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Qatar

Qatari green hero who wants to promote Arab culture and heritage attracts tourists

Published: 02 Dec 2016 - 11:39 pm | Last Updated: 28 Dec 2021 - 11:39 am
Mohamed Abdul Mohsin Al Fayyad Al Khaldi at his farm near Al Thaqab Fort.

Mohamed Abdul Mohsin Al Fayyad Al Khaldi at his farm near Al Thaqab Fort.

Irfan Bukhari | The Peninsula

In the times when Qatar along with the world community is fast moving towards renewable energy and environmentally friendly development, here lives a man in extreme north of Qatar who has electrified his farm house with only solar energy and uses recycled household items.
Mohamed Abdul Mohsin Al Fayyad Al Khaldi is the name of the nature-loving Qatari who built this farm near Al Thaqab Fort some 20 years ago. But he says his family is settled in this area for the “last 600 years”.
According to Al Khaldi’s claim they were his ancestors who built the Al Thaqab Fort. His farm-house, totally powered with solar energy, has become an attraction for many tourists. His farm house comprises two master bedrooms, traditional majlis, swimming pool, and a well-kept kitchen garden among other rooms.
He wants to establish a cattle farm soon. A local tourist guide company “365 Adventures” with Khaldi’s consent has started arranging trips for tourists having interest in green lifestyle to his farm. “He wants to promote farming life and the traditional Qatari culture. He wants to show how blessed are the people who live in the desert,” says Abdul Rehman, who runs the tourist company. The way to his home passes through bumpy, rocky road and requires 4x4 vehicle.
Qatar has embarked upon the journey of sustainable development and recently from the platform of Qatar Green Building Council, a “Green Life Hero” app was also launched to create awareness as well as to start a healthy competition among residents to embrace green lifestyle. To promote the use of renewable energy, many other organisations are also playing a crucial role, like Qatar Solar (QSTech), which is a holding company formed by Qatar Foundation specifically to invest in solar technologies, new applications of solar and solar research opportunities in line with Qatar’s National Vision 2030.  
Al Khaldi is a real Green Life Hero who, despite living in desert and not influenced by any such awareness campaign, has already understood how to love nature, protect the ecosystem and promote environment friendly practices.
“The farm has three separate sitting rooms decorated with European, Chinese and traditional Arabic furniture. He also uses numerous recycled household items including the empty glass bottles converted into lamps,” says Mohamed Meraj from "365 Adventures", who has visited the farm many times.
Al Khaldi’s kitchen garden has a number of vegetables like coriander, chillies etc. The hens kept at the farm provide organic eggs.
The Qatari green hero has constructed his house taking wind and sunlight into account which enable him to depend less on energy.
“He wants to promote Arab culture and traditions,” says Abdul Rehman.
Talking to The Peninsula, Al Khaldi said he used to welcome everyone to his farm so that they could experience the green lifestyle.