Dar Al Athar Al Islamiyya

Top choice in Kuwait City


This exceptional cultural centre has stunning galleries that contain some of the highlights of the world-class Al Sabah Collection, part of which was in the National Museum before the Iraqi invasion. With informative labels in English and Arabic, videos with experts explaining the pieces and some exquisite sculptures and archaeological finds of great antiquity from across the region, it's everything the National Museum could be, albeit on a smaller scale.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Kuwait City attractions

2. National Assembly Building

0.22 MILES

The official seat of Kuwait's parliament with its distinctive canopy – designed to evoke the image of Bedouin tents – was the brainchild by Jørn Utzon,…

3. Al Maqsab Gate

0.35 MILES

This refurbished, simple city gate once used to enter Kuwait's walled city is around a century old. Although the wall has come down, similar gates all…

4. Kuwait National Museum

0.48 MILES

It was the pride of Kuwait and contained one of the most important collections of Islamic art in the world until the 1990 Iraqi invasion. Sadly, the…

5. Al Jahra Gate

0.49 MILES

City gates once lined Al Soor St – one that remains is Al Jahra Gate, at the centre of where Al Soor St meets the First Ring Road. Despite the gate's…

6. Heritage Museum

0.5 MILES

Forming part of the National Museum complex, this series of dark corridors is built like pre-oil Kuwaiti streets, with displays full of antiques, plus…

7. Liberation Tower

0.78 MILES

Not to be confused with the distinctive Kuwait Towers, the striking Liberation Tower, with its UFO-like saucer, is the second-tallest tower in Kuwait. At…

8. Souq Mubarakiya

0.81 MILES

Once the centre of trade before the nation found oil, Kuwait City's old souq has retained its sprawling, bustling glory. The historical centre of the…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "kuwait/kuwait-city/attractions/dar-al-athar-al-islamiyya/a/poi-sig/1306532/361091",
      "destination": "Kuwait-City",
      "continent": "Middle-East",
      "country": "Kuwait",
      "city": "Kuwait-City",
      "position": "superzone"
    }