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Rahaal

February 01, 2026  - February, 21, 2026

Institute of Arab and Islamic Art(IAIA) x William White with Al Hosh Gallery

Ras Barouq, Qatar 

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IAIA and William White are pleased to present Rahaal, a flagship nomadic museum unfolding across three pavilions, an exhibition space, a salon and a library, in the historic nature reserve of Zekreet, Qatar — just miles from Richard Serra’s monumental East–West/West–East. Founded by Mohammed Rashid Al-Thani, the founding director and curator of the Institute of Arab and Islamic Art and William Cooper, acclaimed designer and founder of WIlliam White, Rahaal is conceived as a beacon for intellectuals, patrons, collectors and cultural luminaries, as a site where nature, culture, and art converge in a single, transformative experience that reflects centuries of Arab rituals rooted in community building around nature.  In the spirit of cross-cultural celebrations, Rahaal offers an unequivocal opportunity for various diverse movements and mediums to meld within a shared visual iconography, bringing perspectives closer in a profound, yet intimate cultural setting. As the only satellite project officially designated by Qatar Museums and Art Basel, Rahaal offers a multi-sensory journey across landscape, language and the space between.

 

The Pavilions: 

 

Al Marad(The Exhibition Space) serves as the central pavilion of Rahaal, unfolding an intimate constellation of works, channeling a dialogue between generations, geographies, and gestures. Anywhere is My Land, curated by Mohammed Rashid Al-Thani, gathers contemporary artists from diverse geographies, reimaging the landscape not as depiction of place, but as fragments of memory carried within the traveler; seen, altered and remembered in motion. Within, paintings anchor the space, not as desired aesthetics, but as psychic terrain. Championing nature, this exhibition carries us the distance between mountain and horizon, mapping out to distant stars and returning again to the tactility of earth and leaves. Presenting contemporary art through the recognisable iconography of natural forms, this exhibition evokes the power of identification within the viewer, whilst considering the landscape’s interconnected potential for political and cultural critique. Under the canopy of nature as subject, Rahaal presents an aesthetic common across borders, histories and experiences, inviting a diversity of artists, practices and philosophies to interact in one space.

 

Al Majlis(The Salon) serves as the nucleus of Rahaal—a space for gathering, reflection, and intellectual exchange. Rooted in the region’s deep tradition of hospitality, it is a place where people gather for dialogue, and where rituals converge, allowing for a democratic follow of knowledge. Throughout the duration of the exhibition, the Majlis will serve as a hub for talks, inviting artists, scholars and art practitioners to participate.

 

Al Maktaba(The Library) extends the journey outward—into a landscape of knowledge. It celebrates the power of print, as it hosts a myriad of artist publications and catalogs, providing a more in depth perspective on artist practices and historical art movements. The Library reflects the essence of Rahaal itself—a meeting point between worlds, celebrating their shared languages between history, culture, and creation.​

 

Participating Artists

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