Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum

Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani spent decades collecting and built a fort-like complex on his farm northwest of Doha to hold it, and the result runs to tens of thousands of objects across Islamic art, manuscripts, coins, carpets, furniture, weapons, fossils and around six hundred vehicles. The scale is the point: it is one man's collecting rather than a curated selection, and the range is enormous.

History

Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani opened the museum in 1998, in three buildings raised over a historic fort at Al Samriya, to preserve and promote Qatar's cultural heritage; Kees Wieringa was its director from 2017 to 2021 (Wikipedia, Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum).

The main sights

• The vehicle collection - around six hundred cars, including early and unusual models.
• The Islamic art and manuscripts - the collection's oldest and most valuable material.
• The scale - tens of thousands of objects across every category.
• The fort building - a purpose-built complex in the desert holding it all.

When to go

November to March is the comfortable season for the drive and the outdoor sections. The museum keeps set hours and closes on some days. Booking ahead is advised.

Practical notes

The scale is overwhelming and the labelling is thin in places. It is a private collection rather than a curated museum. Getting there needs a car and takes around forty minutes each way.

Nearby

Al Shahaniya is west, and Doha is southeast.

Key facts