Doha’s landmark buildings include the Msheireb quarter, Education City and the Museum of Islamic Art on its artificial island. The last – designed by IM Pei of Louvre pyramid fame – has the world’s largest collection of Muslim art, dating from the 7th century onwards, plus weapons, manuscripts and scientific instruments. Another must-see is the Jean Nouvel designed National Museum of Qatar, inspired by a ‘desert rose’ (multilayered crystals that form in salty sand), with 11 galleries showcasing the history of Qatar from prehistoric times.
There’s more local heritage in store at Katara Cultural Village, which brings together an opera house (which also hosts poetry and jazz performances), galleries of local photography and fine art, mosaic and gold embellished mosques, and a huge Gulf-view amphitheatre blending classical Greek and Islamic design.