Qatar Museums
Doha Learn more about what's on at Qatar Museums and the artists shaping its programme.Founded in 2005, Qatar Museums is the national organisation for museums, galleries, and public art in Doha, Qatar, overseeing a growing network of cultural institutions that together position the city as a key destination for modern and contemporary art in the Gulf.
Under the leadership of chairperson Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, describes itself as a ‘cultural instigator’, commissioning exhibitions, acquisitions, and public art that expand Qatar’s cultural footprint and foster exchange between the region and the wider world.
As an umbrella organisation, Qatar Museums oversees the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA), National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ), Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Qatar Museums Gallery – Al Riwaq, QM Gallery Katara, 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, and a portfolio of archaeological and heritage sites. It is also responsible for developing future institutions including Art Mill Museum, Lusail Museum, Dadu – Children’s Museum of Qatar, and the Qatar Auto Museum, which will add significant capacity for international modern and contemporary art and specialist collections in Doha.
Key Qatar Museums Art Spaces and Exhibitions
Across its network, Qatar Museums presents art spaces and exhibitions that range from Islamic art and national history to Arab modernism and global contemporary art practice.
Museum of Islamic Art (MIA)
The Museum of Islamic Art in Doha is Qatar Museums’ flagship museum for Islamic art, located on a purpose-built island on the Corniche with MIA Park and views of the city skyline. Designed by I. M. Pei, it houses a major collection of Islamic art from across the Middle East, North Africa, Asia, and Europe, covering manuscripts, ceramics, metalwork, glass, textiles, and jewellery from the 7th to the 20th centuries.
National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ)
The National Museum of Qatar tells the story of Qatar’s history, people, and environment through immersive galleries housed in a striking ‘desert rose’ building by architect Jean Nouvel on the Doha Corniche. Exhibitions and displays explore themes including Bedouin culture, maritime trade, oil-era transformation, and contemporary nation-building, positioning NMoQ as a key stop for visitors interested in Qatar’s past and present.
Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art
Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art is dedicated to modern and contemporary art from Qatar, the Arab world, and the Arab diaspora, located in Doha’s Education City. Its collection and exhibitions span painting, sculpture, installation, photography, and new media, foregrounding artists and histories that have shaped Arab modernisms and contemporary practices.
Qatar Museums Gallery – Al Riwaq
Qatar Museums Gallery – Al Riwaq is a major exhibition venue for contemporary art, design, and architecture on Doha’s Corniche, adjacent to the Museum of Islamic Art. Operated by Qatar Museums, Al Riwaq is known for staging large-scale temporary exhibitions by internationally recognised artists and thematic shows that connect Qatar to global contemporary art debates.
The gallery’s expansive, flexible interior has hosted museum-scale exhibitions featuring artists such as Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, and others, as well as projects like “Lusail Museum: Tales of a Connected World” and exhibitions linked to Qatar Museums’ contemporary art initiatives. For visitors seeking the best contemporary art exhibitions in Doha, Qatar Museums Gallery – Al Riwaq is a central venue to follow within the Qatar Museums network.
QM Gallery Katara
Qatar Museums also operates QM Gallery Katara, a smaller gallery space in Katara Cultural Village that hosts exhibitions and collaborations.
Visiting information
Most Qatar Museums institutions are concentrated along the Doha Corniche and in Education City, allowing visitors to combine several museums and exhibitions in a single itinerary. Opening hours, ticketing, and access policies differ by venue, with some permanent galleries free to enter and special exhibitions or experiences requiring tickets, so travellers should consult the Qatar Museums website and individual ‘Plan Your Visit’ pages for the latest information.
Qatar Museums also commissions an extensive public art programme, including outdoor sculptures, installations, and murals at Hamad International Airport, along the Corniche, and in neighbourhoods across Doha, extending the contemporary art experience beyond museum walls.
Qatar Museums FAQs
What is Qatar Museums?
Qatar Museums is the national organisation responsible for developing and managing Qatar’s museums, galleries, heritage sites, and cultural initiatives. Established in 2005 and based in Doha, it oversees institutions such as the Museum of Islamic Art, National Museum of Qatar, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, and Qatar Museums Gallery – Al Riwaq, as well as several new museums currently in development.
How does Qatar Museums support contemporary art in Doha?
Qatar Museums supports contemporary art through Mathaf, Qatar Museums Gallery – Al Riwaq, QM Gallery Katara, artist residencies at the Fire Station, photography initiatives like Tasweer, and design hubs including M7 and Liwan. These institutions and programmes host exhibitions, residencies, and public events that showcase local, regional, and international contemporary artists and help position Doha as a major contemporary art destination.
What is Qatar Museums Gallery – Al Riwaq’s role within Qatar Museums?
Qatar Museums Gallery – Al Riwaq is a dedicated exhibition venue within the Qatar Museums network, focused on large-scale contemporary art, design, and architecture exhibitions. Located on the Corniche near the Museum of Islamic Art, it hosts major temporary exhibitions that bring international artists and ambitious curatorial projects to Doha.
Which museums belong to Qatar Museums?
Qatar Museums currently includes the Museum of Islamic Art, National Museum of Qatar, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Qatar Museums Gallery – Al Riwaq, QM Gallery Katara, and 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, among other sites. It is also responsible for future museums such as Art Mill Museum, Lusail Museum, Dadu – Children’s Museum of Qatar, and the Qatar Auto Museum.
Where can I find information about Qatar Museums’ exhibitions and tickets?
Information on current exhibitions, events, opening hours, and tickets across Qatar Museums’ institutions is available on the Qatar Museums website and each museum’s “Plan Your Visit” and calendar pages. Visitors can browse by venue and date to plan their cultural itinerary in Doha and should always check online for the latest details on admission, concessions, and booking before visiting.
More Doha Museums and Galleries
A respected voice in contemporary art discourse.
Focusing on ambitious storytelling and insightful art-world commentary. Ocula Magazine publishes in-depth interviews, critical essays and timely analysis on the artists, exhibitions and ideas driving the global art world.
Learn more about Ocula Magazine
Showcasing the best of the art world.
Ocula partners with galleries from around the world to highlight their artists, artworks and exhibitions. Gallery membership is by application and invitation, with each member vetted by an independent panel.
Learn more about Ocula Membership
Specialises in the sale of major artworks.
Led by a team with deep ties to the world’s leading auction houses, galleries and collectors. Ocula’s advisory team offers bespoke services to high-net-worth clients from around the world who are looking to acquire the best of contemporary and modern art.
Learn more about our team and services