DOHA: Over half a million people visited different museums and exhibitions in Qatar last year, reflecting that the country has become a vibrant centre for arts and culture in the region and beyond.

A total of 575,215 visitors came to the museums and exhibitions held in the country in 2017, according to the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics data. The Museum of Islamic Art (MIA),  the flagship project of the Qatar Museums,  was the biggest crowd puller among the museums as it attracted 411,869 visitors last year.

Fire Station – Artist Residence, Alroaq Gallery, Zubara Fort Museum and Msheireb Museum also attracted significant number of visitors in 2017. Fire Station – Artist Residence attracted 36,764 visitors while 35,921 people came to see Alroaq Gallery in 2017.  Zubara Fort Museum attracted 31,440 visitors, Katara Gallery 15,864 visitors while 24,841 people visited Msheireb Museum last year.

“MIA is always in the top of the visit-list of foreigners coming to Qatar, whether those on official visit or on leisure trip,” a senior official of a tours and travel company told The Peninsula. “When it comes to art and culture, MIA has established itself as one of the important centres of art and culture not only in the region but also in the world,” he added.

Representing the full scope of Islamic art, the MIA collection includes manuscripts, ceramics, metal, glass, ivory, textiles, wood and precious stones. Collected from three continents, including countries across the Middle East, and reaching as far as Spain and China, the Museum’s artworks date from the 7th through to the 20th century.

Apart from the rare collection of these museums, the exhibitions also play crucial role in pulling crowds. Last year many world class exhibitions were organised by these museums.

According to the MDPS data, December, April and March were the busy months for these museums as maximum number of visitors came during these three months.

Qatar’s influence in the field of art and culture is set to grow stronger with opening of the National Museum of Qatar. The National Museum is an architectural gem designed by world-renowned French architect Jean Nouvel, and is due to open in December this year.