Old Palace in Doha
The best preserved, iconic traditional building reflecting Qatari history
Old Palace in Doha
Old Palace in Doha

The Old Palace was originally built in the early 20th century by Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani, who is considered to be the father of modern Qatar. For approximately 25 years the palace was at the centre of Qatar’s political leadership, serving as residence of the Royal Family and seat of government.

In 1975 the palace was converted into the National Museum of Qatar, which included a Museum of the State, a lagoon and a very popular marine aquarium. In 1980 the building won the Agha Khan award for restoration and rehabilitation of Islamic architecture. In 2014-15 the Old Palace was again restored and will be integrated into the new National Museum of Qatar designed by French architect Jean Nouvel.

The recent restoration of the palace aimed at setting a new standard for the treatment of historic buildings and architectural conservation, both in Qatar and across the region.

additional Historical Sites
Freiha

Freiha

  Some 5km north of Al Zubarah lies the site of Freiha, a small abandoned town that is situated in a shallow bay. Current excavation and research suggest that the town dates from the early 18th to the mid-19th centuries when it was abandoned. This means that...

Al Zubarah

Al Zubarah

At the very tip of the Qatari peninsula, the now rather desolate area of Al Zubara was the site of successive communities and was once a thriving and prosperous settlement – the focus of the region’s trade. Between 1775 and 1780, an attack by the Persians on Basra,...