Córdoba, February 11, 2026

The Congress Palace of Córdoba hosts, for the first time, the international Arabic calligraphy exhibition Al-Raqim from Qatar

Córdoba is hosting, for the first time, the international Arabic calligraphy exhibition Al-Raqim, a cultural project of international scope promoted by the Art & Culture Without Borders Foundation (ACWB), in collaboration with the Museum of Islamic Art of Qatar and the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs of the State of Qatar. The exhibition, which brings together the winning works of the International Arabic Calligraphy Competition, is being presented for the first time outside Qatar at the Congress Palace of Córdoba, the foundation’s technical headquarters.

Official Opening Ceremony

The official opening of the exhibition took place this Monday and was attended by authorities from the State of Qatar and Spain, institutional representatives from the Regional Government of Andalusia and the City Council of Córdoba, as well as members of the diplomatic corps accredited in Spain. As part of the day’s program, the delegations visited the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, a symbolic space representing the historic dialogue between cultures and religions.

The Art & Culture Without Borders Foundation, promoter of the initiative, develops cultural projects with international reach aimed at building bridges between cultures through art, with special attention to the preservation and dissemination of heritage. In this regard, the foundation’s president, Soumaya Akbib, emphasized during the event that “ACWB’s mission is to promote dialogue, coexistence, and peace through art and culture.”

During the inauguration, a recognition was presented to the Honorable Chapter of the Cathedral of Córdoba, represented by its dean, in acknowledgment of its commitment to the preservation of cultural heritage and the promotion of understanding between cultures. Likewise, the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs of Qatar presented the Congress Palace of Córdoba with a work of Arabic calligraphy bearing the verse «وجعلناكم شعوبا وقبائل لتعارفوا» (“And We have made you peoples and tribes so that you may know one another”), as a symbol of mutual respect and intercultural encounter.

The event was also attended by prominent figures from the institutional and cultural spheres, including Her Royal Highness Beatrice d’Orléans and the director of the Museum of Islamic Art of Qatar, Sheikha Al Nacer. In addition, the appointment of Juan Salado as ACWB Goodwill Ambassador was formally announced.

By hosting Al-Raqim, the Congress Palace of Córdoba strengthens its role as a venue for international cultural initiatives and consolidates Córdoba as a leading city in dialogue between cultures, knowledge, and coexistence.