10 minute read
City in the spotlight: DOHA
As one of the wealthiest cities in the world, the Qatari capital Doha has become the testing ground for architectural innovation with futuristic skyscrapers and magnificent museums dominating its magical skyline. The city’s location is just as spectacular. Flanked by the desert and the sea, adventurous visitors can enjoy a host of water sports as well as sand boarding and quad biking in the dunes. Beneath the modern façade, history runs deep here and it is possible to get a flavour of traditional Bedouin culture at the historic market Souq Waqif, which has been operating for over 100 years. Come with Inzozi, as we introduce you to this conservative yet contemporary jewel of the Middle East.
Doha city culture
Plan the perfect trip to Doha with our guide to some of the city’s best activities, places to visit and some cultural nuances to be aware of.
Marvellous museums
Among Doha’s skyscrapers there’s culture to be found, in fact inside some of the city’s most striking modern architecture you’ll find museums. The imposing and impressive National Museum of Qatar is shaped like a desert rose and houses some of the country’s most impressive historic artifacts that tell the story of Qatar from founding to modern day. The Museum of Islamic Art was designed by I.M. Pei – the revered architect known for designing the glass pyramid entrance to the Louvre in Paris – and showcases 1,400 years of Islamic art. Next to the museum you’ll find the Museum of Islamic Art Park, a family-friendly spot where children can play in a miniature castle complete with ropes and slides.
Soak up the souq
Built on the site of Doha’s century old trading market in the heart of the capital’s old downtown, Souq Waqif offers a chance to step back in time to the bustle of traditional Qatari commerce when nomadic Bedouin would come from the desert to trade their textiles and livestock in town. A huge renovation saved the souk in 2004 with buildings restored using wood and mud decorated with a façade in the traditional Arabic style. Now the marketplace’s winding alleys are alive again with traders, tourists and wheelbarrow-bearing hamalis (porters) looking for customers. Time here day or night presents plenty of fantastic opportunities for souvenir purchasing, dining and lounging.
The Corniche
You can’t come to Doha without visiting this seven-kilometre crescent-shaped stretch of urban waterfront. Locals and tourists flock to this coastal promenade, which hugs Doha Bay and offers unparalleled views of the city skyline. The route is packed with restaurants, bars, parks and public art to break up your stroll. If the crowds put you off, aim to hit the Corniche around sunrise to enjoy a more intimate time on this iconic boulevard along with views of the spectacular sunrises here.
Desert dunes
The city of Doha not only offers the beach break potential that comes with its coastline on the Arabian Gulf, it is also flanked inland by a desert playground for all manner of adrenaline-fuelled adventures. Popular pastimes include dune bashing in 4x4s, sandboarding and quad-biking. For a more restful experience, you can also take a dip in the inland sea, known locally as Khor Al-Adaid, and relax on the shores of Mesaieed Beach.
Park life
New green spaces are popping up in Doha all the time, but one of the oldest, Al Bidda Park, is still one of the best. It is situated right on the waterfront, overlooking the Corniche and has jogging and cycling tracks and an outdoor gym for anyone looking to work on their fitness. There are plenty of kid-friendly attractions here, too. The Sheraton Hotel Park is located on a pyramid-shaped hill with incredible views of the Corniche and West Bay. The family-friendly spot is a great place for a picnic, to watch the sunset or go for a bike ride. Al Dafna Park offers perhaps the city’s best view of its iconic skyline, day or night, and is a very relaxing spot for a stroll.
Sister smart city
Doha is growing at a rapid rate and its expansion is enveloping neighbouring towns. The new coastal city of Lusail about 20km to the north is now regarded as an extension of Doha. It played host to last year’s FIFA World Cup and now hosts one of the races on the Formula 1 calendar, but most significantly it is being developed as a US$ 45 billion sustainable, smart city to set the bar on how future cities in the Middle East will be built. Among its next generation innovations are eco-friendly cooling and waste disposal systems for a city that will in time support 250,000 residents.
Local laws
Doha is a safe and welcoming city to visit, but it is important to be respectful of local laws and Islamic customs during your stay. Alcohol is served only in hotel restaurants and bars that have licenses in Qatar. It is illegal to consume it elsewhere. It might be time to explore mocktails – the choice here is huge and delicious. Another important point to mention, is that Qatar law forbids unmarried couples to sleep in the same room, so it is very important that you can provide documentary proof that you are married when you check in to your hotel. It is also wise to be careful with public displays of affection. Even holding hands with your partner may draw some disapproval. Finally, avoid revealing clothing. Shorts and sleeveless tops for men and women are frowned upon, especially if visiting religious sites, government buildings and malls. Women visiting mosques in the city will receive scarves to cover their heads.
Weather
The sweltering summers in Doha – with the mercury rarely dropping below 40°C –spurred an unprecedented move from FIFA in moving the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to the winter months due to concerns about the extreme temperatures affecting players’ performances on the pitch. October heralds a drop in these temperatures with December to February hovering around 21°C and making for a very appealing time to visit.
Pearling history
Now Doha is rich on its oil and gas reserves, but at the start of the 20th century the pearl trade made up about 75 per cent of the region’s exports. At this time Doha was just a sleepy fishing village with about 350 pearling boats. Men would embark on long voyages, often away from home for months, cramped together on the deck of a ship. A diver would fix a peg on their nose and hold their breath for up to two minutes and plunge to up to 18 metres in scouring the seabed for oysters. The ultimate find would be the rare dana pearl, famed for its size, shape and clarity. The industry has suffered more recently due to competition from Japanese oyster farms. However, natural pearls remain a premium product at the top end of the jewellery market and in the waters off Doha, a few brave divers still search for the natural treasure.
Doha hotels
Whatever your budget and reason for visiting, Inzozi has the perfect place to stay in the Qatari capital.
Luxury - The St. Regis Doha
Doha has luxury hotels like most cities have streets. They are everywhere! Among the best – and biggest – of them is The St. Regis Doha. Everything about this imposing beachside 5-star is on a grand scale from its 335 luxury rooms and suites through its Olympic-sized swimming pool to its ten restaurants and 1,850 sq metre grand ballroom. It also offers direct access to the beach, where private cabanas await and butler service is available round the clock.
Budget - La Villa Suites Hotel
Located slightly further from the waterfront, the residential neighborhood of Al Mansoura is the city’s best spot for budget accommodation options. While tourist attractions are limited, a stay here is an opportunity to join the locals in everyday life at supermarkets, coffee shops, small parks, and restaurants. This clean and convenient 2-star hotel – part of an international chain offering quality budget accommodation across the Middle East and Asia – offers a 24-hour front desk, airport transfers, a business center, and free wifi throughout the property. The rooms at the hotel come with air conditioning, a seating area, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, and a private bathroom.
Family - Banana Island Resort
A 20-minute ferry ride from the Doha coastline will get you to this tiny island named for its curved shape. This resort makes the most of the island’s close to a kilometer of beach to stretch out and host its family-friendly facilities – from a surf pool and dive center to a cinema and bowling alley. The super spa and wellness center and Turkish hammam (bathhouse) will pamper parents while the kids are enjoying the onsite clubs. Dining options include a restaurant serving traditional regional cuisine to an American-style retro diner.
Boutique - Jouri, A Murwab Hotel
Smaller in scale than many of its luxurious counterparts in the city, the Jouri offers a boutique-like personal touch. Its 110 rooms and 26 suites are modern and stylish with rainforest showers and facilities include a gym, two spa treatment rooms (with sauna and steam room), an indoor pool, a lobby lounge, and an all-day restaurant. Its location on the south side of Doha Bay means there are some of the city’s best shops, parks, and restaurants within easy reach as well as superb sea views.
Doha city facts
POPULATION 2,717,745
Average temperatures
• September: High 39°C / Low 29°C
• October: High 36°C / Low 26°C
• November: High 30°C / Low 22°C
Transport from airport:
METRO: The Metro station at Hamad International Airport has fast and frequent connections to and from the city seven days a week. The journey is direct, takes about 15 minutes and costs just US$ 0.50 (QAR 2). Take the Red Line in the direction of Lusail to Msheireb.
TAXI: The airport is about a 20-minute drive from the centre of Doha. Taxis are readily available from the airport’s taxi pavilion located to the left of the Arrivals hall. The average fare to transfer to downtown Doha is around QAR 40 (US$ 11) to QAR 60 (US$ 16) Vehicles run on a meter and it is worth noting that from 5am to 9pm the price per kilometre is QAR 1.20 (US$ 0.33) while 9pm to 5am the rate is QAR 1.80 (US$ .50) per kilometre.
BUS: Bus Route 747 – which runs from 4.50am to 11.50pm and costs QAR 3 (US$ .80) – and Bus Route 777 – operating between 5am and 11pm with a single ticket costing QAR 5 (US$ 1.40) –connect the airport to the city centre. With two services combined every 20 minutes you have a travel option. The 747 stops at many places in central Doha, including at Al Ghanim Bus Station near Souq Waqif metro station. Other bus ticket options in the city include a Limited Use Travel Card for QAR 10 (US$ 2.75) that can be used for two separate journeys within a single day.
