The museum is being constructed on the edge of Doha Harbour, and it will showcase some of the world's finest Islamic Art. With nearly 500,000 square feet of space, the new building will contain six floors of multiple exhibition galleries in addition to a library, galleries, gardens and a restaurant. Additionally, an educational wing will accommodate a School for Islamic Arts Education.

The exterior of the building will include over 3,500 cubic meters of Jet Mist granite from Virginia. Material for the project is being extracted at quarry sites owned by R.E.D. Graniti of Italy as well as New England Stone, LLC, of Kingston, RI. Because the stone has a tight color range - as well as uniformity in its patterning - it was the ideal stone for a project of this size and scope.