The Qatar National museum has recently reopened after a thorough renovation. Located in a delightful restored palace on the corniche, it was once used by the late Sheikh Abdullah bin Qassim Al Thani. The building, an interesting piece of Qatari architecture, won the prestigious Aga Khan award for restoration and rehabilitation of Islamic architecture in 1980. Its arched facades and beautifully painted wooden ceilings lend the building a graceful charm, especially at night when spotlights accentuate its architectural appeal. It comprises mainly of two areas.

The Palace
Inside the museum are many ethnological exhibits depicting various aspects of traditional Qatari life, history, environment, archeology, styles of dress, musical instruments, awards given and some great old pictures of Doha. The museum is built on a human scale. Its exhibits are informally arranged to guide the visitor on a leisurely stroll that links the life and customs of the past with the discoveries of today.

The Marine Section
Around the back of the building within the National Museum you can see the park and outdoor maritime exhibit. The pleasant lagoon by the aquarium building has six traditional dhows floating on it, in addition to being stocked with fish and turtles. The aquarium building has on display exhibits centered around the pearl industry, traditional dhow making, and fishing. The underground aquarium houses several local breeds of fish, including sharks, hamour, coral and various other inhabitants of Gulf waters.

The grounds of the National Museum can be walked with minimal effort as everything is within close proximity. The museum is open from 8am to 12noon and 4pm to 7pm everyday except Saturday. Tuesday afternoons are reserved for families only. The entrance fee is QR 5 for adults.

The Weaponry museum located in Al Luqta, near the Gharraffa Interchange, displays an extensive selection of gold swords from the region, traditional curved daggers or 'khunjars', and old weapons and armours dating back as far as the 16th century from Qatar, the Gulf and around the World. Established in 1994 when the state purchased its large collection from international auctions as well as the private collection of HE Sheikh Hassan bin Mohammed bin Ali Al Thani. There are over 2,300 exhibits, clearly displayed and labeled. The weapons available are divided into two categories:

The first includes individual weapons such as pistols and rifles in all shapes and sizes, swords, arrows and head covers in addition to defense weapons used to protect horses against fire, an old machine gun and artwork portraying ancient weapons and battles.

The second category is made of big and heavy weapons used by several warriors that reflect the development in weapons acquiring and army training. Visits to the museum must be organized in advance, either through a local tour operator or by calling and making an appointment.