Ashraf Siddiqui
The historical and intellectual connections between Finland and the Arabian Peninsula came into focus at a cultural event titled “Sand to Sand”, organised by the Embassy of Finland in Qatar in collaboration with Qatar National Library (QNL), the Finnish Institute in the Middle East and Georgetown University in Qatar.
Held at QNL, the event explored the life and work of Finnish explorer and orientalist Georg August Wallin (1811–1852), whose journeys through Egypt and Arabia in the 1840s established an early intellectual connection between Finland and the Arab world.
Welcoming the distinguished guests, a QNL official said the event offered an opportunity to revisit an important chapter of shared cultural history. She highlighted Wallin’s journey to Egypt and Arabia in 1840 and his efforts to study spoken Arabic, local dialects and Bedouin traditions.
His diaries, letters and publications provide valuable insights into the customs, poetry, tribal relationships and everyday lives of the communities he encountered.
She noted that while Wallin’s writings remain important historical sources, they should also be examined within the context of 19th-century European scholarship. Emphasising the importance of balanced historical research, she said QNL’s collections of Arabic manuscripts, rare books and regional documents could complement these accounts and offer a richer understanding of the past.
Finland’s Ambassador to Qatar HE Juha Mustonen expressed gratitude to HE Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kawari, Minister of State and President of QNL, for his friendship and continued support in strengthening cultural relations between Qatar, Finland and the wider Nordic region. He also praised the library’s professionalism and partnership, alongside Georgetown University in Qatar.
Describing “Sand to Sand” as the first public event of Finland Week in Doha, the ambassador said the week would celebrate education, design, music, gastronomy and history.
Reflecting on Wallin’s travels nearly 180 years ago, Mustonen said the Finnish scholar’s interest in Arab culture, language and society had established an early intellectual connection between Finland and the Arabian Peninsula, complementing the strong bilateral relations enjoyed by the two countries today.
The event brought together Qatari academics, students, diplomats, Finnish residents and European representatives, including EU Ambassador HE Antonino Maggiore. The ambassador also welcomed Finnish Institute in the Middle East Director Jumaa Mäkelä and visiting Finnish officials Kurt Torsell and Markus Sovala.
Guest speaker Dr Patricia Berg delivered a lecture on Wallin’s legacy, followed by a discussion on his linguistic research, travels and encounters with local communities.
She explained how his immersion in Arab society, interactions with scholars and friendships helped him develop an exceptional understanding of spoken Arabic. His detailed accounts of Bedouin life continue to serve as valuable records of the region’s cultural and social heritage.
The discussion also examined the challenges of translating Wallin’s extensive Swedish writings, his unusual practice of using Arabic script for his Swedish notes, and the importance of preserving and digitising historical archives for future generations of researchers.
As part of the occasion, Ambassador Mustonen presented QNL with two publications: Dolce Farniente in Arabia: Georg August Wallin and His Travels in the 1840s, co-authored by Dr Berg and her colleagues, and an Arabic translation of Wallin’s own work, Scenes from the Northern Arabian Peninsula.
The gathering highlighted how historical research, literature and cultural exchange can strengthen mutual understanding, demonstrating that Qatar-Finland relations extend beyond contemporary diplomacy to embrace a shared appreciation of history, language, heritage and human experiences.