THE PEARLS OF QATAR

TRAVEL

Photo: travelawaits.com The capital city of Doha

QATAR: THE PEARL OF THE MIDDLE EAST

The FIFA World Cup, which is being held in Qatar, is just an occasion to take you on a tour of this small but stunning Middle Eastern country, on the shores of the Persian Gulf, whose natural beauty, sights, and tourist attractions will astonish you

By:

TAMARA ĐOKIĆ

Photo: visitqatar.com

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f we exclude the FIFA World Cup, which is being held in an Arab country for the first time ever this year and in the winter due to the climate, probably the first associations that come to mind when you think of Qatar are the oil industry, the national airline Qatar Airways, or the TV station Al Jazeera. You may have also read somewhere that Qatar is one of the richest and safest countries in the world and that it lies on large deposits of oil and natural gas, but if you have not yet visited this exotic country in the Middle East, where, as hardly anywhere in the world, the desert meets the sea, then you probably do not know how much Qatar would delight you as a tourist.

Rich national cuisine, safaris in the sand dunes, and camel riding are just some of the tourist attractions that will await you without even stepping foot in the capital Doha—a magical city abundant in luxury hotels, international shopping centers, restaurants, and numerous cultural sights.

THE PEARL ISLAND

As a country by the sea rich in pearl shells, Qatar was once one of the most important places in the world for the extraction of pearls, and we would add today, also a place where there are many pearl sites worth visiting, such as the Pearl Island. This artificial shell-shaped island with a pearl in the middle, filled with luxury shopping malls, modern skyscrapers, and rich yachts, is one of the few places in Qatar where foreign nationals are allowed to buy properties.

VILLAGGIO MALL

If you didn’t like any of the shopping malls offered in the Pearl-Qatar, you can go to the nearby Villaggio Mall in Doha, which is designed to look like a small Venice. Having a store in this location is a matter of prestige, and no famous global brand passed up the opportunity to decorate the corridors of this world-famous shopping center.

Pearl Island

Villaggio Mall

Museum of Islamic Art, outside and inside

MUSEUM OF ISLAMIC ART

Although predominantly known for economic prosperity and luxury, Qatar greatly values history, tradition, and culture. Thus, the Museum of Islamic Art is deservedly known to be among the top attractions. This impressive museum on the Doha’s Corniche houses the most valuable Islamic art exhibits. You will be fascinated by both its setting as well as the architecture of the building itself and the nearby landscape. The museum, designed by an American architect of Chinese origin, I. M. Pei, captivates with its simple and dynamic design. Sand-colored stone blocks form a five-story tower, and rows of palm trees and cascading fountains lead to the museum’s entrance.

NATIONAL MUSEUM

The National Museum in Doha is an impressive complex of unusual design, inspired by the formation of desert rose crystals. The galleries and exhibition spaces within the museum are arranged chronologically and tell the story of Qatar through the ages. Thanks to the design team led by Pritzker Prize winner Jean Nouvel, Qatar has gained a building that truly reflects the country’s zeitgeist as well as its ambitions for the future. The museum took a decade to build and finally opened in 2019.

KATARA CULTURAL VILLAGE

Culture has a special status in Doha. There is plenty of evidence for this. The most expensive painting in the world, “The Card Players” by Paul Cézanne, sold for a dizzying 250 million dollars to the Qatari royal family. The new Opera House is said to be unmatched even by London’s Royal Opera House. Every seat has a number woven with gold thread, and the acoustics are spectacular. Qatar’s most famous pearl of culture was designed by Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned. It is the Katara Cultural Village in Doha, which houses villas for artists, special schools, a music academy, numerous galleries, and museums, as well as a large open amphitheater where regional and local festivals, workshops, performances, conventions, shows, and exhibitions are organized.

Photo: visitqatar.com

Al Zubarah Fort Souq Waqif Bazaar

Photo: globalheritagetravel.com

INLAND SEA

The wealth of the country is also visible outside of Doha, in nature reserves such as the Khawr al Udayd, also known as the Inland Sea, one of the few places in the world where the sea meets the desert. On this fascinating beach, you can enjoy numerous activities such as camel riding or sand skiing, and this is also a place with a phenomenal backdrop for unforgettable travel photos.

AL ZUBARAH FORT

The Al Zubarah Fort, located in the small town of Zubarah, northwest of Doha, and designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is also a must-see. At present, it contains the remains of a fortified coastal settlement that prospered in the 18th and 19th centuries thanks to pearl hunting, and today it represents a unique testimony of that time.

SOUQ WAQIF BAZAAR

After visiting some of the most interesting places of this, in many ways, extravagant country, it is time to rest in Doha’s Souq Waqif, an open-air market in a traditional Arabic style, where you can find typical Qatari spices, nuts, and other household items, that are part of the everyday life of the local population. Here you will find an adequate souvenir, which can be a photo with a falcon since falconry is a popular pastime of the region.

Safari Adventure Photo: dohamagicadventures.com