Things to do

Discover the Museum of Islamic Art

The internationally renowned Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) is the crown jewel of Qatar’s museums.

Architecture, Museum

Museum of Islamic Art

On a purpose-built island abutting the Corniche, Doha’s waterfront promenade, the building itself is an architectural wonder designed by Pritzker Prize winning architect I.M. Pei. The museum contains four floors of permanent and temporary exhibitions, gift shop, a café and a haute cuisine restaurant IDAM by renowned chef Alain Ducasse, on the fifth floor. It is also home to a heritage library, with a collection of 21,000 books including 2000 rare editions in both Arabic and English.

How to get there?

  • The Museum of Islamic Art is easily accessible via car or a taxi (Uber is widely used, alternatively Karwa). The distance from Hamad International Airport is approximately 15 minutes. 

  • The nearest metro station is Qatar National Museum, Gold line.

     
Museum of Islamic Art
Get directions

Address

MIA Park, the Corniche

 Phone

+974 4422 4444

Website

https://mia.org.qa/en/

Tickets

  • One Pass Holder- Free
  • Adult and GCC Residents QAR 50
  • Adult – Qatar Residents - Free
  • Child (age 16 and under) Free

The museum hosts a variety of cultural activities throughout the year, including performances by the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, film screenings and art and calligraphy classes for the community. The lush MIA park next to the museum overlooks the Arabian sea, and is a favourite spot for family picnics, walking, running or outdoor yoga classes. A weekend bazar in the cooler months features over a hundred stalls selling everything from food and drinks to handicrafts, clothing and jeweller

Highlights of your visit

  • Shahnameh Manuscript

  • Planispheric Astrolabe

  • Carved Emerald Plaque

Museum of Islamic Art
Museum of Islamic Art
Museum of Islamic Art
Museum of Islamic Art
Museum of Islamic Art
Museum of Islamic Art
Museum of Islamic Art

MIA commands breathtaking views of the city’s skyline. Inside the museum, visitors should look for the Shahnameh Manuscript. Written a thousand years ago by Persian poet Ferdowsi, the Book of Kings recounts the histories and myths of the pre-Islamic Greater Persian Empire.  See one of the world’s first navigational tools, the Planispheric Astrolabe, made in 10th century Iraq during Abbasid rule.  Be dazzled by the Carved Emerald Plaque, a large emerald from the 16th century.  Owned by India’s Mughal emperors, an Arabic prayer is inscribed on one side while a floral motif is carved on the other.

Conceived by Pritzker Prize winning architect I.M. Pei, best known for designing the glass pyramid in the forecourt of the Louvre in Paris, the museum sits on a purpose-built island abutting Doha’s central waterfront promenade and is surrounded by MIA Park’s extensive green spaces.

The building was inspired by the Sabil, or ablution fountain, in the 9th century Mosque of Ahmad Ibn Tulun in Cairo, Egypt.  Traditional Islamic patterns (domes, geometric patterns, arches, water features) meld with modern architecture to produce this hallmark museum in Qatar. 

MIA showcases 14 centuries of Islamic art and artefacts from around the world.  

MIA is surrounded by vast green lawns and amazing views of the Doha skyline and the Arabian sea. It is centrally located, walking distance from numerous tourist hotspots including Doha Corniche where one can take a ride on the traditional dhow boats. The traditional market Souq Waqif is a few minutes walk away, with shops, restaurants and entertainment aplenty, while the Gold Souq is located nearby.  The Emiri Stables are at one end of Souq Waqif, while the grand Amiri Diwan, the seat of government in Qatar, sits on a tract of land abutting Al Bidda Park. 

Useful information

Get directions

Address

MIA Park, the Corniche

 Website

https://mia.org.qa/en/

Phone

+974 4422 4444

Price range

$

Prices:

One Pass Holder- Free; Adult QAR 100; Adult – Qatar Residents and GCC Residents - Free; Child (age 16 and under) Free

 Opening times

Sun, Mon, Tue, Sat: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Wednesday: Closed

Thursday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM 

Fridays: 1:30 PM – 7:00 PM

Not to miss

Museum of Islamic Art

The Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum

Located outside the city in a traditional style fort at Al Samriya Farm, the Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum houses the Sheikh’s personal collection, with a body of works including Islamic art, Qatari heritage, vehicles, handmade carpets, and coins & currency, from over four continents.

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Museum of Islamic Art

Msheireb Museums

Within the refurbished development of Msheireb in the oldest part of the capital, the Msheireb Museums celebrate the history of Qatar. Four heritage houses – Bin Jelmood House, Company House, Mohammed Bin Jassim House and Radwani House – were restored by property developer Msheireb and transformed into museums that explore key players and periods in Qatar’s history and evolution.

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Museum of Islamic Art

Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art

Established in 2010, Mathaf providing a uniquely Arab perspective on contemporary art. The museum’s permanent collection features more than 9,000 works by notable artists from Arab world from the 1840s to the present day. Landmark artists from countries and regions connected to the Arab Peninsula are represented, encompassing Africa, Asia and Europe.

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Things to know before travelling

  • Visas

    Want to travel visa-free? Check if you qualify here.
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  • Getting here

    Planning your trip to Qatar? Check how to get here.
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  • Travel tips

    Make the most of your visit with our handy travel guide.
    Read more

  • Getting around

    From a dhow boat to our world-class metro, here’s how to easily explore Qatar.
    Read more

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Museum of Islamic Art
Museum of Islamic Art