Adventures at the National Museum of Qatar

National Museum of Qatar

Museum Pk St, Doha, Qatar

Tickets to the National Museum of Qatar

The National Museum of Qatar is such an architectural wonder. Designed by the Pritzker Prize winning French architect, Jean Nouvel, the building looks like an artwork of interlocking disks and petals. The design is inspired by the desert rose crystal, a naturally occurring crystal formation found in Qatar's landscape.

The gorgeous palm trees that surround the "desert rose"

Once inside, the museum features 11 interconnected galleries which aim to tell the story of Qatar, from its geological origins to its emergence as a modern nation. The galleries are in a chronological order and the 1.5 km path through the entire sequence of gallery is intuitive and engaging.

Our first stop brings us through Qatar's ancient landscape and the formation of the Gulf, with fossil specimens that date back 400 million years, which is one of the oldest specimens found in Qatar. There are immersive audio-visual displays that illustrate the tectonic shifts and the formation of the Arabian Peninsular as well as interactive exhibits that highlight Qatar's unique land and sea environments.

Next up brings us into settlements and the history of Bedouin traditions and how the sea and pearl industry shaped the Qatari society. The archaeological gallery showcases tools, pottery and jewelry from 8000 BCE to 1500 CE as well as exhibits on the Bedoin life, traditional tents, camel saddles and navigation instruments. We spent the most time here understanding the history of Qatar before oil came into the picture.

The last galleries bring us through the discovery of oil and the rapid development of Qatar as a country and its vision for the future. These galleries focus on the 20th and 21st centuries and beyond and the changes brought upon Qatar by oil wealth.

We also enjoyed the external exhibit which was a Qatari Village exhibit where the atmosphere of a traditional Qatari settlement is recreated:

Overall

We enjoyed ourselves very much at the National Museum of Qatar. We didn't really know what we were going to see when we got there, but I am so glad we got to explore the museum. Juxtaposing the jagged exteriors, the interiors of the museum features curved walls, sloping floors and sloping spaces. The galleries are seemingly undefined as you meander from one area to the next very naturally.

Would We Recommend?

Yes! The National Museum of Qatar itself is a standout architecture which I think is worth visiting by itself. Once inside, you are fully immersed in the full height videos as well as the interactive panels. The curated selections were visually attractive, innovative and also educational. We thought it was very well designed and definitely a museum for all ages.

Tickets to the National Museum of Qatar

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