Doha

Museums & Exhibitions

Enjoy a 4-hour guided morning tour of Al-Shahaniya to get a taste of Qatar’s history and unique culture.  You’ll first be picked up from your accommodations in Doha and head North to Al-Shahaniya, where the Sheikh Faisal Museum is located. This museum is one of the largest private museums in the world, owned by Sheikh Faisal, whose intention was to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of Qatar. The museum showcases over 15,000 historical pieces, including traditional Qatari artifacts, as well as paintings, international art, and cars.   From there, you’ll head to the Shahaniya Camel Racing Track to see camels being trained or to take a walk around the area and see camels in their natural environment.

Your cultural adventure begins when you’re picked up from your hotel in Doha and taken to your first stop of the tour, the Museum of Islamic Art. This specialized museum houses a large collection of Islamic manuscripts, textiles, ceramics and other works, the origin of which ranges from Spain to Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, India, and Central Asia. The museum has emerged as one of the world’s most encyclopedic collections of Islamic Art and was designed by award-winning Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei.  Next, indulge in the depths of Qatari and Islamic Cultur at the Bin Zaid Cultural Centre or, as the locals call it, Al Fanar. Inspired by the Great Mosque of Samarra in Iraq, the centre explains and teaches Islam to non-Muslims. You’ll then continue on to the Msheireb Museum, a celebration of history via four restored heritage houses that reveal unique aspects of Qatar’s cultural and social development.  Last but not least, you’ll head to the National Museum of Qatar to explore its rich, remarkable collection of archaeological and heritage objects: manuscripts, documents, photographs, jewelry and costumes, which together comprise a comprehensive picture of Qatar’s past, present, and future.

After pickup from your hotel, you'll head for Al Khor, which means "sea on three sides" in Arabic. The city is older than Doha, but far smaller in size. It used to be the center of the pearling industry in Qatar. Today it boasts a scenic harbour where you can find traditional fishing dhows and a museum showcasing the fishing, pearling, and dhow-building industries. Next you'll visit a dhow repair yard where traditional dhows, which are still being used commercially in Qatar, are maintained and repaired. Learn about process of building and maintaining dhows at this specially built boat yard. From the dhow repair yard, head north to the Al Takhira Mangroves. The mangrove colony is both a major tourist attraction and an important natural environmental resource for Qatar. It provides a natural habitat and a sanctuary for birds, fish, and other animals while also preventing coastal erosion. The final stop on your tour is at Al Zubarah Fort, an important UNESCO listed archeological site on the north-western coast of Qatar. Al-Zubarah was once a flourishing port and a center of trade, fishing and pearling. An international team of archaeologists, led by the Qatar Museums Authority, have uncovered many of the artifacts which are displayed in the renovated fort.

Perfect for art and museum enthusiasts, this guided tour in Doha will allow you to explore Qatar’s marvelous museums, featuring the history of Qatar and The Islamic Empire. Choose from hotel, airport, or port pickup and drop-off options. Witness the development of modern Doha and the possibilities of the future Doha by visiting the Msheireb Museums. View old equipment used for pearl hunting, oil refining, and more. See digital illustrations of modern Doha. A stop at the Msheireb Enrichment Center at Doha Corniche will also give you an idea of old Msheireb and Doha. Visit the Museum of Islamic Art to see artifacts from the 7th to 19th century, which were used in various countries such as China, India, Spain, Syria, and more. The Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Arts features a permanent collection of artworks from the early 1840s to the present day, and further promotes the understanding of Arab art through talks, lectures, and learning programs. Situated in a former school in Doha’s Education City, the Mathaf is the perfect place to get an idea of the most recent developments in the world of Arab art. At the end of your tour, get dropped off back at your pickup location.