Museum of Islamic Art, Art museum in Doha, Qatar
The Museum of Islamic Art stands on an artificial island off Doha Corniche and presents a facade of pale limestone with geometric forms rising across five levels. Inside, large halls and galleries lead through rooms displaying textiles, metalwork, manuscripts and precious stones from different periods.
Architect I.M. Pei designed the building in 2008 and drew inspiration from the ninth-century Ahmad Ibn Tulun Mosque in Cairo. The structure was built on an island created specifically for this purpose in order to separate the museum from the rest of the city.
The name refers to the artistic traditions of communities stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The collections display calligraphy, ceramics and jewelry from countries such as Persia, Turkey and North Africa, with each piece reflecting the craftsmanship of its region of origin.
The museum opens from Sunday to Thursday in the morning and on Friday and Saturday in the afternoon. Visitors can rely on air conditioning, accessible entry points and seating areas throughout the galleries.
A specialized library within the building holds 21,000 books, including 2,000 rare editions in Arabic and English. The collection focuses on art history, architecture and cultural practices from several centuries.
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