Scheme welcomed first visitors last week

The new National Museum of Qatar has opened its doors to the public.

Designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, the 52,000 sq m museum centres around the restored Palace of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani, named after the son of the founder of modern Qatar.

The palace, which has previously been the home of the Royal family, the seat of government and the site of the original National Museum, is now the final exhibit in the gallery.

The 11 permanent galleries take visitors from the formation of the Qatar peninsula millions of years ago to the nation鈥檚 present. 

The museum, which has been more than a decade in the making, is surrounded by a landscaped 112,000 sq m park designed by French landscape architect Michel Desvignes.