Events & Activities in Qatar: Winter 2022/23

Feature – 2022 A Year In Review

A look back at the last 12 months, with international and domestic news and achievements.

Feature – One Pass: A Gateway to Live It All in Qatar

Qatar Creates has launched One Pass – a gateway to the best of Qatar where you can experience the greatest culture, art, and fashion in the country.

Events in Qatar December 2022 – March 2023

Leisure Activities Clubs, societies and activities, from Arts and Crafts to Water Parks and Play Zones

Sports in Qatar

An overview of the local sports scene, including Qatar’s Sports Federations, Olympic Committee, and FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM

Sports Events December 2022 – March 2023

A full listing of clubs, societies and activities, from Archery to Water Sports Sports Activities

Wellness • Holistic Wellness • Pilates • Yoga

and PRINT and ONLINE

marhaba.qa

Events and Activities Events and Activities

The information contained in this guide has been checked and verified as correct as at the time of compilation. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, information is subject to change. Follow marhaba.qa for the latest updates.

Hilary Bainbridge

Editorial

Marhaba endeavours to quote accurate information and updates each of its sections every issue. However, the company accepts no responsibility or liability for any false, inaccurate, inappropriate or incomplete information presented, whether in print, on the website, or on social media channels.

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Marhaba takes a look back at the year that Qatar opened its doors to visitors from around the world as it hosted a world-class sports event, new parks and family attractions were inaugurated to offer year-round entertainment, records were broken, and much more!

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Doha Peace Agreement – the first step towards Chadian reconciliation

By

In August, Chadian parties signed the ‘Doha Peace Agreement and the Participation of Politico-Military Movements in the Chadian National, Inclusive, and Sovereign Dialogue’, under the auspices of the State of Qatar. The ceremony was attended by HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, foreign ministers, officials, and representatives of the African Union and regional and international organisations. The signing of the agreement is a result of negotiations held by the State of Qatar during a five-month period, with regional and international participation, and is the start of constructive discussions in Chad to achieve national reconciliation.

In a recorded speech during the signing ceremony, HE Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres thanked the State of Qatar for hosting and sponsoring the negotiations between the Chadian parties, leading to the signing of the Doha Peace Agreement.

HH

HH The Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani took part in the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, held in New York in September.

During the opening session, HH The Amir delivered a speech in which he addressed several international issues: the pursuit of a peaceful resolution to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the establishment of a Palestinian state, and the ongoing crises in Syria, Libya and Yemen.

HH The Amir also commented about reaching a just agreement regarding Iran and the nuclear deal, and for all parties to build on the outcomes of the Doha Agreement for Afghanistan.

Highlights of other international news:

• In an interview with French magazine Le Point in September, HH The Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani discussed a number of subjects including women’s issues, freedom of expression, the energy sector and its current contexts, international affairs like GCC-Iranian relations, international wars and crises, and his rejection of discrimination against any minority.

• HH The Amir participated in the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt in November.

The Amir at the United Nations

Sarah Palmer

Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) reopened

The iconic museum reopened in October, following an enhancement project and the reimagination and reinstallation of its permanent collection galleries. The region’s foremost institution for Islamic art now provides a more accessible, engaging and educational experience for guests. More than 1,000 objects will be displayed in the Museum’s permanent galleries for the first time. The galleries are organised according to historical and cultural themes, time periods and geography, with a new section on Islam in Southeast Asia. The visitor experience introduces a comprehensive visitor trail, expanded interpretive materials to help contextualise the masterworks, and new mobile and child-friendly resources to make the Museum more accessible for families and younger guests.

The State of Qatar launched a new national emblem The Government Communications Office (GCO) unveiled a new national emblem of the State of Qatar in September, with a design based on the trinity of sand, sea and sky – three elements closely associated with Qatar’s rich history. Each element has a significance: the striped sail of the Jalboot symbolises the national flag, the palm trees represent the generosity and abundance of the Qatari nation, while the sea waves signify strength and are represented by three lines referencing Qatar’s unique geographic location with water surrounding it from three sides. The two crossed swords at the bottom are a symbol of honour, pride, and power. The font used is a new official typeface called Lusail inspired by the original manuscripts of the Founder Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani.

Shura Council marked 50th anniversary of its founding The Shura Council was established in 1972 by HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani with just 20 members. The Amir, HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani amended the composition of the council increasing the number of members to 45, most of whom were directly elected and which saw the first female members of the council in history in 2017. More changes came in 2021, with the election of two-thirds of its members through free and direct voting. The Shura Council Exhibition was attended by The Amir, where he viewed records, letters and collections presenting the history of the Shura Council since its establishment and the members who contributed to its direction and their legislative efforts.

Highlights of other domestic news:

• The slogan of Qatar National Day (QND) 2022 was unveiled as Wahdatuna Masdar Quwatina – ‘Our unity is the source of our success’, inspired by an excerpt from a speech given by The Amir, HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the Shura Council. There is a packed itinerary of events to look forward to around town – see our Events Calendar for more details and visit marhaba.qa for updates.

• Qatar joined the AMBER Alert network on Facebook and Instagram to help find missing children and return them to their families by publishing missing alerts (September).

HEALTHCARE

Minister of Public Health received prestigious accolade HE Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, Minister of Public Health, along with senior leaders from Qatar’s healthcare sector, took part in the ‘Walk the Talk: Health For All Challenge’ organised by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva in May. Before the start of the walk, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus presented HE Dr Al Kuwari with a special Director-General’s Health Champions 2022 award in recognition of her outstanding advocacy in global health promotion and security.

All Qatari cities now have WHO’s ‘Healthy City’ distinction The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated all eight Qatari municipalities as ‘Healthy Cities’, which sees Qatar as the first in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to receive awards for all its municipalities and is a result of one of the National Health Strategy 2018-2022 projects.

In October, Umm Slal, Al Khor/Al Thakhira, Al Wakra, Al Daayen, Al Shamal and Al Sheehaniya municipalities were joined by Qatar University as ‘Healthy University’ and Qatar Foundation’s Education City as ‘Healthy Education City’. Doha and Al Rayyan municipalities received the award earlier in the year. After the ceremony, 11 trees were planted as part of the ‘One Million Tree Planting’ initiative. All trees will be moved to DADU, Children’s Museum of Qatar.

TRAVEL AND TOURISM

Qatar Airways celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2022, and fittingly won the Skytrax ‘Airline of the Year’ award for a record seventh time in September. Qatar Airways also won World’s Best Business Class, World’s Best Business Class

Lounge Dining, and Best Airline in the Middle East. Hamad International Airport was voted the World’s Best Airport 2022, winning the award for the second year in succession.

Qatar Airways hosted the 8th IATA World Financial Symposium in September, the largest conference of aviation financial leaders since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Speaking at the event, Willie Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), noted that despite ongoing difficulties, the Middle East aviation industry is recovering at a faster rate than other markets.

HOSPITALITY

There were many new openings during the year, a combination of luxury hotels, resorts and attractions. New hotels include Le Royal Méridien Doha, Pullman Doha West Bay, Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha, The St. Regis Marsa Arabia, Waldorf Astoria Lusail, and Wyndham Grand Doha West Bay Beach. Attractions such as 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, Al Maha Island, Lusail Winter Wonderland, Lusail Boulevard, Corinthia Yacht Club, West Walk, West Bay North Beach Project, 974 Beach Club and Fuwairit Kite Beach came online, alongside new retail offerings Printemps Doha and Place Vendôme (pictured).

BUSINESS

Higher energy prices helped Qatar achieve a budget surplus of QAR47.3 bn for the first half of 2022 and gross domestic product growth of 4.3%, despite the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the RussiaUkraine crisis.

In July, Qatar won the presidency of the International Union for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (Berne Union), part of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). This achievement is a recognition of the attention Qatar pays to IP issues and the progress made by the State in this field.

HH The Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani inaugurated Al Kharsaah Solar Plant in October, one of the region’s largest solar plants and the first in Qatar. It is expected to provide around 10% of peak electricity demand and part of Qatar’s contribution towards renewable energy.

Work continues on the North Field East and South expansion projects, with QatarEnergy awarding a number of mega contracts during the year. The North Field Expansion Projects is the industry’s largest ever LNG project. It will start production in 2026, adding more than 48 mn tonnes per annum (mtpa) to the world’s LNG supplies, and raising Qatar’s LNG production capacity to 126 mtpa. Internationally, QatarEnergy expanded its operations in 16 countries.

EDUCATION

It was announced in September that three Qatari cities – Doha, Al Rayyan and Al Daayen – have become part of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC). The three cities join Al Wakra, Al Shamal and Al Sheehaniya, with preparations underway to enable the remaining two municipalities (Umm Slal and Al Khor/Al Thakhira) to join the GNLC.

Speaking at the ‘Transforming Education Summit’ at the United Nations in New York, Minister of Education and Higher Education HE Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi stated that Qatar is one of the largest contributors to humanitarian projects, investing in education, health and economic support. To date, the Qatar Fund for Development has spent USD1 bn in 64 countries and has supported 10 mn out-of-school children in 60 countries.

At this year’s Street Child World Cup held in Doha, HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation, signed the ‘Qatar Commitment’, a document crafted by 290 street-connected children, refugees, and young leaders. It aims to remind nations of their commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that all children are entitled to all rights, regardless of their circumstances.

SPORT AND LEISURE

All Set for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ A total of 3,010,679 tickets were made available, with organisers stating in September that more than 2.85 mn had been sold. More than 1.2 mn fans are expected to travel to Qatar for the tournament –apartments, hotel rooms, camps, villas, fan villages and cabins on cruise ships have all been made available.

The Generation Amazing Foundation legacy programme has now benefitted more than 1 mn people in over 35 countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas. Launched in 2010 by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), the football-for-development outreach and education programmes support vulnerable and displaced people, empowering new generations to transform their communities and generate positive social development via sustainable programmes.

See our special section in this issue about the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ for more about the stadiums, technology and fan experience!

Park with largest air-conditioned jogging tracks opens

HE Dr Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, Minister of Municipality, inaugurated Umm Al Seneem Park, with the largest air-conditioned jogging tracks in the world, a new Guinness World Record! The 1,143-metre-long air-conditioned jogging tracks was awarded the ‘longest air-conditioned outdoor path’ on 17 October 2022. The public can now enjoy using the paths all year, as the air conditioning system ensures temperatures of around 26˚ Celsius. The park was constructed by the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), and this is now their fifth Guinness World Record.

Sheikha Asma Al Thani

In May the Qatari mountaineer successfully scaled K2, the world’s second highest mountain as part of her Beyond Boundaries journey, becoming the first Arab to scale six of the 14 8,000ers. She aims to become the first Qatari woman to complete the Explorers Grand slam – climb the Seven Summits, climb the world’s 14 highest peaks, and reach both the North and South Poles. She is also the first person from Qatar to ski to the North Pole, and the first Qatari woman to reach the South Pole. She is now only one mountain away from achieving her goal!

Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah wins FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC)

Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah is the four-time winner of the Dakar Rally, a two-time Olympic medallist and now, the holder of the drivers’ title in the inaugural FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC).

Al Attiyah and French co-driver Mathieu Baumel drove their Toyota GR DKR Hilux across numerous tracks and trails in three provinces of southern Spain, dealing with inclement weather conditions and punctures along the way.

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Events December – March

These are just some of the events taking place – see our online events calendar for much more to do this winter. For sports events see the separate calendar in this section. Events may be changed or cancelled. Follow updates at marhaba.qa and follow the advice of the Ministry of Public Health re COVID-19.

December 2022

Ongoing The Year of Culture Qatar–MENASA 2022 This is the 10th Year of Culture and Qatar Museums is partnering with an entire region – MENASA – with 26 embassies representing countries from across the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia, featuring specially curated museum and art exhibitions, films, and music and food festivals. yearsofculture.qa

Ongoing QNL Heritage Library permanent exhibition Books, manuscripts, photographs, maps, globes and travellers' instruments depicting the interaction between Arabs and the West over the centuries, along with the history of science, literature, writing and travel. qnl.qa

5, 8, 12 Dec Post Malone, Robbie Williams and Maroon 5 Live performances at Doha Golf Club, part of Qatar Live's World Stage, which will also host the Daydream Festival Qatar with a packed line-up of DJs, and family entertainment shows.

11 – 17 Dec D’reesha Performing Arts Festival Theatre, poetry, research, education and technology exploring performing arts to engage a new generation of artists, culminating in an festival that transforms Education City into an open stage. qf.org.qa

16 Dec Qatar Fashion United by CR Runway Qatar Creates brings more than 100 brands from five continents alongside concerts and public artwork. Stadium 974

Until 16 Dec 10th Ajyal Film Festival – 2022 Special Edition The Public Programme allows residents and visitors to experience cinema screenings across a number of locations in the country. Part of the Year of Culture–Qatar MENASA 2022. dohafilminstitute.com

Until 17 Dec re:collections Exhibition with artworks by six locally-based artists demonstrating the infinite readings, interpretations and translations when thinking of place, memory, and time. gallery.qatar.vcu.edu/recollections The Gallery at VCUarts Qatar

Until 18 Dec Katara Celebrations The Cultural Village hosts events and activities with the participation of embassies and local clubs and associations for all the family to enjoy. One highlight is a charity event being held by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on 12 December. Find the entire schedule of events at katara.net/en/whats-on

Until 31 Dec Story Walk: The Sidra Tree Rains! Walk the storybook trail while reading The Sidra Tree Rains! with your family. qf.org.qa Qur'anic Botanic Garden, Education City

Until 31 Dec Ecological Groups Exhibition Explore various plant ecosystems on a unique journey around the desert, the Mediterranean and the tropical forests. qf.org.qa Multaqa (Education City Student Center), Education City

18 Qatar National Day 2022

An annual public holiday marking Qatar's unification in 1878. This year's theme is 'Our Unity is the Source of Our Strength', from a quote of the speech delivered by HH the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the opening of the 50th Shura Council Session. There are activities for residents and visitors to enjoy at Darb Al Saai's new permanent venue in Umm Slal Mohammed, as well as at other locations, culminating with the final of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ at Lusail Stadium.

What's on at National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ)

Until Pipilotti Rist: Your Brain to Me, My Brain to You NMoQ presents a new large-scale installation by internationally renowned Swiss artist Pipilotti Rist, her first immersive video installation in the Middle East. Visitors are invited to embark on a journey of self-discovery through a multisensory experience that symbolises humanity’s collective unconscious and the power of the mind. A prominent part of the installation is the 'pixels', 12,000 LED lights strung on cables throughout the gallery representing neurons firing and communicating with each other. The bulbs have been programmed in choreography with sound and video featuring abstract footage of Qatar’s landscapes. The exhibition is best experienced if personal devices are switched off in order to shift focus towards activating different senses.

Until On the Move Exploring the lives of nomadic and semi-nomadic pastoralists across three distinct regions – Central Sahara, Qatar and Mongolia – and how these groups created and maintained rich and meaningful social lives while producing complex and beautiful cultural forms in challenging environments. It features a selection of objects, historical images and archival footage from the collections of the NMoQ and Qatar Museums, along with loans from international museums such as the National Museum of Mongolia, Musée du Quai Branly and the Weltmuseum Vienna.

Until A Sneak Peek at Qatar Auto Museum The exhibition features three amazing cars in the Mawater Gallery. The new Qatar Auto Museum will explore the past, present and future of the automobile and is in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 to support the cultural, educational and tourism sectors, the strong investments in the automotive industry, and Qatar's role as a host for global automotive events such as the Qatar Geneva International Motor Show and Formula 1.

1963 Ferrari 250 GTO

Photo: Ali Al Anssari, courtesy of Qatar Museums ©2022

Opening times: Galleries and shops: Saturday to Thursday 9 am – 7 pm, Friday 1:30 pm – 7 pm.

Jiwan Restaurant: Monday to Thursday, Saturday 12:30 pm – 8 pm, Friday 1:30 pm – 8 pm. Special operating hours will be in effect until 20 December.

Admission: Tickets must be purchased online in advance. Visitors are asked to dress modestly in keeping with Qatari culture. 4452 5555, nmoq.org.qa

The Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) and QM Gallery – Al Riwaq

Until Safar Presented in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a free exhibition highlighting the experiences of Afghan refugees after their evacuation in 2021.

Until Baghdad: Eye's Delight The museum's first exhibition in its new galleries, celebrating Baghdad as the most important and influential city ever created in the Islamic world. It will show Baghdad’s outstanding heritage as the capital of the great Abbasid caliphs (750–1258 CE), when the city again experienced prosperity in the 20th century with the discovery of oil. The exhibition features objects on loan from 22 institutions such as the Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Benaki Museum, and the Vatican.

Until Raku Kichizaemon XV·JikinyU: A Living Tradition of Japanese Pottery Raku refers to a process in the production of pottery, and is also the family name of the Japanese dynasty that used this process for 16 consecutive generations. Raku Kichizaemon XV·JikinyU is the 15th generation of the family – after visiting Qatar in 2018, Raku was inspired to create works using sands and minerals from the Qatari desert into the body and glazes of a series of tea bowls (shown right)

Until Lusail Museum: Tales of a Connected World Introducing the new museum designed by Herzog & de Meuron under development in Lusail City. On display are Orientalist art, archaeological artefacts and media from prehistoric times to the 21st century for a new, enlightened and constructive world perspective.

Qatar sands, Japanese Shigaraki clay and porcelain 2022, private collection

Opening times Saturday to Thursday 9 am – 7 pm, Friday 1:30 pm – 7 pm. Special operating hours will be in effect until 20 December, and the museum will be closed on 2/6/9 December. MIA Park and Flag Plaza will remain open and accessible to the public 24 hours a day.

Admission: Tickets must be purchased online in advance.

Due to road closures during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, the Museum of Islamic Art and QM Gallery – Al Riwaq will not be accessible by car. Visitors are advised to use public buses or the metro. Visitors are asked to dress modestly in keeping with Qatari culture. 4422 4444, mia.org.qa C4

Until 21 Jan From___ To___ (Water/Sky/Land) Exhibits showing Qatar's unique environment alongside ongoing urban development, using traditional and new media to depict this interaction between humans and the natural world. Fire Station: Artist in Residence

Until 21 Jan Arwa Al Neami: ART IS NOT A RACE A solo exhibition by Fire Station's Visiting Artist, Arwa Al Neami: 'The installation sheds light on the current state of art, which is directly influenced by struggle and acceleration caused by the impact of the art world, and no time proves this more than the present.' Fire Station: Artist in Residence

Until 28 Jan Labour of Love: Embroidering Palestinian History Discover tatreez embroidery through different historical periods in Palestinian society, via gender, commodification and class. Part of the Qatar–MENASA 2022 Year of Culture. QM Gallery, Katara Cultural Village

Until 31 Jan Anassir by Bouthayna Al Muftah Exhibition Qatari artist Bouthayna Al Muftah’s new show, Anassir (Elements), with Fataraat (Phases) and In'ekas (Introspection) which unveils her large-scale tapestry Yeebhom (Bring Them Back) for the first time in Doha. M7, Msheireb Downtown Doha

Until 31 Jan Goooal! How Football Kicked off in Qatar The Heritage Library's exhibition about the growth and history of football in Qatar, showing its origins, its development through the decades, and hosting this year's tournament. qnl.qa

Events December –March

What's on at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art

Ongoing Mathaf Collection, Summary Part 2 Some of the museum's most iconic pieces, featuring 20th and 21st century contemporary art by artists from the Arab World, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe – all historically connected to Qatar and the Arab Peninsula.

Until One Tiger or Another A CGI animation by Singaporean artist Ho Tzu Nyen and artefacts relating to Tipu Sultan, the 18th-century ruler also known as 'the Tiger of Mysore', a famous figure in South Asian history.

Until Sophia Al Maria: INVISIBLE LABORS daydream therapy The first large-scale museum exhibition in the Middle East by Qatari-American artist Sophia Al Maria, inviting discussions on histories, dreams, futures, and the Gulf’s relation to surrounding regions, with installations, videos and soundscapes. Part of Qatar–MENASA 2022 Year of Culture.

Until Taysir Batniji: No Condition is Permanent A reflective space with productions and reproductions of the artist's work created between 1997 and 2022. While the exhibition’s title refers to a single artwork, on display are a mixture of photography, drawing, video, installation and performance. Part of Qatar–MENASA 2022 Year of Culture.

Until Almaha Almaadeed – Inspired by the Land Artworks questioning the effects of urbanisation in Qatar on re-engagement with nature, contextualising family archives using poetry and oral literature. Part of Qatar–MENASA 2022 Year of Culture.

Feb 2023

Until Majaz: Contemporary Art Qatar Exhibition celebrating five years of the Artist in Residence programme at the Fire Station and the art scene in Qatar. Part of Qatar–MENASA 2022 Year of Culture.

Almaha Almaadeed, Untitled, from ‘The Palm’ Series, 2020–21, mixed media on palm paper.

Photo: Naifa Al Marri, courtesy of the artist.

Opening times Saturday to Thursday 9 am – 7 pm, Friday 1:30 pm – 7 pm. Special operating hours will be in effect until 20 December, and the museum will be closed on 2/6/9 December.

Admission: Tickets must be purchased online in advance. There is a free shuttle service between Mathaf and the Museum of Islamic Art, Qatar National Library, and Fire Station: Artist in Residence. The Mathaf stop on the Education City public tram service is approximately three minutes away from the museum. Visitors are asked to dress modestly in keeping with Qatari culture. 4402 8855, mathaf.org.qa C2

Until 25 Mar Experience Al Jazeera The Al Jazeera Media Network has grown over the past 25 years, from a pioneering TV channel in Qatar to a global media phenomenon. Interactive exhibits include the Studio Experience and the Al Jazeera Immersive section, which explores the use of virtual and augmented reality storytelling techniques in broadcasting. Fire Station: Artist in Residence

Until 30 Mar Art Mill Museum 2030 Reflecting the site's transformation, films and photographs show parallels between the former flour mill and the future museum. 'From Flour to Art' is at Qatar Flour Mills Warehouse, and 'The Museum’s Garden' is at Al Najada Heritage House #15. Make reservations at qm.org.qa

Until 1 Apr Forever Valentino Exhibition Maison Valentino pays homage to its founder with its largest show to date and its first in the Middle East. M7, Msheireb Downtown Doha

Until 1 Apr World of Football A celebration of the historic FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. Like a football match, the exhibition is displayed in two halves: the first, 'Football for All, All for Football' examines the global appeal of football, while the second, 'The Road to Doha' follows the long journey to Qatar 2022, from the first matches in Uruguay in 1930 to this year's final match at Lusail Stadium. The FIFA Making Memories section will grow during the exhibition, as objects are added to record historic milestones by teams making new FIFA World Cup™ history. Supported by FIFA Museum, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, National Football Museum (UK), Musée National du Sport (France), and Qatar Football Association. 321qosm.org.qa 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum NB: the museum will be closed to the public on 1/3/17 December.

January 2023

21 Happy New Year with Scheherazade Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra presents music by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Franz von Suppé, Johann Strauss II and Émile Waldteufel. qatarphilharmonicorchestra.org Opera House, Katara Cultural Village

February

4

Frank Sinatra and friends A spectacular evening celebrating Ol’ Blue Eyes and others from the big band and swing era. qatarphilharmonicorchestra.org Abdul Aziz Nasser Theatre, Souq Waqif

March

5 – 8

Fourth World Association for Sport Management Conference Postponed from March 2022, the conference will now be an opportunity to review the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ and the move forward to build the sports industry in Qatar and in the region. Co-hosted by Qatar University (QU) and Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) under the theme 'Bringing the World Together: Global and Local Perspectives on Sport Management'. wasmorg.com College of Education, Qatar University

5 – 9

5th United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) LDC5 is in two parts: the first, in New York in March 2022, saw the Doha Programme of Action (DPoA) adopted – commitments between the least developed countries and development partners, eg the private sector and governments. This second part in Doha sees plans and partnerships formed to deliver DPoA over the next 10 years. un.org/ldc5 QNCC

14 – 16

Destination Wedding Planners Congress 2023 The world’s biggest B2B conference for destination weddings comes to Qatar! Wedding planners, hoteliers, tourism boards and suppliers meet under the theme ‘Opulent Extravaganza’. destinationweddingcongress.com/qatar Venue to be announced

Upcoming events

Oct 2023 – Expo 2023 Doha, Qatar Under the theme 'Green Desert, Better Environment', The International Horticultural Expo will bring together the world to unite in the fight against desertification – one third of the world’s land surface is threatened by this global problem, increasing by 12 mn hectares per annum. There are four sub-themes: Modern Agriculture, Technology and Innovation, Environmental Awareness, and Sustainability. This is the first horticultural exhibition to be held in a region with a desert climate and supports the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030. dohaexpo2023.gov.qa Al Bidda Park

Mar 2024

marhaba.qa

Lectures, exhibitions and workshops

Throughout the Year

• Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar Dean’s Lecture Series. 4454 8400, qatar.cmu.edu C2

• Embrace Doha Workshops and events aimed at enriching the cultural experience of expats and visitors. embracedoha.net

• Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar Faculty Lectures. 4457 8100, qatar.georgetown.edu C2

• Katara Exhibitions, cultural and music events, and workshops. Call Centre: 182, katara.net B4

• Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art Exhibitions, workshops and artist encounters. 4402 8855, mathaf.org.qa C2

• Museum of Islamic Art Workshops and educational programmes. 4422 4444, mia.org.qa D4

• National Museum of Qatar Online tours, workshops, lectures, and activities for schoolchildren. 4452 5555, nmoq.org.qa C4

• Qatar Foundation Convocations, summits, and lifestyle and business-related workshops. 4454 0000, qf.org.qa C2

• Qatar National Library Workshops, educational and academic programmes, reading events and chess club. qnl.qa C2

• Virginia Commonwealth University of Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) Gallery lectures, exhibitions, and community classes in art, design and crafts. 4402 0555, qatar.vcu C2 Music, drama and more

• Doha Film Institute Film screenings and festivals, workshops and educational programmes. dohafilminstitute.com

• Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra Regular performances of Western and Arabic music. qatarphilharmonicorchestra.org

• Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha Pub Quiz at Shehrazad on the last Monday of each month. 4428 1555, radissonblu.com D3/4

• The Doha Players An amateur dramatic society that presents a range of shows and open mic nights throughout the year. See their Facebook page Qatar's largest and oldest amateur choir. dohasingers.com

Keep up to date with all that is happening in Qatar by connecting with Marhaba: marhaba.qa, marhaba.qa/eguides MarhabaGuideQatar @MarhabaQatar MarhabaGuideQatar marhabainformationguide

Qatar Foundation C2 4470 7000, qncc.qa

Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC) C4 4033 1111, decc.qa

Katara Cultural Village Lusail Street B4 182, katara.net Qatar Tourism visitqatar.qa

Checked & Updated October 20 22

Leisure Activities

Marhaba updates this information for every issue; however, details may change after going to press. Please check with the organisation concerned. If your organisation is listed in these pages, email any changes to us at marhaba@qatar.net.qa Many of the locations for the following listings can be found using the map pages in this guide. Marhaba pocket maps can be purchased at bookshops and stores around town.

✔ Indicates either an activity for children or an activity in which children can participate.

Arts and Crafts

Arts and Crafts Center B3 A vibrant centre in Al Duhail South, offering art classes and workshops for all ages. Caters to events, birthdays, schools and universities. 4486 5201, artsandcrafts.qa ✔

Fire Station C3 A contemporary art space committed to supporting artists, curators and the wider public through their residencies and public programmes. 4422 4222, firestation.org.qa

IAID Performing Arts (IAID) D4 Offers progressive courses from beginner to advanced covering colour theory, art styles, drawing and painting techniques, visual art perception and portraits. 4432 0974, 4441 1234, iaidonline.org ✔

International Artists of Doha (IAD) Group for professional artists living in Qatar who get together and exhibit on a regular basis. 6699 0122, see their Facebook page for more details.

Katara Art Center (KAC) at Building 5 at Katara B4 Courses and workshops in photography, printmaking, design, drawing, painting, ceramics and more. 4408 0244, dohakac.com ✔

Paint The Town Qatar Multiple locations A division of Trinity Talent Qatar. A leisurely event, where participants are taught how to paint. Each session consists of a different painting taught by an artist. 7759 1219, paintqatar.com

Qatar Art Center (QAC) C3 Art residency and art hub, founded in 1993 by HE Sheikh Hassan bin Mohammed bin Ali Al Thani. 4487 7488, qatar-art-center.business.site

Qatar Fine Arts Association at Building 13 at Katara B4 Aims to raise the level of scientific and technical artists, and maintain their production. 4408 1469, see their Facebook page for more details. ✔

VCUarts Qatar Community Education C2 Courses in jewellery design, fashion design, dressmaking, drawing, Photoshop, Illustrator, watercolours and more. 4402 0555, qatar.vcu.edu

Visual Art Center D2 Acts under the umbrella of the Ministry of Sports and Youth, offers services in all aspects of visual art. It covers basic drawing techniques, painting, printmaking, graphic design and illustration, photography, ceramics, basic design and computer graphics. 4408 1388/1471

Boat and Fishing Trips, and Watersports

Many tour companies offer half- and full-day dhow trips and fishing trips, which often include lunch. Trips to Safliya Island are popular and watersports are available at an extra cost. See Sightseeing in the Discovering Qatar section for tour companies and Sports Activities in this section for watersports.

AquaSports (Previously Paddle Qatar) B4/C4 Runs a range of tours, camping activities, school, educational and team building trips, beach barbecue and kayaking tours at The Pearl Island and the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA). 3319 4445, aquasportsq.com ✔

Blue Pearl Experience Multiple locations

Organises outdoor adventure, camps and watersports activities at The Pearl Island, Doha Golf Club, Fuwairit, Zekreet and Sealine. 6660 2830, bluepearlexperience.com ✔

Fishing and parasailing trips Call Bassel on 5551 8100

National Cruise Organises cruises and tours on the sea including dinner cruises, city tours, corporate cruises, birthdays and other special occasions as well as fishing and beach trips. 6600 0926, 7799 9666, nationalcruise.com ✔

Qatar Fine Arts Association

Leisure Activities

Qatar Sea Angling Association Founded in 1987 to encourage anglers to meet up regularly to share knowledge, bait and tackle tips, and a little adventure fishing around Qatar as well as support local research. qsaa.net

Regatta Sailing Academy B4 Windsurfing instruction offered for all ages. 5550 3484, regattasailingacademy.com

Ronautica Middle East B4 Yacht charters, day boat charters and fishing trips. Contact the Harbour Master at The Pearl Island. 6674 1577, 4409 5279, ronauticame.com

Cinemas

Asian Town Cinema F3 Offers four cinemas with 500 seating capacity each. 4499 9013

Cineco 3, Al Khor Mall A 3-screen cineplex. 4029 6503/4453 3445

Cineco, Gulf Mall C3 A 13-screen multiplex. 4031 0600

Cineco, Villaggio Mall D2 Offers 13 cinemas including one IMAX 3D. 4451 7001

Flik Cinemas, Lagoona Mall B4 Platinum and Gold Class multiplex offering four screens. 4443 2757

Flik Cinemas, Mirqab Mall D3 Offers eight screens. 4434 0737

Katara Cinema, Building 49 B4 Luxurious cinema with four VIP theatres. 5028 5994

Mall Cinema, The Mall D4 Offers three cinemas. 4467 8666

Novo Cinema Call Centre 4031 5803, novocinemas.com/qatar

• Novo Cinema, 01 Mall E3 Five-screen cinema.

• Novo Cinema, Doha Oasis D4 19-screen cinema

• Novo Cinema, Mall of Qatar C1 19-screen cinema, IMAX, and MX4D.

• Novo Cinema, Souq Waqif D4 Four standard theatres and a VIP 7-star screen.

• Novo Cinema, The Pearl Island B4 10 screens including IMAX and VIP.

Qatar Bahrain Cinema, City Center-Doha C4 A 14-screen multiplex. 6503 6086, 4493 3355

Roxy Cinemas, B. Square Mall E4 Five screens with VIP screen. 4017 1614

The Cinema Palace, The Royal Plaza D3 Offers three screens. 4432 0938

VOX Cinemas, Doha Festival City B2 A 19-screen cinema multiplex including one 4DX. 4435 4444

Clubs and Hobbies

Doha Stitches A ladies only sewing and crafting non-profit charity group where members use their sewing and crafting skills to give back. Join their private Facebook group for more details.

Doha Writers' Workshop A community of teachers, students, and professionals interested in writing, reading, and the art of sharing experiences through words. Join their private Facebook group for more details.

Friends of the Environment Centre (FEC) C3 Raising environmental awareness and conservation. 4487 4725/4731, fec.qa (Arabic) ✔

Friends of Nature (FON) in Ezdan Mall C3 A non-profit organisation, which organises environmental awareness programmes and activities. 7002 0543 (Arabic) ✔

HOG Qatar Chapter D3 (Harley Owners Group®) Aims to increase the level of enthusiasm toward Harley Davidson motorcycles. 4463 2429/28, harley-davidsondoha.com

Qatar Billiards & Snooker Federation (QBSF) D4 Founded in 1991 to establish a base of players who are able to lead the sport of billiards, pool and snooker. qbsf@qbsf.qa, qbsf.qa

Qatar Chess Association D4 Chess training and tournaments for children. 4494 4290/91/92, 4469 4349 (girls), 4465 9791 (boys), qatarchess.com ✔

Qatar Duners Connect with other bikers, and take on the dunes. Join their private Facebook group for details.

Qatar Flying Club A private flying company in Al Khor Airport, offering pilot training, gyro-copter training and weight shift, discovery flights from above, and private pilot’s licence. 4457 1491, qatarflyingclub.net

The four-seater luxury theatre at the new Katara Cinema

Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation (QMMF)

The federation organises motor and motorcycling rallies, and accepts volunteers interested in marshalling at the rallies. 4437 9885, qmmf.com

Qatar Natural History Group (QNHG) Share a broad range of interests including archaeology, geology, botany, marine life, conservation and the natural world. qnhg.org ✔

Qatar Photography Center at Building 18 at Katara B4 Established in 2021 by the Ministry of Culture as Akkas Photography Center, it offers courses and workshops with the aim of improving and enriching the local photography scene. 5583 3807

Qatar Poetry Center (Diwan Al Arab) Operating under the Ministry of Culture, the centre works to promote poetry and literature, taking into account the Qatar's literary heritage, and be the right platform for Qatari poets to develop and succeed. 4405 5736/38, diwanalarab.qa

Qatar Quilt Guild A guild of ladies meet for sewing and technique workshops and contests. See their Facebook page for details.

Qatar Reads C2 Previously known as the National Reading Campaign (NRC), Qatar Reads is a programme by Qatar Foundation (QF) that hosts a variety of outreach initiatives to communicate the importance of reading and create interest in reading among all residents. qatarreads.qa ✔

Qatar Scientific Club E3 Over 4,000 members attend classes and seminars including scuba diving, remote-control aero modelling, astronomy and electronics. Children aged 9 – 12 can join the Children’s Club. 4469 6200, qsc.org.qa (Arabic) ✔

Stand Up Comedy Qatar (SUCQ) Qatar’s own standup comedy club. It promotes local comedians and hosts occassional stand-up comedy shows. 3370 3012, see their Facebook and Instagram pages.

SustainableQatar An independent, volunteer-based organisation addressing environmental issues relevant to Qatar. sustainableqatar.com

The Official Elvis Presley Fan Club of Qatar Officially recognised by Graceland and Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. Join events, activities and outings. qatarelvisfans.qa

Youth Hobbies Center at Katara D4 Photography programmes for teens. Basic skills required. 4408 1812, youthobbies.org ✔

Clubs – Recreational

A few of the social clubs in and outside of Doha provide a wide range of facilities for sport and leisure activities. Many membership options are available and cater for singles, couples and families.

Al Jasrah Cultural and Social Club D4 A government club at Souq Waqif established by the Ministry of Sports and Youth in 1960. One of the oldest literary clubs in the Arab world, the club hosts many writers and intellectuals from the Arab world and offers many free training courses in various creative areas such as writing, theatre and music. 4427 3124, 3318 1359, moc.gov.qa

Al Khor Community A housing complex, offering excellent facilities to employees of Qatargas and Al Khor International School (AKIS) with three clubs: Al Dhakira Club, Al Nakheel Club and Al Waha Club. 4473 4555, akcommunity.org

Al Khor Cultural Center A cultural and social centre of the Ministry of Sports and Youth established in 1981 for men with specialised cultural activities, recreational and scientific programmes. It was expanded in 2006 to include a ladies section with social and cultural programmes. 4472 2015 (men's section), 4472 0362 (women's section)

Al Khor Girls Center Established by the Ministry of Sports and Youth in 2012 as a youth centre to empower women and young girls and highlight their abilities in commitment to Islamic customs and values by organising various activities and initiatives. 4472 0600, 7747 0887, kgc.org.qa

Dukhan Recreation Club (DRC) One of the oldest clubs managed by QatarEnergy and open to its staff only with several fitness and entertainment facilities. 4014 1879

Dukhan Water Sports Club A sailing club for QatarEnergy employees only. 4014 1894

Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) D3 Formally inaugurated in 1992, the centre is a meeting of prominent Indian community members. 4468 6607, iccqatar.com

Qatar Fertiliser Company (QAFCO)

Clubs

Al Banush Club 4409 1777 (for employees only)

See Sports Activities in this section for a comprehensive list of sports clubs.

Leisure Activities

Stand Up Comedy Qatar (SUCQ)

Leisure Activities

Image courtesy of Cabana Club at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha

Culinary

Leaders Cooking Academy D4 A cooking and barista academy and cafe as well as a hospitality and food consultancy. 3330 6677, see their Instagram page.

Qatar Culinary Professionals (QCP) D3 An association representing professional chefs in the food service industry in Qatar. 4418 0654, qatarcp.org

The Cooking Academy C3 A local culinary start-up providing cooking classes for professionals and food lovers. 4039 0497, cookingacademy.qa

Cultural and Language Courses

See Education Courses, Tutoring and Lectures and Arabic/Islamic Culture Courses in the Education section.

Dance

B/Attitude Spa at Beverly Hills Tower B4 Offers zumba, salsa, latino fitness and more. 4412 2046, battitudespadoha.com ✔

Bailamos Salsa Multiple locations Teaches salsa, bachata, tango, hip hop and more at all levels. 7040 4143, bailamos-salsa-doha.business.site

Brava Studio at 22 La Croisette, The Pearl Island B4 Offers a wide variety of dance, dance fitness and aerial arts classes to all ages. 4002 2000, bravastudio.co ✔

Cabana Club at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha D4 Holds ballet, hip hop, salsa, bachata and more for adults and children – various levels. 4428 1428 ✔

Fitness First at City Centre-Doha C4 Offers a wide variety of dance including Irish, Bollywood, Modern and more. 4411 5999, qatar.fitnessfirstme.com

IAID Performing Arts (IAID) D4 Classical and contemporary dances of India, jazz, classical ballet; contemporary, dance and hip hop for teens and kids. 4432 0974, 4441 1234, iaidonline.org ✔

International Centre for Music (ICMQatar)

Multiple locations One of the pioneers in Qatar to offer courses to learn the solos and variations in the classical as well as contemporary ballet. 4467 1354, 4490 7878, icmqatar.com ✔

Salsa n Candela C3 Founded by Candela Entertainment, Salsa n Candela provides salsa, Cha-Cha, bachata, Brazilian Zouk, kizomba, tango and other latin dance classes, as well as organises events and provides entertainment services. candelaentertainment.com

Skills Development Centre (SDC) D3 A centre for fine arts and performing arts, and is one of the leading institutes in Qatar offering Indian classical dance, modern dance, classical music, fine arts, karate, yoga and personality development. 4441 3955, sdcqatar.org

Swasthi Academy D3 Provides training in classical and contemporary dance forms, classical and instrumental music genres, martial arts as well as wellness programmes. 5077 0025, swasthiacademy.com

The Ritz-Carlton, Doha B4 Offers jazz, zumba and hip hop classes. 4484 8000, ritzcarlton.com ✔ Yamativo Mambo Qatar A latin dance group and school that offers salsa, bachata, styling, shines and rueda classes for all levels. 5554 0533, yamativosalsaqatar.com

Debating and Public Speaking

Al Banush Club Toastmasters Online meetings on the first and third Tuesday every month at 6:30 pm. 3354 6316, toastmasters.org

Al Khor Toastmasters Club Meetings on the second and fourth Monday every month at 7 pm on Zoom. 5563 8213, 6678 2272, toastmasters.org

Birla Gavel Club at Birla Public School D4 Fee: first year QAR225 and annual QAR100. 7727 9583 ✔

Doha Toastmasters Club D4 Meetings on first and third Saturday from 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm on Zoom. 5516 9399, doha.toastmastersclubs.org

Doha Gavels Club D4 Toastmaster club for children. Part of Doha Toastmasters Club. 5572 0680 ✔

QatarDebate Center C2 A member of Qatar Foundation (QF) and the national debating organisation for Qatar. qatardebate.org

Qatar Toastmasters Club D4 Meetings on the first and third Sunday every month at 7 pm - 9:30 pm on Zoom. 7400 6238, toastmasters.org

Drama

Doha Film Institute (DFI) B4 Offers programmes, workshops and labs in acting, screenwriting and other aspects of filmmaking. dohafilminstitute.com

Doha Players Theatre C2 An amateur dramatic society that produces plays and musicals on weekdays between 8 am and 1 pm only. thedohaplayers.com ✔

Film and Theater Academy Multiple locations

Acting classes, workshops and courses for adults and children. 7751 9168, see their Facebook page for more details. ✔

Mockingbird Academy C2 Delivers a high-quality performing arts programme and classes with several fundamental abilities, including selfesteem, confidence, creative thinking, acting skills, public speaking skills, as well as leadership and teamwork skills. 4407 6851, mockingbirdacademy.com ✔

Theater Affairs Center D3 Established by the Ministry of Culture in 2016, the centre aims to develop and educate theatre talents with professional theatre skills, and to provide the local theatre community with new, experienced and technically educated cadres. 4405 5720

Groups and Associations

1st Doha Scout Group, British Scouting Overseas (BSO) Delivers an active programme of indoor and outdoor activities for English-speaking children aged 6 – 18 years from all backgrounds. 1st-doha-scout-group.org ✔

American Women's Association Active women's group for all nationalities, providing a variety of ongoing activities and events awaqatar.com

British Guides in Foreign Countries (BGIFC) For girls only, aged 5 – 14 years. To register your daughter visit bgifc.org.uk, dess.org ✔

Canadians in Qatar Bringing Canadians of Qatar together through social events by holding monthly social events. Join their private group on Facebook.

Doha Mums Group of over 1,000 mums from 90 countries, offering more than 80 events a month, including New Arrivals Coffees; playgroups and holiday parties; support groups; children with special needs; children's library. dohamums.com ✔

Dutch Speaking Association of Qatar (DSA) Welcomes those who speak Dutch. dsaqatar.org ExpatWoman Qatar Join the forum and get to know other expatriate women; organises activities, meetups and gatherings. expatwoman.com/qatar

How Women Work (HWW) A community group empowering women to succeed through workshops, conferences, and professional events. hwwglobal.com

Indian Women's Association, Qatar (IWA Qatar) Exchange expertise in various cultural social fields. iwaqatar.com

Lebanese Community in Qatar (LCIQ) A community group for Lebanese in Qatar with more than 4,000 members to get to know each other, and organise events. Join their private group on Facebook.

Qatar Expat Women Helps women with the transition from their homeland to Qatar. See their Facebook page for more details.

Qatar Irish Society Organises social, sporting and cultural events throughout the year in order to promote closer relations in the Irish community in Qatar. Join their private group on Facebook.

Qatar Professional Women's Network (QPWN) An informal networking group for any woman regardless of nationality, profession, age or educational background. qpwn.org

Scots in Qatar Holds regular functions throughout the year including St Andrew's Night Ball, Burns Supper and summer ceilidhs. scotsinqatar.com

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center (previously known as Fanar) D4 Hosts numerous events for people of all nationalities and beliefs. 4444 7444, binzaid.gov.qa

Sudanese Professional Association and Sudanese Women's Association (SWA) in Qatar A formal association of Sudanese professionals that organises professional, business, social and cultural events throughout the year for the Sudanese community in Qatar. See their Facebook page for more details.

Swedish Association of Qatar (SAQ) Regular gatherings and social events for children and adults. saq.nu ✔

The Cambridge Society of Qatar Cambridge University alumni in Qatar who meet regularly to socialise, listen to eminent speakers and to discuss ways of promoting links between Qatar and Cambridge University. alumni.cam.ac.uk

Doha Mums observing Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Leisure Activities

Tuesday Ladies Group (TLG) D4 Support group for expatriate women. Meets at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha for tea, coffee and cakes every other Tuesday. tuesdayladiesgroup.com

Women's Circle By Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel and life coach Anahi, hosting women's events, bringing women together to share, discuss and witness each other's journeys in a safe and enriching way. See their group on LinkedIn

Groups Seeking Volunteers

2nd Chance Rescue – Qatar A branch of Park View Pet Centre provides fostering, adoption and dog walking services. 5540 6254, see their Facebook page for details.

Animal Resources Department D4 The government vet has a trap-neuter-return (TNR) team and offers free treatments, neutering, spaying, vaccinating and microchipping. 184/4426 1656

BarkinQ – Volunteers for Dogs Run by a dog-loving couple, rescuing stray or abandoned dogs to rehome abroad – not a shelter. 5573 2144, see their Facebook page for details.

Cat Assistance Team of Qatar (CAT)

Volunteer-based cat rescue group that fundraises to support cat rescue in Qatar. All proceeds go to TNR (trap-neuter-return), cat care and rescue. See their Facebook page for more details.

Doha Environmental Actions Project (Deap) A team of volunteers seeking to restore the natural beauty of the beach and sand dunes in Qatar and raise awareness on the importance of preserving the environment. See their Facebook or Instagram pages for more details. ✔

Paws Rescue Qatar A group of individuals who rescue and rehome dogs and cats. pawsrescueqatar.org

Qatar Animal Welfare Society (QAWS) A non-profit organisation dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of animals in Qatar. Funded purely by public donations along with offers of support from volunteers, it is home to over 200 animals. 5539 6074, qaws.org ✔

Qatar Red Crescent (QRCS) Multiple locations Qatar's first volunteering charitable organisation, QRCS works to help and empower vulnerable individuals and communities in Qatar and across the MENA region. QRCS is an active member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. qrcs.org.qa

Qatar Volunteers A volunteer group that participates in fundraising events, blood donation,

beach cleanups, and disaster response. See their Facebook page for details.

Qatar Voluntary B3 One of the youth centres of the Ministry of Sports and Youth. It strives to spread a volunteering culture to all members of the Qatari society through organising activities, programmes and events. 4467 4888, voluntary.qa

Reach Out To Asia (ROTA) Volunteer Club ROTA supports neighbouring countries as they overcome developmental difficulties. To volunteer, call 4454 1603, reachouttoasia.org

TNR Qatar A volunteer organisation promoting trap-neuter-return (TNR), the humane solution to the cat overpopulation problem, saving cats lives. See their Facebook page for details.

Health and Fitness

See Sports Activities and Health and Wellness in this section for comprehensive listings of activities and classes.

Libraries

British Council Qatar D3 Information Centre has books, magazines, videos, DVDs and internet access. 800 5501, britishcouncil.qa ✔

Institut Français du Qatar B3 Provides information about different aspects of French and Frenchspeaking culture and civilisation: literary, artistic, social, scientific and technical. 4493 0862, institutfrancais-qatar.com ✔

Qatar National Library (QNL) C2 Gives residents access to nearly one million books, periodicals, and special collections. QNL members can pick up a membership card, while those not yet registered can do so by presenting their Qatar ID. Register at library.qnl.qa/selfreg. For more information, visit qnl.qa or call 4454 0100 ✔

VCUQatar Library C2 The public may join the library for a small deposit and borrow art, design, architecture and innovative media books, ebooks, research, articles, images, videos and more. qatar.vcu.edu/library ✔

Doha Environmental Actions Project (Deap)

Music Groups and Choirs

Doha Chamber Choir A cappella choir has vacancies for all voice parts, especially tenor. Rehearses weekly from September to June. Varied repertoire. Performs for booked events only (weddings, parties, etc). 7011 8887, qatarconcertchoir.com

Doha Community Music Ensembles A full size symphony orchestra and wind symphony for amateur musicians. Open to new members of all ages and nationalities. 3385 7784, dcmeqatar.com ✔

Doha Jazz Performs several genres of jazz and other styles such as blues, Arabic and classical music. 5571 0746, dohajazz.com

Drumming Qatar Teaching African djembe drumming and rhythm. Open to all. Contact Patrick Dilley on 3384 2330, drummingqatar.com ✔

IAID Performing Arts (IAID) D4 Music courses include piano, keyboard, guitar and vocals in Western notations, following the London College of Music (LCM) syllabus. Examinations are held every six months by LCM examiners. 4432 0974, 4441 1234, iaidonline.org ✔

International Centre for Music (ICMQatar)

Multiple locations Offers classes in piano, keyboard, violin, guitar and music theory, as well as voice lessons. 4490 7878, icmqatar.com ✔

Music Affairs Centre D3 Established in 2016 under the Ministry of Sports and Youth, it aims to raise awareness of music culture and its importance in society. 4478 9356, qmusic.qa

Qatar Concert Choir A not-for-profit audition choir performing a wide range of classical and contemporary choral music. qatarconcertchoir.com

Qatar Little Voices Led by the director of Qatar Youth and Junior Choirs, Little Voices is a lively once-weekly music appreciation programme and a pre-choir entry class for young children. Class size is limited. 4036 3139, hub@sisq.qa ✔

Qatar Music Academy (QMA) at Katara Cultural Village B4 Member of Qatar Foundation (QF) and Qatar's leading academy of music. It offers a comprehensive music education programme, which draws on practice, music theory and incorporates both Arab and Western classical music curriculum. 4454 8191, qatarmusicacademy.com.qa

Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra (QPO) C2 A member of QF, founded in 2007 by HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser. It consists of more than 100 musicians chosen by a jury of international music professionals. They perform western and Arabic music in local and international settings. 4454 8185, qatarphilharmonicorchestra.org

Qatar Youth and Junior Choirs Qatar Youth Choir, for singers aged 14 – 18, is an ambitious youth choir, singing from the great classical and contemporary choral repertoires. Qatar Junior Choir is for younger boys and girls aged 8 – 13 years and is the feeder choir to the more senior Qatar Youth Choir. qyj-choir.com, qatarconcertchoir.com ✔

Siwar Choir Qatar's leading Arabic youth choir established by JeemTV, formerly known as Al Jazeera Children's Channel (JCC), bringing together Arabic traditions with fresh and exciting music. jeemtv.net ✔

The Doha Singers A choral group that presents several concerts every year. dohasingers.com

Water Parks and Play Zones

Adventure Rooms Qatar D4 Qatar's first 60-minute real life escape room game, where you need to solve puzzles, find keys, and beat the clock to escape. It is an exciting recreational activity for friends, families, students and coworkers. Suitable for ages 7 and above. 7050 0139, adventureroomsqa.com ✔

Baladna Park Located in Umm Al Hawaya near Al Khor, Baladna Park is an outdoor family entertainment park, which includes a restaurant, farm, zoo, lake, carnival area and outdoor activities and entertainment such as pedal car racing, cow chariot, trampoline, zip lining, bumper boats, obstacle course and more. Opening times: Sunday to Thursday 10 am – 7 pm; Friday noon – 8 pm; Saturday 10 am – 8 pm. Admission: Free. Prices range for the outdoor amusement and theme park activities. 4424 6000, baladnapark.com ✔

Desert Falls Water & Adventure Park Features 18 attractions with 56 rides and slides at Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas. Opening times: Daily 10 am – 6 pm. Admission: Juniors (Below 1.2 m in height) QAR195, Adults QAR255. Pre-booking is required and tickets can be purchased on Q-Tickets. Access to adventure attractions such as canyoning, diving, go karting and laser tag are not included in the general admission ticket and can be purchased separately on site. 4423 6666, salwabeachresort.qa ✔

Leisure Activities

Desert Falls Water & Adventure Park

Leisure Activities

Doha Quest D4 An area of 27,500 sq m with more than 30 rides and attractions, which include the world’s tallest indoor roller coaster and tallest indoor drop tower. The theme park is split into three different time-dimensions: Oryxville is a portal of the ancient Arabian past; the City of Imagination focuses on the present day; and Gravity offers a gateway into a futuristic space age. Opening times: Monday to Saturday 2 pm – 10 pm. Admission: Junior Ticket (4 – 12 years old): QAR150, Adult Ticket (13 years old and above): QAR225, children 4 and below enter for free. 4410 3444, dohaquest.com ✔

Farah Multiple Locations A full indoor theme park that combines the typical Family Entertainment Center (FEC) environment with Various Activity Rooms (VAR) designed to encourage imaginative play, social and pretend play opportunities, skill development and other open-ended play opportunities. Opening times: Daily 1 pm – 10 pm. Admission: Playing card with QAR100 minimum charge. Top-up avaliable. 4427 2807/4017 8934, farahqatar.com ✔

Funderdome Multiple Locations An indoor family entertainment centre, which focuses on fun, healthy exercise and creative activities. Opening times: Saturday to Thursday 10 am – 11 pm, Friday 1 pm – 11 pm. Admission: Prices vary per location. 4443 9740, funderdomedoha.com ✔

KidZania Doha D2 In Aspire Zone, children can explore a 5,500 sq m child-sized city, and perform real-life tasks with more than 60 handson activities designed for children aged 1 – 14. Opening times: Monday to Wednesday 2 pm – 9 pm, Thursday 2 pm – 10 pm, Friday 1 pm – 10 pm, Saturday 10 am – 8 pm, closed on Sunday. Admission: QAR95 for adults aged 17 and above, and children aged 2 – 3, QAR160 for children aged 4 – 16, and free for children 1 and below. 4482 6222, kidzania.qa ✔

Megapolis Entertainment Center B4 An indoor entertainment destination in Medina Centrale at The Pearl Island, offering an array of games and activities such as escape rooms, virtual reality simulators, bowling, darts, billiards, karaoke and

more. Opening times: Monday to Wednesday 10 am – 2 am, Thursday 10 am onwards, Friday (closed for Friday prayers 11 am – 1 pm) and Saturday open 24 hours, closed on Sunday. Admission: Playing card with top-up value per game/activity. 4437 8444/84, megapolisqatar.com ✔

Qatar Bowling Center (QBC) D4 The 2,000 sq m bowling facility is operated and managed by the Qatar Bowling Federation (QBF), and is the official training ground of Qatar National Bowling Team. The centre includes a 32 bowling lanes, billiards, snooker, table tennis and mini football as well as ProShop, offering a variety of branded bowling equipment. Opening times: Sunday –Saturday 2 pm – midnight, Friday 6 pm – midnight, Saturday noon – midnight. Admission: QAR35 per hour; QAR8 per game from 2 pm – 4 pm; QAR12 per game from 4 pm onwards. Shoe rental free of charge and QAR3 for bowling socks. 4435 3054/3336 2722, qatarbowlingcenter.net ✔

City Center-Doha C4

Fun City Rides, activities and video games for the whole family. Opening times: Saturday – Wednesday 10 am – 10 pm, Thursday and Friday 10 am –11:45 pm. Admission: Playing card with top-up value per game 4483 9501, citycenterdoha.com ✔

Doha Festival City B2

Angry Birds World The world's first Angry Birds World, featuring over 20 rides and attractions for all ages. Opening times: Indoor: Saturday – Wednesday 10 am – 10 pm, Thursday 10 am – midnight, Friday 1 pm – midnight; Outdoor: Saturday – Wednesday 6 pm – 10 pm, Thursday and Friday 6 pm – midnight. Admission: QAR100 individual card, QAR250 family card with minimum QAR50 top-up value. 4042 0444, angrybirdsworld.qa ✔

Snow Dunes A snow park at -4˚C all year round, themed around a fantastical Arabian town, complete with an Arabian-style castle. Opening times: Saturday to Wednesday 10 am –10 pm, Thursday 10 am – midnight, Friday 1 pm – midnight. Admission: Silver Package QAR180, Gold Package QAR240, Platinum Package QAR450. 4035 4444, snowdunes.qa ✔

Virtuocity A digital gaming hub equipped with full motion racing simulators, escape rooms and a multipurpose eSports arena. Opening times: Saturday to Wednesday 10 am – 10 pm, Thursday: 10 am – midnight, Friday 1 pm – midnight. Admission: Sunday to Wednesday Day Pass QAR150, Thursday to Saturday Day Pass QAR200. PC and Console Gaming Arenas: QAR50 – QAR150 (per hour). 4042 0499, virtuocity.qa ✔

Doha Quest

Ezdan Mall C3

Fun Ville A play area for kids between 1 – 12 years of age. Opening times: Daily 2 pm – 10 pm. Admission: Playing card with top-up value per game/activity. 4479 6754, ezdanmall.qa ✔

Gulf Mall C3

GOFUN Qatar An indoor facility, providing a variety of play areas and game machines. Opening times: Sunday to Thursday 1 pm – 10 pm, Saturday 11 am – 10 pm, Friday 1 pm – 10 pm. Admission: Playing card with top-up value per game/activity. 4031 0651, gulfmalldoha.com ✔

Hyatt Plaza D2

Jungle Zone This indoor jungle-themed playground has rides for different age groups and a video arcade area. Opening times: Saturday to Thursday noon – 10 pm, Friday 1 pm – 11 pm. Admission: Playing card with top-up value per game/activity. 4499 9699, hyattplaza.com ✔

Landmark Mall C3

Circusland Has rides, games, trampolines and a large activity zone suitable for the whole family. Opening times: Sunday to Wednesday 1 pm – 10 pm, Thursday and Friday 1 pm – 11 pm, Saturday 9 am – 10 pm. Admission: Tokens per game/ activity. 4487 6111/333, landmarkdoha.com ✔

Mall of Qatar C1

KidzMondo Doha More than 70 scaled-down businesses including a central plaza, fire station, clock tower, police station and hospital theatre. Opening times: Saturday to Thursday 10 am –10 pm, Friday 1 pm – 10 pm. Admission: QAR90 for children aged 1 – 3 and adults (above 14), QAR135 for children aged 4 – 14, QAR85 special needs, and free for children below 1. 4028 5888, kidzmondodoha.com ✔

Rush Action Park Attractions include trampolines, a zipline, motorised ninja course, a net course and a football cage arena. Gaming, interactive activities and a scoreboard system suitable for children aged four to 14. Opening times: Sunday to Thursday 2 pm – 10 pm, Friday 1 pm – 10 pm, Saturday 10 am – 10 pm. Admission: QAR100 per hour. 4028 5990, mallofqatar.com.qa ✔

XtremeLand A multi-entertainment centre with 7D Theater, Drop and Twist Tower, Giant Slide and Clip N Climb, and more for children of all ages. Teenagers will enjoy motion fun at Trampoline Park while TagaJ and soft play will provide rotating inflatable fun and activities for toddlers and kids.

Opening times: Saturday to Thursday 10 am –11 pm, Friday noon – midnight. Admission: Playing card with top-up value per game/activity. 4486 5473, mallofqatar.com.qa ✔

Mirqab Mall D3

Funderdome An indoor family entertainment centre. Opening times: Saturday to Thursday 10 am – 11 pm, Friday 1 pm – 11 pm. Admission: Toddler Play Area QAR50 per child (up to 100 cm), Active Play Area QAR80 per child. 4443 9740, funderdomedoha.com ✔

Hangout A gaming hub with an extensive range of games from consoles and cars, and flight simulators, through to an Escape Room, VR and arcade games. Opening times: Daily 10 am –11 pm. Admission: Playing card with top-up value per game/activity. 4476 1127, hangoutqatar.com ✔

Jump Trampolines, soft play and plenty of physical activity. Opening times: Daily 10 am – 10 pm. Admission: QAR60 to QAR90. 4447 9313 ✔

Royal Plaza D3

Ray's Reef A play area for children between the ages of six months and 14 years, offering arts and crafts, mini movie theatre, water play zone and more. Opening times: Saturday to Thursday 11:30 am – 10 pm, Friday 3:30 pm – 11 pm. Admission: QAR40 for entry. Tokens for video, redemption games and spin art can be purchased as an extra. 4413 1122, royalplazadoha.com ✔

Tawar Mall C3

BOUNCEinc Qatar An indoor trampoline park with more than 100 interconnected trampolines. Opening times: Sunday to Wednesday 2 pm –10 pm, Thursday to Saturday 10 am – 10 pm. Admission: Prices range from QAR80 – QAR120 per hour. 4408 6500, bounce.qa ✔

The Mall D4

Fun Day An indoor children's theme park. Opening times: Saturday to Thursday noon – 8:30 pm, Friday 3:30 pm – 9:30 pm. Admission: QAR30 per child. 4465 7969, themalldoha.com ✔

Villaggio Mall D2

Gondolania Theme Park and Ice Arena The indoor theme park includes a 4D cinema, bowling, laser wars, go-karting, ice arena and more. Opening times: Sunday to Wednesday noon – 9 pm, Thursday and Saturday 9 am – 10 pm, Friday 1 pm – 10 pm. Admission: Playing card with a minimum of QAR50 with top-up value per game/activity. 4403 9800, gondolania.com ✔

Sports in Qatar

Qatar Olympic Committee

Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) was established in 1979 to oversee sports events and subsequently became members of the International Olympic Committee, the Olympic Council of Asia, and the Arab Sports Games Federation. QOC merged some national federations in December 2016, and in January 2017 Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani was re-elected President of the QOC.

Doha successfully won the bid to host the 21st Asian Games 2030 in December 2020, the second time the event will be held in Qatar, and the fourth city to host the games twice.

QOC runs several campaigns to engage residents in keeping fit and healthy, including National Sport Day on the second Tuesday of February each year – one of only a few countries to hold such a public holiday – as well as events for schoolchildren and the promotion of women in sport. olympic.qa

Sports Federations and Associations

• Air Sports • Athletics • Basketball

• Billiards and Snooker • Bowling

• Boxing and Wrestling • Chess

• Cricket • Cycling and Triathlon

• Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon

• Fencing • Football • Golf • Gymnastics

• Handball • Karate, Judo and Taekwondo

• Motor and Motorcycle • Paralympic

• Rugby and Hockey • Sailing and Rowing

• Shooting and Archery • Sports for All

• Women's Sports • Swimming

• Table Tennis • Taekwondo, Judo and Karate

• Tennis, Squash and Badminton

• Volleyball • Weightlifting • Winter Sports

Sports Facilities

Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) D3 Activities, sports medicine, research and education. Facilities include Aspire Dome, Aspire Park, Hamad Aquatic Centre, Khalifa Stadium, the Ladies Sports Hall and Ladies Club, tracks and playing fields. AZF runs the community sports initiatives Aspire Active, Step Into Health and Namat. 4413 8188, aspirezone.qa

Aspire Academy Applied sports science support to student-athletes; hosts international sports stars using the facilities. 4413 6570, aspire.qa

Aspetar The first specialised orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital in the Gulf region, offering treatment for injuries. 4413 2000, aspetar.com

Other sports faciities include: • Asian Town Cricket Stadium • Doha Golf Club

Doha Sports Park • Education City Golf Club

Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex

Lusail International Circuit

Lusail Olympic Shooting Range

Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club

Sports Events Calendar

Sports Events Calendar

This is just a selection of sports events – to have yours listed, email marhaba@marhaba.com.qa Events are subject to a change of dates/cancellation due to COVID-19. See daily updates at marhaba.qa and follow the advice of the Ministry of Public Health.

December 2022

20 Nov – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Join the action as this historic sporting event continues! As well as the football tournament itself, there are a number of associated activities taking place around town, eg Qatar National Library, the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, and Qatar Foundation's Education City. For more information, see our special section in this edition, also available as a free e-guide at marhaba.qa, check our online Events Calendar, visit fifa.com and qatar2022.qa

18 Dec onwards

22 Dec Qatar Football Association (QFA) The 2022–23 domestic football season resumes with the QNB Stars League and teams competing in the annual Amir Cup, QFA's most prestigious competition. qfa.qa, qsl.qa

Until Qatar Equestrian Tours – Longines Hathab The tour takes place over 14 competitions, organised and hosted by Qatar Equestrian Federation and Al Shaqab. Hathab, meaning canter in Arabic, is an initiative of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of Qatar Olympic Committee, to inspire Qatar’s next generation of international equestrian champions. Disciplines include showjumping and dressage. hathab.qa

April 2023 May 2023

Until Equestrian sport: Race meetings continue every Wednesday and Thursday afternoon at Al Rayyan Park and Al Uqda Racing Complex in Al Khor. qrec.gov.qa

January 2023

31 Jan – 4GKA Kite World Tour 2023 Qatar Tourism (QT) is an Official Tourism Partner of the Global Kitesports Association (GKA) Kite World Tour in a three-year deal. Qatar Airways is the Kite World Tour’s Title Partner and Official Airline, with QT acting as title sponsor for events held in Qatar. The Qatar Airways GKA Kite World Tour will open and close the 2023 Freestyle season with events at the Fuwairit Kite Beach, Tapestry Collection by Hilton resort at the start and end of the year. gkakiteworldtour.com

4 Feb, 5 – 9 Dec

February 9 – 11 Qatar Open Amateur Golf Championship 2023 At Doha Golf Club. dohagolfclub.com

13 WTA Qatar TotalEnergies Open Women's hard court WTA 1000 tennis tournament, with the world's top players in action at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex. qatartennis.org

14 Qatar National Sport Day

A public holiday celebrated annually on the second Tuesday in February, encouraging everyone to participate in a sport or activity with colleagues, friends and family. Read announcements and schedules of public activities on marhaba.qa

20 ATP Qatar Open (Qatar ExxonMobil Open) Men's hard court ATP 250 tennis tournament at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex. qatartennis.org

March

1 – 4 FIG Apparatus World Cup 2023 Men's and Women's Artistic Gymnastics, where athletes perform short routines on different apparatuses, but with less emphasis on vaulting. This hugely popular spectator sport is organised by FIG (Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique), one of the oldest established international federations of an Olympic sport. Venue to be advised but most likely Aspire Dome. gymnastics.sport

To be Qatar Masters Part of the DP World Tour, featuring some of the world's top golfers.The defending champion is Scotland's Ewen Ferguson, who sealed a single-shot victory in 2022 over Chase Hanna from the US to secure his first DP World Tour title. At Doha Golf Club. dohagolfclub.com

confirmed

Upcoming Events

May 2023 Wanda Diamond League Athletes compete for points at the 14 meetings held during the season. The Doha meeting will be held at Qatar SC Stadium. For programme and ticket information visit doha.diamondleague.com

May 2023 World Championships Senior Individual and Teams 2023 The International Judo Federation brings their flagship event to Doha for the first time, as part of a partnership to support the promotion and development of judo in Qatar. ijf.org

June 2023 2023 Asian Cup Defending champions Qatar will host the Asian Cup for the third time. There will be 24 men's teams from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) competing. the-afc.com

Oct 2023 Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS) A 10-day event coinciding with the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix. This first-of-its-kind motor show will exhibit the latest designs, new technology, exclusive reveals and test drives at Losail International Circuit. There will also be a preview of the new Qatar Auto Museum. At Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre.

Oct 2023

Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix The first GP in a 10-year deal with the FIA Formula One World Championship, following the successful inaugural race at Losail International Circuit as part of the 2021 championship. This will be a full night race. lcsc.qa, formula1.com

Nov 2023 Qatar GP Qatar hosts the penultimate race of the 2023 MotoGP season under the floodlights at Losail International Circuit. lcsc.qa, motogp.com

2024 20th FINA World Championships Originally scheduled for November 2023, and now taking place in January 2024, this is the leading competition for aquatic sports, like swimming, diving, high diving, open water swimming, artistic swimming, and water polo. fina.org

Sports and Activities

Sports Activities

Marhaba updates this section every issue, but as information may change, check with the organisation concerned for up to date details. If your organisation is listed on these pages and you need to amend your entry, or if you would like to be included in future issues, let us know by emailing marhaba@qatar.net.qa. Locations can be found on the map of Doha at the front of the guide.

Also see:

• Leisure Activities in this section for dance classes, fishing, and motor sports clubs

• Health and Wellness in this section for wellness, Pilates and yoga

• Hospitality in Qatar for a complete list of hotels and their fitness facilities

3 An activity for children or one that children can participate in – check first for any age restrictions

Archery

Evolution Sports Qatar Multiple locations

For adults and children aged 3+. 4407 6772, evosportsqatar.com 3

Aviation

Qatar Flying Club Al Khor. For newcomers or for those who already hold a licence, also sightseeing tours. 4457 1491, qatarflyingclub.net

Badminton

Dynamic Sports Multiple locations For adults and children. 7744 3124, dynamicsportsqa.com 3

Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha D3/4 Floodlit court. 4428 1621, radissonblu.com/en/hotel-doha 3

Basketball

Evolution Sports Qatar Multiple locations

For children aged 3+. 4407 6772, evosportsqatar.com 3

Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha D3/4 Floodlit court. 4428 1621, radissonblu.com/en/hotel-doha 3

SFQ Sports Academy Multiple locations

For children aged 3+. 6622 2962, sfqsportsacademy.com.qa 3

Bowling

Banana Island Resort Doha By Anantara C5 8-lane bowling alley with authentic American diner. Open daily 10 am – 10 pm. 4040 5050, anantara.com/en/banana-island-doha 3

Gondolania Bowling Center Villaggio D2 12-lane bowling alley. Open Saturday to Wednesday 10 am – 10 pm, Thursday 10 am – 11 pm, Friday 1 pm – 11 pm. 4403 9800, gondolania.com 3

Qatar Bowling Center D4 32-lane bowling alley. Open Sunday to Thursday 2 pm – midnight, Friday 8 am – 6 pm leagues/6 pm – midnight open to all, Saturday 10 am – midnight. 4432 9178, qatarbowlingcenter.net 3

Clay Shooting

Al Ramii Shooting Club Near Lusail International Circuit Target ranges are open Saturday to Wednesday 4 pm – 8 pm. 4495 3114, qsaa.qa

Hilton Salwa Beach Resort

Cricket

Qatar Cricket Association QOC Building, Al Dafna C4 Training, development, facilities and practice nets. 4494 4941, qatarcricketassociation.org 3

Stallions Cricket Academy Multiple locations Coaching and events for adults and children. 3140 8994, see their Facebook page for details 3

Cycling

Banana Island Resort Doha By Anantara C5 Explore the island by bike or Segway. 4040 5050, anantara.com/en/banana-island-doha 3

Qatar Chain Reaction Multiple locations Volunteer branch of the Qatar Cycling and Triathlon Federation open to all road and mountain bike riders. Friday morning rides, track nights at Losail International Circuit and more. qatarchainreaction.com

Qatar Cycling Federation Near College of the North Atlantic‑Qatar B3 Events and development of the sport. 4447 5522, qatarcycling.org 3

Darts

Doha Darts League Shamrock Tavern, Magnum Hotel B4 The league runs from October to March. Join the Facebook group for details

Fencing

Clement Fencing Academy Lycee Voltaire

Al Waab D3 and Al Dafna B4 Training for ages 4 to adults, after school activities and French language sessions (French is the official language of fencing). Classes are available for those in wheelchairs using specially adapted chairs, under the Definitely Able initiative run by Sasol. 7751 2469, clementfencing.com 3

Evolution Sports Qatar Multiple locations For adults and children aged 3+. 4407 6772, evosportsqatar.com 3

Fitness Classes and Gyms

For dance and Zumba see Leisure Activities; for Pilates and yoga see Health and Wellness, both in this section

Al Messila, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Doha E4 Outdoor bootcamp, personal training and jogging tracks. 4445 0000, marriott.com

Altitude Elite Lusail City A4 Personalised training for peak performance. 5085 5825, altitude.qa

Alwadi Hotel Doha – MGallery D4 Personal training and TechnoShape body slimming sessions at M|Fit gym, for hotel guests only. 4009 9999, alwadihoteldoha.com

Anytime Fitness Multiple locations Daily fitness and yoga classes. 4414 4999 (Al Muftah Plaza), 4469 7215 (Al Wakra, ladies), 4411 1999 (Al Wakra, men), 4411 4999 (Mall of Qatar), anytimefitness.qa

Aspire Active Aspire Zone D2 Hundreds of classes for men, women, and children aged 6 months+. Registration form and schedule are available online. aspireactiveqa.com 3

Banana Island Resort Doha By Anantara C5 TRX and personal trainer on request. 4040 5050, anantara.com/en/banana-island-doha Banyan Tree Doha D4 Fitness classes and exercise rooms. 4410 3333, banyantree.com 3

Bounce Fitness Multiple locations Bootcamp, martial arts, yoga and gymnastics for adults and children. 5061 1266, bouncefitness.com.qa 3

Centara West Bay Hotel & Residences Doha B4 Fitness centre and studio, HIIT and Tabata core, kids club and two swimming pools. 4009 5555, centarahotelsresorts.com/centara/cwq 3

CrossFit Oryx Doha College D3 Classes and open gym. 5080 5705, crossfitoryx.com

Dana Club C4 Aquarobics, aerobics and HIIT including ladies only classes and Jump Gym for kids. 4496 0600, danaclub.com.qa 3

Dynamik QA The Pearl Island B4 Mansoura D4 Fitness, yoga/pilates and martial arts, separate gyms, juice bar, spa and salon. See their Instagram page for details

Education City Golf Club C2 Use the gym to improve fitness, or consult a PGA golf professional for coaching on golf swing, and stretching and core stability exercises. ecgolf.com 3

Evolution Sports Qatar Multiple locations Daily EvoFit classes: boxercise, bootcamp, teenfit, Metafit/HIIT and more. Must be aged 16+. 7783 9559, evosportsqatar.com

Evolve Multiple locations Fitness classes at several hotels, personal training and nutritional advice. See the online schedule. 5040 3234, evolvemindbodysoul.com 3

Fit20 West Bay Al Bidda Street C4 One 20 minute training session per week. 5057 0350, fit20.qa

First Fit Training Multiple locations Martial arts, tennis, gymnastics, football and more for adults and children aged 3+. 3300 0779, fftsports.com 3

Fitness First City Center Doha C4 Fitness classes and separate male/female gyms. 4411 5999, qatar.fitnessfirstme.com

Sports and Activities

marhaba.qa

Four Seasons Hotel Doha C4 Classes in conjunction with Evolve. 4485 8888, fourseasons.com/doha

Golden Tulip Doha D4 Personal training, daily classes. 4419 8888, doha.goldentulip.com

Grand Hyatt Doha B4 CrossFit, aqua gym, Tae Bo and core. 4448 1060, doha.grand.hyatt.com 3

Hilton Doha C4 Personal training and daily classes including body combat and aquarobics. For club members only. 4423 3333, hilton.com 3

Hilton Salwa Beach Resort Hotel guests can use the gym with separate male and female training zones available. Children under the age of 16 years are not permitted to use the Fitness Centre. 4423 6666, salwabeachresort.qa

InterContinental Doha Hotel & Residences B4 Daily circuit training, Tabata, bootcamp, cardio boxing, CrossFit and Burn. See the online schedule. 4484 4828, doha.intercontinental.com

InterContinental Doha – The City B4 Bodypump, Latino Cardio and EMS (Electro Muscular Stimulation). Schedule changes weekly, call first. 4015 8888, intercontinental.com/dohathecity

Mandarin Oriental, Doha D4 TRX, FunXtion experience, Octagon multi-functional training. 4008 8888, mandarinoriental.com/doha

Marsa Malaz Kempinski The Pearl – Doha A4 Daily group and one-to-one classes, two fitness areas (one ladies/men, one ladies only). 4035 5555, kempinski.com/marsamalaz

Mondrian Doha A4 Open 24/7, complimentary Diet or Fitness DNA Test with membership. 4045 5555, sbe.com/hotels/mondrian/doha

OxFitness Lab The Gate Mall C4 The Pearl Island B4 Six studios: The Street (CrossFit box), Ride Tribe (indoor cycling), Beat Box, Encore Pilates, Niya Yoga, and Raise the Barre. 4020 6430, oxfitnesslab.com

Park Hyatt Doha D4 Separate female/male gyms. 4009 1234, parkhyattdoha.com

Pullman Hotel West Bay C4 Pullman Fit is open 24/7 for hotel guests – fitness classes coming soon. 4009 4000, pullman-doha-westbay.com

Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha D3/4 Personal training and aquacise. Free daily stretching classes for club members and hotel guests. 4428 1621, radissonblu.com/en/hotel-doha 3

SFQ Sports Academy Multiple locations Mixed, ladies only and children's classes. See the online calendar for up to date schedule. 6622 2962, sfqsportsacademy.com.qa 3

Sharq Village & Spa D4 Fitness, spinning, yoga, Tai chi. 4425 6185, ritzcarlton.com/sharqvillage

Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel C4 Open 24/7, fitness training and assessment, yoga and spinning studios. See the online monthly schedule for classes. 4485 4600, fitness.sheratongranddoha.com 3

Strongbox Qatar Doha Sports Club B4 CrossFit, conditioning and personal training. 5050 2954, strongboxqatar.com

The Diplomatic Club B4 Unisex and ladies-only gyms, fitness classes and recreation facilities. 4484 7450, thediplomaticclub.com 3

The Ritz-Carlton, Doha A4 Core conditioning and toning, low impact, power walking, spinning and more. 4484 8173, ritzcarlton.com/doha 3

The St. Regis Doha B4 Free classes and personal training for guests and members. 4446 0304, stregisdoha.com 3

Warrior Fit Lagoona Mall A4 Integrated training model offering metabolic conditioning, strength training and yoga. 6655 8308, warriorfit.com

The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa D4 WestinWORKOUT offers circuits, stretching, abs, HIIT and personal training. 4492 1600, marriott.com

W Doha Hotel & Residences B4 Fully equipped FIT gym open 24/7. 4453 5555, marriott.com

Football

Aspire Zone Foundation D2 Five-a-side pitch with FIFA quality artificial turf and foam shock pad underlay. Open daily 4 pm – 11 pm. Book online at booking.aspirelogistics.qa, lifeinaspire.qa 3

Ability Friendly/Inclusive Sports Qatar Foundation Multaqa C2 Sunday – Thursday, small group sessions available for anybody with a disability or special need, ages 5+. 4454 0772, abilityfriendly@qf.org.qa 3

Evolution Sports Qatar Multiple locations Coaching programmes for children aged 3+. 4407 6772, evosportsqatar.com 3

Garvey's European Family Club Off Salwa Road E3 Grass 5-a-side football pitch. 5583 0475

Lusail Football Academy Doha Sports Park B4 Qatar’s first QFA-approved private football academy for children aged 3+, with league games for adults. 3067 7463, lfa.qa 3

SFQ Sports Academy Multiple locations For children aged 3+. 6622 2962, sfqsportsacademy.com.qa 3

Frisbee

Qatar Ultimate Frisbee Games Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. See their Facebook page for details 3

Gaelic Football

Qatar GAA Multiple locations Male, female and children's teams, playing 9-a-side games with 12 players. Games are seven minutes long, with 10 minute finals, as per the Middle East GAA County Board Rules. There are also hurling teams. qatargaa.qa 3

Golf

Banana Island Resort Doha By Anantara C5 9-hole putting course; Starting New At Golf is suitable for all ages. Open daily 8 am – 6:30 pm. 4040 5050, anantara.com/en/banana-island-doha 3 Doha Golf Club B3 18-hole championship course, 9-hole floodlit academy course, putting and chipping greens and world-class practice facilities. Coaching available with PGA professionals from the Qatar Golf Academy. The New Golfer Membership offers everything needed to get started. Open daily 6 am – 9 pm. 4496 0715, dohagolfclub.com 3

Education City Golf Club (below) C2 Designed by Jose Maria Olazabal, the course offers an 18-hole Championship course, 6-hole Championship course and 9-hole par 3 course. The Centre of Excellence is a golf development facility along with a driving range installed with Power Tee automated teeing system and TrackMan technology. Golf lessons available with PGA professionals. The 9 hole par 3 course is floodlit for night golf. Open daily 6 am – 8 pm. ecgolf.com 3

SFQ Sports Academy Multiple locations Gymnastics classes for children aged 2+. 6622 2962, sfqsportsacademy.com.qa 3

The Gymnastics Academy Multiple locations For gymnasts of different abilities, aged 3+. Follows the British Gymnastics floor and vault syllabus but also trains on bars, beams and trampolines. gymacademydoha.com 3

Hockey

Doha Hockey Club Multiple locations Welcomes players of all levels keen to play social hockey. Join the Facebook group for details

Wanderers Hockey Qatar Field hockey in Qatar since the 1970s. bosco_menezes@hotmail.com

Horse Riding Lessons and Camel Rides

Al Samriya Riding School Al Samriya Estate, next to Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani's farm near Al Sheehaniya. Lessons for adults and children, pony club, trails and events; café; shop with equestrian items. 7797 3397, alsamriyariding.com 3

Sealine Beach, A Murwab Resort Enjoy a leisurely horse or camel ride along the beach. 4476 5299, sealinebeachqatar.com 3

Ice Hockey and Ice-Skating

Gondolania Ice Arena Villaggio D2 Olympic size rink. See online for information about public sessions. 4450 7873, gondolaniaicearena.com 3

Qatar International Ice Hockey League Villaggio D2 A fun, recreational league with organised games. qhockey.com

Kids Clubs

Al Messila, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Doha E4 Little Explorers' Kids Club has a mini gym with kid-friendly equipment, a large outdoor playground, cinema, and an edu-training lab. 4445 0000, marriott.com 3

Banana Island Resort Doha By Anantara C5 Kids and Teens' Clubs offering a safe environment with fun and games, movies and books. 4040 5050, anantara.com/en/banana-island-doha 3

Sports and Activities

Gymnastics and Trampolining

Bounce Inc Tawar Mall C3 Indoor trampoline park, plus training classes, free jumping, dodgeball and more, for adults and children aged 3+. 4408 6500, bounce.qa 3

Evolution Sports Qatar Multiple locations Training camps offering football, swimming, rugby and basketball. For ages 2+. 4407 6772, evosportsqatar.com 3

InterContinental Doha Hotel & Residences B4 Tennis competitions, sports days and much more – an extensive range of activities and seasonal events. 4484 4828, doha.intercontinental.com 3

Sports and Activities

Marsa Malaz

Kempinski The

Pearl – Doha A4

The Titan Tikes Kids' Playroom offers games, toys, arts and crafts. For ages 4 –12. 4035 5555, kempinski.com/marsamalaz 3

SFQ Sports Academy Multiple locations Football, gymnastics, basketball, Zumba, martial arts. For ages 3+. 6622 2962, sfqsportsacademy.com.qa 3

Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel C4 Weekdays 8 am – 1 pm, for ages 5 –12. 4485 4600, fitness.sheratongranddoha.com 3

Martial Arts and Boxing

Evolve Multiple locations Boxing and Muay Thai workouts. 4407 6772, evolvemindbodysoul.com 3

InterContinental Doha The City C4 Kickboxing, boxing, taekwondo, karate for kids. Schedule changes weekly, call first. 4015 8888, intercontinental.com/dohathecity 3

Mandarin Oriental, Doha D4 Thai Chi, Muay Thai, kickboxing, boxing. 4008 8888, mandarinoriental.com/doha

Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel C4 Aikido for adults. 4485 4600, fitness.sheratongranddoha.com

SFQ Sports Academy Multiple locations Kickboxing, karate and taekwondo for adults and children. 6622 2962, sfqsportsacademy.com.qa 3

Sharq Village & Spa C4 Tai chi. Call ahead for schedule. 4425 6185, ritzcarlton.com/sharqvillage

The Korea Taekwondo Centre Al Muthana Complex, Salwa Rd D3 Daily from 3 pm (except Friday). For adults and children aged 5+. 5556 3305, see the Facebook group for details 3

Multipurpose and Family Clubs

Aspire Zone Foundation D2 Public fields open daily 8 am – 9 pm. Football fields and basketball and volleyball courts are free to use on a first come, first serve basis. Also paddle boats, cycling tent and mini pitches. lifeinaspire.qa 3

Dana Club C4 Basketball, mini-football, table tennis and volleyball facilities for members and their guests. 4496 0600, danaclub.com.qa 3

Doha College Al Waab D3 and West Bay C3 Facilities for hire include multipurpose sports halls, 3G pitches, external basketball court and swimming pools. 4407 6777, dohacollege.com 3

Garvey's European Family Club Off Salwa Road E3 Gym/fitness rooms, squash court, swimming pool, and more. 4450 5176 3

Hilton Salwa Beach Resort The 6,000 sq m private Sports Academy has an indoor training facility and 9 outdoor pitches, suitable for professional athletes and sports teams. 4423 6666, salwabeachresort.qa

Netball

Evolution Sports Qatar Multiple locations For ladies and girls aged 8+. 4407 6772, evosportsqatar.com 3

Padel, Squash and Tennis

Al Messila, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Doha E4 Outdoor tennis and padel courts. 4445 0000, almessiladoha.com

Banana Island Resort Doha By Anantara C5 Synthetic grass tennis court. 4040 5050, anantara.com/en/banana-island-doha 3

Dana Club C4 Two indoor tennis courts, individual coaching. 4496 0656, danaclub.com.qa 3

Education City Golf Club C2 Private, group and playing lessons. ecgolf.com 3

First Fit Training Multiple locations For adults and children age 4+ of all abilities. 3300 0779, fftsports.com 3

Four Seasons Hotel Doha C4 Complimentary racquets and balls for use on the outdoor Rebound Ace courts. 4485 8888, fourseasons.com/doha 3

InterContinental Doha Hotel & Residences B4 Tennis and squash lessons, tennis socials Sunday and Friday 6 pm. Outdoor padel court. 4484 4828, doha.intercontinental.com 3

Padel Garden Doha Katara Cultural Village B4 Seven outdoor courts in Katara Hills. 4032 5528, see their Instagram page 3

Banana Island Resort Doha By Anantara

Khalifa Tennis & Squash Complex C4 Courts

available for hire by the hour; advance booking required. The tennis school offers training for children aged 5+. 4440 9666, qatartennis.org 3

Marsa Malaz Kempinski The Pearl – Doha A4 Two padel courts, one tennis court. Kids’ tennis lessons Saturday/Thursday by appointment. 4035 5555, kempinski.com/marsamalaz 3

Padel In Multiple locations Qatar’s first indoor padel club. Court hire can be booked online. thepadelin.com 3

Padel Qatar Qatar Sports Club C4 Court hire can be booked online. 3381 2201, padelqatar.com 3

Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha D3/4 Tennis training for groups and individuals; tennis and squash courts available for hire by the hour. 4428 1621, radissonblu.com/en/hotel-doha 3

Sealine Beach, A Murwab Resort Floodlit tennis court. 4476 5299, sealinebeachqatar.com 3

SFQ Sports Academy Multiple locations Tennis classes for adults and children aged 2+. 6622 2962, sfqsportsacademy.com.qa 3

Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel C4 Indoor tennis and squash courts, outdoor padel court. Private and group lessons for adults and children, tennis socials. 4485 4600, fitness.sheratongranddoha.com 3

The Ritz-Carlton, Doha A4 Tennis and squash courts, lessons available. 4484 8173, ritzcarlton.com/middleeast 3

The St. Regis Doha B4 Tennis and padel court hire, lessons for adults and children aged 12+. 4446 0304, stregisdoha.com 3

The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa D4 Two squash courts for hire. 4492 1600, marriott.com 3

Rock Climbing

EsQalar Sports Aspire Zone D2 Qatar's first company dedicated to rock climbing sports, for adults and children aged 4+. Thursday to Tuesday 2 pm – 10 pm. 5553 7177, esqalar.qa 3

Rugby

Doha Rugby Football Centre Doha Sports Park B4 Mens' first/second/third/vets teams, ladies team, and minis/youth for children. doharfc.com 3

Running, Athletics and Triathlon

Al Messila, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Doha C3 Running/jogging tracks, fitness trail and nature trail. 4445 0000, marriott.com

Doha Athletic Club Multiple Locations Founded by Liz McColgan Nuttall, former middle- and long-distance track champion. The Adult Run Club holds indoor circuits and outdoor running sessions. The Junior Group is for ages 9 – 17, the Mini Group for under 9s. 6605 1263, dohaathleticclub.com 3

Doha Bay Running Club Multiple locations Informal group, meeting weekend mornings and weekday evenings. Open to beginners and experienced runners alike. Join the Facebook group for details

Katara Cultural Village B4 More than 2 km of walking/running track in Katara Hills. Please observe the dress code when visiting. 5544 9862, katara.net 3

Qatar Triathlon Federation Near College of the North Atlantic-Qatar B3 Events and development of the sport. 4447 5522, qatartriathlon.org 3

TriClub Doha Multiple Locations Training, events and socialising for local triathletes of all levels and ages. The season begins each September. triclubdoha.com 3

Sailing

Regatta Sailing Academy InterContinental Doha Hotel & Residences B4 Royal Yachting Association and International Award training centre. Sailing and powerboating certification courses for adults and juniors. School programmes, corporate activities and yacht charters upon request. 5550 3484, regattasailingacademy.com 3

Scuba Diving and Snorkelling

Banana Island Resort Doha By Anantara C5 Scuba diving and diving courses, also RAID certification and snorkelling. 4040 5050, anantara.com/en/banana-island-doha 3

Doha Sub Aqua Club (DSAC) Between Doha Marriott and Sharq Village & Spa hotels D4 Qatar's British Sub Aqua Club. Diving trips, training and social events. Meets every Tuesday at 7 pm. See their Facebook page for details

Pearl Divers–Qatar Al Mirqab Al Jadeed Street D3 PADI training, tuition, equipment rental and tank filling. 4444 9553, pearl-divers.com

Poseidon Dive Center Hilton Doha C4 PADI courses, professional dive training, Rebreather programmes. 6608 4040, pdcqatar.com 3

Qatar Marine Go Sport, City Center-Doha B3 Courses, diving excursions and specialist services. 5531 9507, qatarmarine.net

Sports and Activities

Sports and Activities

Spinning

Fitness First City Center-Doha C4 Separate classes for men and women. 4411 5106, qatar.fitnessfirstme.com

Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel C4 Classes every Friday/Saturday/Sunday. 4485 4600, fitness.sheratongranddoha.com

The Ritz-Carlton, Doha A4 Daily classes; booking is essential. 4484 8173, ritzcarlton.com/doha

Swimming

Aleph Doha Residences, Curio Collection by Hilton C4 Al Dafna's highest indoor pool on the 52nd floor; ladies only days available. 4004 7000, alephdoharesidences.curiocollection.com 3

Al Messila, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Doha E4 Outdoor Grand Pool set in an oasis of indigenous trees, plus an indoor recreational pool. 4445 0000, marriott.com

Aspire Active Aspire Zone D2 Classes for men, women and children. Registration form and schedule are available online. 4413 6219, aspireactiveqa.com 3

Ability Friendly/Inclusive Sports Qatar Foundation Recreation Center C2 and Al Khor Recreation Center. Sunday – Thursday, 1:1 classes for all levels, from beginner to advanced. Available for anybody with a disability or special needs, aged 4+. 4454 0772, abilityfriendly@qf.org.qa 3

Banana Island Resort Doha By Anantara C5 100m long pool, water slides, and a surf pool with lessons available. 4040 5050, anantara.com/en/banana-island-doha 3

Dana Club C4 SwimSafe academy for adults and children. 4496 0600, danaclub.com.qa 3

Evolution Sports Qatar Multiple locations Extensive coaching programmes for children. 4407 6772, evosportsqatar.com 3

Four Seasons Hotel Doha C4 Grotto pools and family-friendly pools with water slides, for spa members. 4485 8888, fourseasons.com/doha 3

Freestyle Aquatics at Aspire Aspire Dome Swimming Pool D2 Swimming, snorkelling and scuba diving for people with special needs and disabilities. For more information and to register, contact programme founder Kathleen Bates at tryfreestyle@aspirelogistics.qa, facebook.com/freestyleaquatics2012 3

Grand Hyatt Doha B4 Three outdoor pools, two children's pools, one indoor pool for adults. 4448 1060, doha.grand.hyatt.com 3

H2O Swim Club Multiple locations Competitive and leisure programmes, for adults and children aged 8 months+. 5564 1475, h2oswimclub.com 3

Mandarin Oriental, Doha D4 Two rooftop pools with private cabanas; Learn to Swim programme available. 4008 8888, mandarinoriental.com/doha

Marsa Malaz Kempinski The Pearl – Doha A4 Eight outdoor pools, including a large whirlpool bath and a pool for children. 4035 5555, kempinski.com/marsamalaz 3

Mondrian Doha A4 On the 26th floor, the pool shares the space with the gym. 4045 5555, sbe.com/hotels/mondrian/doha 3

Mövenpick Hotel West Bay Doha C4 Classes in a chlorine free indoor pool; booking required. 4496 6410, movenpick.com/west-bay-doha 3

Oryx Rotana Hotel D4 Courses and lessons for children of all levels and abilities. 4402 3485, rotana.com/oryxrotana 3

Park Hyatt Doha D4 Semi-covered pool on the 6th floor. 4009 1234, parkhyattdoha.com

Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha D3/4 Aquacise classes, private swimming lessons. 4428 1621, radissonblu.com/en/hotel-doha 3

Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel C4 Lessons for children. 4485 4600, fitness.sheratongranddoha.com 3

The Diplomatic Club B4 Classes for adults and children. 4484 7450, thediplomaticclub.com 3

The Ritz-Carlton, Doha A4 Indoor Junior Olympic pool, outdoor freeform pool. Classes for all ages. Call first for availability of instructors. 4484 8173, ritzcarlton.com/middleeast 3

The St. Regis Doha B4 Olympic-sized pool and children's pool for use by guests and members only. 4446 0304, stregisdoha.com 3

The Ritz-Carlton, Doha

The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa D4 Indoor and outdoor swimming pools, outdoor wave pool and outdoor children’s pool. Lessons for adults and children. 4492 1600, marriott.com 3

Volleyball

Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha D3/4 Floodlit court. 4428 1621, radissonblu.com/en/hotel-doha 3

Water Sports and Beach Activities

For fishing see Leisure Activities in this section

Angry Dragons Qatar Katara Beach B4 The Pearl‑Qatar B4 New and seasoned paddlers always welcome. See their Facebook page for details

AquaSports Qatar Multiple locations Kayaking in Al Thakira mangroves and other locations, stand up paddle boarding and kiteboarding. Events and private parties. aquasportsq.com 3

Banana Island Resort Doha By Anantara C5 Stand up paddle boarding, banana/donut rides, surf pool, water bicycles, kayaking, and the HamacLand Floating Lounge. 4040 5050, anantara.com/en/banana-island-doha 3

Discover Arabia Adventure tours at Al Thakira nature reserve, educational programmes for schools, mangrove planting and environmental clean ups. Also kayaking, snorkelling and overnight camps. 3023 3207, discoverarabia.today 3

Discover Qatar The destination management division of Qatar Airways and partner of Qatar National Tourism Council offers tours and excursions with sun, sea and sand. 4423 7999, discoverqatar.qa 3

Doha Dragons Qatar Katara Beach B4 Paddling sessions according to the weather. Equipment is provided. See their Facebook page for details 3

Flokiteschool Multiple locations Kitesurfing lessons for adults and schoolchildren. 3315 5628, flokiteschool.com 3

Fuwairit Kite Beach Resort A brand new purpose built resort offering kitesurfing and more. fkb.qa

Hilton Salwa Beach Resort Desert Falls Water and Adventure Park, one of the largest theme parks in the Middle East with 18 attractions and 56 rides and slides. Open Saturday to Wednesday 10 am – 5 pm, Thursday/Friday 10 am – 6 pm. Pre booking is required, rides and slides are subject to availability. Beach activities include kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, hydro bikes, football, tennis, basketball, volleyball and yoga. 4423 6666, salwabeachresort.qa 3

InterContinental Doha Hotel & Residences B4 Jetskis, tubes, wakeboarding, kitesurfing, stand up paddle boarding and a water trampoline in the lagoon. 4484 4828, doha.intercontinental.com 3

Katara Beach B4 Waterskiing, kneeboarding, parasailing, jetskis, boat/gondola rides, sailing and kayaking. Wearing a life jacket is compulsory. The beach is open daily 3:30 pm – 11 pm; swimming is not permitted after sunset. Please observe the dress code when visiting. 5544 9862, katara.net 3

Marsa Malaz Kempinski The Pearl–Qatar A4 Knee boarding, wakeboarding, kayaking, boat rides, pedal boat, hydrobike and stand up paddle boarding. 4035 5555, kempinski.com/doha 3

Qatar Dragon Boat The Pearl–Qatar A4 Dragon boat team building, festivals and youth programmes. New members of all levels are welcome. 5505 2204, qatardragonboat.com 3

Q-Explorer Multiple locations Mangrove kayaking, jet ski tours of Doha's Corniche, scuba diving, and dhow and yacht cruises. Events for schools and corporates, also private parties. 4472 5146, q-explorer.com 3

Regatta Sailing Academy InterContinental Doha Hotel & Residences B4 A Royal Yachting Association training centre offering numerous activities, available for corporate events and parties. 5550 3484, regattasailingacademy.com 3

Sealine Beach, A Murwab Resort Day visitors can use the pool areas and beach; activities include jet skis and boat rides. 4476 5299, sealinebeachqatar.com 3

Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel C4 Banana/donut rides, wakeboard, water skiing, kayaks, jet skis, stand up paddle boarding, water bikes, cruises and fishing. 4485 4600, fitness.sheratongranddoha.com 3

The St. Regis Doha B4 Jet skis and waterskiing. 4446 0304, stregisdoha.com 3 m

Sports and Activities

Health and Wellness

Marhaba updates this section every issue, but as information may change after going to press, check with the organisation concerned for up to date details. If your organisation is listed on these pages and you need to amend your entry, or if you would like to be included in future issues, let us know: email marhaba@qatar.net.qa. Locations can be found on the map of Doha at the front of the guide. Also see:

• Leisure Activities for dance classes, fishing, and motor sports clubs, and Sports Activities for fitness classes, gyms, clubs and associations – both are in the Events and Activities section

• Places to Stay in the Hospitality in Qatar section for a complete list of hotels and fitness facilities

Holistic Wellness

Al Messila, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Doha E4 Ladies-only wellness retreat with hydrothermal facilities and 'The Worlds' hydro-wellness areas (Oriental, Mystic, Mineral and Floral); yoga also available. 4445 0000, almessiladoha.com

Banana Island Resort Doha By Anantara C5 Holistic advice, alternative therapies and life coaching. 4040 5050, anantara.com

Four Seasons Hotel Doha B4 The hotel offers 'Thrive' in conjunction with Evolve, a customised wellness programme with one-to-one consultations. 4494 8888, fourseasons.com/doha

The Ritz-Carlton, Doha A4 The country's first cryosauna; sessions last 90 seconds to 3 minutes, with temperatures dropping to –180˚ C. 4484 8183, ritzcarlton.com/doha

Pilates

Encore Pilates The Gate Mall C4 The Pearl Island B4 Qatar's first dedicated studio for Reformer Pilates. 4020 6430, oxfitnesslab.com

Four Seasons Hotel Doha C4 Call first for monthly schedule. 4485 8888, fourseasons.com/doha

InterContinental Doha The City B4 Schedule changes weekly, call first. 4015 8888, intercontinental.com/dohathecity

Mandarin Oriental, Doha D4 Mat Pilates, Reformer, posture assessment with a certified physio. 4008 8888, mandarinoriental.com/doha

The St. Regis Doha B4 Gender-specific yoga, Pilates, and Power Plate classes. 4446 0304, stregisdoha.com

Yama Yoga Studios Asas Twin Towers, Al Dafna C4 Usually courses, drop-in also available: intro, mixed level, dynamic, advanced, and core. 6617 5802, yamayogastudios.com

Yoga

Banana Island Resort Doha By Anantara C5 Ashtanga, Hatha, yoga stretch and meditation. Booking essential, call first for up to date schedule. 4040 5050, doha.anantara.com

Centara West Bay Hotel & Residences Doha B4 Hatha and Vinyasa. 4009 5555, centarahotelsresorts.com/centara/cwq

Four Seasons Hotel Doha C4 Vinyasa yoga. Call first for monthly schedule. 4494 8888, fourseasons.com/doha

Hilton Salwa Beach Resort Sunset beach yoga for strength, flexibility, breathing and wellbeing. Friday 5 pm. 4423 6666, salwabeachresort.qa

InterContinental Doha The City C4 Swasthi and body balance. Schedule changes weekly, call first. 4015 8888, intercontinental.com/dohathecity Mandarin Oriental, Doha D4 Classes, yoga therapy. 4008 8888, mandarinoriental.com/doha

Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha D3/4 Power yoga sessions and monthly full moon. 4428 1621, radissonblu.com/hotel‑doha

Vishnu Swasthi Yoga Studio Doha, Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel C4 Hatha, power, slimming and detox. See the online monthly schedule. 3320 2331, vishnuswasthiyoga.com

W Doha Hotel & Residences B4 Yoga/pilates –call first for availability. 4453 5555, marriott.com

Yama Yoga Studios Asas Twin Towers, Al Dafna C4 All levels including Ashtanga, Mysore, Pranayama, Vinyasa, and yin/restorative; see the online monthly schedule. Teacher training and retreats at centres in Thailand and Bulgaria. 6617 5802, yamayogastudios.com

Hilton Salwa Beach Resort

m

AL WAJBA WEST BAY ABU HAMOUR

We have a really diverse and exciting range of sports for all levels, abilities and personalities!

SOCCER, SWIMMING, BASKETBALL, NETBALL, FITNESS, FENCING & ARCHERY.

Whether you enjoy occasional participation, need professional training or like to engage in team sports there’s something for everyone.

State-of-the-art stadiums, green building practices, a far-reaching volunteer programme and incredible new technology guarantee that Qatar delivers the best and most sustainable football competitions.

FIFA WORLD CUP QATAR 2022 TM

There is a long history of Qatar’s love of the beautiful game. A successful domestic football league, Qatar Stars League, has attracted some of the world’s best players and managers over the years. International competitions such as the FIFA Club World Cup 2019TM and the FIFA Arab Cup 2021TM have placed the country in a good position to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM.

Qatar was awarded the rights to host the FIFA World CupTM on a momentous day in December 2010. Thereafter, the reality set in – Qatar was going to have to carefully think about how it was going to organise one of the biggest sporting events in the world.

The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM is already unique in three ways: it is the first to be staged in the Middle East, in the smallest geographical area, and in the winter months.

The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) acts as an overseeing agency between the various government entities in Qatar whose projects related to Qatar 2022; the Local Organising Committee will benefit from the Supreme Committee’s role.

SC was formed in April 2011 to oversee the mammoth task of planning and developing the infrastructure required to host the tournament in what is geographically the smallest host country. The organisation has signed stakeholder agreements with entities such as Qatar Rail, Mowasalat/Karwa, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), Kahramaa, Aspire Zone Foundation and Qatari Diar, for projects to deliver the infrastructure for the event.

Recognising the importance of protecting the wellbeing, safety and security of the workers involved in the projects, the Workers’ Charter was published in March 2013, followed by the Workers’ Welfare Standards in February 2014. The Workers’ Welfare regularly interacts with SC workers and a dedicated hotline was established in 2017 to deal with grievances. SC’s Workers’ Welfare Standards exceed Qatar’s laws in an attempt to ensure fair recruitment policies, payment terms, overtime provisions and accommodation standards. All contracted workers are registered with an integrated electronic medical records system and undergo medical screening by Qatar Red Crescent funded by SC.

An electronic billboard in Times Square, New York. The Official Emblem was unveiled in Doha at 20:22 local time, with thousands of spectators witnessing the synchronised projection of the emblem onto some of the country’s most iconic buildings, including Katara Cultural Village Amphitheatre, Ministry of Interior, Souq Waqif, Msheireb and Al Zubara Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Pictured top right

Former FC Barcelona captain and World Cup winner Xavi Hernández is a Generation Amazing ambassador. He joined Qatar Stars League team Al Sadd in 2015, winning the league title in 2019, and the Amir’s Cup in 2021 as head coach, before rejoining FC Barcelona as the team’s manager.

Generation Amazing

Established in 2010 during Qatar’s bid to host the World Cup, Generation Amazing uses football for development initiatives to address social issues in countries in need, as per the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The initiative reaches those most in need by constructing community football pitches, delivering football for development training, and involving young people. Generation Amazing has changed the lives of thousands of people, both abroad and in Qatar itself, and is helping to foster sustainable behaviours among many young people. The programme has already had a positive impact on more than 1 mn youths in 16 countries.

A recent collaboration is with the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) to launch a joint football for development initiative for coaching education, which will benefit thousands of children and youth across CONCACAF’s 41 member associations. Similarly, there is a partnership in place with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) for a programme in Argentina, Iraq, Myanmar and Uganda. The Youth Advocates programme promotes the values of global citizenship, as young people embark on a year-long journey to understand the different ways that football can help find solutions to multilateral and national social challenges.

Volunteer Programme

A major component to making the event a success is including many volunteers. Since launching in September 2018, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy’s Volunteer Programme has seen more than 380,000 people register.

Around 20,000 volunteers are recruited, making it one of the largest activation and engagement of volunteers in Qatar’s history across the country’s diverse communities. Registration was open to everyone aged over 18, regardless of nationality, education or profession, to support events and projects in a number of areas.

The programme’s strategy has two goals: in the short-term, to serve the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM; in the long-term, to help build a database of volunteers to support national events after 2022. Volunteers were given a taste of how they can help Qatar prepare for the World Cup at the FIFA Arab Cup™ held in November/December 2021.

Ready to receive fans with disabilities

Qatar will deliver an outstanding FIFA World Cup™ experience for people with disabilities. Fans will be provided access to a range of digital content as the nation aims to make this FIFA World Cup™ accessible to as many people as possible.

The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) has worked with more than 30 local organisations to ensure its digital content can be enjoyed by all fans, irrespective of their accessibility needs. This led to the establishment of the Accessibility Forum, which has proved vital in efforts to deliver the most accessible World Cup in tournament history. Members represent a wide variety of impairments, including physical, cognitive, perceptual and mental health disabilities.

People with disabilities, experts and stakeholders such as the Ministry of Transport and Communications and Qatar Tourism have provided vital feedback on how to improve services on such things as Qatar’s transport system and cultural attractions.

Mada Assistive Technology Center Qatar is a founding member of the Accessibility Forum and a key partner in the SC’s e-accessibility efforts. Mada is a leading pioneer in the country’s digital accessibility efforts and its work has been recognised on an international level. Another member, the Qatar Social and Cultural Club for the Blind, has also been involved since the inception of the Accessibility Forum. It is chaired by Faisal Al Kohaji, a legal advisor in the oil and gas industry, and for whom digital accessibility is crucial – and for millions of football fans around the world.

The inauguration of Khalifa International Stadium in May 2017 coincided with Qatar’s first stadium-based sensory room for people with cognitive disabilities. A number of the stadiums have now been equipped with sensory rooms, providing the best possible environment for children with autism and neurobehavioural disorders to enjoy the matches in a safe space.

Fans with disabilities and autism coming from outside Qatar can avail of the services at the Shafallah Centre lobby at Hamad International Airport, which offers the latest assistive technology and educational and rehabilitation equipment for the best travel experience.

Official mascot unveiled La’eeb is the Official Mascot for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™!

La’eeb is an Arabic word meaning super-skilled player. He belongs to a parallel mascot-verse with no description, he wants everyone to everyone to interpret what it looks like themselves. The fun and mischievous character will excite fans and inspire them to celebrate the first FIFA World Cup™ in the Middle East and Arab world, uniting cultures from across the world. Fans can download GIFs and stickers via social media channels, as well as screensavers and filters.

A groundbreaking tournament for referees...

History has again been made as the FIFA Referees Committee has appointed three female referees and three female assistant referees to officiate.

The three referees are Stephanie Frappart from France, Salima Mukansanga from Rwanda and Yoshimi Yamashita from Japan, with assistant referees Neuza Back from Brazil, Karen Díaz Medina from Mexico and Kathryn Nesbitt from the US.

In total, there will be 36 referees, 69 assistant referees and 24 video match officials, selected from the six confederations and overseen by chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, Pierluigi Collina.

FIFA announced in July 2022 that semi-automated offside technology will be used during the tournament. This support tool for the video match officials and the on-field officials should help them make faster and more accurate offside decisions.

VAR technology was successfully used at the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ in Russia, as well as the FIFA Arab Cup™ and the FIFA Club World Cup™. Working with various partners, the Working Group for Innovation Excellence, and technology providers, FIFA has spent the last few years further improving the VAR system, including the use of semi-automated offside technology.

According to FIFA, the new technology uses 12 dedicated tracking cameras mounted underneath the roof of the stadium to track the ball and up to 29 data points of each individual player, 50 times per second, to calculate their exact position on the pitch. These 29 collected data points include all limbs and extremities relevant for making offside calls.

adidas’ official match ball, Al Rihla, will feature an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor to provide another element for the detection of tight offside incidents. The sensor is in the centre of the ball, sending ball data to the video operation room 500 times per second, giving a precise detection of the kick point.

If a player strays into an offside position, the video assistant referee will be alerted, and they can then relay a message to the on-field officials. Once an offside call has been flagged, a 3D animation will be generated and displayed on screens inside the venue.

All this new technology has the potential to cut VAR decision-making from 70 seconds to just 25!

Who will be able to use exciting new technology to assist with decisions!

Sustainability

In January 2020, hosts Qatar and FIFA released the event’s first joint Sustainability Strategy.

Sustainability has been one of the main aspects of this World Cup, which started at the bid stage and will continue right through to the end of the tournament. The aim is to use the power of football to open up a world of amazing experiences and build a lasting legacy that fits in with both FIFA’s vision and Qatar’s national development goals.

In 2015, FIFA and the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) began to develop and implement the event’s Sustainability Strategy. This was the first to be planned and delivered jointly by FIFA, SC on behalf of the host country, and the local organisers, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC (Q22).

‘Developing human capital, safeguarding workers rights, and delivering innovative environmental solutions’ are some of the points mentioned in the Sustainability Strategy.

To deliver the shared vision, five sustainability commitments have been defined:

• Human Pillar: To develop human capital and safeguard workers’ rights, particularly construction workers, as well as human rights issues related to the actual event, such as freedom of expression for journalists and the avoidance of discrimination.

• Social Pillar: To provide an inclusive tournament experience for all, ensuring it is safe, welcoming and accessible to all participants and attendees.

• Economic Pillar: To catalyse economic development, highlighting economic development and growth in Qatar. This will be achieved by enabling local and international businesses to become FIFA suppliers, with a priority for local entities.

• Environment Pillar: To deliver innovative environmental solutions, hosting a fully carbon-neutral FIFA World Cup™.

• Governance Pillar: To set an example of good governance and ethical business practices, with periodic updates of the Sustainability Strategy, stakeholder engagement and communication, and sustainable procurement procedures.

Further to this, 22 objectives have been described in detail, along with more than 70 initiatives and programmes to deliver the strategy and achieve the objectives set.

These were identified with the help of more than 100 national and international governmental, non-governmental and private-sector organisations, via surveys, workshops, meetings and the circulation of drafts, according to SC. Furthermore, the development process for the strategy also included a full human rights salience assessment, a first for a mega-sporting event.

Implementation of the Sustainability Strategy is in line with the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This was adopted by world leaders in September 2015 and has 17 universal Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), or Global Goals, and 169 targets, which set out a vision for ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.

The Sustainability Strategy for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM has been aligned with the most relevant SDGs based upon sustainability topics and human rights issues. Overall, 11 SDGs will be achieved.

In legacy mode, the modular upper tiers of some stadiums will be donated overseas – the seats will be given to countries needing sports infrastucture, and will ensure Qatar can use the stadiums appropriately after 2022. Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium is on the site of the old Al Rayyan stadium, much of which has been reused throughout the stadium complex or becoming public art installations. Trees in the location remain in place to minimise impact on the natural environment.

The venues’ innovative air-conditioned stadiums have carbon-neutral, solarbased systems producing chilled air. This creates an atmosphere for players and fans at least 20 degrees cooler than the surrounding area, allowing the venues to be used in the future for events throughout the year. Cutting-edge cooling technology was revealed in June 2014, bringing the temperature in the the open-air fan zone for the Brazil 2014 FIFA World CupTM down to 12˚C.

Six of the eight stadiums are built with modular components, so that after the tournament, Qatar will donate 170,000 seats to countries in need of sporting infrastructure, as part of its 2022 legacy.

The FIFA Club World Cup 2019™ in December 2019 was a perfect warm-up event. The world’s best football clubs from every continent gave thrilling performances and was eventually won by Liverpool FC. The Fan Zone in Doha Sports Park provided plenty of opportunities to watch all the matches, as well as enjoy live music, football-themed activities, and food and beverages. The FIFA Arab Cup 2021™ held in Qatar in November/December 2021 featured 16 teams from across the Arab world, and was the final ‘warm-up’ event before the World Cup.

The match schedule for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM, confirmed by FIFA on 15 July 2020, sees hosts Qatar playing in the opening match on 20 November 2022 at Al Bayt Stadium, 4 pm local time (GMT+3). During the group stage, four matches will be played on each day. Kick-off will be at 1 pm, 4 pm, 7 pm and 10 pm for the first two rounds, and 6 pm and 10 pm for the simultaneous kick-offs of the last round and for knockout stage matches. The third place match will be on 17 December at Khalifa International Stadium, and the final on 18 December – Qatar National Day –at Lusail Stadium, both at 6 pm.

The new stadiums have been designed by the world’s leading architects and reflect a different aspect of Qatari culture, and take into consideration three priorities: access and comfort, sustainability, and post-tournament legacy. Fans can potentially see more than one match a day, as the longest distance between venues is just 55 km.

The Tree and Turf Nursery was launched in February 2018 to supply the enormous quantities of grass required for the stadiums, as well as the trees and shrubs that surround them.

Khalifa International Stadium

Khalifa International Stadium was built in 1976, and renovated before reopening in May 2017 for the final of the Amir Cup. Named after the former Amir, HH Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani (grandfather of the current Amir, HH Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani), the stadium has to date hosted matches in the Gulf Cup, the AFC Asian Cup, five matches in the FIFA Club World Cup 2019™, including the Final between Liverpool and Flamengo, and a number of football friendlies. It also hosted the Asian Games in 2006 and the IAAF World Athletics Championships in 2019.

The arena’s new ultramodern shape has kept its instantly recognisable dual arches. Inside the stadium, seats are protected from the elements by a canopy, thanks to the installation of a larger roof over the entire spectator area – an intricate net of steel tension cables weighing 4,000 tonnes hold 92 panels in place. Meanwhile LED pitch lighting and digital floodlights add a new dimension to the fan experience – Khalifa International Stadium is the first FIFA World Cup™ venue and the first stadium in the region to use these more sustainable forms of lighting. There is also climate control provided by advanced cooling technologies, promised as part of Qatar’s successful bid, which keeps the pitch at 20°C and the stands at 23°C, using 40% less energy than traditional cooling methods. Even the pitch is new, designed with Qatar’s climate in mind and developed at the Turf Nursery. It was laid in a new world record time of just 13 ½ hours.

Al Janoub Stadium

Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakra was the first design to be revealed in November 2013, and opened 16 May 2019 for the Amir’s Cup final.

Designed by the late Dame Zaha Hadid, the stadium is inspired by traditional dhow boats and Al Wakra’s history of seafaring. Inside, bowed beams hold up the roof, reminiscent of a ship’s hull, which allows light to flood in. A detailed micro-climate analysis was undertaken to check the heat levels inside; from this study, aerodynamics were used to determine the best shape for the arena, with the roof having additional shading using a minimal amount of glass. Alongside an innovative cooling system, these features make significant contributions to temperature control.

In November 2018, the stadium received a Class A* sustainability rating from the Global Sustainability Assessment System, in recognition of the project’s extensive efforts to protect the environment. The impact of fans travelling to Al Janoub Stadium for matches has also been considered, with major upgrades to the road networks, reducing journey times and emissions, and the nearby Doha Metro

seater venue will host matches up to the quarter-finals. After the competition it will become the home of Al Wakra Sports Club with 20,000 seats; the remaining 20,000 will be donated to football development projects overseas. Part of the stadium’s legacy includes green spaces being developed around the complex, which fans will see as they approach the stadium. The impressive parkland has more than 800 new trees and low-water-consumption vegetation, with areas for horse riding, running tracks and cycle lanes.

Education City Stadium

Education City Stadium is a 40,000-seat venue that sits in the heart of the country’s dedicated area for some of the world’s leading universities, the home of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, and is adjacent to Education City Golf Club.

The design draws its inspiration from Islamic architecture, with a façade that features triangles forming complex, diamond-esque geometrical patterns which seemingly change colour as the sun moves across the sky, with an eye-catching colourful light show at night.

The sides of the stadium envelop the pitch, helping the advanced cooling system to operate. An integrated water and energy control and monitoring system manages real-time consumption, and the environmentally-conscious design and construction help reduce the stadium’s carbon footprint. In January 2019, the stadium received a 5-star design and build rating from the Global Sustainability Assessment System.

A number of green construction practices have been employed: More than 55% of the materials used for the stadium came from sustainable sources and 28% of construction materials have recycled contents. The surrounding precinct incorporates drought-tolerant and native species of plants in 75% of the landscaping.

After the World Cup, Education City Stadium will donate 20,000 seats to create sporting venues in developing countries. In legacy mode, the venue will suit the needs of students, faculty and other members of the Education City community by becoming a sports, leisure and social hub.

Al Bayt Stadium

Al Bayt Stadium, located in Al Khor (35 km north of Doha), is instantly recognisable, thanks to its design based on a Bedouin tent – bayt al sha’ar or ‘house of hair’. The tent structure covers the entire stadium, and honours Qatar’s past and present while also looking to the future.

The tent structure provides shading via lightweight canopies which stretch out towards the pitch, joined by a retractable roof system and cooling technologies. These features allow for comfortable temperatures inside without using extra power. Al Bayt Stadium has already received a Class A* rating from the Global Sustainability Assessment System.

Outside the stadium, parks and greenery feature in the surrounding precinct’s design plan, with grass and trees alongside lakes and water features – the outdoor space is equal to the size of 30 football pitches.

Fans will approach the stadium on tree-lined walkways before entering the traditional-meets-modern piece of architecture.

The upgraded road system means shorter journey times and a smaller environmental impact, although there will be extensive taxi and bus facilities to minimise the number of vehicles on

In legacy mode, the upper tier of modular design seating, almost half of the 60,000 capacity, will be removed and donated to developing nations. The upper area of the stadium will be converted into a five-star hotel, and a shopping centre, food court, gym and multipurpose hall will be incorporated into the venue, as well as a branch of Aspetar, Qatar’s premier sports medicine facility.

The stadium will host the opening match of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ and fixtures through to the semi-finals. It was inaugurated 30 November 2021 for the opening match of the FIFA Arab Cup 2021™.

Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium

Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium is the home of local football team, Al Rayyan Sports Club. The stadium officially opened on 18 December 2020, hosting the final of The Amir Cup, becoming the fourth operational FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ venue. The arena is capable of hosting 40,000 fans. The stadium incorporates features of Qatari culture in its magnificent façade, one of the most striking aspects of the stadium. The glowing façade’s patterns characterise different aspects of the country: the importance of family, the beauty of the desert, the native flora and fauna, and local and international trade. The façade surrounds a compact seating structure, giving a sense of feeling much closer to all of the action on the pitch. A lightweight canopy and advanced cooling systems protect fans from the elements, providing maximum comfort.

Traditional design elements continue on the surrounding buildings, with dune-shaped hospitality areas and retail outlets. Thanks to its lighting system, the entire area will be spectacular at nighttime as the buildings softly glow.

The stadium complex has used more than 80% of construction materials from the former venue on the site (with the same name) – in fact, any trees that needed to be moved have been replanted! Any new materials have been chosed for environmental qualities. The stadium received a 4-star Global Sustainability Assessment System certification in October 2018. The stadium’s carbon footprint has been reduced thanks to energy and water efficiency measures, and its close connection to the metro.

Post-tournament, the seating capacity will be reduced to 20,000 with the other 20,000 donated to football development projects overseas. In legacy mode, there will be six football training pitches and a multitude of other sporting facilities.

Al Thumama Stadium

Al Thumama Stadium in the southern suburbs of Doha is named after a native tree that grows in the region. Its intricate design depicts the traditional woven cap gahfiya – a symbol of dignity and independence, and worn by boys through to adulthood. The stadium’s design also represents the country becoming a major force in the world’s sports scene and the heritage that has shaped its path to success.

Qatari architectural and engineering firm Arab Engineering Bureau created the concept and schematic design, led by chief architect, Ibrahim M Jaidah, one of the region’s most renowned architects. The venue’s distinctive design won the prestigious MIPIM/The Architectural Review Future Project Award in 2018. Fans will first see the impressive stadium from the adjacent Hamad International Airport, as they admire the circular design and outstanding roof from the skies.

Al Thumama Stadium is the location for revolutionary prototype stadium the Showcase, a demonstration to FIFA of how Qatar is committed to innovation and sustainability, both in the tournament and in legacy mode. The Showcase will remain in place until 2022, showing such technologies as the solar-powered cooling systems. Looking to achieve Global Sustainability Assessment System 4-star certification, the design saves up to 40% more water than a conventional stadium. Recycled water will be used for the 50,000 sq m of park area, with native vegetation and 400 trees across 84% of the green areas.

The stadium was inaugurated on 22 October 2021 for The Amir’s Cup final. In legacy mode, the stadium’s seating capacity will be reduced from 40,000 to 20,000 to meet local needs, with the remaining infrastructure donated. Aspetar will have a clinic at the stadium, while the surrounding precinct will provide sports facilities alongside running and cycling tracks.

A boutique hotel inside the stadium, a mosque, and retail units will complete the services offered to the community.

Stadium 974

Stadium 974, previously Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, is one of the most innovative and radical to be built for a FIFA World Cup™ tournament – or any sporting event!

The 40,000-seat venue, situated looking across Doha’s Al Dafna/West Bay skyline and the Arabian Gulf, has been built in such a way that it can be completely dismantled and reused for other sporting projects after the competition, setting a new standard in sustainability and how to reuse stadiums in legacy mode.

Due to the temporary nature of the stadium and the clever modular design, using fewer building materials than seen in traditional stadium buildings has reduced construction costs. The project has a lower carbon footprint due to its dockside location as natural sea breezes lessen the requirements on the stadium’s cooling system.

The design is the brainchild of Fenwick Iribarren Architects. It has been constructed using shipping containers, removable seats and other modular building blocks, a unique and colourful design in keeping with the nearby port. Most of the stadium’s major requirements – for example, seating, bathroom facilities and food stalls – operate within the shipping containers. These have been arranged in an elegant curved square which give the venue its iconic aesthetic.

The dismantling of the stadium is a first for a FIFA World Cup™ venue. Just about everything will be repurposed –the 40,000 seats, the containers and the roof – and donated to projects elsewhere. This means the entire stadium may be built in another location, or the elements split up and used on a number of sporting and non-sporting venues. Once the stadium has been removed, a new waterfront development will include a large public park with retail space.

The stadium was inaugurated on 30 November 2021 for the FIFA Arab Cup™ and renamed Stadium 974 to reflect the number of shipping containers used, as well as Qatar’s international dialling code.

Lusail Stadium

Lusail Stadium is in Qatar’s city of the future, Lusail City, and will be the venue for the final match of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, closing the tournament in opulent style.

Fans can travel to the stadium from anywhere in the country quickly and easily, thanks to the Doha Metro and the upcoming Lusail Tram. There are also excellent commuter links via the upgraded road network, shuttle buses from the nearby park and ride system, and even the new walking and cycle paths!

The stadium’s design has been inspired by light and shadow, characteristics of the fanar (lantern), with its shape and façade replicating the intricate decorative motifs on bowls and art pieces seen across the Middle East.

Architects Foster + Partners have created a sleek, modern and bold shape with an impressive sloping roof. The chic, muted gold exterior will over time offer an evocative image of aged metal handicrafts, while the intricate detailing on the stadium bowl will feature a graceful, undulating trim. This will be literally topped off with a roof that showcases the best engineering and construction techniques, using materials to provide shade yet still admitting the right amount of sunlight to nourish the playing surface.

When the daylight fades, an advanced lighting system will switch on with light pouring through the openings in the façade, similar to a lantern, offering a welcoming glow for fans. Once inside the stadium, a wall of colour will be joined by a wall of sound – the roof and curved sides will form a cauldron effect, with noise reverberating around the

During construction, sustainable building practices will be employed and construction waste recycled whenever possible. Recycled water will irrigate the abundance of local plants surrounding the stadium. Efficient water fixtures and leak detection systems throughout the stadium complex will conserve 40% more fresh water than in conventional stadiums. These measures will steer Lusail Stadium towards achieving 4-star Global Sustainability Assessment System certification.

Current plans for Lusail Stadium after the tournament suggest it will transform into a community space with schools, shops, sporting facilities and health clinics within the original exterior of the stadium and under the original roof. Most of the stadium’s 80,000 seats will be removed and donated to projects elsewhere.

The stadium was inaugurated 11 August 2022 for a match between two QStars league teams, as

1

Quick facts and figures

The maximum number of hours that will be spent travelling between venues during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, making it possible to watch more than one match a day.

1st title Qatar will compete as the reigning champions of Asia after winning the AFC Asian Cup for the first time in January 2019.

8

15 – 24°C

50

55 km

Number of stadiums being used during the tournament.

Average temperatures in Qatar in November and December.

Number of nationalities working for the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, reflecting Qatar’s commitment to deliver a tournament that unites the world.

The longest distance required to see matches, between Al Bayt Stadium to Al Janoub Stadium.

1981 When Qatar reached the final of the FIFA World Youth Championships (now the FIFA U-20 World Cup), defeating Brazil and England on the way.

1992 Qatar reached the quarter-finals of the 1992 Summer Olympic Games’ football tournament and won its first ever Gulf Cup.

9,520

Number of athletes in 424 events across 39 sports during the 15th Asian Games (XV Asiad) in Doha in 2006, widely regarded as the most successful to date – just one of many international sporting events Qatar has successfully hosted.

40,000 Seating capacity of Stadium 974 (previously Ras Abu Aboud Stadium), the first fully demountable tournament venue in FIFA World Cup™ history.

1,500,000

Number of fans expected to visit Qatar during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.

53,000,000 The annual capacity of Hamad International Airport in 2022. These facts are courtesy of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy –for more information, visit qatar2022.qa

Football in Qatar: past, present and future

Qatar’s national football team, nicknamed The Maroon, have featured in many of the sport’s national, regional and international competitions over the years, enjoying successes alongside their fellow players in the youth team. Here is a quick look at the history of football in Qatar:

1950s Doha Stadium is the first proper football venue in the Gulf region.

1960 The Qatar Football Association (QFA) is established, and becomes a member of FIFA in 1963 and the Asian Football Confederation in 1967.

1963 Q-League was established, however the first official season began in 1972.

1974 Qatar wins their first international match, beating Oman in a group game of the Gulf Cup.

1975 Qatar takes part in the Asian Cup qualifiers but do not qualify.

1976 The iconic sports venue Khalifa International Stadium opens. In 1992, the stadium hosted the 11th Gulf Cup, which Qatar won for the first time. It was renovated in 2005 for the 2006 Asian Games, increasing capacity from 20,000 to 40,000 seats. The stadium underwent another redevelopment in May 2017.

1977 On its World Cup qualifiers debut, Qatar beats Bahrain but do not proceed any further.

1980 Qatar makes its first appearance at the AFC Asian Cup.

1981 The national youth side is the runner-up at the FIFA World Youth ChampionshipTM in Australia.

1984 The senior team is the runner-up at the Gulf Cup.

1992 Qatar qualifies for the Summer Olympics, beating Egypt and drawing with Colombia.

1997 Qatar makes it to the final round of qualifiers for the 1998 FIFA World Cup France™ but loses to Saudi Arabia in the last game.

2004 Qatar hosts and wins the Gulf Cup.

2004 Aspire Academy opens, providing training facilities and education to young people to improve the standards of sports in Qatar and internationally.

2006 Doha hosts the 2006 Asian Games and wins the football gold medal.

2009 Q-League changes its name to Qatar Stars League, also known as QNB Stars League.

2011 Qatari team Al Sadd wins the 2011 AFC Champions League and qualifies for the 2011 FIFA Club World CupTM in Japan.

2014 The senior team wins the West Asia Football Federation and the Gulf Cup championships, while the junior team featuring past and current Aspire Academy athletes wins the AFF U-19 Championships, qualifying for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

2019 Qatar wins the AFC Asian Cup for the first time, conceding just one goal in the tournament, and is invited to play in the Copa America.

2019 Khalifa International Stadium is the venue for the FIFA Club World Cup 2019TM. Local team Al Sadd kicked off the tournament, holding Hienghene Sport to a goalless draw.

2021 Qatar makes it to the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

2021 Qatar hosts the FIFA Arab Cup™, giving players and fans the chance to see the country and experience Qatari hospitality ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM

2022 The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM!

2023 Qatar steps in to host the AFC Asian Cup after China withdrew. This is the third time the tournament will be in Qatar after previously hosting in 1988 and 2011.

Al Sadd wins the 2011 AFC Champions League

Qatar wins the 2019 AFC Asian Cup

One Pass: A Gateway to Live It All in Qatar

By Ola Diab

Qatar Creates has launched One Pass — a gateway to the best of Qatar where you can experience the greatest culture, art, and fashion in the country.

Qatar Creates launched One Pass in August 2022 with three types of memberships that individuals can subscribe to: Gold, Platinum and Diamond. The pass will be valid from 1 October to 31 December 2022. One Pass gives the holder access to over 300 experiences in Qatar, including museums and galleries, exhibitions, heritage sites, fashion shows and public art.

The passes

Individuals can get Gold, Platinum, or Diamond membership for QAR399, QAR499, and QAR1,999 respectively. One Pass can be purchased via the Qatar Creates website, qacreates.com

Gold Pass gives access to five museums and exhibitions, and small discounts on events and dining in the country. Platinum Pass has unlimited access to Qatar’s best museums and exhibitions, plus discounted dining at over 200 locations.

Diamond Pass is the ultimate VIP experience in Qatar, giving access to everything in Platinum, plus exclusive access to over 12 VIP lounges in Doha.

One Pass holders receive discounts of up to 40% for fashion shows and concerts; however, these will be free for Diamond Pass holders. One Pass holders will also be able to avail of up to 20% discounts at gift shops and other places.

In addition, bearers of the tiered-level pass will enjoy benefits including free admission to all museums, discounts at events and performances, restaurants, and local retailers, as well as front-of-line privileges. One Pass holders will also receive a daily newsletter with events and access to an online portal that will be filled with content about activities in Qatar during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.

Museums and heritage sites

With One Pass, individuals can visit museums and galleries such as Museum of Islamic Art (MIA), National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ), Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Fire Station, 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, and M7 for free.

In addition, One Pass members will be able to freely access archaeological and heritage sites such as Al Zubara Archaeological Site, the Old Palace of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani at the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ), Murwab archaeological site in Bu Sidra, Al Jumail Village, Al Thaqab Fort and Al Rakayat Fort in Al Shamal, Al Jassasiya Petroglyphs or Rock Carvings in Al Jassasiya, Al Mafjar Village in Al Mafjar, and more.

For more information on museums and art galleries, and archaeological sites, forts and ruins in Qatar, see Sightseeing in the Discovering Qatar section.

Old Palace of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani at NMoQ

Gates to the Sea by Simone Fattal at NMoQ

Exhibitions and art

One Pass holders can also access exhibitions, including Pipilotti Rist’s Your Brain to Me, My Brain to You at NMoQ (until 14 January 2023); A Sneak Peek at Qatar Auto Museum at NMoQ (until 20 January 2023); Baghdad: Eye’s Delight at MIA (until 25 February 2023); Lusail Museum: Tales of a Connected World at Al Riwaq (24 October 2022 onwards); and the Art Mill Museum 2030 (until 30 March 2023).

One Pass holders can visit some of Qatar expansive public art including: • Ali Hassan Al Jaber's Wisdom of a Nation at NMoQ • Guillaume Roseré's Allow Me at Msheireb Metro Station • Shouq Al Mana's Egal in Lusail Marina • Daniel Arsham's Sports Ball Galaxy in 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum • César Baldaccini’s The Thumb in Souq Waqif • Eduardo Chillida's Searching For Light IV at Qatar University (QU) • Adel Abdessamed's Mappemondes at Hamad International Airport (HIA) • Richard Serra’s East-West/West-East scultupre in Zekreet • Tony Smith’s Smoke at Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) • Section of the Berlin Wall at Mshereib Metro Station • Ahmed Al Bahrani’s Flag of Glory at NMoQ • Aisha Al Fadhala's graffiti at the Fire Station • Tom Claassen’s Falcon at HIA

• Simone Fattal’s Gates to the Sea at NMoQ

• Urs Fischer’s Untitled Lamp Bear at HIA

• Isa Genzken’s Rose III at M7 • Subodh Gupta’s Gandhi’s Three Monkeys at Katara Cultural Village • Subodh Gupta’s Spooning at M7

• Mark Handforth at Msheireb Downtown Doha (MDD) • Damien Hirst’s The Miraculous Journey at Sidra Medicine.

For more information on Qatar's art scene, read our feature Qatar: An Outdoor Art Museum in the Discovering Qatar section. To learn more about Art at HIA, see Traveller Information in the Discovering Qatar section. m

Gandhi’s Three Monkeys by Subodh Gupta at Katara Cultural Village

Qatar Creates Qatar Creates is a perennial cultural movement that curates, promotes, and celebrates the diversity of cultural activities in Qatar. To provide residents and visitors with an unrivalled opportunity to immerse themselves and fully experience the myriad cultural, leisure, and entertainment offerings across the country, Qatar Creates has launched its new One Pass, an online portal that offers a one-stop resource for all of Qatar’s cultural offerings.

For more information on Qatar Creates and the One Pass, visit qacreates.com, or visit the Marhaba website for all you need to know about the One Pass marhaba.qa/one-pass-by-qatar-creates

Falcon by Tom Claassen at HIA

The Thumb by Simone César Baldaccini at Souq Waqif