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Provided by: Visit Qatar
Provided by: Visit Qatar
Provided by: Visit Qatar
Provided by: Visit Qatar
Provided by: Visit Qatar
Provided by: Visit Qatar
Provided by: Visit Qatar

Our travel guides are free to read and explore online. If you want to get your own copy, the full travel guide for this destination is available to you offline* to bring along anywhere or print for your trip.

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Asia Qatar Qatar Art & Culture Souq Waqif Art Center

Overview

Souq Waqif Art Center

The guide was updated: 2024-07-10

Located in Doha’s central market, the Souq Waqif Art Centre showcases traditional Islamic and Middle Eastern art, offering workshops and studio spaces for aspiring artists seeking to learn the fundamentals of various art disciplines. The centre has distinguished itself for its direct relationship with the public through art presentations, exhibitions, and public courses throughout the year.

Useful Information

Address: Souq Waqif Art Center, Ali Bin Abdulla Street, Doha
Opening hours: Sat–Thu 8am–2pm / 4pm–10pm; Fri 4pm–9pm
Website: swacqatar.net
Public Transport: The nearest metro station is Souq Waqif, (Gold line), or Msheireb (Red line, Gold line, Green line)
Phone: +974 4417 6204

Our travel guides are free to read and explore online. If you want to get your own copy, the full travel guide for this destination is available to you offline* to bring along anywhere or print for your trip.

*this will be downloaded as a PDF.

Price

€4,95

Purchase

National Museum of Qatar

National Museum of Qatar

Qatar is a heart-stirring treasure trove of art and culture like never before. With over 80 stunning public art pieces, exquisite architecture stretching up into the sky and over horizons, and sprawling museums that fuse past and present, take your time to discover our cultural riches with these insider guides. Interconnected galleries take visitors on a visual journey through Qatar, telling the story of the country from the pre-historic to the modern era. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel, the National Museum of Qatar draws inspiration from and recreates the naturally occurring crystal formations known as the “desert rose”. The design features interlocking disks that span a whopping 430,500 square feet and is built around Sheikh Abdullahbin Jassim Al-Thani’s original palace and seat of the government for 25 years.

Fanar — Qatar Islamic Cultural Centre

Fanar — Qatar Islamic Cultural Centre

One of the most widely known landmarks in Doha, the spiral-shaped Fanar building is centrally located near Souq Waqif and the Museum of Islamic Art. It can be seen from a distance, especially in the evenings when its lighting accentuates the unique design of this beautifully unique piece of architecture. Fanar was once the largest mosque in the country. While it remains a functioning mosque, Fanar also hosts religious, education-related and social activities. At the cultural centre visitors can enjoy traditional coffee and learn about the Qatari lifestyle, the country’s heritage and culture.

Fire Station

Fire Station

Abutting Doha’s central Al Bidda Park, the Fire Station was built in 1982 and used as a fire station for over thirty years. In December of 2012, the last fire engine was removed, and the space became part of the Qatar Museums network. Converted into a contemporary art space, the gallery showcases art and artists, engages the local community, and nurtures emerging talent through its artist in residence program.

Imam Abdul Wahhab Mosque

Imam Abdul Wahhab Mosque

As the largest mosque in Qatar, Imam Abdul Wahhab, also known as the Qatar State Grand Mosque, was inaugurated in 2011. Its simple lines and graceful arches are nonetheless eye-catching, and characteristic of Islamic architectural tradition. The mosque houses three libraries, separate prayer and ablution halls for men and women, and special halls for Quran memorisation, and can hold over 30,000 worshippers.

Katara Cultural Village

Katara Cultural Village

Located at the point where the Middle East meets Asia, the compact peninsular state of Qatar has long been a melting pot of cultures. With a staggering array of cultural venues, including museums, galleries and public art, Qatar offers a potent mix of tradition and modernism. Spelt anciently, Katara is a self-styled cultural village nestled between the gleaming financial district of West Bay and the half-moon towers of The Pearl residential neighbourhood. Bordered by a vast beach on one side and the twin Katara Hills on the other, Katara is Doha’s go-to destination for art, culture and cuisine.

Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art

Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art

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.

Msheireb Downtown

Msheireb Downtown

The world’s first sustainable downtown regeneration project, Msheireb Downtown revives Doha’s old commercial district with a new architectural language. Comprising over 100 buildings with commercial and residential properties as well as retail and cultural offerings, the stunning Barahat or courtyard lies at the heart of Msheireb Downtown. It includes niche retail and a variety of al fresco dining options. The Msheireb Museums are a project by Msheireb Properties and celebrate the history of Qatar through four heritage houses in the heart of Msheireb Downtown Doha. The area includes entertainment venues, Qatar Academy Msheireb and four hotels, Mandarin Oriental Doha, Al Wadi Hotel MGallery, Park Hyatt Hotel and a Boutique.

Museum of Islamic Art

Museum of Islamic Art

The world’s first sustainable downtown regeneration project, Msheireb Downtown revives Doha’s old commercial district with a new architectural language. Comprising over 100 buildings with commercial and residential properties as well as retail and cultural offerings, the stunning Barahat or courtyard lies at the heart of Msheireb Downtown. It includes niche retail and a variety of al fresco dining options. The Msheireb Museums are a project by Msheireb Properties and celebrate the history of Qatar through four heritage houses in the heart of Msheireb Downtown Doha. The area includes entertainment venues, Qatar Academy Msheireb and four hotels, Mandarin Oriental Doha, Al Wadi Hotel MGallery, Park Hyatt Hotel and a Boutique.

Qatar National Library

Qatar National Library

Designed by Rem Koolhaas, the diamond shaped exterior of the library belies its spacious interior, which prioritizes light and visibility. The bookshelves themselves are an integral part of the building, rising out of the floor and blending into the architecture. Innovative technologies are seamlessly integrated throughout the building, enhancing accessibility and efficiency.

Al Riwaq Gallery

Al Riwaq Gallery

Located within MIA, Al Riwaq Gallery hosts exhibitions by the Qatar Museums network and has featured several groundbreaking exhibitions by artists such as Mohamed Al Mahdi, Damien Hirst, and Jaffar Al Oraibi.

Souq Waqif

Souq Waqif

Built on the site of Doha’s century old trading market, on the banks of the Wadi Musheireb, Souq Waqif feels like an anachronism, particularly against the backdrop of Doha’s dramatic modernist skyline. With its mud-daubed buildings, the market harkens to a bygone era while remaining a hub of activity, where commerce and gossip collide. Souq Waqif’s winding alleys offer a tableau of traditional street life.

Souq Waqif Art Center

Souq Waqif Art Center

Located in Doha’s central market, the Souq Waqif Art Centre showcases traditional Islamic and Middle Eastern art, offering workshops and studio spaces for aspiring artists seeking to learn the fundamentals of various art disciplines. The centre has distinguished itself for its direct relationship with the public through art presentations, exhibitions, and public courses throughout the year.

Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum

Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum

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.

Smoke by Tony Smith

Smoke by Tony Smith

Smoke by Tony Smith sits at the entrance of the Doha Exhibition & Convention Centre (DECC). Open and inviting, profound yet serene, the giant geometric components of this 24-foot-tall sculpture dominate the space. This striking 24-foot aluminium sculpture comprises many geometric patterns. The assembled piece has five tetrahedrons, triangular pyramids with four triangular faces, six straight edges, four vertex corners, and 45 octahedrons, three-dimensional shapes with eight plane faces and eight triangular faces. Although the structure is painted black, its surface reflects sunlight and reveals shadows, making the shapes in the shadows even more conspicuous.

Falcon Souq

Falcon Souq

Visit The Falcon Souq at Souq Waqif to explore Qatar’s national bird up close. Not only will you be able to photograph them, but you will also have the opportunity to have the majestic bird sit on your arm - under professional supervision.

Al Rekayat Fort

Al Rekayat Fort

One of several desert forts from the 19th century, Al Rekayat Fort on the northwest coast of Qatar was built to protect water resources. Remnants of a village can be found nearby. Named after the Arabic word for ‘well’, Al Rekayat Fort contains a five km-deep freshwater well from which villagers painstakingly drew water. The fort is unusual for its low height (only three metres). Each corner of the central courtyard features a staircase leading up to one of three rectangular and one cylindrical watchtower, with expansive views of the rocky landscape juxtaposed against the sparkling waters of the Arabian Gulf.

Al Zubarah Archaeological Site

Al Zubarah Archaeological Site

Adjacent to the walled coastal town of Al Zubarah, this 20th century fort is the youngest and most prominent feature of the Al Zubarah Archaeological Site, a UNESCO World Heritage site. A pristine example of a typical Arab fort, its one-meter-thick walls warded off invaders and helped keep rooms cool during the hot summer. This important site houses residential palaces, mosques, courtyard houses, fishermen’s huts, streets, double defensive walls, a harbour, a canal, and cemeteries.

Al Jassasiya Rock Art Site

Al Jassasiya Rock Art Site

Located to the northeast of Qatar, Al Jassasiya is the most impressive of Qatar’s dozen rock-carving sites. It comprises a total of 874 carvings, known as ‘petroglyphs’, the earliest thought to date from Neolithic times. What may appear to be a deserted sandstone quarry is a heritage site packed with mystery. Discovered around 1957, the rocky desert scape has distinct carvings stretching across an area 700 meters wide. The Al Jassasiya rock carvings feature various shapes, including rosettes, fish, ostriches and cup marks. Carvings of dhow boats, which remain in use, offer a direct link to a long-ago past. The cup marks are believed to represent vessels used to store pearls or play ancient board games known as Al Haloosa or Al Huwaila. The site is located in the North of Doha, an easy drive around 60 km away. You can drive north on Al Shamal Highway until you reach Exit 66. Take a right and continue at the intersection where you take a left turn. After about three kilometres, you will see the large fenced area that is Al Jassasiya, which you will have to walk into from this point.

Dahl Al Misfir

Dahl Al Misfir

Located west of Doha, in the centre of the peninsula, Dahl Al Misfir is one of Qatar’s most exciting natural sites. At 40 meters deep, it is considered the largest and deepest, yet accessible cave in Qatar. Formed largely of fibrous gypsum, it sometimes gives off a faint, otherworldly glow. Dahl Al Misfir is believed to have been formed 325,000 to 500,000 years ago during the mid-Pleistocene Era. Known for emitting a moon-like glow, this phosphorescence is the result of gypsum deposits found in the centre of the peninsula. These give rise to the geological phenomena known as ‘desert roses’ (clusters of roughly rose-shaped gypsum crystals).

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