Doha is the art capital of the Middle East, largely down to the work of Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, chairperson of Qatar Museums, a passionate art lover and arts advocate. Her rumoured art budget of $1 billion has made Qatar a key player on the world’s art stage, and this year, Doha debuted the first-ever Design Doha Biennale festival. Art, culture and design intertwine with daily life in Doha, and while the below museums in Doha are unmissable on any visit to the city, other top attractions include Katara Art Center, Eiwan Al Gassar Gallery at the St Regis Doha and The Gallery at VCU Arts Qatar, located at the city’s prestigious Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts. Pass by the city’s Sidra Hospital and you’ll also see Damien Hirst’s The Miraculous Journey, and there are always exhibits at Hamad International Airport. Here are cultural attractions and museums in Doha to visit in 2024.
The National Museum Of Qatar
Immerse yourself in the history and heritage of the Qatari Peninsula by visiting the National Museum of Qatar, the city’s most famous museum. Designed by Jean Nouvel to represent the Desert Rose crystal, the museum sits on the waterside and takes visitors on a journey through the Gulf state’s fascinating history. Guests embark on a journey through time, from the millennia-old sea life and fauna to the Bedouins, pearl diving, the discovery of oil and natural gas, the building of modern Doha and Qatar, and ultimately hosting the Fifa World Cup – with plenty of immersive exhibits, displays and priceless artefacts. The Park on the grounds, open 24 hours, also boasts beautiful green spaces and public artworks. Complete your visit with a stop-off at Jiwan for lunch, Alain Ducasse’s stunning outpost part of the museum’s storytelling (think Mother of Pearl decorations and spoons) and serving up reimagined Qatari dishes with beautiful views of the city, or one of three buzzing coffee shops and cafes frequented by locals – elegant Desert Rose, vegan Thalatheen or casual Cafe 875. Make sure also to browse Wadha, a store by Qatar designer Wadha Al Hajri on the grounds of the museum, selling her signature ready-to-wear, accessories and fragrances.
Open daily 9am to 7pm (Fridays 1:30-7pm); entry QAR50 per person (free entry for Qatar residents); nmoq.org.qa
Museum of Islamic Art
After a period of closure, the world-famous Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) has re-opened to the public, delighting visitors with its comprehensive collection and masterpieces from across the globe, showing the diversity of Islamic heritage. One of the most famous museums in Doha, the MIA spans three continents and 1,400 years of history, and features permanent exhibitions of textile collections, metalware, architecture, pottery, science, technology and more. A roster of headline-making temporary exhibits also gives visitors an excuse to return time and time again. The building is also a masterpiece, a masterful marriage of traditional Islamic and 21st-century architecture, built on an island jutting out into the water near the traditional dhow harbour and designed by I. M. Pei.
Open daily 9am to 7pm (Fridays 1:30-7pm); entry QAR50 per person (free entry for Qatar residents); mia.org.qa
M7
One of the region’s most innovative and pioneering spaces, M7 Doha is an art, tech, design and fashion destination, a start-up hub, talent incubator, exhibition space, concept store and art and culture community. Located on a square in the trendy Msheireb Downtown Doha – the city’s design district – M7 showcases the most famous exhibitions in the city – think Dior Designer of Dreams and Forever Valentino – but is also office space and school for arts and design students and start-ups. The exhibits and programmes are fantastic – some free to wander around – and its cool cafe offers great coffee – perfect for taking a break from exploring and imbibing the creative energy. The concept store is one of the most exciting stores in Doha, selling wares from local Qatari designers, young talent and indeed at brands, from clothing and jewellery to homeware and accessories.
m7.org.qa; @m7.qatar
Msheireb Museums
Msheireb Downtown Doha is the creative capital of the city – a mini city within a city with its own tram billed as a sustainable and futuristic settlement. The gleaming creamy limestone buildings and squeaky clean streets are packed with cool cafes and trendy restaurants, and also hide the Msheireb Museum – four museums in Doha focusing on human behaviour. Dotted across the district in four beautiful restored heritage buildings, the Msheireb Museums tell the untold stories of Qatar. Bin Jelmoon House pays tribute and acknowledges the social, cultural and economic contribution of formerly enslaved people to the development of human civilisations; Mohammed Bin Jassim House addresses the past, present and sustainability of Msheireb Downtown Doha and 1920s-era Radwani House showcases a traditional Qatari family set up. Finally, Company House – within the former headquarters for Qatar’s first oil company – tells the story of the Qatari petroleum industry workers and their families who transformed the country into a modern society.
Open Mon to Thurs, 9am to 5pm; Friday, 3pm to 9pm; Saturday, 9am to 5pm; closed Sundays. Free entry; msheirebmuseums.com
Fire Station Gallery
Fire Station Gallery is the place to head to truly get under the skin of Qatar’s young, empowered and growing modern art scene, with quick pop-ups from local and international artists and boundary-pushing pieces. House in a disused fire station, the gallery is Doha’s leading contemporary art space and supports local talent with creative residencies and programmes. The space hosts a programme of ever-changing exhibitions, so make sure to check the programme; and also has one of the coolest coffee shops in the city – Café #999. As Alain Ducasses’s third Doha outlet, Café #999 is where the city’s creatives and cool crowd converge, with eye-catching interiors and an all-day Italian menu.
Open daily 11am to 7pm; exhibition entry QAR50 per person (free entry for Qatar residents); firestation.org.qa, @dohafirestation
Katara Cultural Village
Back in the 18th century, Qatar was known as Katara, and a fun way to spend an afternoon is revisiting this period by heading to Katara Cultural Village – a leisure, entertainment and shopping complex but also one of the best museums in Doha – all open air and paying homage to its past. Designed as a small traditional village, guests can wander down a maze of sandstone-hued lanes past mosques (including a shiny golden mosque), cafes, boutiques and coffee shops. The village is home to a huge creamy-hued 5,000-seater amphitheatre overlooking the ocean, which hosts live concerts and entertainment and sights like the Katara Mosque, designed by Turkey’s Zeynep Fadilloglu and featuring Persian and Turkish tile and enamel work in shades of blue and gold. Weather-dependent, also take a stroll along the beachfront and climb the verdant Katara Hills next door.
Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art
Another hub for local and international Arab art, Mathaf celebrates modern and contemporary art created in Qatar, the Middle East and the wider international Arab diaspora. There are over 9,000 objects to behold, and the museum regularly hosts temporary exhibitions and education programmes. Other highlights include a library, workshops and thought-provoking demonstrations. Entry is free, the building itself is architecturally wonderful and Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art is considered one of the leading art and cultural attractions in Doha.
Open daily 9am to 7pm (Fridays 1:30-7pm); free entry; mathaf.org.qa, @mathafmodern
