These galleries present pivotal moments in Qatar's modern history, from 1500s to the present. These moments have made Qatar into the nation that we know today. Discover the leaders who have guided their people, the battles and events that have defined the nation and Qatar's vision for the future. The history of the nation unfolds through letters, newspapers, maps, artefacts, stamps, currency, historical photographs and testimonies of the people. They are witnesses to his crucial period, which continues to shape the development of the country and to enrichthe collective memory of the Qatari people.

Due to the strategic location of the Arab Gulf region and the flourishing of commercial activities, the region witnessed the circulation of a number of currencies, like the Ottoman Majidi riyal, French silver riyal (Maria Theresa riyal), golden pound sterling and Indian silver and copper rupees.

In 1959, the government of India, in agreement with the Gulf Countries, issued a special currency, for circulation in the Arab Gulf region, called the Gulf Rupee. in 1966, India reduced the exchange rate of the Gulf rupees by 35%, which prompted Qatar and Dubai to temporarily use the Saudi riyal instead of the Gulf Rupee. In 18 September 1966, Qatar decided to form a currency council of Qatar and Dubai, which was assigned with the task of issuing a new currency called (Qatar-Dubai riyal), which had the same trading rate of the Gulf Rupee before it was reduced.

The circulation of the Qatari and Dubai riyal continued until 1973, when Dubai’s accession to the United Arab Emirates, which led to the liquidation of Qatar and Dubai Monetary Council and the establishment of the Qatari Monetary Agency, resulting in issuing the first Qatari currency, the unit of which was the Qatari Riyal. It has the same golden cover as Qatar and Dubai currencies. The Qatari riyal was minted for the first time in 1973, two years after the country’s independence, and today it symbolizes economic independence and national identity.