9 Must-Visit Museums In The Gulf States
The Gulf States are latecomers to the museum world, but this hasn’t stopped an explosion in museums and galleries in the past twenty years. The new museums across the countries of the Middle East remember thousands of years of Arab history and have been filled with highly prized artifacts to offer some of the best-curated collections in the world. Here is our guide to ten of most interesting and unusual museums in the area, from Qatar to Iraq and Bahrain to Saudi Arabia.
Bahrain
1. Qal’at al-Bahrain (Bahrain Fort)
Qal’at al-Bahrain (Bahrain Fort)
Iraq
2. Slemani Museum
Museum
Qatar
3. Museum of Islamic Art, Doha
Museum
Kuwait
4. Tareq Rajab Museum
Museum
Saudi Arabia
5. National Museum of Saudi Arabia
Building, Museum
Oman
Bait Al Zubair
This private museum was founded and funded by a single family, the Zubair’s, and was opened in 1998 to support the growth of national museums in Oman. The Bait Al Zubair collection is housed across three traditional buildings. One was the home of the personal advisor to the Sultans of Oman, while the third was opened in 2008 and was designed to reflect the architectural styles of 19th century Oman. The museum holds an impressive collection of weapons and traditional Omani and Islamic dress.
Bait Al Zubair, 100 Muscat, Oman, +968 24 736 688
United Arab Emirates
Dubai Moving Image Museum
The Dubai Moving Image Museum, dedicated to the history of the moving image, is the only museum of its kind in the Middle East. It was founded by Bahraini businessman Akram Miknas in order to share his extensive personal collection with the public. An 18th-century Dutch peep box viewer shares gallery space with early cinema cameras, shadow puppets, and the collection explores the human fascination with the moving image. Visitors move through the use of shadows for entertainment to camera obscura, magic lanterns, and early animation.
Dubai Moving Image Museum, Tecom, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, +971 4 421 6679
Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation
A majestic golden dome on the Sharjah corniche makes the Museum of Islamic Civilisation hard to miss. The long exhibition halls of the converted souq (market) house thousands of artifacts from the Emirates’ history, including manuscripts, coins, metalwork and ceramics. Exhibits are dedicated to the history of science and religion in the country, and a tearoom offers visitors a chance to relax under the beautiful mosaic ceiling.
Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation, Corniche Street, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, +971 66 565 5455
By Barbara Speed
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