Living in Kuwait means getting access to a bunch of top-notch museums in Kuwait. If you’re an expat and plan to come to Kuwait soon, this guide will hint at where you can spend quality time and explore its unique history.
Despite Kuwait City’s small physical size, it packs a significant cultural punch. Whether you’re looking to examine the city’s maritime history or learn about contemporary artwork in one of the many engaging exhibition spaces, there’s no shortage of museums to check out. Moreover, due to the stimulating new perspectives people have once they step inside these museums, they’re often ideally suited for sparking thought-provoking conversations.
In other words, the museums they direct help foster cultural ties and expand opportunities within the communities they serve. As a result, one of the best ways to know a geographic location is by pursuing its landmark venues. Located in the middle of Kuwait City, the array of art galleries and cultural institutions on display is a shining example of how attractive the country is.
Several new spaces have opened in the city in the past year, including the recently christened Sheikh Abdullah al-Salem Cultural Centre.
Top Museums in Kuwait
Without further ado, let’s explore the best museums in Kuwait to visit right now, considered one of the top things to do in Kuwait.
Sheikh Abdullah al-Salem Cultural Centre
The Sheikh Abdullah al-Salem Cultural Centre (ASCC) in Maidan Hawally is among the world’s largest cultural complexes. It features over 1,100 exhibits and six museums, including the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, the Space Museum, the Arabic Islamic Science Museum, the Fine Arts Centre, and public spaces known as the Public Realm.
The Arab Islamic Museum attracts visitors as it features fascinating developments in science and arts dating back 700 years.
The museum contains exhibits that present astronomy, geography, geometry, medicine, physics, mineralogy, engineering and architecture. These important discoveries were made in the Islamic world and later transported to Europe, where they were structured and acquired. You will also find a host of food and gift shops on site.
Maritime Museum
One of the must-visit museums in Kuwait, the Maritime Museum, should be on your list before leaving this quint country.
The Maritime Museum in Kuwait commemorates the Arabian country’s rich maritime history, highlighting its role in the country’s development. With three breathtaking boats on its surface, visitors are immersed in an extensive photo display, intricate miniature models, fascinating love letters and assorted ancient artifacts.
Dating to around 1900, the paraphernalia of pearl-diving once graced the decks of the seagoing vessels used for this purpose. The museum’s pearl-diving exhibit features an unmatched collection of historical diving equipment, including heavy lead weights, turtleshell nose pegs, leather fingernail protectors and wool suits.
Historical, Vintage and Classical Cars Museum
The Historical, Vintage, and Classical Cars Museum in Shuwaikh showcases Kuwait’s automotive heritage, preserving an extensive collection of vintage vehicles comprising one of the rarest cars in the world: a 1956 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud Convertible.
The gift shop also has an extensive collection of automotive-themed literature, organizes and conducts workshops for budding vintage car enthusiasts and gives an unforgettable driving experience to younger visitors aged six to 16 years old.
Mirror House
Located in Kuwait’s Qadsiya district, the Mirror House is a genuinely remarkable monument. Italian artist Lidia al-Qattan has been working on her home for six decades alone, creating 70 tons of mirrored mosaics to turn it into a gleaming work of art.
This eccentric art project by Al-Qattan has become her life obsession; each wall is adorned with the themes and designs closest to her heart, whereas the interior rooms and decor are currently arranged based on a theme. In 2006, Al-Qattan opened her home to the public, meaning visitors can now tour her home by Al-Qattan.
This house can accommodate a minimum of five people per session, and guests are asked to wear shoes that won’t cause damage.
Amricani Cultural Centre
Located just a stone’s throw from the National Assembly, the Amricani Cultural Centre showcases Kuwait’s vibrant Islamic art history. Housed in the former American Mission Compound, Amricani is the home of Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah. This world-class cultural organization has a vast and impressive collection of Islamic art.
The Kuwaiti National Museum was created by Sheikh Nasser Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah and his wife, Sheikha Hussah. It contains over 20,000 items of local cultural significance, including rare Mesopotamian bronzes.
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art lies in the Mahfsa Al Sharqiya, a boys’ school established in Sharq in 1938. The museum showcases works of art from various disciplines and countries produced by artists from the Middle East, North Africa, and other nations such as France.
Recent modern art galleries offer excellent, intimate viewing environments but can be inaccessible to new individuals. Moreover, although these galleries reflect the complex work of contemporary artists in the Middle East, their smaller shows typically fail to represent world-class art.
Tareq Rajab Museum
Forty years ago, the first minister of antiquities and an art enthusiast based in Kuwait, Tareq Rajab, opened his private museum in the peaceful neighborhood of Jabriya. The collection includes an immense array of intricate Islamic artworks, focusing on the display of skill.
You can view more than 10,000 valuable artefacts here, including exquisite examples of jewellery, costumes, ceramics, and musical instruments. Notably, the museum is well-known for its calligraphy exhibition, which features rare examples of old calligraphic work originating in 700.
Sadu House
Overlooking the sparkling waters of the Arabian Gulf, this attractive Kuwaiti heritage building is home to a collection of artifacts that reveals the history of the nation’s textile art. Founded by anthropologist Sheikha Altaf al-Sabah, the beautiful mansion aims to return to the disappearing practice’s sightlessness while fostering new artistic talents.
Be sure to go to the gift shop, where you can buy handmade tapestries. All of the proceeds from the shop benefit community members.
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