Qatar Museums (QM) inaugurated the “Beyti Beytak • My Home is Your Home” exhibition on October 25, 2026, with QM Chairperson HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani attending the opening event. The exhibition is housed at the historic Fahad bin Ali Palace in Doha, marking the first occasion this 1953 landmark, located adjacent to the Amiri Diwan, has been accessible to the public. It will run through May 29, 2027.
Organized by the future Art Mill Museum, the exhibition originally debuted at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia in 2025 and has been expanded for its Doha presentation. This expansion includes a new commission by Iraqi architect Ola Znad, as well as archival research documenting the urban development of Doha. The exhibition probes themes of home, hospitality, and belonging through the lenses of architecture, art, and design.
Featuring over 40 contributors from the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA) region and beyond, “Beyti Beytak” investigates architecture as a social and cultural practice deeply rooted in notions of collective care, shared responsibility, and communal connection. The exhibition is organized into seven sections, showcasing architectural models, drawings, archival materials, films, and site-specific installations. These works span various communal spaces, including desert oases, sacred sites, private homes, and modern museums.
Set within a palace that combines Art Deco style with traditional Qatari architectural elements, the exhibition juxtaposes contemporary architectural practice with Doha’s heritage. Central to the Doha presentation is “Souq Al Liqa,” a newly commissioned installation by Ola Znad, who specializes in sustainable reed construction techniques. Inspired by the communal role of women in the Ahwar marshes of southern Iraq, the project pays tribute to the skills of Marsh Arab women in weaving, dyeing, storytelling, and hospitality. The installation is designed as a dynamic marketplace and cultural ecosystem and will host ongoing public activities during the exhibition’s duration.
The exhibition brings together works from prominent modernists such as Raj Rewal (India), Nayyar Ali Dada (Pakistan), Abeer Seikaly (Jordan), and Minnette de Silva (Sri Lanka), alongside contemporary architects including Marina Tabassum and Nabil Haque (Bangladesh), AAU Anastas (Palestine/France), Sameep Padora [sP + A], Balkrishna Doshi and the Vastu-Shilpa Foundation (India), DAAZ Studio (Iran), Ahmed Hossam Saafan (Egypt), Sumaya Dabbagh (Saudi Arabia), Diller Scofidio + Renfro (United States), and Meriem Chabani with New South (France). It also reflects on the legacy of Egyptian architect and urbanist Hassan Fathy, noted for his emphasis on vernacular forms, materials, and techniques.
Catherine Grenier, concept director of the Art Mill Museum, said the exhibition signals the museum’s intent to center MENASA creativity within a global discourse. She highlighted architecture, design, and gardens as core to the museum’s vision and emphasized the significance of opening Fahad bin Ali Palace to the public to experience these ideas firsthand. Aurélien Lemonnier, senior curator of Architecture, Design, and Gardens at the Art Mill Museum and co-curator of the exhibition, described bringing the show to Doha as a privilege, noting the city’s lived culture of hospitality.
The launch of the exhibition coincides with the release of the publication “Beyti Beytak: Architectures of MENASA,” edited by Sean Anderson and Virgile Alexandré. This volume compiles critical essays, new research, and project documentation, contributing to conversations on contemporary architecture, regional histories, and the relationship between architecture and culture.
An extensive public program supports the exhibition, offering guided tours, workshops, and talks tailored for schools, universities, and families until May 2027. The exhibition is co-curated by Lemonnier and Anderson, supported by curator Alexandre and assistant curator Farah al-Sidiky, along with a scientific committee including Grenier, Ibrahim M Jaidah, Yasmeen Lari, Hafid Rakem, and Raj Rewal.
“Beyti Beytak” is presented alongside two other Qatar Museums exhibitions at Fahad bin Ali Palace: “Wooden Doors of Qatar: From Storage to Story,” organized with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, and the annual archaeology exhibition “Atharna 2026.” The exhibitions operate as part of Qatar Museums’ Fall/Winter 2026 season and are open Saturday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays from 3:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., and are closed on Mondays.