Journey through 700 million years of history to the World Cup: Uncover the treasures of Qatar’s top museums

Qatar is not just focused on constructing soccer stadiums but also on building a series of visually stunning and accessible museums as part of its ambitious plan to become the cultural hub of the Arabian Peninsula. Qatar travel guide

In the past decade, many of the Gulf nation’s premier museums have either opened or undergone renovations. By 2030, three more art institutions will further enrich Qatar’s cultural landscape: the Lusail Museum with its collection of Orientalist art, the Art Mill Museum dedicated to contemporary art, and the Qatar Auto Museum, which highlights the country’s passion for luxury cars.

Public art continues to flourish, with one of the most notable additions being Jeff Koons’ monumental “Dugong,” part of a collection of 40 new public sculptures unveiled across Doha in 2022.

Here are six of Qatar’s most iconic museums you shouldn’t miss:

Museum of Islamic Art

Legendary Chinese-American architect I. M. Pei was reportedly persuaded out of retirement to design the striking building that would signal Qatar’s ambitions as a global arts center when it opened in 2008.

Rising majestically from the waters of Doha Bay like a geometric sculpture, the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) remains one of the city’s most iconic and visually arresting structures, resembling a gleaming white Cubist cake on its own artificial island.

Inside, you'll find what is believed to be the world’s largest collection of Islamic art, spanning 1,400 years and three continents.

After an 18-month renovation, the carbon-neutral museum reopened in 2022, offering a redesigned visitor path with expanded interpretive materials that provide essential context to its extensive collection of manuscripts, ceramics, textiles, woodwork, jewelry, and more.

New galleries focus on Islam’s influence in China and Southeast Asia. The museum now offers mobile and family-friendly resources, making it more accessible for children, with free entry for those 16 and under. Daily guided tours, covering themes like calligraphy and carpets, are also available.

MIA also boasts a library with over 21,000 books on Islamic art. On the fifth floor, French culinary icon Alain Ducasse’s Mediterranean restaurant, IDAM, offers fine dining. A footbridge connects the museum to MIA Park, where you can find impressive public art installations.

National Museum of Qatar

With its massive, interlocking discs that resemble the intricate crystal formations that bloom in the Qatari desert, the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) is an architectural marvel. Though the museum spans a large portion of Doha’s historical center, only a fraction of the space is dedicated to its exhibition halls.

Opened in 2019, NMoQ’s 11 interconnected galleries trace Qatar’s history from its geological origins 700 million years ago to its transformation into an oil-rich nation with 2.6 million people today. Films complement the exhibits, and audio guides are available for use both at the museum and at home.

The discovery of oil in 1939, which kickstarted Qatar’s industrial development, marks the transition to modern history in the exhibits. One of the most notable artifacts is the envelope revealing Qatar as the host of the controversial 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The NMoQ experience extends beyond the museum, with the visitor trail leading to the restored original palace of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani, the third emir of Qatar, who ruled from 1913 to 1949. Though the palace is modest in size, it offers a rare glimpse into Qatar’s past.

Be sure not to miss the gift shop, where undulating wooden surfaces echo the museum’s organic design, creating a cave-like atmosphere. The museum also features Jiwan, a restaurant by Alain Ducasse, offering contemporary Qatari cuisine, with camel rissoles as a standout dish.

Msheireb Museums

In the early 2010s, Doha’s historic center was controversially demolished to make way for the ultra-modern Msheireb Downtown district. However, four neighboring heritage homes were preserved and now house the Msheireb Museums, one of the most intriguing free attractions in Doha.

The largest of the four museums, Bin Jelmood House, tackles the powerful and uncomfortable theme of slavery and the exploitation of human labor. Although Qatar’s involvement in this dark chapter is largely a thing of the past, the museum forces visitors to confront historical human rights abuses that persist into the present day.

Next to the Msheireb Museums is Company House, a tribute to Qatar’s oil industry. A side entrance leads to the more intimate Radwani House, built in the 1920s and furnished to showcase traditional Qatari family life from that period. Just across the street, Mohammed Bin Jassim House explores Doha’s architectural evolution, with a focus on the redevelopment of Msheireb.

Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art

A perfect reason to visit Doha’s cutting-edge Education City, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art boasts the world’s largest collection of modern and contemporary Arab art.

Surrounded by a sculpture garden, the museum’s building may seem unremarkable by Qatari art institution standards. However, Mathaf was never intended to be permanent. French architect Jean-François Bodin was commissioned to repurpose a former school to house a collection curated over three decades by Sheikh Hassan bin Mohamed bin Ali Al Thani, a cousin of Qatar’s Emir.

Opened in 2010, Mathaf’s 12 galleries span two floors. Galleries 1-7 host temporary exhibitions, while galleries 8-12 feature a rotating selection from the museum’s impressive permanent collection of over 9,000 works.

Exhibits explore major themes such as the aesthetics and politics of change, from the rise of the petroleum industry in the Middle East to the evolving role of women in Arab society.

Adding a pop of color, vibrant geometric works by Moroccan artist Mohamed Melehi and Lebanese artist Gebran Tarazi (both displayed in Gallery 11) brighten the mood. The museum’s expansive entrance features a large screen where video art is frequently projected.

Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum

Where do billionaires store all their treasures? If you're the chairman of one of Qatar’s largest conglomerates, you build a massive, fort-like museum in the heart of the desert and open it to the public.

Arguably Qatar’s most eccentric museum, the Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum (FBQ Museum) is like Aladdin’s cave, filled with historical artifacts from four continents. However, the exhibits can be puzzlingly arranged next to amateurish artworks and random curiosities, leaving much to the imagination due to the lack of interpretative labels.

Despite its oddities, the museum holds many treasures, including an extraordinary collection of Qurans and a beautifully restored traditional Damascene home, complete with stunning tilework and lattice designs.

The controversial Saddam Hussein exhibit is no longer on display, but classic car enthusiasts will be thrilled with the 300 vehicles from the sheikh’s vast collection, now showcased in a huge new wing.

While a more professional approach to curation would greatly enhance the museum’s experience, the chance to glimpse the private collection of one of the world’s wealthiest individuals makes the 30-minute Uber ride from Doha’s city center worthwhile.

3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum

It’s clear which major international sporting event Qatar has set its sights on hosting at the Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum. Opened ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the museum features a spiraling structure surrounded by five rings that light up in red, green, white, yellow, and blue at night.

Located next to Khalifa International Stadium, the museum’s seven galleries start with a journey through the history of sports, beginning as far back as the 8th century BCE, and are complemented by a fascinating collection of artifacts.

Sports enthusiasts will be in their element in the Olympic gallery, where highlights include a pair of boxing gloves worn and signed by Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) during the US Olympic trials leading up to the 1960 Summer Games in Rome, where he won gold at just 18 years old.

Another highlight is the Hall of Athletes, which honors the legacies of 90 sports icons who have left their mark on modern history – from global legends like Usain Bolt and Pelé to lesser-known stars such as French windsurfer Antoine Albeau and Swiss Paralympic cyclist Heinz Frei.

It's a good idea to wear activewear for the final part of your visit, the Activation Zone, where guests can strap on a 3-2-1 wristband and navigate through 18 interactive stations that assess their 'physical literacy.'

After tackling challenges across six themed areas, including the 'desert' zone where participants test their upper-body strength by pushing a 4WD out of a faux sand dune, visitors can scan their wristbands at a kiosk to receive a personalized profile that highlights their physical and mental strengths.

The theme carries through to the top-floor restaurant, Naua, where Michelin-starred chef Tom Aikens offers a healthy gourmet menu in a relaxed, fine-dining atmosphere.