Desert Women in Qatar: Rare Footage of Bedouin Life in the 1950s

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Qatar is a symbol of modernity, having transformed from a society reliant on fishing and pearl trading to a global destination, following an astonishing economic boom driven by oil and gas. Therefore, the images captured by Danish photographer, Jette Bang, around 66 years ago reflect an unfamiliar aspect, as they show the life of Bedouins in Qatar during a time when their way of life was fading.

Photos of Bedouin life in 1959, Bang joined as a photographer to an archaeological-ethnographic mission led by Danish professor and archaeologist P.V. Glob. These photos are now displayed in an exhibition at the 'David Collection' museum in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Museum curator Peter Wandel said in an interview with the Arabic news site Afaq News: 'Accompanied by ethnographer Klaus Ferdinand, Bang spent two months with two different Bedouin tribes, the Al-Naim and Al-Murra, during the winter of 1959.' The primary goal of the mission was to document the daily life of Bedouin families through words and images.

Wandel explained that the number of Bedouins in Qatar at that time was estimated to be around a thousand people living in a number of desert tents ranging between 150 and 200 tents. The mission focused on documenting the activities of Bedouin life, such as setting up tents, packing and unpacking belongings, herding livestock, moving, falcon hunting, and even drinking coffee.

Modernity and tradition Given the limited number of shots that Bang was able to document, due to not having modern technologies like smartphones, she focused on specific scenes from dawn until dusk. Wandel explained that the scenes included 'women setting up a tent, children of various ages taking care of each other, individuals practicing prayer, groups gathering around meals, and an elderly man resting in his bed.'

It is noteworthy that it also documented the activities of animals, such as camels, sheep, dogs, and specifically falcons. Desert women said, Wendel: "It is clear from the photos that Bang was invited to enter spaces that are usually not accessible.

Not only because of her gender, but also her personality," he pointed out, noting that she was "accepted as a close friend, and almost as a family member." Wendel indicated that: "In one photo, we see that she was allowed to photograph a wife styling her husband's hair."

Wendel added: "Another image shows a woman putting on a headscarf, slowly revealing her face, which is a scene rarely captured. As for the men, it seems that the photographer faced no obstacles or restrictions."

Bang enjoyed an insightful view of the world of women, as when she photographed the Bedouin women, she highlighted their multiple roles as mothers, wives, in addition to setting up tents, weaving, and riding camels. The exhibition aims to highlight the strength and resilience of Bedouin women, and provides a clear idea of the extent of the responsibilities placed on women.

Wendel said: "For the modern audience, it may be surprising that desert women were not only hardworking and strong, but were also, in many ways, managing affairs." The exhibition will continue until January 4, 2026.