Welcome to Matahef!
Matahef is the Arab world’s first bilingual digital magazine dedicated to museum practice.
Issue 2 explores a defining question: What does lasting museum impact look like? From Abu Dhabi opening three museums within weeks to ICOM Dubai 2025 bringing 4,500 professionals to the region, Arab institutions are providing answers.
Discover insights on creative leadership, fundraising, and digital innovation.
Read conversations with artists Mahi Binebine and Manal AlDowayan.
Explore how heritage creates livelihoods and communities of practice transform institutions.
Subscribe free to access the latest issue and join the renaissance of Arab museum discourse.
Matahef offers a 360-degree approach to museum practices, innovation, and cultural leadership across the Arab world. Published quarterly in English with select Arabic features, it connects museum professionals and cultural enthusiasts while championing heritage preservation, igniting curiosity, sparking dialogue, and nurturing a passionate community committed to cultural collaboration.
Arab Museums — Windows to our heritage, visions of our future
المتاحف العربية — نوافذ على تراثنا، ورؤى لمستقبلنا
Features
Audience Matters
Museums must shift from measuring footfall to understanding the transformative impact culture creates.
Designing Museums
Case study: The 36-month museum
Learn the three-pillar strategy that delivered Saudi Arabia’s National Museum on time and on budget, with practical approaches you can apply.
Unframed
Saudi artist Manal AlDowayan discusses storytelling, women’s narratives, and why museums must reflect the contexts they serve.
Past issues
Issue 02 – January 2026
January 2, 2026
Issue 01 – October 2025
October 9, 2025