Tourists can explore the natural environment of Qatar by taking an exciting desert safari, relaxing at the many beaches and pools or just enjoying their favourite sport, be it bowling alleys, tennis, snookers, billiards, golf courses, or ice skating rinks. There is something for everyone in this wonderful place

Situated almost midway down the east coast of the Qatari peninsula, Doha is the country’s center of administration, finance, culture, transportation, and social services.

 

MUSEUM OF ISLAMIC ART

The Museum of Islamic Art is a city landmark situated on the Corniche. It offers guided tours of the world’s finest Islamic art objects. The Museum also has a really awesome park with its own small coffee shop.

The museum building stands out as an architectural gem. Once inside, you will see masterpieces of Islamic art, including metalwork, ceramics, jewellery, woodwork, textiles and glass, collected from several places around the world.

SOUQ WAQIF

If you really want to feel the cultural essence of Qatar and a wonderful place to shop, to dine, to explore , with a lot of outdoor cafes , look nowhere but Souq Waqif in Doha.

As the has passed by , the souq started to run down and has almost got to the point of being demolished.  So in 2004, it was decided to preserve this historical elements so the entire market area has been renovated according to the traditional Qatari architectural techniques.  It’s probably the only traditional souq left in the Gulf.

THE CORNICHE

‘Doha’s water front promenade’

Corniche expands to a seven-kilometre long waterfront promenade around Doha Bay, the Corniche offers spectacular vistas of the city, a mesmerising view of the city at a glance. Traditional wooden dhows lining the Bay evoke echoes of Qatar’s great seafaring past. The Corniche provides a green, vehicle-free pedestrian space in the heart of the capital.

ASPIRE PARK

The park is the biggest in the city , with a flow of greenery all around its surrounding.This massive green oasis lies hidden behind the Villaggio and Hyatt plaza, Doha’s popular shopping malls in the Aspire zone. However, it stands as a splendid contrast to the characteristic surrounding desert landscape and is an exceptional jewel to realize and experience whilst in Doha.

KATARA CULTURAL VILLAGE

The Katara Cultural Village is located at the eastern coast between West Bay and The Pearl. Katara was born out of a vision to position the State of Qatar as a cultural beacon of art, radiating in the Middle East through theatre, music, literature, conventions and exhibitions.

It is home to huge events like the Doha Tribeca Film Festival, Ajyal Youth Film Festival. The buildings and facilities in the cultural village is deliberately arranged randomly to look and feel like a traditional Qatari Al Fareej.

THE PEARL QATAR


The Pearl is an artificial, man-made island located offshore of Doha’s West Bay Lagoon area. It’s known as the first land in Qatar to be available for freehold ownership by foreign nationals.

The name comes from the location in which the island was built on, which was one of Qatar’s previous major pearl diving sites. We could go there for shopping visit or even simply to walk along the beautiful boardwalk overlooking the marina filled with many international cafes and restaurants.

AL SHAHANIYA CAMEL RACETRACK

Camel racing, traditionally known as the sport of the sheiks continues even today in the small hamlet of Al Shahaniya, where Qatar’s popular camel racetrack is situated. Visitors are charmed with an exceptional prospect to view the fiercely competitive and one of the most expensive sporting events in Qatar.

BARZAN TOWERS

Glance into the stunning Arabian sky, the Barzan towers emerge above the neighbouring landscape and provide the wonderful place to gaze out to sea. Formerly built as watchtowers, Barzan Tower is erected in the Umm Salal Mohammed municipality and this Tower was built in “T” shape.

DOHA FILM CITY

The film city is a contemporary recreation of an antique Arabic village nestled behind a canyon in the desert of the Zekreet peninsula. The Film City is located in one of Qatar’s truly fantastic site that is entirely deserted. The visitors really feel as they may have stepped into one of the ghost towns in the American west. A different atmosphere is been created here ad mist this Arabic village.

PARK CAFÉ

A place with in the sea, whivh brings you happiness and peace bounded along with waves of the sea.

It’s just got the an amazing view and a very neat place to lay down and have you basic coffee or tea or sandwich. The cafe itself offers limited things, however it’s the only one in the place.

The cafe is alright, you don’t need a great cafe in a place like that because the view and the calmness in the spot just doesn’t allow you to enjoy your coffee but rather keep you amazed at the view.

STATE GRAND MOSQUE

The state Mosque Qatar is one of the largest mosques in Qatar and has been renamed after the great Muslim theologian, reformer and pioneer of the 18th century “Imam Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhab”. A very beautiful mosque constructed with all antique detailing and beautiful lighting given all over the mosque.

ORYX FARM

When visitors go to Qatar they, get to see the Oryx in its natural surroundings at the Oryx Farm, which is located at Shahaniya. Oryx, being the national animal of Qatar, one cannot find them in such large numbers anywhere else in the world. Arabia horses are well-known for their beauty. One gets to catch a glimpse of the Arab show and race horses that are pure-bred at the Al Shaqab Stud Farm.

WATER SPORTS AND CRUISES

Sailing is a good pastime here, and many private firms offer windsurfers and dinghies for rent and there are sailing classes for novice sailors. A sunset cruise on a traditional dhow provides one with a stunning view of Doha at night, while luxury yachts could be rented for full day fishing trips. Apart from this, there are pedal boats, water cycle, parasailing, and wind-surfing.

SHOPPING

For all the shopping lovers they can get whatever they wish for in the large shopping complexes or tiny stalls in the market. Doha, with facilities such as the Doha City Center, which is the largest shopping complex in the Middle East, offers brands of world-class reputation, in addition to various other exciting family facilities. In the markets, unlike in all other places, items are not marked with traditional price tags.

Known for high-end shopping and luxury hotels, Qatar will often surprise you with unexpected glimpses into its traditional Arabic roots.

There are a lot more to experience in Qatar , a lot more of events and happenings are awaiting each one of us. For more on traveling, click here.

Meghana Muralidharan is currently pursing Bachelors Degree in Interior Designing. Having settled in Doha, she is passionate about the colors of nature and expresses through poetry. She is also a well known anchor. She dreams of designing a restaurant some day after completing her masters.