Mathaf Arab Museum of Modern Art

Mathaf Arab Museum of Modern Art

Mathaf Arab Museum of Modern Art
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About
Mathaf ('museum' in Arabic) is a new institution dedicated to Arab culture and creativity opened in Doha December 2010. Located near Education City, the museum is home to a permanent collection offering a unique and comprehensive overview of modern Arab art, and is poised to become a vital centre for dialogue and scholarship in the region.
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4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles212 reviews
Excellent
84
Very good
71
Average
34
Poor
12
Terrible
11

Aubrey Weisenhorn
4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023
Mathaf Museum of Modern Art in Qatar is seriously cool. It's like a treasure trove of modern art, with funky sculptures and colorful paintings. You'll feel like you're in an art wonderland. If you're into creativity and culture, this place is a must-visit in Qatar. 🎨🏛️🇶🇦
Written 26 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Intouchable
Winnipeg, Canada169 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Couples
This museum is a little off the beaten path from Central Doha, but is well worth the time and effort if you love art. Accessible by public transport if you have the time, or by taxi/Uber if in a rush, the museum is very modest in appearance from the outside and spartan in furnishings inside. However, the collections are world class and feature works of art that you wouldn’t see in typical museums in Europe or the Americas. The permanent collection was interesting and provocative, as was the temporary show on the art world in Beirut before the war. There was even an exhibition of photographs entitled “I am the traveler and also the road” by various young artists that was also worth seeing. All and all, a great experience, but with few places to sit or rest, and suffering from inadequate lighting here and there.
Written 13 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Eduardo Y
Sao Paulo, SP256 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022 • Friends
Interesting museum of Arab modern and contemporary art. Three floors, many different installations. During the World Cup the main exhibitions were:
- Almaha Almaadeed: Inspired by the Land
- Taysir Batniji (1966 Gaza): No Condition is Permanent
- Rubaiyat Qatar: One Tiger or Another
And from galleries 8 to 12, the permanent exhibitions.
Also some outdoor installations, including an Annex dedicated exclusively to contemporary art, called Majaz.
Written 26 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

無名
World8,170 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023
...in a long time and felt compelled to write this after my visit here. I pretty much echo everyone else comments about it being a great yet small showcase for Arab art. Part of the museum was closed as they were setting-up something new which made for a quick viewing of the exhibits that were open. I really can't speak much (meaning intelligently) about the art I did see. I'm not well versed in these matters. I guess I pretty much like something or don't. Actually, sometimes I get wrapped-up in the language of the descriptions. I did see this one piece that gave me some thought. I don't remember the name of the artist – I might speak to the reasons for that later - but it was titled "Egyptian Family." What struck me the most about this work was the two children in its forefront holding hands. As soon as I saw it, it occurred to me that I never held hands with my brother or sister - certainly not the steps and halves. I thought if children of this culture are able to love and bond like this, it’s definitely superior to mine. Maybe it’s just my family. I know you don't care about these personal aspects of me. What I want to tell you about this museum concerns the staff I met. Let’s start with Bashir who greeted me when I first walked in the door and was very gracious to give me great information about museums and their pricing in Doha. I mean he offered friendly helpful advice without me asking. Good man to have at the reception desk helping confused tourists such as myself navigate the things Doha has to offer. And then there was Mohis (?). I am sure I got his name wrong. I've never had a good memory for names, and my hedonistic sins certainly hasn’t made this problem any better. I apologize to him and will just refer to him as “M.” He is the museum librarian. What an incredible man and scholar! If I wasn’t cursed to live a sad, lonely life without the love of family and had children, I would want M to be their teacher – definitely. He seems to possess a wide, intense internal “database” of culture, history, and Arabic language amongst other things I’m definitely sure. Seemingly all aspects of everything. He possesses native proficiency in English, and I’m sure Arabic with both of these being second languages to him. We had an intense conversation concerning some Arabic words that were “used” in a description of an art piece I saw in Dubai about a year ago. I had talked to other people about these words and never quite understood what the artist was attempting to “contrast” or speak to in her work. M was able to clarify to me what no one else could. He really knows how to explain things in a clear, concise way. If I look back on my week in Qatar, M was certainly the highlight of human interaction there. Someone at this museum knows how to hire the right people. M: “Put down the book, and pick-up the…” Hey, maybe I’ll post this on Google Maps. More people read it than TripAdvisor. I don’t know. Anyway, good job Bashir. Good job M.
Written 1 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

VinnieLondon
Doha, Qatar11,805 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2022 • Friends
Gallery is located in education city area..only 20 minutes from Doha and connected by the metro service with connecting tram to the museum. It’s not a large gallery but very well presented and a great showcase for Arab artists. The current Kader Attia exhibition is very interesting and well worth a visit for this alone.
Written 11 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Clark Keny
Gold Coast, Australia1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2021 • Friends
Very mindful exhibit of high valence intelligent, thought provoking art from the Middle East. A must be seen for any person with an artistic penchant!
Written 12 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mrugesh_Kulkarni
Mumbai, India11 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
What a disappountment and waste of my money. Even after the renovation I do not think the place is worth it. Must avoid this place.
Written 2 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tea_Seasea
Doha, Qatar257 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021 • Family
Arab museum

Whilst they clearly stated on their website that the museum is open, it was closed when we visited. Also, the building was undergoing some renovations at the time. This organization needs to update their website accordingly.
Written 11 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Boothtel
Doha, Qatar206 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021
I visited the Gallery a few weeks ago and enjoyed the art work and exhibits. However the visit was totally spoilt by the intrusive security that patrolled the gallery. We were constantly followed around the halls and had security guards sometimes stading only a few meters away from us staring at us. I did confront the guard but nothing changed, the guard even peaking from around pillars and corners to spy on us. Very very unpleasant. This caused us to leave early. Then when waiting in the lobby for our taxi to leave I took a few photos in the entrance area. A different security guard then came to me and said I could not take photos of half of the lobby but one half was OK to. There were no "no photo" signs on display. Again a heavy handed and draconian encounter with both of these incidents totally ruining our experience. I will not return and have advised others the same.
Written 26 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

VinnieLondon
Doha, Qatar11,805 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2021 • Friends
The Museum is located in Education City, only around 15 minutes drive from Doha with parking immediately outside museum building and an electric tram service connecting Education City buildings right outside (restricted service during Covid period). You have to book on line in advance, then simply show your booking on your phone on arrival and they will scan the ticket. Free entrance for Nationals and Residents, QAR 50 for visitors at time of review. Permanent exhibition is on first floor via lift or stairs. Layout of Galleries doesn’t flow that well from entrance but nice display spaces once inside each gallery. Lots of interesting works by Arabic Artists with a broad range of themes and forms. There was no exhibition showing on the ground floor during visit which would have enhanced the experience but there is a programme for the year ahead. Nice little gift shop with interesting items and a nice cafe with terrace currently closed under Covid restrictions. There is also a library and resources centre with friendly staff. Some interesting stone sculptures outside the museum worth spending some time with in the cooler months. Really enjoyed the experience and well worth a visit if modern art interests you.
Written 5 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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MATHAF ARAB MUSEUM OF MODERN ART: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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