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Updated April 2024
Designed by the Pritzker Prize-winning architect, I.M. Pei, Qatar’s Museum of Islamic Art showcases an exhilarating collection of Islamic books, ceramics, wooden works, glass, enamel pieces, and numerous other fascinating artifacts. This iconic building has swiftly become a symbol of Qatar, holding significant importance within the country.
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Continue reading this Wego article to know more about the reopening of the Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar.
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Qatar Museum of Islamic Art
Image © mia.org.qa
The Museum of Islamic Art first opened in 2008 and has since been noted for its dynamic collection of Islamic art spanning 1,300 years. The Museum has collected, preserved and exhibited masterpieces from the 7th to the 19th century and contains many prized collections such as early Islamic books, ceramics, glass, miniatures, ivory, Arabic calligraphy, jewellery, metal work, textiles, and woodwork.
In 2022, Qatar’s Museum of Islamic Art reopened after a one-year renovation period, reintroducing its permanent galleries which had been revamped to delve deeper into the great traditions of Islamic craftsmanship. These galleries were organized according to historical and cultural themes, as well as geographical and temporal periods. Visitors were treated to the sight of over 1,000 newly acquired objects and never-before-seen works of art. With its redesign, the Museum offered a more engaging, accessible, and educational experience.
Museum of Islamic Art architecture
The Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar was designed by the Pritzker Prize-winning architect I.M. Pei with a touch of conventional Islamic influence in the architecture of the Museum. The Museum design inspiration was the ablution fountain (sabil) from the 13th-century Mosque of Ahmad Ibn Tulun in Egypt.
Connected across a central courtyard are a five-storey main building and the two-storey Education Wing. There is also a 164-feet high domed atrium, concealed from outside view by the walls of a central tower. The structure stands in the sea around 195 feet off Doha’s Corniche and is built of fine materials like Magny and Chamesson limestone from France, Jet Mist granite from the U.S and stainless steel from Germany.
The galleries have been designed by Jean-Michel Wilmotte from Paris, who has designed custom furniture for the Museum, inspired by I.M. Pei’s architectural style. Most exhibition rooms have specially designed cases and lighting to protect the fragile antiquities on display.
Museum of Islamic Art new collections
The museum already boasted a collection of international masterpieces displayed in galleries encircling a five-storey-high domed atrium. However, for its reopening, it has incorporated a diverse array of new collections and exhibitions.
- over 1,000 objects are newly acquired and never-before-seen works of art.
- a new section that features Islam in Southeast Asia will explore the relationships between different cultures and ideas across the Islamic world.
- ‘Baghdad: Eye’s Delight’ exhibition (26 October to 25 February) will introduce the influential city and its heritage.
- the new and restored wooden interior of the Damascus Room (19th century) highlights different aspects of Ottoman life.
Visitors will also find a new space dedicated to the making of the Museum and an immersive gallery for them to learn more about what inspired its architecture. The Museum’s prized artefacts, including the Franchetti Tapestry, the Blue Quran, the Varanasi necklace, the Cavour Vase and the Ramayana manuscript, will be accommodated in the first gallery on the second floor.
Museum of Islamic Art location
Located within the MIA Park at the southern end of Doha Bay, the Museum of Islamic Art is an offshore Museum in Qatar.
Museum of Islamic Art opening hours
The Qatar Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) welcomes visitors seven days a week from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, with the exception of Fridays, when it opens at 1:30 PM and closes at 7:00 PM.
Museum of Islamic Art tickets
Entrance to the Qatar Museum of Islamic Art requires a valid ticket which can be purchased online and is only permitted for a single entry on the date of admission.
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