Top 10 Museums in the Gulf Worth Visiting: Art, History and Big Ideas

The Gulf has become an amazing place with lots of investment in culture over the past two decades. We have some of the best top 10 museums in the Gulf . They offer incredible architecture and tell genuine stories of the area. Whether you love art, history or technology there are ten reasons why you should go inside these museums.

Top Museums in the Gulf

•Louvre Abu Dhabi -(opened 2017) Beautiful museum with a huge dome that has silver lighting creating a raining effect through the palm trees. The museum brings together art from various cultures.

•Museum of Islamic Art (Doha)- This museum was designed by I. M.Pe i and is located on an island. It shows manuscripts, ceramics and metal work from all over the Muslim world.

•National Museum of Qatar (Doha) -The museum was inspired by the ‘desert rose’ crystal structure found in the sand. The museum uses film and artefacts to show the story of Qatar from pearl diving to the present day.

•Mathaf (Doha)- Arab Museum of Modern Art. Located in an old school building. Showcases modern Arab artists.

•Museum of the Future (Dubai)– The building is covered in Arabic calligraphy. You can explore thoughts about technology and the future.

Museums telling you the story of the Gulf:

•Etihad Museum (Dubai)– Tells you the story of how the seven emirates joined together in 1971.

•National Museum of Saudi Arabia (Riyadh)- 8 different galleries showing the history of mankind from the beginning to today.

•Bahrain National Museum (Manama)– Shows the ancient Dilmun civilization and traditional crafts on the island.

•National Museum of Oman (Muscat)– Tells you about the maritime, trading and everyday life of Oman.

•Tareq Rajab Museum (Kuwait)- Private museum showcasing jewellery, costumes and calligraphy. A very personal and relaxing experience.

Top Tips

Make sure you check what days each museum is open as some are closed on certain days. Many offer online ticketing to save you time. Be modestly dressed and allocate at least 2 hours for the larger museums.

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