Permanent galleries
Work through the galleries by region and period, from early Islamic ceramics to Mughal jewellery.
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Museum of Islamic Art, Doha
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In short
I. M. Pei's limestone Museum of Islamic Art stands on its own island at the end of Doha's Corniche, with metalwork, ceramics, glass and manuscripts from across the Islamic world. Non-resident adults pay QAR 50; residents and children 16 and under go free. Doors open at 9 AM, later on Fridays, and the museum is closed on Wednesdays. Allow two to three hours.
The Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) is Qatar Museums' flagship museum of art from the Islamic world, set on an artificial island at the southern end of the Doha Corniche. I. M. Pei's limestone building holds objects from the 7th to the 20th centuries, from Spain to Central Asia. It suits first-time visitors to Doha, design lovers and anyone with a few hours before sunset in MIA Park.
I. M. Pei's building
MIA opened in late 2008 and received its first public visitors on 8 December 2008. Pei, who also designed the glass pyramid at the Louvre, was in his nineties when he took on the project. He found his inspiration in the ablution fountain of the 9th-century Ibn Tulun Mosque in Cairo and arrived at a stack of cubes and octagons stepping up to a central tower. The interiors are by the French firm Wilmotte Associates.
Inside, a curving double staircase rises through a five-storey atrium lit from the dome, and a great window on the north side frames the bay and the towers of West Bay. The museum closed for a year-long enhancement project and reopened in early October 2022, ahead of the FIFA World Cup, with reorganised galleries and more than 1,000 objects newly on display.
1,400 years of art from Spain to Central Asia
The collection spans about 1,400 years and runs from Spain and North Africa through Egypt, Iraq, Iran and Turkey to India and Central Asia. Galleries cover metalwork, ceramics, jewellery, woodwork, glass, ivory, carpets and textiles. Among the manuscripts is a leaf from the 10th-century Blue Qur'an, written in gold on parchment dyed deep blue. Special exhibitions rotate through the year, and the MIA Library holds more than 21,000 books on Islamic art.
Waterfront lawns and Richard Serra's 7
MIA Park surrounds the museum with about 290,000 square metres of waterfront lawns, cafés, a children's play area and Richard Serra's steel sculpture 7 at the end of a pier.
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Key information
🏛️Type: Museum of Islamic art spanning 1,400 years
📍Location: Artificial island off the Doha Corniche
📐Architect: I. M. Pei; opened in 2008
📚Library: MIA Library with more than 21,000 books on Islamic art
💰Currency: Qatari riyal (QAR)
🕕Time Zone: Arabia Standard Time (UTC+3)
🏛Managed by: Qatar Museums
Explore the area
MIA Park next to the museum
Souq Waqif 1 km
National Museum of Qatar 1.5 km
Doha Corniche outside the gate
Souq Waqif metro station (Gold Line) 1 km
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Plan your visit to Museum of Islamic Art, Doha
Dates, opening hours and how to get there are below. Booking ahead secures your preferred day.
Highlights Include:
Collection
- Manuscripts, ceramics, metalwork and textiles from three continents
- Glass, ivory and precious objects
- Rotating special exhibitions
Building
- I. M. Pei's geometric limestone design
- Five-storey atrium with a great window on the bay
- Views of the West Bay skyline
Around
- MIA Park and its waterfront
- IDAM restaurant by Alain Ducasse
What They Offer
Audio tours
Audio tours available
Dining
MIA Café IDAM by Alain Ducasse (top floor)
Library
MIA Library, 21,000+ books
Visit duration
2–3 hours
Timed entry required No
Atrium and skyline
Pause at the great window over the bay: one of Doha's best views of West Bay.
MIA Park
Finish with a walk in the 24-hour park on the waterfront.
Accessibility
Lifts and accessible routes; the museum publishes accessibility information.
Age limits
None.
What to pack
Ticket on your phone, passport or QID for reduced or free entry
What to wear
Comfortable shoes
Not allowed
Touching the works, food and drink in the galleries, flash photography, large bags, selfie sticks
Amenities
Café, restaurant, gift shop, library, cloakroom, taxi stand, limited parking.
Tips for visiting Museum of Islamic Art, Doha
- Carry your passport or QID, since ticket prices depend on residency status.
- Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered, as in other public buildings in Qatar.
- Visit late in the afternoon and stay for the sunset view of West Bay from the park.
- Check the Qatar Museums website for hours, which change during Ramadan and on public holidays.
- Combine your visit with Souq Waqif, a short ride away along the Corniche.
Driving
On the Corniche with limited parking that fills at weekends and closes during major MIA Park events.
Public transportation
Taxi stand at the museum; free shuttle bus; Souq Waqif metro station (Gold Line) is about 1 km away.
Address
The Museum of Islamic Art stands on its own island off the Doha Corniche, next to MIA Park. Souq Waqif is 1 km away and the National Museum of Qatar 1.5 km.
Opening Hours
- Monday09:00-19:00
- Tuesday09:00-19:00
- WednesdayClosed
- Thursday09:00-21:00
- Friday13:30-19:00
- Saturday09:00-19:00
- Sunday09:00-19:00
Last entry: About 30 minutes before closing
Closed on Wednesdays.
MIA Park is open 24 hours. Museum hours may change in Ramadan.
Special events
Major temporary exhibitions and the MIA Bazaar in the park in the cooler months.
Best times to visit
Morning, or Thursday evening until 9:00 PM; a late-afternoon visit ends with sunset in the park.
Best days to visit
Sunday to Tuesday.
Best months to visit
November to March for the park as well.
Admission tickets
Prices and how to get tickets.
Museum of Islamic Art: Entry Ticket
Official MIA ticket booked through Qatar Museums.
- Permanent galleries
- Special exhibitions (where included)
Ticket prices
Non-resident adults QAR 50, non-resident students QAR 25; free for Qatar residents and children 16 and under
Opening hours
Closed now · 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM · Last entry About 30 minutes before closing
Visitor policy
Cancellation and prepayment
Tickets are generally non-refundable; check the museum's booking terms.
Children and admission
Children 16 and under enter free.
Groups
Groups must book in advance with the museum.
Pets
Only assistance dogs are admitted.
Photography
Personal photography without flash is generally allowed in the permanent collection; some temporary exhibitions forbid it.
Bags
Large bags and suitcases must be left in the cloakroom or are refused; bags are checked at the entrance.
Smoking
Not permitted inside the museum.
Accepted payment
Online or at the desk by card. VISAMasterCard
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Travelers are asking
On Wednesdays. MIA Park stays open 24 hours.
Yes, Qatar residents with a QID and children 16 and under enter free.
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Stay in Doha
Where to stay near Museum of Islamic Art, Doha
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Need help?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Answers based on the Museum of Islamic Art's visitor information.
Prices & payment
Non-resident adults pay QAR 50 and non-resident students QAR 25. Qatar residents and children 16 and under enter free, so take a passport or QID to the desk. Check the Qatar Museums website for later changes.
General
The building was designed by the Chinese-American architect I. M. Pei, who also designed the glass pyramid at the Louvre. The interiors were designed by the French firm Wilmotte Associates. The museum opened in 2008.
The galleries display metalwork, ceramics, jewellery, woodwork, textiles, glass and manuscripts dating from the 7th to the 20th centuries, with objects from Spain and North Africa through the Middle East to India and Central Asia.
Yes. MIA Park surrounds the museum and covers about 290,000 square metres along the waterfront, with cafes, a children's play area and Richard Serra's tall steel sculpture 7 at the end of a pier.
Yes, personal photography without flash is generally allowed in the permanent collection. Some temporary exhibitions do not allow it.
It is a 10th-century Qur'an written in gold on parchment dyed deep blue. MIA displays a leaf from it.
Museum of Islamic Art, Doha is in Doha, Qatar. The street address and directions are under How to get there on this page.
Comfortable shoes.
Explore the area on this page lists 5 places around Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, with the distance to each.
Timing & weather
Allow two to three hours to see the main galleries at a comfortable pace, plus extra time if you want to walk through MIA Park or stop at the museum cafe. Temporary exhibitions may need more time.
MIA is closed on Wednesdays. It opens late, until 9pm, on Thursdays, and from 1:30pm on Fridays.
The best months to visit Museum of Islamic Art, Doha are November to March. The best days and times of day are covered under When to visit on this page.
Getting there
Take the Gold Line to Souq Waqif station, about 1 km from the museum. A free shuttle bus also runs, and there is a taxi stand.
Hamad International Airport (DOH) is the airport for Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, about 7.3 km away in a straight line.
Stay & facilities
Yes. IDAM, by Alain Ducasse, is inside the museum, and there is also a café.