The spiral minaret
Recalling Samarra's Malwiya; lit at night.
Zairon — CC BY 4.0 · Francesco Bini — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Zairon — CC BY 4.0 · Zairon — CC BY 4.0 · Zairon — CC BY 4.0
The Abdullah Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center, still widely called Al Fanar, is a working mosque and a Ministry of Awqaf centre that introduces non-Arab visitors to Islam and Qatari heritage. Its spiral minaret beside Souq Waqif is a Doha landmark. Qatar Tourism says it was once the country's largest mosque. Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani formally opened it in January 2008 as the Qatar Islamic Cultural Center (Fanar). Fanar means lighthouse: a 2013 Ministry of Culture guide says the building echoes the Pharos of Alexandria, its design recalling Samarra's ninth-century Malwiya and the minaret of Cairo's Ibn Tulun Mosque. In May 2013 Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani gave it the name of Sheikh Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud, regarded as the founder of Qatar's Sharia judiciary. Guides lead visitors through halls on Islamic belief, law and values and on Muslim civilisation, and a heritage hall on Qatari customs. Visits can include Arabic coffee in a Qatari majlis and a virtual-reality film about Mecca; in 2025 a piece of the Kaaba's cover, the kiswa, was on show. The centre also teaches Arabic to non-native speakers. It stands in the Corniche area beside Souq Waqif, whose heart is about 300 metres away, as is Souq Waqif metro station (Gold Line). The Museum of Islamic Art is some 800 metres away and the National Museum of Qatar 1.4 km east, as the crow flies. Allow 45 to 90 minutes; the floodlit minaret is best after dark.
Recalling Samarra's Malwiya; lit at night.
Arabic coffee and talk of local customs.
A virtual-reality film.
Corniche area beside Souq Waqif, Doha
Souq WaqifDoha's old market and its social heart, and the liveliest place in the city afte4 minutes walk4.6
Museum of Islamic ArtThe most important museum of Islamic art in the world outside Istanbul and Cairo10 minutes walk4.8
MIA ParkA large seaside park around the Museum of Islamic Art at the southern end of the12 minutes walk4.8
National Museum of QatarThe building shaped like a desert rose, and the boldest piece of architecture in17 minutes walk4.8Qatar Tourism lists Sunday to Thursday 08:00–20:00 and Friday and Saturday 14:00–20:00. The majlis talk is offered in English, Spanish and Russian, and a women-only coffee morning in English; confirm before going, as programmes change.
A religious scholar who became a judge in Qatar in the late 1930s and remained its leading authority on fatwas until his death in 1997. He also set up the system for registering court rulings and property.