Middle Eastern architecture is in a class of its own. The region goes above and beyond in its physical aesthetic, whether it’s by constructing extravagant buildings, developing one-of-a-kind mosques or in this case, building some of the world’s most beautiful museums.
From the recreation of Paris’ iconic Louvre to ‘grand’ sites filled with thousands-of-years-old artefacts, the Middle East and North Africa are home to some of the most iconic museums in the world.
Don’t believe us? Read on to find out more:
Louvre, Abu Dhabi
Imitation is the biggest form of flattery, and Abu Dhabi’s biggest display of respect and appreciation for France’s art scene was with the development of the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
As part of an agreement between the UAE and France, the Louvre opened in the Saadiyat Cultural District in 2017 to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western art.
Jean Nouvel and his team designed the museum to give the impression of a “floating dome” and with perforated the roof with web patterns throughout allow sun to filter through. Inside, the museum has 12 galleries, temporary exhibition spaces and a Children’s Museum.
The Louvre Abu Dhabi exhibits over 600 artworks and set a record for attractions in Saadiyat with over 2 million visitors in its first two years.
Oman Across Ages, Manah
Oman Across Ages is one of Oman’s newest museums and one of the biggest in the Middle East. Opened in 2023 in the country’s historical area of Manah, the museum plays homage to the Sultanate’s geographic history, its 1970 Renaissance and its current national and international status.
Described as a world-class visitor destination, the building itself is inspired by Oman’s Al Hajar Mountains which surround the site. Around the outside, the museum has a walk-through garden bordering lakes, and inside, visitors will find 9,000-square-metres of exhibition space as well as conferencing facilities, a library and research centre.
Borderless Jeddah
It sounds like a museum out of Star Wars and it kind of looks like one too. Saudi Arabia’s Borderless Jeddah opened in June this year and is the first teamLab museum to open in the Middle East.
Located in Jeddah Historic District, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Borderless Jeddah featured 10,000 square-metres of exhibition space with more than 80 independent and immersive artworks. Each piece moves out of rooms, relates to other works, influence each other and at times, intermingle without boundaries. This creates the ‘borderless’ environment – it’s like a non-stop piece of art.
Online, teamLabs says visits can “immerse their bodies in borderless art. Wander, explore with intention, discover and create a world with others”.
Grand Egyptian Museum, Giza
The first museum that comes to mind when you think of the Middle East is no doubt the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza.
One of the most popular sites in the region, the Grand Egyptian is the world’s largest museum dedicated to a single civilisation, covering over 3,000 years of Ancient Egyptian history.
If you think you learned everything you need to know about the Ancient Egyptian in ancient history classes, think again.
The museum soft opened in 2023, around 12 years after its initial open date, and spans across 500,000-square-metres. There are over 100,000 Ancient Egyptian objects housed within the site including the 5,600 pieces discovered in Tutankhamun’s tomb.
Although the museum is located around 2km from the Giza Pyramid complex, a glass wall within the complex offers visitors an incredible view of Egypt’s jaw-dropping structures.
Qala’at Al-Bahrain, Manama
In the heart of Bahrain’s ancient Qala’at Al-Bahrain is a museum which tells of the story of the site which dates as far back as 2,300BC.
Opened in 2008, museum captures five significant periods in Qala’at’s history through over 500 artefacts discovered at the fort. The museum covers two floors and includes a main courtyard with ha café that overlooks Bahrain’s coastline.
If the ancient history buffs aren’t impressed by that, the museum is surrounded by a picturesque seascape and lush greenery that escaped urban encroachment.
Royal Automobile Museum, Amman
For a museum that captures a different side of the Middle East, check out Jordan’s Royal Automobile Museum in Amman.
Opened in 2003, the museum is tribute to the late King Hussein, capturing his passion for cars while also retelling key events in Jordan’s history.
In the first museum of its kind in the Middle East, visitors will find 80 cars, motorcycles and other vehicles, along with history pictures, videos and descriptions from the late King’s 47-year reign.
Museum of the Future, Dubai
What does the future hold? You don’t need a crystal ball to tell you, you just need a trip to Dubai!
The Museum of the Future, which opened in the UAE city in 2022, captures a hopeful future for the world over 23 floors made up of immersive exhibitions, multisensory spaces, and engaging experiences.
Transporting visitors five decades into the future, the Museum envisions a world where flying cars exist (although we’re not too far from that), robots support human life and more.
On the outside, the museum is a tourist-worthy structure in itself, constructed in a distinctive torus-shape with windows in the form of an Arabic poem written by Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Museum of Islamic Art, Doha
For one of the world’s most extensive collections of Islamic art, check out Qatar’s aptly named Museum of Islamic Art in Doha.
Made up of 18 galleries across 45,000-square-metres, the museum has over 1,000 objects on display capturing Islam’s 1,400-year-old history across three continents.
As impressive on the outside, the museum overlooks the south end of Doha Bay and offers panoramic views of the Persian Gulf. The building itself is decorated by Islamic arts and a large metallic chandelier welcomes visitors in the lobby.
