Qatar is home to a number of other stunning art galleries and public spaces. Looking to learn about other venues?
Understanding a culture is the key to unlocking its secrets, only then can you grasp the traditions and the motivations behind the behaviours you may encounter. This guide by LifeInQatar will give all the insight you need.
Museums, Galleries & Cultural Presentations
Whether from yesterday or today, there is much for you to see, from appreciating how people lived in times gone by through restored houses to seeing what people put in their houses today via modern art exhibitions. Discover a national museum inspired by a desert rose and an entire cultural village that connects Qatar’s ancient heritage with its modern status.
Qatar National Museum
Dedicated to bringing to life the unique story of Qatar and its people. Designed as a vibrant and immersive space, diverse communities can come together and experience Qatar’s past, present and future.
Museum of Islamic Arts (MIA)
MIA’s masterpieces come from diverse societies - both secular and spiritual. Pieces in the collection are all connected by Islam, but many are non-religious in nature.
Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art
Designed by the acclaimed French architect Jean-François Bodin, is the only institution of its type in the region, hosting modern art exhibits and programmes offering an Arab perspective on contemporary art.
Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani Museum
Sheikh Faisal’s private museum at Al Samriya tells the story of Qatar through the personal collection of one man and his family with a fascinating array of more than 15,000 exhibits.
Public Art
Qatar’s commitment to cultural excellence extends to a range of impressive public art installations by leading international artists around the country.
Historic Sites
Uncover Qatar’s past through its fortresses and palaces and see how the country is tackling the challenges of maintaining its cultural identity while embracing the future. And when all that is done, why not get your hands-on history by taking part in an interactive cultural workshop?
Barzan Towers
Barzan means ‘the high place.' The recently restored towers were built between 1910 and 1916 and may have served as a lookout to protect local water sources and as an observatory to determine the dates of the lunar calendar.
Al Wajbah Fort
Situated 15 km. west of Doha, Al Wajba fort was built in the late 18th or early 19th century and is one of the oldest forts tourists will discover in Qatar.
Al Koot Fort
Also known as Doha Fort, was built in 1927 and first used primarily as a police station to protect the nearby Souq Waqif.
Al Jassasiya Rock Carvings
A total of 874 carvings, known as ‘petroglyphs’, the earliest thought to date from Neolithic times. Discovered in 1957, they consist of various designs and patterns such as cups in rows, rosettes, ships and foot marks.
Al Zubarah Fort
The Al Zubarah Fort and surrounding 60-hectare archaeological works is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most extensive and best preserved examples of an 18th–19th century settlement in the region.
Within a rapidly developing architectural landscape, Qatar’s historic fortresses and palaces are a true stand-out feature.