Qatar National Library
More than a million books, a heritage collection including rare manuscripts and archival documents are located in a single open public space of the Qatar National Library in the center of the university district Education City
Contact information
Reviews and impressions
About the library
Qatar ID holders (citizens and holders of a residence permit) can borrow any books completely free of charge. Tourists can not only enjoy the architecture of the building, but also lie on soft poufs, have a snack in a cafe, work or use a computer.
Qatar National Library
Qatar National Library Building
The building with an area of 45,000 m² of unusual shape was designed by the famous architect Rem Koolhaas. Externally, the building resembles a box folded into a rhombus of two sheets of paper.
Entrance to the National Library building
The internal concept involved moving away from the usual shelving rooms towards openness. The idea was that by raising the floor levels, you can make even the most remote shelving accessible and visible from the center, thereby connecting the reader and the books. The large facade glazing provides comfortable lighting for reading.
Shelving and storage of the heritage collection
In the center of the library, at a depth of 6 meters in a yellow travertine veneer, there is a heritage collection, conceptually resembling an ancient excavation site.
Qatar National Library's Heritage Collection
The shelves and bookshelves are made of white marble, as are the floors of the building.
Modern technologies
All books are equipped with RFID tags that allow you to automate their sorting and return to shelves in pre-planned places.
Multi-level shelving and aisle systems make it easy to move between rows and levels.
Computers with Internet access
A large number of computers are located on the library's territory, allowing you to get information from the library's digital collection.
Library History
The current library building was opened on April 16, 2018. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani posted the millionth book at the ceremony. Qatar's National Library includes: the Doha National Library, a public library, a university research library, as well as a collection of historical heritage.
Working hours
The library is open daily from 08:00 to 20:00, on Fridays from 16:00 to 20:00
The children's part of the library is open until 18:30
How to get
Safahat Cafe in the National Library of Qatar, which means "Pages" in Arabic
The exit from the Qatar National Library Metro Station is located opposite the library building.
You can also take a tram along the yellow line running through the educational campuses of Education City. Stop Multaqa.
Places nearby
Library on map
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