Located outside the city in a traditional style fort at Al Samriya Farm, the Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum houses the Sheikh’s personal collection, with a body of works including Islamic art, Qatari heritage, vehicles, handmade carpets, and coins & currency, from over four continents. These diverse and eclectic objects tell the story of the museum’s founder, Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim, as well as of humanity in general.

Established in 1998, the Faisal bin Qassim Museum is home to over 15,000 items. The museum’s superb collection features artefacts from the Jurassic age, up to the present day. The museum contains a traditional Syrian home brought in from Damascus and recreated. Fully furnished, it comprises of a courtyard and two living spaces, displaying beautiful tile and lattice work. Two model Qatari homes contain items from Sheikh Faisal’s own home. It is an intensely personal collection, illustrating the founder’s own interests and tastes, and a life rich in experience.

The FBQ Museum is divided into several sections. Noteworthy rooms include the Quran room, with a large number of Qurans, as well as a kiswah, the cloth which covers the Ka’aba, Islam’s holiest site. Over 700 carpets showcase weaves, dyes and patterns from around the world, whilst a car museum contains more than 600 antique vehicles with everything from steam cars to trucks and convertibles. A clothing hall displays clothing and accessories from different parts of the region, and antique furniture and musical instruments complement the collection, while the walls groan with art and photographs.

Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim is an important player in Qatar, promoting the heritage and culture of the country. The FBQ museum traces the history of Qatar’s people, and the impact it has had on its society. Sheikh Faisal is a hugely successful businessman, with variegated holdings around the world. As the museum attests, he is an avid antiques collector. The objects which form the FBQ Museum have been amassed during his travels around the world.

Deep in the heart of the city of Doha stands Al-Koot fort. Built in 1927 by Sheikh Abdullah bin Qassim Al-Thani, who governed Qatar between 1913 and 1949, the fort was created to protect the nearby Waqif souq from would-be thieves.

The courtyard mosque is one of the massive fort's most interesting features, mostly due to what it is missing: walls and a roof. Since the mosque was often used by prisoners, its plan had to be modified so guards could keep a watchful eye on them, even during prayers. Despite the lack of physical structure, the 'mehrab' still faces the 'Kaaba' in Mecca.

Al-Koot fort has a square courtyard surrounded on all sides by a high wall. Circular towers are found in three corners and a rectangular one in the fourth. The towers are crowned with traditional Qatari-style battlements and triangular-based ledges with slits called machicolations that guards used to shoot at enemies.

Around the courtyard, a number of doors lead to prison cells. One significantly larger door leads to a high-security, windowless cell that was reserved for the most dangerous criminals.

The north and south sides of the fort have wide 'iwan', which are porticos overlooking the courtyard through square arcades. In the southern portico there is a deep well that was used as a water supply for cleaning.

External stairs on the corners of the courtyard lead to the first floor which consists of a wide promenade. The walls are peppered with groups of gunfire holes, each one angled in a different direction so that soldiers could shoot at enemies attacking from any side.

Planning a visit
The Al-Koot fort is open by appointment. To schedule a visit, call 442 4143. Do not miss a visit to Waqif Souq, where you can find anything and everything. It is located behind Al-Koot fort, on Grand Hammad Street.

estled in the heart of Qatar’s capital city Doha on an ancient trading site, Souq Waqif Doha is a gorgeous paradise for those who wish to experience the true essence of shopping the traditional way in Qatar. The marketplace was established over a hundred years ago and has been a prominent landmark in Doha since then. Boasting of its fine shopping experience and numerous traditional Qatari buildings, Souq Waqif attracts travelers from all around the world and is a place one should definitely consider visiting.

Souq Waqif is among the most popular heritage sites in Qatar that beholds a rich history. Apart from being a market place for locals since the past 250 years, this is also a landmark for tourist in the country. Souq Waqif in Qatar ranks on the top for being the traditional market since ages where one can discover the art, craft and the aroma of traditional species.

Before understanding the history of this heritage market, let us understand what Souq Waqif means. While Waqif means standing, Souq is an Arabic name for “Market”. So, this standing marketplace in Qatar is a hub for traders and vendors selling everything from the spices, cinnamon, cumin, clothes, fish wood and more.

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Established in November 2012, the National Library in Qatar was formed by the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development. It was Her Highness Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser, the Chairperson of Qatar Foundation who announced the plan. Later, the Library was inaugurated on 16 April 2018 by His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani. Being a chamberlain of national heritage, culture and Qatar's History, the Library is preserving every detail about the country for the citizens. Apart from being the research center of Qatari culture and heritage, the National Library Qatar offers a glimpse to the history of the entire Arabian Gulf.

Talking about the collection and source, the Library has a vast source with more than 500,000 periodicals, eBook, newspapers, and around a million books. These resources are offering every vital information that can aid in a better future of Qatar and its people. The qualified management here includes staff as teachers or researchers who are an expert in organizing academic programs and ethical service for the people.

The vision behind the Qatar National Library Doha is to be one of the leading learning and research center of the world. The Library aims at being an institute for promoting human's imagination and discovery over time. The Library was opened with a mission to create a platform where every heritage of Arabian gulf could be preserved along with offering a center for social learning.

Adjacent to the walled coastal town of Al Zubarah, this 20th century fort is the youngest and most prominent feature of the Al Zubarah Archaeological Site, a UNESCO World Heritage site. A pristine example of a typical Arab fort, its one-meter-thick walls warded off invaders and helped keep rooms cool during the hot summer. This important site houses residential palaces, mosques, courtyard houses, fishermen’s huts, streets, double defensive walls, a harbour, a canal, and cemeteries.

The fort overlooks the ruins of a once bustling pearling and trading town which bore witness to fierce tribal battles in the 18th century as powerful empires fought for regional dominance. Today, the fort has been transformed into a museum where visitors can explore artefacts from the pearl diving era.