Doha: This holy month of Ramadan is also an opportunity for individuals to visit museums at night, where they can tour exhibitions, galleries, and gift shops.
Several Qatar Museums (QM) facilities are open until midnight during the holy month. The hours on Saturday to Thursday are 10am to 2pm and 8pm to 12am, and on Friday, from 8pm to 12am. Museums will be closed on the first day of Eid, and will reopen the following day with regular operating hours.
Under the umbrella of QM are the National Museum of Qatar, the Museum of Islamic Art, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, and the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museums.
Each museum has ongoing exhibitions. These include: Beirut and the Golden Sixties: A Manifesto of Fragility at Mathaf; Lusail Museums: Tales of a Connected World at Al Riwaq; and Experience Al Jazeera at the Fire Station.
The Peninsula spoke with numerous residents who had recently visited museums and exhibitions. They said knowing about the country’s heritage and past enriches their knowledge of what Qatar is.
Sammie from Wales said that she and her family visited the National Museum of Qatar on Friday last week and that there is something that piques their interest every time they visit it.
“I am with my five-year old daughter and eight-year old son and introducing them to the museums, letting them engage through the artworks and display for me somehow enhances their way of thinking, and I can see that they love it whenever we come here. The architecture of the museum is breathtaking always, and upon coming in, it’s a whole new world.”
She added that despite having lived in Qatar for six years, there are still certain things she doesn’t know about the country. “It’s always great to know the country extremely well, appreciate the culture, study the traditions, and one way to do that is to visit museums.” Fernando from Ecuador, who has visited the Museum of Islamic Art twice, believes that knowing a country’s culture is crucial. “I’ve come here twice and haven’t seen all of the galleries; there’s so much to study and understand that two hours in a day isn’t enough.” He highlighted that museums and galleries are still relevant and important today, even if we live in a digital age.
“We may learn from past events, reflect on the years that have passed; they are valuable resources to the community, ” he said.
QM is also offering guided tours of the Lusail Museum: Stories of a Connected World exhibition until April 29 and the Museum of Islamic Art Ramadan walk-in gallery visits through April 18. Both are free to attend and do not require registration.
To visit the museums and exhibitions, book via QM website.
Ticket is free of charge for Qatar and GCC residents, children under age of 16, and One Pass holders.
