While Paris, Florence and New York get lots of hype for their top-notch art museums, let's not forget that the Middle East has a burgeoning arts and culture scene as well. Throughout the region, governments and individuals are emphasizing the importance of cultural institutions and several art museums have been making waves both regionally and internationally.
While new art museums have popped up in recent years, there are others in the region that have been leading cultural institutions for many years. Here are a look at some of the top art museums throughout the Middle East.
1. Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, Qatar
Situated on Doha's picturesque corniche, this modern architecture masterpiece has become one of Qatar's most iconic attractions. Having opened to the public in December of 2008, the museum holds a collection of Islamic artwork spanning three continents and 1,400 years of history.
2. Sharjah Art Museum, Sharjah, UAE
Inaugurated in 1997, the museum holds a collection of modern and contemporary art created by Emirati and Middle Eastern artists. In addition to its permanent collections, the museum regularly organizes temporary exhibitions.
3. Museum of Islamic Art, Cairo, Egypt
Although this iconic museum traces its establishment back to 1858, the current neo-Mamluk style building was completed in 1902. The museum has a total collection of more than 100,000 objects but currently only displays about 2,500 of these throughout its galleries.
4. Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, Amman, Jordan
Established in 1980 by the Royal Society of Fine Arts, the museum comprises more than 2,000 pieces of artwork from more than 800 artists representing more than 50 countries. Following the building's renovation and expansion, it received an architectural award in 2007.
5. Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, Istanbul, Turkey
Housed in a building dating back to the 1500s, the museum's collection includes examples of Islamic calligraphy, tiles, carpets and displays representing various cultures in Turkey.
6. Sursock Museum, Beirut, Lebanon
Following seven years of renovation and expansion, the Sursock Museum reopened in October of 2015. Featuring a collection of modern and contemporary art as well as shifting temporary exhibitions, the museum's building was completed in 1912 and was the private villa of Beirut aristocrat Nicolas Ibrahim Sursock. Upon his death, Sursock bequeathed the house to Beirut and it opened its doors as a contemporary art museum in 1961.
7. Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, Tehran, Iran
With an impressive collection of 19th and 20th century world-class European and American artwork, the museum was opened in 1977. The museum also houses a vast collection of modern and contemporary Iranian artwork.
8. Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Doha, Qatar
Having opened its doors in December of 2010, the museum has become known as one of Qatar's most important cultural hubs. With a collection of more than 9,000 artworks, the museum focuses on curating modern Arab art representing major trends from the 1840s to the present.
9. Gezira Center for Modern Art, Cairo, Egypt
With more than 10,000 paintings and sculptures, the museum's collection shows the development of Egypt's art movements from the early 20th century up until contemporary works from the present day. A permanent collection featuring works from renowned Egyptian artists is also on display.
10. Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, Istanbul, Turkey
Featuring the work of prominent Turkish artists, the museum opened in 2004. Located in a refurbished warehouse on the Bosphorus, permanent collections include works from the late 19th century through the 21st century.
11. The Palestinian Museum, Birzeit, Palestine
Recently completed, the beautiful modern museum facility has yet to host its first in-house exhibition. However, the facility offers significant promise to advance cultural and artistic initiatives for Palestine.