A vast museum complex incorporating an institution dedicated to the history of slavery has opened in Doha, Qatar. The development is the oil-rich state’s latest bid to rebrand itself as a culture hub. Human rights organisations have criticised Qatar for the poor labour conditions faced by migrant workers building stadiums and museums ahead of the World Cup in 2022.
Four museums opened in October as part of a new mixed-use commercial and residential quarter called Msheireb. The $5.5bn redevelopment is backed by one of the country’s most high-profile figures, Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser, the second wife of Qatar’s former emir.
Displays and exhibitions at Bin Jelmood House chart the history of the global slave trade. “The [museum] explores the role Islam played in providing guidance for humane treatment of enslaved people, their integration into society and the eventual abolition of slavery,” a project spokeswoman says.
The other museums focus on how Qatar was transformed after vast oil reserves were discovered in 1939; Doha’s architectural heritage; and how family life has evolved in Qatar during the 20th century.