A tiny nation with huge ambitions, Qatar is fast emerging as one of the world’s major art and cultural hubs, where cutting-edge museums, galleries and architecture sit alongside a unique and colorful heritage.
Yes, it has the eye-popping skyscrapers of a wealthy Gulf country, but Qatar also puts its history and traditions center stage, an eclectic mix that is energizing, vivacious and not a little surprising. Intrigued? Discover how to see it for yourself.
As always, check for travel restrictions and closures before planning your trip.
Heritage Treasures
Exploring Doha’s Msheireb Museums feels like stepping back in time. These four traditional-style “houses” feature tall wind towers, breezy courtyards and winding sikkas (alleyways) — all of which delve into different elements of local culture.
You can discover the city’s vibrant past at Mohammed Bin Jassim House, and trace the transformational discovery of oil and gas at Company House. Meanwhile, Bin Jelmood House gives a moving insight into historic slavery in the Persian Gulf, and Radwani House reveals how Qatari fortunes were revolutionized by its 1940s economic boom.
Katara Cultural Village also brings the nation’s heritage to life, albeit with a luxurious twist. It’s a contemporary homage to tradition, complete with a sparkling mosque inlaid with real gold, a sea-view amphitheater for concerts and festivals, and a rich collection of restaurants, cafés and art galleries — a joy to explore on foot.
Must-See Museums
Qatar’s story is a real rags-to-riches tale. Until the discovery of oil in 1939, its economy relied on pearl diving, trading and fishing, and its population lived in tiny communities built from coral rocks and palm fronds.
Qatar remains proud of its humble roots, and the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) in Doha is full of immersive exhibits exploring its past — such as ancient art and jewelry, archeology finds and video interviews with old pearl divers. The museum, modeled on the crystals of a desert rose, was designed by famous French architect Jean Nouvel.
On the fourth floor of NMoQ, Jiwan restaurant serves up citywide views — including West Bay’s glittering skyscrapers — alongside a fine dining menu by Alain Ducasse. It’s the perfect spot for a post-museum lunch.
A few minutes drive away, the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) houses one of the world’s greatest collections of Middle Eastern paintings, ceramics and textiles — all in a hypnotically symmetrical structure designed by I.M. Pei. Located on the seafront, the MIA overlooks traditional wooden dhow boats bobbing in the harbor.
To see more Qatari treasures, from historic coins to the royal family’s priceless car collection, visit the Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum, just outside Doha.
Awe-Inspiring Architecture
Towering over Doha’s seafront, the skyscrapers of West Bay are a symbol of Qatar’s visionary growth.
Each one is unique, such as the curvaceous Doha Tower (designed by Jean Nouvel), the whirlwind-shaped Tornado Tower and the pyramidical Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel — one of the city’s longest-standing and most luxurious landmarks. For panoramic views, book a dhow cruise along the Corniche.
But Qatar’s exemplary architecture doesn’t end there.
You’ll find glittering marinas and Venice-inspired canals on The Pearl-Qatar, a human-made island just north of Doha; a paddleboarding tour of The Pearl reveals a whole new perspective on the island’s architecture, as well as its hidden beaches.
Inland and to the west of The Pearl, the city’s 51-floor Torch Tower lights up like a flame after dark.
North of Doha, in Lusail, the iconic Place Vendome plays host to a luxury mall and hotels, while the Crescent Tower reaches skyward like a giant pincer: a design inspired by Qatari swords and so unique that you’ll have to look twice.
Modern Art Galleries
Qatar has modern art sculptures at every turn: from Urs Fischer’s 23-foot Lamp Bear at Hamad International Airport (outside Duty Free), to Damien Hirst’s Miraculous Journey — a series of giant bronze babies in Education City. To see local talent, head to Doha’s Fire Station gallery, which showcases Qatari artists such as Ghada Al Khater and Hassan Al-Mulla, alongside a rainbow of street murals.
A 15-minute drive from the gallery, you’ll find Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, a hub for Middle Eastern contemporary works, with exhibitions by artists from Qatar, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and beyond.
To see modern art in a truly unique setting, head to East-West/West-East, a series of four huge metal monoliths designed by U.S. sculptor Richard Serra. Located in Qatar’s Zekreet Peninsula, the sculptures tower over Ras Abrouq’s empty sands and rocks — a landscape so vast, and so untamed, that visiting the sculptures is an adventure in and of itself. It’s a 70-minute drive from Doha.
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