also restrained from doing business in the UK. Al-Subaiy and Al-Nuaymi have close ties to senior leaders in the Qatari government. Robert Medick,

388-673: A 3-year United States Department of State Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA) program. In December 2020, the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) in cooperation with Qatar established the International Hub on Behavioral Insights to Counter Terrorism as an UNOCT Programme Office in Doha. In June 2021, a second UNOCT Programme Office on Parliamentary Engagement in Preventing and Countering Terrorism

485-726: A Hamas cell and the current media spokesperson for Hamas who instigated several deadly suicide bombings during the Second Intifada and is based in Qatar since 2011. Along with Turkey, Qatar was the only country that endorsed Hamas for ousting the Palestinian Authority from the Gaza Strip in 2007. Shortly after, Qatar publicly pledged $ 250 million in aid for Gaza, devastated after the Israeli war, and soon rose as

582-594: A charity directed by Humayqani. By exploiting his status in the charitable community, Humayqani allegedly raised funds and facilitated transfers from al-Qaeda supporters based in Saudi Arabia to Yemen . Reportedly Humayqani had high level connections with al-Qaeda top operatives and often acted as an AQAP representative while meeting with Yemeni authorities. On behalf of AQAP, he allegedly recruited individuals for several murderous attacks in Yemen, and personally directed

679-640: A city-scale project by Qatar Foundation which is spread across the Al Gharrafa , Gharrafat Al Rayyan and Al Shagub districts of Al Rayyan City . Among the universities are: Healthcare standards in the municipality have been boosted by Sidra Medical and Research Center , which is in the Al Gharrafa district of Al Rayyan . Its initial inpatient hospital was formally opened in January 2018 with 400 beds. At peak operational capacity, it will serve more than 275,000 patients per year. Biomedical research

776-430: A coastline in its population centers in the eastern section, fishing and pearling did not play a part in building its economy; this is in sharp contrast to Qatar's other urban centers which were largely dependent on maritime activities. Instead, nomadic herding of livestock and small-scale crop cultivation comprised the livelihoods of its past inhabitants. According to government statistics recorded when Al-Shahaniya

873-657: A concern voiced by attendees from the intelligence community at a March 2015 event at the United States Institute for Peace. In February 2015, Egypt–Qatar relations deteriorated after the Egyptian Air Force conducted airstrikes on suspected ISIL positions in neighboring Libya following the beheading of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians . The airstrikes were condemned by Al Jazeera , who broadcast images of civilian casualties. Additionally, Qatar's foreign ministry expressed reservations over

970-570: A country like Qatar where academic freedom and freedom of the press are severely limited. In Qatar, the monarchy has absolute authority over all aspects of life; as such, the nation adheres to a strict interpretation of Islamic sharia . Despite the country itself stating that educational and research institutions have total academic and intellectual freedom. In 2014, Love Comes Later , a book by Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar, English professor for Georgetown University in Qatar , Northwestern University in Qatar , and Virginia Commonwealth University School of

1067-544: A framework shaped by Qatar’s modernization efforts, which selectively incorporate aspects of globalization while maintaining control over cultural and political discourse. This duality contributes to ongoing debates about the role of higher education in balancing global engagement with the preservation of local traditions Some Qataris have objected to Western-style colleges, co-ed classes, and large financial outlays in Education City. Discontent about supposed elitism and

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1164-521: A knowledge-based society while fostering cross-cultural exchange and sustainable development. Education City was launched by Qatar Foundation in 1997. The same year, Virginia Commonwealth University became the first institute to establish itself on its campus. The city was officially inaugurated in 2003. Over the past 20 years, Education City has grown from a single school to a multi university campus with students from over 50 countries and an enormous research fund, offering significant opportunities for

1261-767: A lead actor in the Palestinian conflict. The relation between the Gulf country and the terrorist group was reinforced especially between 2008 and 2009 after several expression of mutual support, and especially after Qatar condemned the Gaza blockade. Former Qatari Emir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani was the first head of state who visited Gaza after Hamas took power, in 2012. On that occasion, the Qatari ruler announced that Qatar would have devolved $ 400 million for aid and reconstruction works. So far, Qatar has disbursed over $ 1 billion to

1358-629: A livestock inventory of 108,508, including 52,582 sheep and 27,380 goats. Livestock numbers were surpassed only by Al Khor. Until 2017, Muaither Yard was the only farmers' market in the municipality. Qatar Foundation established Torba Farmers' Market in Education City in November 2017. Only organically grown produce is sold at this market. According to the 2015 census conducted by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, there were

1455-408: A national policy aimed at prioritizing Qatari citizens in education and employment, underscores the country’s commitment to fostering a workforce primarily composed of its own nationals. This raises questions about the inclusivity of Education City's mission—whether it truly accommodates the multicultural population within Qatar or primarily serves national interests. Additionally, Vora’s work explores

1552-519: A plan of action against ISIL, and urged putting pressure on Qatar and Saudi Arabia to end their alleged support for the group. Whether the email was originally written by Hillary Clinton , her advisor Sidney Blumenthal , another person, or the hackers is unclear. Former US Defense Secretary Robert Gates stated in May 2017 that he doesn't "know instances in which Qatar aggressively goes after (terror finance) networks of Hamas, Taliban, Al-Qaeda." In

1649-442: A press conference on June 9, 2017, US President Trump backed Saudi Arabia and its allies in their diplomatic spat with Qatar, stating that Qatar has historically been a funder of terrorism at a very high level, and encouraging the countries to continue their blockade. He contradicted secretary of state Rex Tillerson , who asked the quartet to moderate its blockade on Qatar as it was harming US operations against ISIL. In July 2017,

1746-752: A prosthetic center, among other projects. In September 2014, Congress held a hearing about the role of Turkey and Qatar in terrorist financing. Top Democrats and Republicans at the hearing gave tough words to Qatar. Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL) said: "Relationships with some of these countries are complicated . . . Support for Hamas is not complicated, and our response to their support for Hamas should not be complicated either." Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX) said: "We must make our message clear: If you help finance Hamas, there will be significant consequences and they will be unpleasant. I hope Qatar and Turkey are listening." In 2014, former Prime Minister of Iraq Nouri al-Maliki stated that Qatar and Saudi Arabia started

1843-454: A reporter for The Telegraph's "Stop the Funding of Terror" campaign, wrote in 2014 that Qatar "turned a blind eye to terrorist financiers operating within their midst". According to the 9/11 Commission Report , Subayi also provided financial support to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, a Pakistani al-Qaeda senior officer purported to be one of the architects of the 9/11 attacks. On August 4, 2015

1940-527: A terrorist in 2013. Britain sanctioned him in 2014. Al-Nuaymi is knowingly associated with Abd al-Wahhab Muhammad 'Abd al-Rahman Al-Humayqani , a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) whom the US Treasury sanctioned in 2013 for his role as fundraiser and executive for al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). The US Treasury claimed that in 2012 Al-Nuaymi supported financially

2037-607: A terrorist organisation. In December 2013, Egypt designated the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization. Hamas, as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, was in February 2015 also declared a terrorist organization. In June 2015, an Egyptian appeals court overturned the designation. In 2014, Qatar had pledged $ 400 million to Hamas to build two housing complexes, rehabilitate three main roads and create

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2134-432: A tool for nation branding remains a key point of debate. Vora also critiques the broader implications of transplanting liberal education into the Gulf. She argues that the narratives surrounding liberalism and illiberalism are deeply intertwined with colonial histories and power dynamics. The branch campuses in Education City, while appearing to champion global ideals, are not immune to these complexities. They operate within

2231-531: A total of 199 schools located in Al Rayyan at that time. State schools were recorded as amounting to 108 in the 2016 education census – 50 were exclusively for girls and 58 were for boys. A slightly higher number of students were male, at 23,558 compared to 23,455 female students. Several schools have transferred to Al Rayyan from Doha as a result of lower operating costs and closer proximity to students. Various universities main campuses in Education City ,

2328-648: Is Qatar's longest road at 195 km. Created to bypass the traffic congestion in Doha, the highway begins in Mesaieed and ends in the north at Ras Laffan . The most important highway junctions for Al Rayyan is the Orbital Highway/Salwa Road junction and Orbital Highway/Dukhan Highway junction. On 9 December 2015, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment inaugurated a government services complex in Al Rayyan City . Four days later,

2425-684: Is a district of Al Rayyan City and also a part of metropolitan Doha, is being developed as a large-scale commercial hub for residents of northwest Doha, northern Al Rayyan and southern Umm Salal. The district is already a well-established retail center, hosting many major malls and supermarkets. Some residential developments are also planned for the district. The municipality is divided into 10 zones which are then divided into 1410 blocks. The following administrative zones are found in Al Rayyan Municipality as of 2015: Other settlements in Al Rayyan include: Due to Al Rayyan's lack of

2522-662: Is a sustainable transport system offering free rides within the campus. The tram has three lines: Yellow, Blue, and Green. The Yellow and Blue Lines serve the South Campus, while the Green Line connects the North Campus. This innovative system is designed to enhance connectivity and reduce the campus's carbon footprint. Bus Service: Education City features a bus service with frequent stops across different service routes to ensure convenient access to all areas of

2619-631: Is also conducted at Sidra, with its research facilities becoming operational in 2015. Aspetar , a specialised orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital, is found in the Aspire Zone in the Baaya district. Commencing operations in 2007, it was the first-ever sports medicine hospital in the Middle East region. It earned accreditation as a FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence in 2009. Overall, there were twenty-six health care facilities recorded by

2716-564: Is appropriate to maintain a campus in Qatar, given the alleged Qatari links to state-sponsored terrorism , the lack of freedom of speech in the country and the country's absolute monarchy . In an interview with Gulf News Journal , Herbert London, president of the London Center for Policy Research and a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute , said "universities I think have compromised themselves" by having campuses in

2813-667: Is based in Tripoli and is recognized by the UN (GNA). Furthermore, in an August 2014 op-ed published in The New York Times entitled "Club Med for Terrorists", Ron Prosor , then Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations , alleged that Qatar sought to improve its global image by funding prominent foreign universities in Doha and hosting the 2022 World Cup while simultaneously supporting Hamas, al-Qaeda, and

2910-528: Is relatively diversified compared to the other municipalities. It was reported that in 2010, construction accounted for the largest sector of the workforce at 74,00, with manufacturing coming second at 15,500, followed by transportation and storage (7,900) and education (7,800). Many employed residents work outside the municipality, in Doha . The following table is a breakdown of registered live births by nationality and sex for Al Rayyan. Places of birth are based on

3007-504: Is several of Qatar Foundation 's institutes such as the Qatar Science & Technology Park and Qatar National Convention Centre . Several multi-sports clubs are based in the municipality: Al Rayyan SC , Al-Gharafa SC , Muaither SC , Mesaimeer SC and Al Sailiya SC . All of these fall within the boundaries of Al Rayyan City. Al Rayyan hosts a racing and equestrian club. Aspire Tower and Aspire Park are also nestled in

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3104-478: The 2011 Libyan revolution that ousted Muammar Gaddafi , Qatar provided financial and material support amounting to "millions of dollars in aid, military training and more than 20,000 tons of weapons" to anti-Gaddafi rebels, which was channeled through few key figures, some of which tied to al-Qaeda. In particular, Abdelhakim Belhadj , a Libyan politician and military leader who directed the defunct, UN terrorist designated Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG) during

3201-454: The UN , the EU , Canada , the U.S., Israel , Hong Kong , Switzerland, and Australia . Nonetheless, Qatar has continuously supported it through ransom payments and fundraising campaigns as a strategic ally in Syria, committed to depose Syrian President Bashar al-Assad . Qatar has acted as mediator for the release of prisoners held by al-Nusra on several occasions, most notably in the case of

3298-412: The airstrikes . This prompted Tariq Adel, Egypt's Arab League delegate, to accuse Qatar of supporting terrorism. Egyptian citizens also launched an online campaign denouncing the Qatari government. The Gulf Cooperation Council rejected Egypt's accusations and its secretary general regarded the statements to be false. Shortly after, Qatar recalled its ambassador to Egypt for "consultations". In 2017

3395-679: The city of Al Rayyan . The city derives its name from the Arabic term "ray", which translates to "irrigation". This name was bestowed upon it due to its low elevation, allowing it to act as a flood plain and provide a sustained supply of water to the numerous plants that grew within its boundaries. In March 1893, the Battle of Al Wajbah was fought between the Qataris and Ottomans at the recently built Al Wajbah Fort , located 10 miles west of Old Doha. Although Qatar did not gain full independence from

3492-800: The 2011 revolution, was among the Qatar-backed key players in Libya and the recipient of several Qatar-paid shipments. Several members of the group, which had tried to overthrow Gaddafi since 1994, had solid ties to al-Qaeda. Belhadj reportedly followed Bin Laden when he moved al-Qaeda headquarters in Sudan in 1996. Furthermore, the UN Security Council claimed that LIFG contributed to "the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing or perpetrating of acts or activities by, in conjunction with, under

3589-636: The 2015 government census. Sixty-four pharmacies were recorded in the municipality in 2013 by Qatar's Supreme Council of Health. Public transport in the municipality is generally poor and not used by most of its residents due to a lack of facilities at the central station and inconsistent headway . Doha Metro 's Green Line , also called the Education Line, passes through Al Rayyan. There are metro stations in Al Shagub , Education City and Qatar National Library , and Old Al Rayyan . The line

3686-600: The 45 UN Fijian peacekeepers kidnapped in August 2014 and in the December 2015 prisoner swap between al-Nusra and the Lebanese government. Qatar has also paid conspicuous ransoms – ranging from few million to hundreds of million dollars- to return hostages kept by al-Nusra. In addition to ransom payments, the Qatar government as well as Qatari citizens have sponsored large-scale fundraising campaigns to solicit "support for

3783-601: The Arabian Sea whose governments do little to stop them. Other Arab countries which were listed as sources of militant money were Saudi Arabia, Kuwait , and the United Arab Emirates . In December 2013, the United States designated a Qatari citizen, Abd Al-Rahman al-Nuaimi , as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). The U.S. Treasury Department placed sanctions on Nuaymi and declared him

3880-546: The Arts in Qatar , was banned by the State of Qatar with no explanation. Rajakumar has stated that she wrote the book with the Qatari “sensibilities of the public culture” in mind, meaning that the book did not include the main three objections: sex, atheism, and politics. Some art that has been displayed at VCUarts Qatar has had to be taken down as some Qatari students found it to be disrespectful to their culture, an issue that reflects

3977-595: The Emir stated he does not consider those organizations to be terrorists. The Qatari government has a designated terrorist list. According to The Telegraph , the list contained no names in 2014. In July 2021, the list contained more than 550 people and 240 entities. Qatar uses it to vet passengers flying internationally. Despite Qatar's efforts to arraign prominent terrorist financiers, some designated terrorists and terrorist financiers lived with impunity in Qatar until 2015. Qatar has been accused of supporting Hamas ,

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4074-487: The Ministry of Economy and Commerce established a branch at the services complex. Later in May 2016 another government services complex was created in Mesaimeer . Almost all government ministries are represented at the complex. In the south-west, Abu Samra accommodates Qatar's sole border crossing with Saudi Arabia . The Ministry of Interior maintains an Immigration Department office and Customs Department office near

4171-569: The Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME), the municipality accommodates 223 rawdas , 38 wadis , 24 jeris ( places where water flows ), six plains , six sabkhas , six capes , and six bays . No islands exist off its coasts. The MME recorded 50 hills, one of the most notable being Jebel Nakhsh , which stands 90 meters tall. Furthermore, there is one highland in the municipality, called Alaa Jaow Al Mathlouth Al Janoubi which consists of elevated surface south of an elongated depression and its namesake, Jaow Al Mathlouth. Al Gharrafa , which

4268-684: The Minni Minnawi Sudanese liberation movement who accused Qatar of endorsing the genocide perpetrated by Sudanese militiamen in Darfur by funneling money though the Sudanese branch of Qatar Charity, active in Darfur since 2010. Sadam claimed that Qatar Charity, which has purportedly signed a cooperation agreement with the Sudanese troops, was "building housing complexes in remote and isolated areas to harbor and train extremist groups". Those camps are believed to be hosting ISIS fighters,

4365-548: The Muslim Brotherhood. In December 2014, Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Congressman Peter Roskam (R-IL) requested that the U.S. government, in a letter to the Secretary of the Treasury, impose sanctions on Qatar. The two congressmen asked for a full report on activities within Qatar from individuals, charities and organizations that fund Hamas, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and the al-Nusra Front. The State Department responded to

4462-544: The Ottoman Empire, Qataris see the outcome of the battle as a defining moment in the establishment of Qatar as a modern state. Al Rayyan Municipality was created as an independent municipal administration by the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning in 1972. Since 2004, Al Jemailiya Municipality was merged with Al Rayyan, and Jariyan Al Batnah Municipality was split between Al Rayyan and Al Wakrah Municipality . Doha Industrial Area , also known as Zone 58,

4559-643: The Palestinian group designated as a terrorist organization by the US and western European countries. Qatar denies these allegations, stating that it does not support Hamas' political position, and that its policy is to help facilitate constructive engagement between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority . In 2004, 2010, 2014, and 2017, the Qatari government introduced new anti-terror laws to combat terrorism, terrorism financing and related crimes. In 2019

4656-486: The Qatari government introduced a new anti-money laundering and counter terror financing laws. In 2003, the U.S. Congress was made aware that a plethora of charities based in Qatar were supporting al-Qaeda 's activities by helping move and launder funds for the terrorist group. In 2010, it was reported that the violence in Afghanistan and Pakistan was partly bankrolled by wealthy, conservative donors across

4753-647: The Releifweb Libya had unavoidably been affected by the diplomatic crisis in the Middle East that had pitted a coalition of Arab nations against Qatar. The House of Representatives (HoR) and Khalifa Haftar's anti-Islamist Libyan National Army (LNA) are supported by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt, while Qatar and (to a lesser extent) Turkey support the Presidency Council/Government of National Accord, which

4850-635: The U.S. have been a traditional source of financing for terrorism. A small part of ISIS 's financing operations comes from such donations. Abdul Karim al-Thani, a member of Qatar's royal family, ran a safe house for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the founder of Al-Qaeda in Iraq, the predecessor to ISIS. Al-Thani gave Qatari passports out and put $ 1 million into a bank account to finance AQI. More rumors about Qatar's alleged cooperation with ISIS affiliates surfaced in early 2015. On February 11, 2015 Sudan Tribune reported controversial statements by Yahia Sadam, an official of

4947-525: The UN Crime Congress and pledged funding to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. Qatar's National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NATC) formulates policy, ensures transparency, and participates in conferences.The State Department also noted Qatar's maintenance of an active watch list of terrorist suspects, and stated that the country had made efforts to arraign prominent terrorist financiers. Furthermore,

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5044-1044: The US Treasury sanctioned Qatari citizen Abd al-Latif Bin Abdallah Salih Muhammad al-Kawari for his alleged support to al-Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan . According to the Treasury's designation, al-Kawari had worked with al-Qaeda facilitators since the early 2000s in his role as financier and security official for the terrorist group. Al-Kawari is also reported to have worked with US and UN terrorist designated al-Qaeda affiliates Mustafa Hajji Muhammad Khan and Ibrahim Isa Haji Muhammad al-Bakr to have funds delivered to al-Qaeda operatives in Pakistan. In 2012, al-Kawari allegedly coordinated "the delivery of funding from Qatari financiers intended to support al-Qaida and to deliver receipts confirming that al-Qaida received foreign donor funding from Qatar-based extremists". He also provided assistance to an al-Qaeda courier who

5141-488: The US and Qatar signed a memorandum of understanding to combat the financing of terrorism, making Qatar the first country in the region to sign the executive program with the United States to fight terrorism financing. In April 2018, US President Trump welcomed Sheikh Tamim Al Thani to the White House and described him as "big advocate" of combating terrorist financing. In November 2018, Qatar started to participate in

5238-476: The United States in 1996, and testified to the 9/11 Commission and Congress, that Bin Laden told him in 1993 that the Qatar Charitable Society (QCS), (later renamed Qatar Charity ) was one of Bin Laden's several sources of funding. In 2003, The New York Times wrote:. "Private support from prominent Qataris to Al Qaeda is a sensitive issue that is said to infuriate George J. Tenet ,

5335-456: The advancement of knowledge and research across a variety of disciplines. Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser , Chairperson of Qatar Foundation , described Education City as a transformative initiative aimed at creating “an Arab-Islamic renaissance project” that serves Qatar and the wider Arab world. Reflecting on its early days, she noted, “In 2005, on the day Education City opened, we promised that tomorrow would be here. And, indeed, tomorrow

5432-714: The affiliation between al-Qaeda and the Qatari Charity. Al-Fadl declared to have personally cooperated with Qatar Charity's director in the late 1990s, Abdullah Mohammed Yusef, who was affiliated to al-Qaeda and also engaged in the National Islamic Front , a Sudanese political group that protected Osama Bin Laden. The Consortium Against Terrorist Finance reported that Qatar Charity also channeled funds to Chechnya -based al-Qaeda operatives in 1999, as well as to Ansar Dine in North Mali . During

5529-405: The border crossing. On 5 June 2017, when a quartet composed of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates , Bahrain and Egypt severed ties with Qatar, the border crossing was shut down. Municipal estimates put the number of residential units for workers at 173,550 for 2017. A massive labor camp in the Umm Al Afaei district with a capacity for 21,000 workers was announced in 2013. The project

5626-524: The campaign on their social media profiles. However, the success of the campaign was largely ascribed to its direct coordinators from 2013 to 2015, Sa'ad bin Sa'ad Mohammed Shariyan al-Ka'bi and Abd al-Latif Bin 'Abdullah Salih Muhammad al-Kuwari. Al-Ka'bi is a Qatari citizen designated by the US Treasury as a terrorist financier who also acted as an intermediary for collecting ransom for hostage exchange with al-Nusra in August 2015. Al-Kawari, another Qatar-based financier and lead actor in Madid Ahl al-Sham,

5723-403: The campus, enabling flexible and time-efficient travel. Wayfinding Map: An interactive wayfinding map is available to assist visitors and residents in locating landmarks, bus stops, tram lines, e-scooter and e-bike stations, and trails within Education City. American universities which have established campuses in Education City have been the subject of ongoing criticism of whether it

5820-530: The campus. Walking and Running Tracks: Designated walking and running trails are available in the eastern and western parts of the campus, allowing pedestrians to enjoy the scenic surroundings at their own pace. E-Scooters and E-Bikes: E-scooters and e-bikes are available for use throughout Education City, with multiple docking stations positioned strategically for convenience and accessibility. Car Parking: For those who prefer driving, Education City provides ample parking spaces across

5917-448: The campus. Qatar Foundation also hosts car-free days to encourage eco-friendly practices. Doha Metro: Three separate stations of the Doha Metro 's Green Line (also known as the Education Line ) serve Education City: the Education City station , the Qatar National Library station , and the Al Shaqab station . All three stations were opened to the public on 10 December 2019. Education City Tram: The Education City Tram

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6014-422: The civil wars in Iraq and Syria , and incited and encouraged terrorist movements, like Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and al-Qaeda , supporting them politically and in the media, with money and by buying weapons for them. Qatar has continuously hosted Hamas politburo since 2012, when Khaled Meshal, Hamas' political leader, fled Syria for Qatar. However, Meshal had already found harbor in Qatar in

6111-593: The complex intersection of liberal education values and Qatar’s cultural and political landscape. The establishment of these campuses is part of Qatar’s effort to transition into a knowledge-based economy, aligned with the Qatar National Vision 2030 . However, this vision is accompanied by tensions that highlight contradictions between global and local priorities. The liberal educational ethos of American universities, which emphasizes critical thinking, inclusivity, and academic freedom, often clashes with Qatar’s conservative cultural norms and Qatarization policies. Qatarization,

6208-510: The country: "There are U.S.- and UN-designated terrorist financiers in Qatar that have not been acted against under Qatari law." Accusations come from a wide variety of sources including intelligence reports, government officials, and journalists. In response to these allegations, the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani , in September 2014 went on US television to defend his government against claims that it harbors terrorist financiers. In an interview with Christiane Amanpour on CNN ,

6305-445: The cultural impact of these academic institutions, which create a unique space where Qatari students are exposed to global values while navigating their traditional heritage. For many, this exposure fosters a sense of cosmopolitanism and critical engagement with the world, but it also introduces challenges in preserving cultural identity. The question of whether Education City promotes genuine intercultural dialogue or primarily operates as

6402-552: The desire for global integration and the preservation of Qatari cultural values. The study reflects the broader challenges faced by Qatar as it seeks to balance the influences of globalization with its commitment to fostering a cohesive and distinct national identity in line with its Qatar National Vision 2030 . Education City, as a hub of American branch campuses, plays a significant role in shaping Qatar’s identity in an era of globalization. Neha Vora's Teach for Arabia: American Universities, Liberalism, and Transnational Qatar examines

6499-425: The differences in conservatism and social practices that are present at the Qatari campus. In an article by The Washington Post, Susan Dun, an assistant professor of communication at NU-Q said that some professors do exercise caution with statements, written work, or speeches that may reach a wider audience than just the Education City community. Everette Dennis, the dean of NU-Q, led a six-nation survey in 2015 that

6596-635: The differences in funding between Education City institutions and Qatar University (QU), where most nationals study, has grown. For example, QU students have voiced dissatisfaction about the extravagant graduation ceremonies held in Education City in comparison to their small festivities. Qatar Foundation set aside around $ 225 million in 2014 to help various Education City campuses run. Recent years have experienced financial constraints, meanwhile, which have limited university financing, resulted in employment freezes, and scaled-down activities. Some experts, such King's College London lecturer David Roberts, who sees

6693-513: The director of central intelligence . After the Sept. 11 attacks, another senior Qaeda operative, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed , who may have been the principal planner of the assault on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, was said by Saudi intelligence officials to have spent two weeks in late 2001 hiding in Qatar, with the help of prominent patrons, after he escaped from Kuwait." Khalifa Muhammad Turki al-Subaiy and Abd al-Rahman bin Umayr al-Nuaymi are senior-level financiers of al-Qaeda . Al-Subaiy

6790-399: The exposure of Qatari students to diverse cultural values within this globalized academic environment raises concerns about the influence on their sense of national identity,  raising concerns about shifts in national identity. Given Education City's role as a hub for international universities, this academic environment fosters exposure to diverse cultural values, creating tensions between

6887-417: The government of Qatar sentenced 25 ISIL sympathizers, most of them Qatari citizens, to life in prison, with a minimum term of 25 years. A number of countries have designated Hamas in all its parts a terrorist organisation. These countries include Israel, the United States, Canada, the European Union, and Egypt. Some other countries designate only the Hamas military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades ,

6984-650: The government's independent Charities Commission, which controls charitable giving to prevent misuse of donations and terrorism financing. The United States and Qatar have a strong partnership in combating terrorism, with Qatar being a key partner in the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL. Qatar participated in the Department of State's Anti-terrorism Assistance program in 2015 and hosted the Global Counter terrorism Forum. In year 2015, Qatar hosted

7081-575: The home municipality of the mother at birth . Qatar and state-sponsored terrorism Qatar has been accused of allowing terror financiers to operate within its borders, which has been one of the justifications for the Qatar diplomatic crisis that started in 2017 and ended in 2021. In 2014, David S. Cohen , then United States Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence , accused Qatari authorities of allowing financiers who were on international blacklists to live freely in

7178-497: The intricate relationship between globalization and national identity in Qatar. The research highlights that globalization, particularly cultural globalization, poses challenges to the preservation of Qatar’s cultural traditions while also offering opportunities for modernization and engagement with the global community. especially how younger generations are more receptive to global influences compared to older generations. Given that Education City hosts several international universities,

7275-662: The last five years Education City has transformed itself into a full-fledged community adding a 219-bedroom Premier Inn Hotel, a 33-hole Golf Course called Education City Golf Club, Qatar National Library and Oxygen Park . Education City is home to the following local Qatar university and six U.S. satellite universities, one British satellite university, and one French satellite university: Other educational centers located at Education City include: Several centers based at Education City focus on science and research. These include: Education City offers multiple transportation options to promote sustainability and ease movement across

7372-403: The late 1990s, before he moved to Damascus in 2001. Over the past decades, Qatar has also offered shelter to several prominent Hamas affiliates: from Saleh al-Arouri, the founder of Hamas' military wing, Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, known for his ability to mastermind attacks from abroad who was reportedly hosted by Qatar after leaving Turkey in December 2015, to Husam Badran, the former leader of

7469-480: The lawmakers' letters by stating that the US has a "productive relationship with Qatar", pointing out that Qatar has improved its counter-terrorism efforts in past years, although it conceded that Qatar's monitoring and prosecution of terrorist financiers and charities has remained "inconsistent". In 2014, Qatar introduced new laws for charities and cybercrime prevention. Since 2014, all projects and international bank transfers of Qatari charities need authorization by

7566-399: The long-term effects of the initiative since she understood the importance of multiple income sources. 25°18′54″N 51°26′03″E  /  25.31500°N 51.43417°E  / 25.31500; 51.43417 Al Rayyan Similar to many other names given to Qatari settlements and municipalities, Al Rayyan Municipality was named after a geographic feature present in its namesake,

7663-563: The municipality, specifically on Al Waab Street in Baaya , a district of Al Rayyan City. A large-scale Venetian style mall known as Villaggio Mall is also located in the Baaya district. Doha Zoo is found nearby to these attractions in Al Aziziya . According to the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, the municipality accommodates 20 parks as of 2018. Note: 2010 adjusted figures here, 2015 preliminary figures Al Rayyan's workforce

7760-566: The name of, on behalf or in support of" al-Qaeda, its leader, and the Taliban . Qatar has sponsored al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria , the al-Nusra Front , since 2013. The jihadist group, established within the framework of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's plans for an Islamic State in the Levant, has parted ways from ISIS in 2013 due to leadership conflicts. The group was designated as terrorist entity by

7857-419: The new municipality. Al Rayyan is bordered by four municipalities: Umm Salal to the northeast, Al-Shahaniya to the west, Doha to the east and Al Wakrah to the southeast. It is divided into two main sections; the west consisting of scattered rural settlements, farms and open desert, and the east comprising the city of Al Rayyan , an urban offshoot of Metropolitan Doha 's westward growth. According to

7954-540: The procurement of weapons, food and supplies for al-Nusra in Syria" which have often relied on social media. "Madid Ahl al-Sham", a fundraising campaign launched in 2013 and shut down by Qatari authorities only in 2015, became "one of the preferred conduits for donations intended for the group". In 2013 Madid Ahl al-Sham was expanded to collect weapons, as announced in a May 2013 Facebook posting. Several prominent figures, from Egyptian cleric Wagdy Ghoneim to wealthy Qatari Abdulaziz bin Khalifa al-Attiyah, overtly endorsed

8051-502: The project as elitistic and suggests that these changes reflect less government excitement for Education City under Qatar's new leadership, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, is upbeat about the future of Education City in spite of these difficulties. Speaking with The Washington Post, she underlined the objective of the project—a knowledge-based society—as well as its importance as pillar of Qatar's growth and development. She still supports financial sustainability and

8148-659: The release of the U.S. intelligence report, reporters from The Telegraph contacted Qatari officials. According to the Telegraph , "Qatar has refused to answer". At one time, Al-Nuaymi was the president of the Qatar Football Association . The U.S. report said that he sent more than 1.25 million British pounds per month to Al-Qaeda jihadist fighters in Iraq . He sent hundreds of thousands of pounds to fighters in Syria . The United States designated Al-Nuaymi as

8245-529: The report mentioned Qatar's restructuring of its National Anti-Terrorism Committee and recent enactment of counter-terrorism laws. In October 2016, following a cyberattack attributed to the Russian cyber spying group Fancy Bear , one of the leaked Podesta emails from August 2014, addressed to John Podesta , accused Qatar and Saudi Arabia of providing "clandestine," "financial and logistic" aid to ISIL and other "radical Sunni groups." The email outlined

8342-500: The south-west of Metropolitan Doha are connected to the highway network through Salwa Road. It runs through the following districts in Al Rayyan, sorted from east to west and north to south: Westward travel towards Dukhan and Al-Shahaniya is facilitated by the roughly 66 km-long Dukhan Highway. The road spans from Bani Hajer in the east to Dukhan in the west. It runs through the following districts in Al Rayyan, sorted from east to west and north to south: The Orbital Highway

8439-492: The two terrorist financiers after the Treasury's designation, and they both continued to live with impunity in the country until 2015 when the Qatari government froze their assets and imposed travel bans on them. In November 2014, the U.S. Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, David Cohen, described Qatar as operating an environment that is tolerant of terrorism financing. U.S. counterterrorism officials have said that donations from countries outside

8536-701: Was a previous employee of the Qatar Central Bank . In 2014, U.S. Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, David Cohen , announced that the two men were living freely in Qatar. Both men were on a worldwide terrorist blacklist. The two men were tried and acquitted; the "apparent reasons" for which, according to Sigurd Neubauer in The National Interest , were "tied to" Qatari intelligence being unable to demonstrate evidence without "compromising its intelligence gathering capabilities". In response to Cohen's announcement and

8633-490: Was also designated by the US Treasury for collecting financial support for al-Qaeda and for his role as "an al-Qaida security official". U.S. officials also reported that al-Kuwari closely cooperated with Qatar-based Abdallah Ghanim Mafuz Muslim al-Khawar to "deliver money, messages and other material support to al-Qa'ida elements in Iran", who also facilitated jihadists to travel to Afghanistan. The Qatari government did not arrest

8730-599: Was established. In September 2021, the government of Qatar and the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions against a major Hezbollah financial network based in the Arabian Peninsula . Qatar is a member of the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF), an associated body of the Financial Action Task Force . Jamal Ahmed al-Fadl , Osama bin Laden 's former business agent, defected to

8827-862: Was financed by the Qatar National Research Fund and asked questions such as if people think their country is “headed in the right direction”. While the UAE, Egypt, Tunisia, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia all had answers to the question, there was no data from Qatar as the government blocked the question from being asked to survey participants. A study titled Globalization and National Identity in Qatar: Does Exposure to Globalization Lead to Changes in National Identity Across Different Generations of Qatari Citizens? by Shaikha Al Thani explores

8924-458: Was made at Qatar Foundation.” She emphasized its role in addressing national educational challenges, promoting innovation, and preserving Qatar’s heritage and identity. Initially planned as a single university, Education City evolved into a partnership with prestigious international institutions tailored to Qatar’s needs. “We knew that if these young people were given the right opportunities, the world would witness their achievements,” she said. In

9021-576: Was opened to the public on 10 December 2019. Salwa Road runs from Doha proper to Abu Samra on the Qatar-Saudi border for roughly 95 km. For the most part, the road passes solely through Al Rayyan Municipality, but there is a stretch of highway that serves as the dividing line between Al Rayyan Municipality and Al-Shahaniya Municipality. It is an important commercial artery in the municipality's eastern extremity, hosting car showrooms, superstores and outlet stores. Moreover, many rural areas to

9118-519: Was reported to cost QAR 122 million. There are a number of historic forts in the municipality, most of which are located within Al Rayyan City . One such fort is Al Wajbah Fort , which was the setting of a battle between the Ottomans and Qataris in the Battle of Al Wajbah in 1892. Education City , which houses most of Qatar's universities, is spread throughout the Al Gharrafa , Gharrafat Al Rayyan and Al Shagub districts of Al Rayyan City, as

9215-477: Was split off from Al Rayyan and integrated into Doha Municipality , becoming an exclave of Doha. In 2014, the western city of Al-Shahaniya was dissociated from Al Rayyan Municipality to form its own municipality. Integrating approximately 35% of Al Rayyan's area into the new municipality, some of Al Rayyan's western localities such as Al Gharbiam, Al Utouriya , Al Jemailiya , Umm Bab , Rawdat Rashed , Al Nasraniya , Dukhan and Al Khurayb were also included in

9312-466: Was still integrated into Al Rayyan, the municipality accounted for the majority of Qatar's farming activities. In 2015, 36% of Qatar's total farmland was based in Al Rayyan, putting it just ahead of Al Khor with 35% of the country's farmland. There were 499 farms occupying 17,136 hectares, most of which (256) were involved in cultivating crops, 234 of which were mixed operations, 8 of which raised livestock, and 1 categorized as "other". The municipality had

9409-485: Was transporting several thousands of dollars to al-Qaeda's officials. Furthermore, Qatar Charity , Qatar's largest NGO, has played a key role in funneling financial support to al-Qaeda. Legal proceedings from the trial United States vs. Enaam M. Arnaout report that in 1993 Osama Bin Laden mentioned Qatar Charity as one of the preferred channels to funnel financial support to al-Qaeda operatives overseas. Former Qatar Charity employee and al-Qaeda defector al-Fadl confirmed

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