New Museums Coming to Qatar: Exciting Cultural Attractions on the Way
August 5, 2026 | 10:53 AM
Qatar’s museum landscape is set to expand with four exciting new museums currently under development by Qatar Museums. Designed by internationally renowned architects, these future attractions will showcase art, culture, education, and innovation while creating new experiences for residents and visitors alike. From the country’s first interactive children’s museum to landmark destinations dedicated to Orientalist art, modern art, and automotive heritage, these projects will further strengthen Qatar’s position as a leading cultural destination in the region.
New Museums Coming to Qatar at a Glance
Dadu, Children’s Museum of Qatar
Dadu, Children’s Museum of Qatar is being developed as Qatar’s first national museum designed specifically for children and families. Located within Al Bidda Park, the museum is intended to inspire learning through play, creativity, exploration, and experimentation rather than traditional display-based exhibitions. The project will feature highly interactive indoor galleries where children can engage with science, technology, nature, engineering, art, and Qatari culture through hands-on experiences. Outdoor spaces, including the already opened Dadu Gardens, encourage environmental learning and imaginative play in a natural setting. Educational programmes, workshops, family activities, and school partnerships will form an important part of the museum’s mission to nurture curiosity, creativity, and lifelong learning. While the museum building is still under development, it represents one of Qatar Museums’ most ambitious family-focused cultural projects.
- Location
Al Bidda Park
talktodadu@qm.org.qa
- Website
Art Mill Museum
Art Mill Museum is Qatar’s future museum dedicated to international modern and contemporary art and is being developed on the historic former flour mill site along the Doha Corniche, creating a cultural triangle with the Museum of Islamic Art and the National Museum of Qatar. Designed by the Chilean architecture studio ELEMENTAL, led by Pritzker Prize winner Alejandro Aravena, the museum preserves significant industrial structures while transforming the waterfront into a major cultural destination. The museum will display works dating from 1850 to the present, including paintings, sculptures, photography, architecture, design, fashion, crafts, films, and multimedia installations from around the world. Beyond its galleries, the campus will include a creative village, public gardens designed by VOGT Landscape Architects, educational spaces, artist facilities, and venues for cultural events. Scheduled to open in 2030, the Art Mill Museum aims to become one of the largest and most significant museums for modern and contemporary art in the Middle East.
- Location
Doha Corniche
- Website
Lusail Museum
Lusail Museum will be one of Qatar’s flagship cultural institutions when it opens on Al Maha Island in Lusail. Designed by the internationally acclaimed Swiss architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron, the museum’s distinctive circular form is inspired by the traditional Middle Eastern souk, creating interconnected spaces that encourage exploration and cultural exchange. Covering approximately 11,000 square metres across five levels, the museum will house what is expected to be the world’s largest collection of Orientalist paintings and photography, alongside objects that explore the movement of people, ideas, and cultures across continents over several centuries. In addition to exhibition galleries, the museum will feature a library, auditorium, café, museum shop, prayer facilities, and landscaped public areas. Sustainability is a key aspect of the project, with solar panels, water-efficient systems, green spaces, and locally sourced materials incorporated into the design. Construction is expected to be completed in 2029.
- Location
Al Maha Island, Lusail
- Website
Qatar Auto Museum
Qatar Auto Museum is a future museum celebrating the history, culture, technology, and social impact of the automobile. Designed by the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) under the leadership of renowned architect Rem Koolhaas, the 30,000-square-metre museum will be located along the Lusail Expressway, between 5/6 Park and Katara Cultural Village, in the former exhibition centre that hosted the first Qatar Motor Show in 2011. The museum will feature permanent and temporary exhibitions exploring the evolution of automobiles, motorsport, automotive design, engineering, innovation, and future mobility. It is intended to serve not only as an exhibition venue but also as a centre for research, education, public programmes, and community engagement, inspiring future generations of designers, engineers, collectors, and automotive enthusiasts. Although an official opening date has not yet been announced, the Qatar Auto Museum is expected to become a major attraction for visitors interested in transportation history and innovation.
- Location
Lusail
- Website
