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Four historic heritage houses in the heart of Msheireb Downtown Doha examine the history of Doha.
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.
Msheireb Museums are accessible by car or public transportation. They are also walking distance from the historic Souq Waqif.
Get directions: Click here
The nearest metro station is Msheireb- Gold line, Red line, Green line.
Each house in the Mshereib Museums is built in a traditional Qatari style, with colonnaded courtyards, typical since the early 19th century. A restored family home, Radwani House best illustrates this, with rooms structured around a central open space. The house allows visitors to look at traditional family life in Qatar, and the changing norms in domestic life.
To understand the forces which shaped not only Qatar but much of the world beyond, visitors should head to Bin Jelmood House. The former home of a slaver, Bin Jelmood House examines slavery in all its forms across history. Through engaging audio-visual content, including testimonials by descendants of slaves, Bin Jelmood provides an unflinching portrayal of slavery, along with its social and economic impact. An onsite library established in partnership with Qatar National Library, supports learning and offers a space for research.
The one-time headquarters of Qatar’s first oil company, Company House tells the story of the petroleum industry through the men who built it. Video footage of workers complements the displays, showing the evolution of the industry and the country over the years.
The Msheireb Museums offer guided tours for individuals, groups and institutions, educational tours for schools, universities and youth centres. These can be tailored to meet specific needs. The museum spaces are also available for workshops, events and conferences.
The museums take visitors on an audio-visual journey through Qatar’s social and economic past, as well as its culture.
Located in the newly refurbished neighbourhood of Msheireb, the Museums are anchored by the National Archives on one end. The Barahat Mshereib, a large courtyard space ringed by cafes and restaurants, is at the other end of the museums. A spacious mosque is nestled amidst the museums, whilst the headquarters of the Amiri Guards are in the vicinity. Souq Waqif, a Doha landmark bustling with activity, is walking distance from the museums.
Msheireb Museums are open every day except Sunday.
Monday to Thursday: 09:00am – 05:00pm
Friday: 3:00pm – 9:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am – 5:00pm
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.
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.
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. These diverse and eclectic objects tell the story of the museum’s founder, Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim, as well as of humanity in general.
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