Qatar
Museum of Islamic Art
Welcome to Doha, Qatar! The Museum of Islamic Art sits on its own man-made island, its stacked stone shapes glowing white against the blue water and the city skyline.
Why is it famous?
Architect I. M. Pei designed it when he was 91 years old, after traveling across the Muslim world for six months looking for inspiration.
He based its stepped, geometric shapes on a 9th-century mosque in Cairo, Egypt.
An island of its own
Pei insisted the museum needed to stand on its own artificial island, surrounded by water on every side.
Rows of palm trees line the path leading up to its grand entrance.
Amazing facts
Inside, the museum holds Islamic art from three continents, spanning over 1,400 years of history.
Its treasures include items from as far apart as Spain, Egypt, Iran, and India.
Quick facts
- Inside, the museum holds Islamic art from three continents, spanning over 1,400 years of history.
- Its treasures include items from as far apart as Spain, Egypt, Iran, and India.
- In 2022, it became the first museum in the Middle East to be certified carbon-neutral.
- It opened in 2008 and quickly became one of Doha's most photographed landmarks.