Overview
About This Place
The Qatar National Library is one of the most architecturally remarkable buildings in Doha and one of the most significant cultural institutions in the Gulf. Located in Education City, it was designed by renowned Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas of OMA and opened to the public in April 2018. The building's folded, diamond-shaped exterior is immediately striking, but it is the interior that truly impresses: a vast, column-free space where bookshelves appear to rise organically from the floor and blend seamlessly into the sloping walls, bathed in natural light from the expansive glazed ceiling above. The library holds over one million books, digital resources, and rare collections, and functions simultaneously as a national library, a research library, and a public library open to all.
History
Historical Significance
The plans for Qatar National Library were announced in November 2012 by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, conceived as a cornerstone of Qatar Foundation's vision to build a knowledge-based society. OMA was commissioned with a bold brief: design a building that is architecturally iconic, functionally transformative, and open to everyone. Within its walls, the Heritage Library holds some of the library's most treasured possessions: manuscripts over a thousand years old, rare historical maps, and some of the only surviving copies of ancient Islamic texts. The library was officially inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and has since become one of the most visited and celebrated cultural institutions in the country.
Construction Milestones
Building Qatar National Library
Planning Your Visit
When to Go
Best Time to Visit - hover a month
Sat-Thu: 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM · Fri: 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM · Children's Library closes 6:30 PM
Located in Education City, accessible via the Doha Metro (Education City station). Entry is free.
The Heritage Library requires a prior appointment to access the rare manuscript and archive collections.
Gallery
In Photos
Location