Located on the east coast of the Persian Gulf, Doha is Qatar’s most populous city and its financial hub. Its architecture is largely inspired by the country’s arid landscape, Islamic culture and geometric shapes.
Below is our list of the MUST-SEE Architecture in Doha. We hope you find it useful as you drive its sun-soaked streets; there’s a map at the bottom to guide you around. If you want to see your photo featured, hashtag #AVONTUURA or #mustseearchitecture on Instagram.
Onwards!
Qatar National Library
Qatar National Library contains Doha’s National Library, Public Library and University Library, and preserves the Heritage Collection, which consists of valuable texts and manuscripts related to the Arab-Islamic civilization. The public library will house over a million books and space for thousands of readers over an area of 42,000 m2. The library is part of the Education City, a new academic campus which hosts satellite campuses from leading universities and institutions from around the world.
Read more about the project here >
Visitor Information
Architect: OMA
Built: 2017
Type: Library
Address: Qatar National Library, Doha, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours: 24/7
Website: www.qnl.qa/
Qatar Foundation Headquarters
Visitor Information
Architect: OMA
Built: 2017
Type: Office
Address: 5825, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
Website: qf.org.qa
Qatar National Museum
The immersive and experiential NMoQ tells the story of Qatar and its people from more than 700 million years ago through to today, giving voice to Qatar’s rich heritage and culture and expressing a vibrant community’s aspirations for the future. The new museum embraces, as its centerpiece, the restored historic Palace of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani (1880-1957), son of the founder of modern Qatar: a building that in former times was both the home of the Royal Family and the seat of government, and was subsequently the site of the original National Museum. Jean Nouvel’s new 40,000-square-meter (430,000-square-foot) building incorporates the Palace while seamlessly integrating innovative artworks commissioned from Qatari and international artists, rare and precious objects, documentary materials, and interactive learning opportunities.
Read more about the project here >
Visitor Information
Architect: Jean Nouvel
Built: 2016
Type: Museum
Address: Museum Park St, Doha, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
Website: www.qm.org.qa/en/project/national-museum-qatar
Qatar National Convention Center
Visitor Information
Architect: Arata Isozaki
Built: 2011
Type: Convention Center
Address: Ar-Rayyan, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
Website: www.qncc.qa/
Museum of Islamic Art
The Museum of Islamic Art, an architectural tour de force designed by internationally acclaimed Pritzker Prize-winning architect I.M. Pei (1917-2019), was the first institution opened by Qatar Museums in 2008 under the leadership of Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa. Prominently positioned on its own reclaimed island on the Corniche, specifically chosen by Pei, the Museum is a beacon for Islamic arts and a platform for international dialogue and exchange bridging past and present, East and West.
Read more about the project here >
Visitor Information
Architect: I.M. Pei
Built: 2008
Type: Museum
Address: Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours: Varies (refer to website)
Cost: Free
Website: www.mia.org.qa/en/
Qatar Science and Technology Park
Visitor Information
Architect: Woods Bagot
Built: 2009
Type: Office, Institutional
Address: Qatar National Convention Centre, Ar-Rayyan, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
Cost: Free
Website: qstp.org.qa/
Doha Metro Network
UNStudio created a vision for the station designs of the all-new Doha Metro Network, and collaborated with the Qatar Rail Architecture Department on the development of an ‘Architectural Branding Manual’: an extensive set of design guidelines, architectural details and material outlines to assure the spatial quality and identity of the network.
Read more about the project here >
Visitor Information
Architect: UNStudio
Built: 2020
Type: Metro Station
Open to the Public: Yes
Cost: Free
Nobu at Four Seasons Hotel Doha
Visitor Information
Architect: Rockwell Group
Built: 2015
Type: Restaurant
Address: Diplomatic St, Doha, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
Cost: Free
Website: fourseasons.com/doha/dining/restaurants/nobu_doha/
Sidra Medicine
Visitor Information
Architect: Pelli Clarke & Partners
Built: 2018
Type: Women and Children’s Hospital
Address: Al Gharrafa St, Ar-Rayyan, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
Website: fourseasons.com/doha/dining/restaurants/nobu_doha/
Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies (QFIS)
Visitor Information
Architect: Mangera Yvars Architects
Built: 2015
Type: Educational
Address: 8C8W+WQ5, Ar-Rayyan, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
Website: hbku.edu.qa/en/cis
Al Jazeera Network Studio Building
Visitor Information
Architect: Veech x Veech
Built: 2018
Type: Office
Address: Al Jazeera Arabic Building, Doha, Qatar
Open to the Public: No
Al Janoub Stadium
Visitor Information
Architect: Mangera Yvars Architects
Built: 2015
Type: Educational
Address: 8C8W+WQ5, Ar-Rayyan, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
Website: hbku.edu.qa/en/cis
Al Thumama Stadium
Visitor Information
Architect: Ibrahim M. Jaidah, Heerim
Built: 2015
Type: Sports Stadium
Address: 6GPJ+8X4, Doha, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
Al Bayt stadium
Visitor Information
Architect: Albert Speer
Built: 2021
Type: Sports Stadium
Address: MF2Q+W4G, Al Khor, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
Hamad International Airport Passenger Terminal Complex
Visitor Information
Architect: HOK
Built: 2014
Type: Airport
Address: 7J67+9G4, Doha, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
M7 Cultural Forum
Visitor Information
Architect: John McAslan + Partners
Built: 2021
Type: Cultural
Address: 7GPH+P33, Abdullah Bin Thani St, Doha, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
Website: m7.org.qa/en/
Doha High Rise Office Tower aka Burj Doha
Visitor Information
Architect: Jean Nouvel
Built: 2012
Type: Commercial
Address: Corniche Street, West Bay Doha, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
Zig Zag Towers
Visitor Information
Architect: MZ & Partners
Built: 2013
Type: Residential
Address: 9GHG+5CR, Doha, Qatar
Open to the Public: No
Mandarin Oriental Hotel and Residences
Visitor Information
Architect: John McAslan + Partners
Built: 2021
Type: Hotel, Residential
Address: Barahat Msheireb Street, Doha, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
Website: mandarinoriental.com/en/doha/
Architect: John McAslan + Partners
Built: 2021
Type: Hotel, Residential
Address: Barahat Msheireb Street, Doha, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
Website: mandarinoriental.com/en/doha/
Architect: MZ & Partners
Built: 2013
Type: Residential
Address: 9GHG+5CR, Doha, Qatar
Open to the Public: No
Architect: Jean Nouvel
Built: 2012
Type: Commercial
Address: Corniche Street, West Bay Doha, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
Architect: John McAslan + Partners
Built: 2021
Type: Cultural
Address: 7GPH+P33, Abdullah Bin Thani St, Doha, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
Website: m7.org.qa/en/
Architect: HOK
Built: 2014
Type: Airport
Address: 7J67+9G4, Doha, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
Architect: Albert Speer
Built: 2021
Type: Sports Stadium
Address: MF2Q+W4G, Al Khor, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
Architect: Ibrahim M. Jaidah, Heerim
Built: 2015
Type: Sports Stadium
Address: 6GPJ+8X4, Doha, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
Architect: Mangera Yvars Architects
Built: 2015
Type: Educational
Address: 8C8W+WQ5, Ar-Rayyan, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
Website: hbku.edu.qa/en/cis
Architect: Veech x Veech
Built: 2018
Type: Office
Address: Al Jazeera Arabic Building, Doha, Qatar
Open to the Public: No
Architect: Mangera Yvars Architects
Built: 2015
Type: Educational
Address: 8C8W+WQ5, Ar-Rayyan, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
Website: hbku.edu.qa/en/cis
Architect: Pelli Clarke & Partners
Built: 2018
Type: Women and Children’s Hospital
Address: Al Gharrafa St, Ar-Rayyan, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
Website: fourseasons.com/doha/dining/restaurants/nobu_doha/
Architect: Rockwell Group
Built: 2015
Type: Restaurant
Address: Diplomatic St, Doha, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
Cost: Free
Website: fourseasons.com/doha/dining/restaurants/nobu_doha/
Architect: Woods Bagot
Built: 2009
Type: Office, Institutional
Address: Qatar National Convention Centre, Ar-Rayyan, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
Cost: Free
Website: qstp.org.qa/
Architect: I.M. Pei
Built: 2008
Type: Museum
Address: Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours: Varies (refer to website)
Cost: Free
Website: www.mia.org.qa/en/
Architect: Arata Isozaki
Built: 2011
Type: Convention Center
Address: Ar-Rayyan, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
Website: www.qncc.qa/
Architect: OMA
Built: 2017
Type: Office
Address: 5825, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
Website: qf.org.qa
Architect: OMA
Built: 2017
Type: Library
Address: Qatar National Library, Doha, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours: 24/7
Website: www.qnl.qa/
Architect: Jean Nouvel
Built: 2016
Type: Museum
Address: Museum Park St, Doha, Qatar
Open to the Public: Yes
Website: www.qm.org.qa/en/project/national-museum-qatar
