One of my favorite museums in Kuwait is the Tareq Rajab Museum. I always found the museum interesting since it was packed with a vast variety of objects covering many different subjects. They have an incredible collection of over 30,000 pieces many of which can’t be found anywhere else in the world. Over a year ago, the museum closed for renovations but they’re now finally reopening again tomorrow (Oct 17).
The museum was originally founded in 1980 by Tareq S. Rajab and his wife, Jehan S. Rajab. A couple of years ago their grandson Tareq N. Rajab took over the responsibility of the family museum and started the process of rejuvenating it. He originally started with the website and Instagram account, that was followed by the creation of the new Arms & Armor wing of the museum before being handed the rest of the museum to renovate.
Tareq invited me to visit the museum for a sneak peek and although before visiting I was worried it might have lost its charm with the renovation, I’m pleased to say it hasn’t.
At first glance, the museum’s aesthetics remain largely unchanged, but there have been significant improvements. The displays, previously overcrowded and lacking descriptions, have been completely revamped. They are now curated with clear descriptions for every item. There is also a new and HUGE diorama in the museum depicting the famous “Battle of Hattin”. The diorama is composed of 3,500 tiny soldiers that were hand painted individually by Tareq, his dad and three other colleagues over a period of 14 months. There was clearly a lot of time and passion involved in the museum renovation.
If you’re looking for an interesting place to visit then I can’t recommend this museum enough. The entrance fee is still only 2KD and it also gives you access to the “Tareq Rajab Museum of Islamic Calligraphy” that’s located in the same neighborhood.
The opening hours are:
Saturday to Thursday: 9AM – 1PM & 4:30PM – 8:30PM
Friday: 9AM – 1PM
The museum is in Jabriya and here is the location on Google Maps.
12 replies on “The Tareq Rajab Museum has Reopened”
brilliant
Do they have a gift shop?
yes a small one that sells books and postcards. You looking for anything in particular?
Tote bags, keychains, maybe t-shirts. Also, what kind of books do they have? Anything in English?
they have none of the above, just books and postcards. if i remember correctly all the books or majority of the books were English.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the Tareq Rajab Museum! I’m so glad to hear that it’s reopening tomorrow after its renovations. I’ve always wanted to visit, but I’m glad I waited until now so that I can experience the new and improved museum.
I’m particularly interested in seeing the new Arms & Armor wing and the diorama of the Battle of Hattin. It sounds like Tareq and his team have put a lot of time and effort into the renovations, and I can’t wait to see the results.
I agree with you that the Tareq Rajab Museum is a great place to visit for anyone interested in Islamic art and culture. It’s a great value for the price, and it’s a great way to learn about the region’s history and heritage.
I’m definitely going to make a point to visit the museum soon. Thanks for the reminder!
You’re really really going to like the Arms & Armor wing, some really interesting and beautifully crafted rifles.
Great news!
Did they get affected by the Iraq Invasion? Items were stolen? Any idea Mark?
They have the story up at the museum when you first come in but basically they packed up and hid most of the items behind fake walls so when the Iraqis did come they didn’t find anything.
Thanks for the quick response
I spent a weekend with the Rajab family and they are one of the most fascinating Kuwaiti families I’ve met.
Been to this museum a couple of times and am left in awe after each visit.