An unforgettable museum is a sum of many parts: the most significant being an impressive building and a rich collection of artefacts. The best museums in the Middle East meet all the criteria: from world-class architecture and impressive art collections, to unique takes on preserving the past. At these cultural destinations, architecture, interiors and history come together to express distinct point of views that leave visitors inspired and in awe… Start planning your visit now.
Since opening in 2017, the Louvre Abu Dhabi has aspired to be for the Middle East what its Parisian sibling is for France: a bastion of national culture. It’s made a great start, welcoming visitors in their millions and offering a diverse rosta of exhibitions (to date, Impressionism followed by Bollywood; coming soon, an exploration of Cartier’s Islamic inspirations). Many visitors are lured by French architect Jean Nouvel’s extraordinary building, a seemingly floating dome suspended over tidal pools that suggests a museum on the sea. The web-patterned dome casts magical dappled shadows inside; this high-tech structure is tessellated with 7,580 aluminium stars.
Opened in 2009, Sharjah Art Foundation now looks like a true pioneer of mindful design, both in its re-use of historic buildings from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and in its multi-layered blend of exhibitions, experiences and architectural excellence. Located in Sharjah’s historical quarter, it boasts galleries, shops and restaurants. To its mix of older buildings, it has added two contemporary structures: one with a permanent installation and another housing artists’ studios. A big draw is the Flying Saucer, a 1970s Brutalist landmark, where you’ll find a café and library. However, you may need a few days to take in all the attractions.
A bold name deserves a bold building – something delivered with aplomb by Dubai practice Killa Design. Envisioned as an incubator of scientific research, the Museum of the Future is a place to stretch your mind - one exhibit invites visitors to imagine life in 2071. The eye-shaped building itself is already iconic: constructed using cutting-edge robotic technology and parametric design (a process based on algorithms), it’s 77 metres high but has no internal pillars, and is clad with 1,024 steel panels, the same as the basic unit of digital information stored on a computer. Symbolic LED calligraphy on the façade heightens its landmark appeal.
Another impressive regional monument by architect Jean Nouvel to make our list of the best museums in the Middle East, the National Museum of Qatar is modelled on the desert rose found in the Qatari landscape, its crystalline form wrapped around Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani’s historic palace, which has been meticulously restored. This fusion of old and new is reflected in the museum’s displays: currently, installations by modern icons Pipilotti Rist and Olafur Eliasson are juxtaposed with explorations of Qatari history and society, represented visually, with soundscapes, and even through scent. There are specially commissioned films by international directors, too, which play beautifully on the building’s curved walls.
The soon to be inaugurated Grand Egyptian Museum sits on a 120-acre site, on the edge of the first desert plateau between the Great Pyramid of Giza – the only surviving wonder of the ancient world – and Cairo, the Grand Egyptian Museum forges a visual connection between Egypt’s past and present.
It’s not strictly a museum, but there are few spectacles more arresting than the Maraya concert hall, named the world’s largest mirrored structure by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2020. Designed by Milanese architects Gioforma, it’s located in the ancient capital city of AlUla, a desert landscape dotted with oases. Rising from the rugged terrain like a mirage, the cube-shaped building is covered in 9,470 square metres of mirror, and features a giant retractable window for open-air concerts ('maraya' means mirror in Arabic). Having already hosted the likes of Alicia Keys and Andrea Bocelli, alongside pioneering art exhibitions, Maraya also makes a memorable dining venue, thanks to its restaurant and rooftop terrace.
Rounding up our list of the best museums in the Middle East is the Museum of Islamic Art, set by Doha's pristine corniche. The last major commision of the acclaimed Chinese American architect I. M. Pei, it is home to Qatar's world-class collections of Islamic art from the 7th to the 20th centuries. After a ten-month facilities enhancement project, which also saw many of its permanent collection galleries – that feature historic manuscripts, metalwork, ceramics, jewellery, precious stones and glass – reimagined, it reopened to the public in October 2022.
