Abdulla Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center

The Abdulla Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center stands in the Al Souq area of central Doha, close to the Corniche and within walking distance of Souq Waqif. It was inaugurated on 12 January 2008 by Qatar's then prime minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani.

For many years it was known as Fanar, the Qatar Islamic Cultural Center, and many residents still call it the Spiral Mosque. It now carries the name of Sheikh Abdulla bin Zaid Al Mahmoud, an Islamic scholar who served as Qatar's chief judge and founded the country's judicial system. Locals often shorten the name to Bin Zaid.

The building's best-known feature is its spiral minaret, which winds upward around the outside of the tower in a design inspired by the minaret of the Great Mosque of Samarra in Iraq. It is the tallest mosque in Qatar and was once also the largest, a title later taken by the Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Mosque. At night the lit minaret is a familiar sight on the Doha skyline.

Besides daily prayers, the centre runs religious, social and educational programmes. It offers Arabic and Islamic studies classes, publishes religious material and has a library, and it has long been one of the places in Doha where non-Muslim visitors can learn about Islam and local culture.

Visitors are welcome outside prayer times, with no entry fee. The centre opens from 8 am to 8 pm Sunday to Thursday and from 2 pm to 8 pm on Friday and Saturday. Modest dress is required, with arms and legs covered and a headscarf for women. Souq Waqif and the Corniche are a short walk away, so the centre fits easily into a half day in old Doha.

What can visitors do at the centre?

The centre offers guided tours, classes, exhibitions and traditional Arabic coffee for visitors, and staff explain mosque etiquette before you go in. Arabic courses are available for non-native speakers, and non-Muslim visitors can attend Friday prayers conducted in English.

Inside, the Traditional Hall is laid out like a Bedouin tent, the Civilization Hall covers Islamic history, and a newer hall shows VR films. Two cultural programmes run regularly. The Qatari Majlis session is offered in English, Spanish and Russian, and a coffee morning in English is open to women only. The centre can also arrange visits to the nearby Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Mosque, the country's largest. For bookings, the centre's phone number is +974 4444 7444.