Civil Diffence – Darb Al Saai

Project Overview

Darb Al Saai is Qatar's national annual celebration, held each December across a 150,000 square metre site and organised by the Ministry of Culture. The name recalls the historic route once used by messengers of the state's founder, Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed Al Thani, and the event draws large public crowds of citizens and residents over its run.

The General Directorate of Civil Defence takes a pavilion at Darb Al Saai each year, presenting live firefighting and rescue demonstrations alongside public safety and fire prevention education. That combination sets an unusual design brief: the space has to work as both a live demonstration venue and a walk-through exhibit, for an audience that is overwhelmingly families with young children rather than trade professionals.