5 Stunning Mosques to See in Doha

Doha’s Katara Mosque is gorgeous from the outside in. From the moment you see it, you’ll be in awe of the building’s cool blue and purple tones. However, take a moment to get a closer look to really appreciate the intricacies. Each ceramic tile adorning the facade was hand painted and some are even leafed with 24-karat gold.

The Katara Mosque can be found on the east coast of the city within Katara Cultural Village, a center developed to highlight Qatar’s cultural heritage. The mosque was designed by Turkish designer Zeynep Fadillioglu and opened its doors in 2010.

Islamic Mosques can vary in style, shown by Doha’s Msheireb Mosque, which boasts a more modern architectural style while catering to traditional Islamic values of simplicity, functionality, and spirituality. One of the most impressive parts of Msheireb Mosque’s design is its highlights and shadows, with specific attention paid to where the sunlight hits. No artificial light is needed during the daytime, here. 

Conveniently located downtown, Msheireb Mosque is only a short distance from Hamad International Airport. It’s near other stunning mosques in the area, too, if you want to tour downtown looking at these religious icons.  

Education City Mosque is a stunning place of worship in Doha known for its large capacity and award-winning design. It can hold 1,800 worshippers in the main prayer hall, plus 1,000 more in the courtyard. The mosque is in the uniquely designed Minaretein building and is a part of Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s College of Islamic Studies.  

Approaching Education City Mosque, you can’t miss the pair of 90-meter-high minarets that call worshippers to prayer 5 times a day. Walking through, you’ll also want to take note of the streams diverting water to the central garden, each meant to symbolize the rivers of Paradise in the Quran.  

When visiting Doha, you might hear this stunning mosque by a few different names: State Grand Mosque, Qatar State Mosque, or Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Mosque. It is the national mosque of Qatar, named for a theologian who founded the Wahhabism reformist movement. 

The first thing you’ll note about the State Grand Mosque is its sandstone façade and incredible size, capable of holding more than 12,000 worshippers at a time. The mosque is beautiful at night as well, when the outside is brilliantly lit up and the dazzling chandeliers inside illuminate the domed prayer halls. If you’re curious about the intricacies of the mosque and the symbolism behind its design, guided tours are available to both Muslims and non-Muslims.  

The giant spiral minaret sets the mosque at Abdulla Bin Zaid Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Centre apart from other mosques in Doha. This exquisite mosque features a sandstone facade and brilliant blue accents. Be sure to visit at night when it’s awash in a golden glow of lights.  

Abdulla Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Centre is more than just a mosque, however. It is also an event space for cultural activities, a place for religious studies, and has an impressive library. Educational sessions are offered in English, Russian, Arabic, and Spanish.