Beaches

Qatar is a peninsula; the coastline is over 560 km long, so there are plenty of beaches to choose from!

Mesaieed is the most popular beach destination because it is the only place in Qatar where the sand dunes meet the water.

Some, like the Inland Sea (Khor Al Adaid) can only be reached by a four‑wheel‑drive while others, such as Al Wakra, are only a short drive away and suitable for all cars.

Visitors to the busier public family beaches should be aware that they need to wear appropriate, modest clothing. Many of Qatar's public beaches are isolated with no facilities.

Bring everything you need with you: food and plenty of water, sunscreen, towels and a first aid kit – and please take away all your rubbish.

Al Farkiah

A family beach with a 1,350 m seafront just outside Al Khor. See our maps for Al Khor and Al Thakhira. It's a well maintained beach with clear waters and serene views of the mangroves. There are play areas, wooden sheds, watchtowers, and other facilities.

Opening times: Daily 7 am – midnight. Sundays and Wednesdays are open only for women and children under the age of 10, 7 am – 10 pm.

Admission: Free.

Al Ghariya

Located 80 km from central Doha, just 4.5 km beyond Fuwairit (see entry on next page), is Al Ghariya Beach, which is also known as Al Ghariya Island. Part of a series of alluring islands situated just off the coast of mainland Qatar, Al Ghariya is a popular weekend destination for locals and visitors. It's after Al Ghariya Beach Resort. Drive 1.5 km until you reach an abandoned village. The best spot is further north beyond the old Scout Camp.

Al Jassasiya

Near the Al Jassasiya Petroglyphs are the beautiful turquoise waters and soft sand of Al Jassasiya beach, perfect for camping or barbecuing. The water is shallow and may not be suitable for swimming.

Al Kharaij

Located near Umm Bab, a public beach with facilities. The only way to get there involves driving over 6 km on a dirt road and it does get pretty bumpy at times. Nearby is a beach for single men and labourers.

Al Mafjar

Located in the historic and abandoned village of Al Mafjar on the northern tip of Qatar is Al Mafjar Beach, which is surrounded by abandoned historic ruins. It is a good beach for watersports, swimming, snorkelling and hiking. Al Mafjar Beach is close to Umm Tais National Park, an important protected habitat for birds and other animals.

Al Mamlha

It's the second women's only beach in Qatar. The beach is around 15,000 sq m and can be accessed through the main entrance from the north side. At night, the beach is lit up using eco friendly solar energy. It is completely fenced and provides all basic facilities like toilets, guard rooms, umbrellas, barbecue places, rubbish bins, and rope barriers along the beach to prevent the entry of water bikes. Female guards provide protection for all visitors at the beach.

Opening times: Daily 9 am – 10 pm.

Admission: QAR25 for adults and QAR5 for children.

Al Maroona

Situated on the northern tip of Qatar, just before Fuwairit, Al Maroona is known as '42 km Beach' or 'French Beach'. The sand is soft and golden and the water is crystal clear with fascinating sea life to explore. You may see starfish, turtles, tiny hermit crabs, jellyfish and plenty of other fish.

Al Ruwais

At the northern tip of Qatar, at the end of Al Shamal (North) Road and about 110 km from Doha, are some quiet beach areas with coves and inlets, and picnic and shaded spots. The rock formations are very different in this region and wildlife such as dugongs (an aquatic animal) can be seen. Al Shamal Municipality has started implementing a project to provide the beach with shades and solar energy-run lights.

Al Safliya Island

The small uninhabited island lies off the coast of Doha, south of The Pearl Island. The natural paradise is for nature lovers to enjoy the sun, swim and admire the mesmerising views of the Doha skyline. On the southern part of the island, there are wooden umbrellas; however, there are almost no other facilities such as restrooms. To get there, you can take a dhow boat from either The Pearl Island or Doha Corniche, or arrange a trip with a local tour operator (see Local Tour Companies in this section) to enjoy watersports on the island such as jet skiing, banana boat rides, paddle boarding and many more.

Al Sultan Beach Resort

Located on Al Khor beach, Al Sultan Beach Resort is just a short drive from Doha, about 35 km. With its own private beach, swimming pool and jacuzzi, the resort is wonderful for water activities and just relaxing away. The resort features 181 rooms including suites with a unique modern and open design providing guests with uninterrupted views of the Arabian Gulf, a gym and spa, a restaurant and more.

Opening times: Daily 9 am – 7 pm.

Admission: QAR125 adults, QAR75 children at the ages of 4 to 10, children under the age of 4 enter for free.

Contact: 4041 7111, alsultanbeachhotel.qa

Al Thakhira

The largest and oldest dense mangroves reserves can be found around Al Thakhira and Al Khor – about 35–40 km from Doha. The beach offers serene views with the lush green mangroves, which are inhabited by a variety of small birds.

A great way to explore the mangroves is by kayak, available from several tour operators and specialist companies. All of these can be booked in advance, and many companies offer both morning and afternoon kayaking trips. It is also an ideal location for swimming, sunbathing, picnicking and barbecuing. Remember to keep it clean and protect the mangroves. At high tide, the salt marsh can turn treacherous, so park near the small wadi (desert depression) unless you're using a four-wheel-drive vehicle.

Al Wakra

The old fishing town of Al Wakra is undergoing continuous redevelopment. The 4 km coastline stretches from the hills to the fishing harbour. The beachfront traditional village called Souq Al Wakra is a replica of life 200 years ago. Al Wakra family beach in the Al Jabal area has volleyball and football areas, sun shades, showers and toilets. The water is shallow but with lots of rocks, and children should be supervised. Solar power is being utilised to provide lighting.

Azerbaijani

One of the best and most popular beaches in Qatar, the public beach comes right before Al Jassasiya beach with beautiful turquoise waters and soft sand, perfect for a camp or barbecue.

B12 Beach Club Doha

The new family-friendly beach club by Ayla Oasis, in partnership with Qatar Airways, has an indoor restaurant and a laid-back beach deck for all-day dining, loungers, sunbeds and a VIP area. It also features water and beach entertainment activities including a Doha-shaped floating obstacle course. B12 Beach Club Doha offers an exclusive experience to visitors through lively beachy vibes, bohemian interiors featuring graffiti art by Qatari artists, and various entertainment elements for all age groups for a day-to-night experience.

B12 Beach Club Doha also houses The Bistro, an indoor restaurant with a versatile gourmet menu that offers brunches at weekends. Next door are Doha Sands and West Bay Beach.

Opening times: 11 am – 6 pm

Admission: Weekdays QAR75 per adult, QAR25 for children under 14, VIP Area Weekdays QAR150 per adult, QAR50 for children under 14. Weekends QAR100 per adult, QAR35 for children under 14; VIP Area Weekends QAR200 per person, QAR70 for children under 14. Children under 6 enter for free. Entry fees change per season. Call ahead and check for up to date timings.

Contact: 5999 6122, Instagram @b12beachclubdoha

Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara

Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara feels a world away from bustling Doha but is only a 25-minute journey by luxury ferry from Al Shyoukh Terminal located on the Doha Corniche or a 10-minute helicopter ride directly from the airport with bird’s eye views of the spectacular coastline.

Bask on their private 800m beach, refresh yourself at the 100m long lagoon pool, or master the waves in their surf pool and enjoy a wide range of watersports. You can also sign up for snorkelling and scuba diving adventures.

Opening times: Daily 10 am – 7 pm.

Admission: Weekdays: QAR350 per adult or child (5 years and above), QAR100 (for boat transfers) for children between 2 and 4, children under 2 enter for free. Weekends and public holidays: QAR500 per adult or child (5 years and above), QAR100 (for boat transfers) for children between 2 and 4, children under 2 enter for free.

Contact: 4040 5050, doha.anantara.com

Doha Sands

Neighbouring B12 Beach Club Doha and West Bay Beach, Doha Sands is a beach where you can eat, dance, chill, swim and play. Select your snack from the various food kiosks, pick your sunbed and listen to music by various DJs. Visitors also have access to B12's Doha-shaped floating obstacle course.

Opening times: 11 am – 6 pm.

Admission: Sunday – Thursday: QAR75 per person – redeemable with food and beverages; Friday and Saturday: QAR100 with QAR75 redeemable with food and beverages; free entry for children under the age of 18. Entry fees change per season. Call ahead and check for up-to-date timings.

Contact: 5999 6122, Twitter and Instagram @dohasandsbeach

Dukhan

Dukhan is one of the most popular destinations for public beaches. Once you arrive at the gates to Dukhan, turn left and follow the coast road for 9 km until you reach Dukhan Water Sports. The tarred road ends here, but to the south there are plenty of places to stop. The beaches are sandy but watch out for sharp rocks under the water.

Fuwairit

Once one of Qatar’s most popular beaches, Fuwairit Beach on Qatar's northern coast permanently closed in 2020 to protect the endangered sea turtles during the hatching season. It has become a conservation area and sanctuary for turtles and birds to live and breed.

Fuwairit Kite Beach (FKB)

A new one-of-a-kind resort on Qatar's northern coast, designed around the kitesurfing lifestyle. In addition to kitesurfing, the beach destination is a place to stay, dine and enjoy sports like volleyball, football, padel, yoga and more.

Owned by Qatar Airways and managed by Tapestry Collection by Hilton, FKB comprises 50 rooms; 32 King Kite beach rooms with sea view, eight Twin Kite beach rooms with sea view (connecting to King Kite beach rooms with Sea View), and eight Twin Kite rooms.

Opening times: 10 am – 5 pm.

Admission: Day Pass QAR300 per person includes resort sports facilities, and a food and drinks credit of QAR200. Kitesurfing lessons start from QAR700 per person.

Contact: 3990 2420, 4030 1555, fkb.qa, fuwairitkitebeach.tapestrycollection.com, Instagram @974.beach

Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas

Located on the sunny southwest coast of Qatar and spanning 3.5 km of private beach, the Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas hideaway features a luxury spa, a marina, and a water and adventure park with slides, rides, and family-friendly attractions.

More than 20 restaurants showcase global flavours, including an underwater dining experience. Savour garden vistas and views of the sparkling Gulf from their collection of 361 rooms, suites, and exclusive villas with a pool, indoor to outdoor living spaces, and direct beach access.

Opening times: Daily 8 am – sunset.

Admission: Daily QAR150; purchase at q-tickets.com (access to Desert Falls Water & Adventure Park, gym and Kids Club is not included in the purchase, however access to the Kids Club is available at the rate of QAR75 per child, per hour).

Contact: 4423 6666, salwabeachresort.qa

Kaia Beach Club

Located at Hilton Salwa Beach Resort is the Kaia Beach Club. Nestled on 3.5 km of private island, from your sun lounger you can order sushi, poke bowls, burgers and desserts, as well as mixed drinks. The beach club also regularly hosts DJs over the weekend. Take advantage of complimentary transport offered to daycationers by booking in advance.

Opening times: Wednesday 10 am – 8 pm, Thursday and Friday 11 am – 10 pm, Saturday 10 am – 8 pm.

Admission: QAR150 per person.

Contact: 5572 2235, kaiabeachclub.com

Jazirat bin Ghannam (Purple Island)

Also known as Al Khor Island, Purple Island is one of the most popular destinations for kayaking, stand up paddling and other water sports with lush mangroves and rich bird life including flamingos. 'Purple' Island gets its name from the dye extracted from the sea snail (shellfish called thais savigny), evidence of which can be found all over this coastal stretch of land. The 'island' is surrounded by mangroves and is accessed via a causeway (broken away in parts). Climb to the top of the jebel for a 360° view of Al Khor.

Katara Beach

Katara Beach is a 1.5 km long public beach at Katara Cultural Village. A play area is located by the beach where children can enjoy a variety of activities, games and rides as well as child friendly watersports. The beach also includes the luxurious 4,600 sq m Katara Beach Club by LivNordic Spa & Wellness, which features two gender separated floors of Scandinavian-inspired health and wellness principles of health.

Opening times: Beach opening and closing timings vary according to season. Call for up to date opening times.

Admission: QAR10 for those at the age of 18 and above; separate fees apply for watersports and lessons

Contact: 4408 1017/1985, 7002 9360, katara.net

Mesaieed (Sealine)

Mesaieed is the industrial town at the original centre of the petrochemical industry, 40 km south of Doha. There are some good beaches to the south of the town and this is where the barchans (crescent-shaped) sand dunes begin.

Mesaieed is home to Qatar's most popular sand dunes and the luxurious Sealine Beach, a Murwab Resort. Dune buggies and quad bikes can be hired here near the resort. It is busiest at the weekend – cars, buggies and quad bikes will be driving in all directions on the beach, so exercise caution. Four-wheel-drive vehicles are necessary if veering away from the main beach area – don’t forget to select your vehicle's lowest gear when approaching the softer sand.

Nammos Beach Club

Al Maha Island, which is linked to the mainland via a causeway, plays host to the world-famous Mykonos beachside restaurant Nammos Beach Club frequented by global superstars such as Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner.

Bringing a taste of the Mediterranean to Qatar, Nammos Beach Club offers up super fresh seafood plus world-class sushi, as well as an extensive mixed drinks and bubbly menu. The original branch is also known for its shisha lounge. There are Nammos beach clubs in Cannes, France; London, the UK; Limassol, Cyprus; and Dubai, the UAE.

Opening times: Daily 11 am – 8 pm.

Admission: QAR300 per person (with sunbed), QAR150 per person (with umbrella), free entry for children under the age of six.

Contact: 5100 0077, 3154 9249, nammos.com/qatar

Ras Abrouq (Bir Zekreet)

The bay is at the tip of a peninsula northeast of Dukhan and is a popular spot for weekend campers and watersports enthusiasts. Full of interesting coves and bays, you may see flamingos in the half-moon bay. If you turn right, you will go past the SCENR reserve for gazelles and ostriches. If travelling up to Bir Zekreet, it's worth taking some time going inland and finding Film City, the 'film set' built into the rock faces of the jebels with small, rough stone buildings where a film was produced several years ago. From here drive up the jebel face – if in a suitable vehicle – and in the distance you will see a small fort. This was used as the location for a TV series, and is open to the public.

Ras Bu Abboud Beach 974

Also known as Beach 974, the new tourist and family destination is a 260,000 sq m and 1.2 km long recreational destination with relaxing sands, live music and DJs, water sports and beach activities, food and retail outlets and more.

It also includes walking and cycling paths with a length of 2.6 km; 11,500 sq m of landscaping and 500 trees; service booths such as restaurants, cafés, toilets and more in four separate areas; 73 seating areas, 216 umbrellas, 286 beach chairs and beach showers; and 255 parking spaces.

The beach is next to the only waterfront venue of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, Stadium 974, and is home to the colourful public art installation 'Doha Mountains' by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone, next to Tche Tche Cafe.

Opening times: 10 am – sunset.

Admission: QAR35 per person; QAR15 for children below the age of 12. Entry fees change per season. Call ahead and check for up to date timings.

Contact: ra974beach.com, Instagram @974.beach

Sealine Beach, A Murwab Resort

Rising majestically from the sands, where the blue waves of the Arabian Sea meet the dunes, lies Sealine Beach, A Murwab Resort, a haven of comfort, luxury, and leisure. Qatar’s first leisure destination, Sealine Beach Resort is the perfect place to get away from the thriving urban life.

With 58 luxurious villas equipped with modern facilities and opening on to a rear patio leading directly to the beach, Sealine Beach Resort offers a wide range of fine cuisines as well as recreational activities such as water sports, desert safari, football, basketball, beach volleyball, etc.

Opening times: Daily 8 am – 5 pm.

Admission: QAR300 per adult, children above 5 can visit at half price, children 5 and below enter for free.

Contact: 4021 4000, sealinebeachqatar.com

Semaisma North Beach

Just 30km north of Doha is the village of Semaisma. The Semaisma North Beach is a 7 km guarded and fenced family beach, which has been developed to include shades, open areas for barbecues, lighting, and bathrooms and shower rooms.

The last 3km of the beach is reserved for women only.

Nearby is the Semaisma public beach, which stretches out from a natural jetty, skirts around a small cluster of mangroves and continues around the bend. On the south end is a small hill with a derelict building; a nice silhouette at dusk. Enjoy the mangroves, which play a vital role in land preservation. Try to avoid crushing the mangrove roots. The beach also boasts palm and sidra trees, and a variety of seasonal plants.

Opening times: Daily 8 am – 8 pm.

Admission: QAR50 per car.

Simaisma, A Murwab Resort

Simaisma, A Murwab Resort is a luxurious retreat on Simaisma Beach. The property features 52 villas, and facilities include a private beach area and watersports. The resort has a year-round outdoor pool and barbecue area. The resort is also home to Six Senses Spa, which is arranged over two floors with dedicated male and female areas. Spa goers can enjoy a selection of signature massages, facials by Subtle Energies, locally-inspired treatments and beauty services.

Opening times: Daily 10 am – 7 pm.

Admission: QAR250 per adult, QAR125 per child.

Contact: 4479 9555, simaisma.com

Umm Bab

There’s a small cluster of palm trees beside the breakwater that earned the beach its nickname ‘Palm Tree Beach’. People can enjoy camping or barbecuing at the beach, which is located in close proximity to the Al Reem Biosphere Reserve where you can find many different plants and animals. One may even find an Arabian Oryx roaming freely around the area.

Waldorf Astoria Lusail, Doha

The new Waldorf Astoria Lusail, Doha features 461 rooms and suites, a destination resort with private beach, waterpark and other amenities and international restaurants.

Another major international brand SUSHISAMBA – which is in cities across the globe including London, Las Vegas and most recently, Dubai – comes to Doha at Waldorf Astoria Lusail, Doha. SUSHISAMBA Doha is home to the brand’s first ever beach club. Expect sharing plates like sushi, Peruvian ceviches and Brazilian moqueca, plus mixed drinks.

Opening times: Beach Club: Friday and Saturday 11 am – 8 pm; Restaurant: Daily 6 pm –midnight.

Admission: QAR500 per person (with sunbeds); QAR250 (without sunbeds). Only adults at the age of 21 and above are allowed entry. ID/passport required for entry.

Contact: Waldorf Astoria Lusail, Doha (4457 5777, 4456 5772); SUSHISAMBA Doha (4456 5774, sushisamba.com)

West Bay Beach

Neighbouring Doha Sands and B12 Beach Club Doha, the new West Bay Beach is a premium beachfront in the West Bay business district with relaxing sunbeds, food trucks offering delicious snacks, kids' playgrounds and sporting courts.

Opening times: Daily 8 am – 2 am.

Admission: QAR50 per person; free entry for children below the age of 12. Entry fees change per season. Call ahead and check for up to date timings.

More Beaches:

In addition, there are many beach hotels and resorts such as InterContinental Doha Beach & Spa; Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl - Doha; The St Regis, Doha; Grand Hyatt Doha Hotel & Villas; Four Seasons Hotel Doha; Hilton Doha; Sharq Village & Spa, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel; Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel; Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som; Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha; and more.