Qatar is one of the Arab Emirates of the Middle East, sprawled on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. Qatar’s largest city, capital and the economic hub is Doha, which is also known as ‘ad-Dawha’.
Doha has a large concentration of expatriates from many countries representing both the orient and west. The city is thriving on oil and natural gas resources, and this is well portrayed in its cityscape with stunning skyscrapers featuring unique architectural tastes.
One such intriguing edifice can be discovered when you arrive at the harbor of Doha, resting on the southern end of Doha Bay. It is none other than the Museum of Islamic Art designed by Ieoh Ming Pei (also known as I. M. Pei) – a world renowned Chinese-American architect who won the Pritzker Prize and is known as the ‘Final Master of High Modernist Architecture’.
The Museum of Islamic Art’s exterior features earth tones, whereas at night when illumined it glows in golden hues, silhouetting gracefully against the dusky skies.
This magnificent design encompasses ancient Islamic architecture rendered in an innovative design, which stands out effortlessly amongst its counterparts. The Museum of Islamic Art houses an extensive collection of Islamic Art showcased in a 5,000 square meter floor area, in addition to a library, study and Islamic gardens.
The museum’s construction was completed by 2006, grandly inaugurated on 22nd November 2008 and has been open to the public since 1st of December 2008. Since its inception the museum has inspired the city of Doha to be developed as a cultural and educational hub of Qatar.
Amongst its massive collection of Arts, the main highlight of the museum is the artifacts once accumulated by the Royal family of Qatar – Al Thanis. When you visit the museum you can also observe a diverse assortment of artworks ranging from ceramics to jewelry, metal to wood works as well as glassware.
Above all you can even discover 600 year old ivory and silk relics inscribed with Arabic and Islamic writings. In addition you can also see charming home decor that used to adorn mansions and royal palaces centuries ago. The museum also provides various facilities and services including audio tours in various languages, to enlighten visitors.
You can conveniently visit the Museum of Islamic Art from a nearby Doha hotel. There are many Doha hotels such as Millennium Hotel Doha where you can take pleasure in a wide range of services and amenities. You can also visit many attractions dotting the neighborhood, while savoring the striking cityscape of Doha in Qatar.
