Authenticating “Locality”: A Postcolonial History of Heritage and Preservation in Qatar

Abstract: What does “locally grown” mean in the context of postcolonial heritage traditions? Responding to calls in the field of heritage studies for more diverse, inclusive, and situated or localized approaches to heritage and preservation, this article addresses the rise of a heritage preservation tradition in Qatar as an example of resistance to a monolithic universal heritage ethos that is disrupted by what was once a “marginal” player. Through an examination of the history of heritage expertise, from its earliest interactions with foreign experts to the meteoric growth of Qatar’s heritage industry and advocacy for global heritage, I propose a historical approach to identifying, circulating, and authenticating local voices in the study and management of heritage. This discussion demonstrates the significance of engaging with the Arab Region not exclusively through the lens of heritage destruction but, rather, as a strong example of local negotiations that construct and resist different heritage futures strategically.