Qatar Museums Authority

The Emir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, is eager for Doha to become a cultural force in the Middle East. Three years ago, he named his daughter, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, as Chair of the Qatar Museums Authority (QMA) Board of Trustees. Sheikha Mayassa is a graduate of Duke University, and is currently pursuing a master's degree at Columbia University.

With the Sheikha Mayassa and Abdulla al Najjar (the Chief Executive Officer) at the helm, the QMA is the force behind the cultural ambitions of Doha. With the unveiling of the much-anticipated Museum of Islamic Art in November 2008, Doha will soon become a cultural destination for art lovers around the world. While the MIA is clearly the centerpiece of the QMA’s cultural ambitions, plans for other museums include a photography museum, a national library, and the Qatar National Museum, to be designed by Jean Nouvel.

Presented by the QMA, the Tribeca Film Festival Doha will be another important step in the cultural progression of Qatar. While inspiring a new generation of filmmakers in the region, the Festival will foster a sense of community through culture, discussion, and entertainment. In addition to presenting a world-class slate of films, The Doha Conversations will encourage communication across cultures, with speakers ranging from world leaders to celebrities to ordinary citizens.

Museum of Islamic Art

Presented by the Qatar Museums Authority—in partnership with the British Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of New York, the Louvre, the Royal Collection of Morocco, Egypt's Museum of Islamic Art, and the Cartier Collection of France—the newly-unveiled Museum of Islamic Art offers a collection of Islamic artifacts that rivals the best in the world. Designed by legendary Chinese architect I. M. Pei, the museum is a force to be reckoned with, comprising over 114,000 square feet. With its mixture of architectural influences—Assyrian, Babylonian, Egyptian—the museum itself projects the cultural aspirations of Doha.

Offering artifacts spanning thirteen centuries of Muslim and Arabic history—from Spain to India—the collection will include textiles, jewels, paintings, and countless other forms of decorative arts. One of the most-anticipated items is a jade amulet given by Indian king Shah Jahan to his wife Mumtaz, also the inspiration for Jahan’s construction of the Taj Mahal.

The museum is set to become the iconic representation of Doha and Qatar. Located on an island accessible by a 200-foot pedestrian bridge, the MIA presents spectacular 360-degree views from both water and land.

IM Pei

In the museum world, IM Pei is best known for the modern pyramid added to the Musee du Louvre in Paris in 1989. Now 91 years old, Pei was coaxed out of retirement to work on the Museum of Islamic Art in 1999. For the MIA, Pei found inspiration in Islamic buildings, including the Mosque of Ahmad ibn Tulun in Cairo and the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain.