When I was offered the chance to discover Qatar, I had a moment of hesitation… Can you actually go to Qatar for tourism? I admit I hesitated. First, because I had absolutely no idea what to expect, and secondly, because being a woman traveling in these Middle Eastern countries seemed complicated to me. But in the end, I told myself that an opportunity like this couldn’t be turned down. The chance was too good to pass up—a chance to face something totally different, perhaps far from my usual aspirations, to discover a region and a culture quite far from what I know with a “blank slate.” But isn’t that also what travel is about?
Far from the prejudices and misconceptions I had about the country, Qatar is a state of modernity in full expansion. The landscape is filled with construction sites in a momentum that seems limitless.
The assets:
- Hospitality and consideration for guests are among the country’s strengths in terms of tourism. As a guest, you will always be treated with great respect and care.
- It is also still a confidential destination, which allows you to take full advantage of the country’s many benefits with a certain sense of privilege.
Tradition, modernity, comfort, hospitality, and openness are the key words I will remember from these few days where we tried to understand the Qatari spirit and essence in total immersion within the region’s atmosphere. If travel opens the mind, it also allows us to put into perspective the information—often devoid of context and meaning—that reaches us via the media.
I have split my short stay into 2 articles:
- This first article focuses on a selection of things to see/do in Qatar and its surroundings, as well as some practical advice.
- An upcoming article on the best addresses (restaurants, hotels, etc.) that I tested during my stay.
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Table of Contents
Visiting the MIA, Museum of Islamic Art in Doha
This private museum, opened in 2008 and dedicated to Islamic arts throughout the centuries (from the 7th to the 19th century) and across countries (3 continents are represented), is one of the most beautiful in the world on the subject. The collections are superb and truly worth the trip. They are beautifully presented in a sober and airy museography that serves, above all, the exhibited objects, all of which are exceptional pieces.
The modern building, which represents a veiled woman whose gaze follows you wherever you are (I tried it, and it really gives that impression!), was designed by IM Pei, the famous architect of the Louvre Pyramid in Paris, among others. The museum even contains a restaurant under the aegis of Alain Ducasse. I didn’t have the opportunity to test it, but it might be a good reason to make another short stop in Doha in the future…
A little tip: don’t hesitate to step out onto the two side terraces of the museum during your visit, as they are the perfect spots to get a magnificent panoramic view of the Doha skyline.
A great deal: I saved the best for last, since entrance to the museum is free for everyone, and there are also free guided tours on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 2 PM and Saturdays at 4 PM (languages: English or Arabic).
MIA, Museum of Islamic Art Open every day except Wednesday
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Do some shopping in Souq Waqif in Doha
This traditional market, located in the heart of Doha and near the Corniche, offers a lively and fragrant experience (the streets of the souq smell particularly good). You can find a wide variety of local products at interesting prices. Far from the atmosphere of the Medina souks in Marrakech, the Doha souq is calm and extremely clean. No merchant will come to urge you to enter their shop if you don’t feel like it; here, you are left to stroll from stall to stall without any solicitation.
For example, you can buy Oud & Bukhoor incense, which is the most famous and precious in Qatar. It is made with wood essences mixed with essential oils. By the way, if you go into a Qatari home, you will first be invited to stand over the incense smoke (that’s what I was told, although I admit I didn’t get the chance to test it, unfortunately) to scent your clothes with the sweet aroma of your host’s home. A funny and poetic idea, I think.
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Falconry Shop, Aed Bin Ali falcon merchant
Falconry is an ancient sport still very much practiced in Qatar, especially during winter hunting. There is even a hospital in the souq specifically dedicated to falcons, the Souq Waqif Falcon Hospital. Besides, I was lucky enough to hold one for a few moments (don’t pay attention to my not-very-reassured look; there was no danger), and it’s actually quite a heavy bird.
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Pearl Shop by Saad Ismail Al Jassim
Fishing and trading very high-quality pearls are an integral part of Qatari history, and they are very proud of it because the pearl was their main source of sustenance for many generations. This industry completely collapsed when the Chinese discovered the technique of cultured pearls, and this turnaround left a scar and a sense of caution in the behavior of the Qataris regarding their source of income. Relying on only one area to survive is an experience they clearly don’t want to live through again…
All this to say that you will find many shops selling pearls in the souq, which can be a nice gift idea to bring back.
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Take a traditional dhow cruise/dinner in Doha Bay
These authentic wooden dhows are reproductions of those used in the past by the Qataris, notably for pearl fishing. It is one of the best ways, in addition, to admire the Doha Corniche and its famous skyline (waterfront) of 7 km, beautifully illuminated at night.
The QIA (Qatar International Adventures), a company to discover Qatar founded in 1999, offers this type of service Duration: this short cruise can last up to 4 hours Price: between 200 and 250 QAR for adults and between 100 and 150 QAR for children (meal included) The great deal: special offer every Thursday evening between 7 PM and 10 PM for 150 QAR for adults and 80 QAR for children (meal included)
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Interact at FANAR, the religious cultural center of Doha
The Fanar is the Islamic Cultural Center of Qatar. Its goal is to inform the general public about Qatari culture as well as the Muslim religion. You can also discover, among other things, Islamic art through Arabic calligraphy (a very important and respected art in Qatar) and Islamic architecture.
The edifice itself is impressive, as the building is surmounted by a tower representing a lighthouse (hence the name Fanar, which means “lighthouse” in Qatari). It also houses a mosque, a religious school, offices, a prayer hall, and a library. It is one of two places in Doha where you can attend the Friday sermon in English.
free Abdullah Bin Jassim St, Doha, Qatar
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Visiting the Msheireb Enrichment Center in Doha
The Msheireb Enrichment Centre is a place that is half-museum, half-educational information center, created by Qatar Foundation to present the country’s past, as well as Qatar’s projects for the future, in a very interactive and educational way. I advise you to visit this place (plus, it’s free) at the beginning of your stay because it provides important keys to understanding the city’s geography, its history, and Qatari culture in general. The Center is actually moored to the Doha Corniche, near one of the city’s oldest monuments, the Sheraton Hotel, as if it were waiting to set sail for new adventures.
Msheireb Enrichment Centre free Sheraton Park, Al Corniche St, Doha, Qatar open every day except Fridays
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Discover the Al Shaqab stables
We were lucky enough to visit the Al Shaqab stables, a horse breeding facility with the most beautiful specimens of the Arabian Thoroughbred breed, created in 1992 by Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, with the goal of improving the Emirate’s Arabian horses and giving Qatar a place in the international equestrian world.
What is incredible (in addition to the beauty of the horses) is the impression of being in an elite sports complex, to such an extent that the horses even benefit from aquatic training, like an equestrian thalassotherapy. One would almost want to be in their place… It is possible, even for the public and tourists, to take a short guided tour of the site (by reservation from Sunday to Thursday).
Al Shaqab Ar-Rayyan, Qatar
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Go Kayaking in the Mangrove
It’s a great activity to do to discover the Mangrove of the Al Thakira region (in northern Qatar) and to take some idyllic photos on the desert beaches of Qatar, not to mention that it tones your arms…
Activity offered by QIA (Qatar International Adventures)
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Go on a 4×4 Safari in the Qatari desert
Dune bashing is a very popular sport in Qatar, with guaranteed thrills! As for me, being prone to motion sickness (this was the occasion to test a natural solution for nausea, which I will talk about in more detail in another article), I was very afraid of the result, but in fact, I really loved this little excursion in the dunes, especially since I was in the front of the car (a prime seat that I recommend).
It is also the occasion to discover the Inland Sea (Khor Al-Adaid), a magnificent natural site listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, where water and desert sand meet in an improbable way—a unique combination in the world—and to travel to the border with Saudi Arabia.
The safari also includes a short meal stop at the QIA Camp, facing the sea—the perfect place to enjoy a swim in the inland sea.
4x4 desert safari
Price: 225 QAR for a half-day Desert Safari / 300 QAR for a full day
in the desert / 425 QAR for a night in the desert_
The Qatar Airways experience
The national airline connects Doha (whose new Hamad International airport was built in 2014) to more than 130 destinations worldwide, which makes Qatar one of the most important stopovers between Europe and Asia. Taking a flight with Qatar Airways was already in my imagination a trip in itself, and I wasn’t wrong.
In Eco mode:
Economy class on its own is the equivalent of a business class on other airlines, and comfort as well as high-end service are the watchwords of the brand.
The pros: USB port to charge electronic devices, screen in front of each seat, continuous meal and drink services during the flight. The journey is pleasant.
In Business mode:
On the way back, we were lucky enough to be upgraded and to discover the business class of the A380 from Qatar Airways, clearly the biggest plane I’ve traveled in so far, with its 2 floors! You immediately enter another universe. Traveling in these conditions is an experience incomparable to what I had lived before. It is the ultimate luxury, or almost, and the problem is that when you have tasted that, it’s hard to go back to economy classes… but hey, it will have to be, as it’s still very far from my travel budget…
The advantages: extra comfort with plenty of space, the possibility of lying completely flat and therefore sleeping almost like in a bed, an open bar open throughout the flight, a menu with a vast and delicious choice of dishes and drinks (no extra charge, of course), there is never a queue for the toilets, and when you are a girl, it matters, service as attentive as in a palace, small gifts (toiletry kit, blanket, pillow, etc.).
The great deal: for stopovers of more than 6 hours, Qatar Airways and the Qatar National Tourism Council organize a free city tour to discover Doha. You must inquire at the Doha City Tour counter in the airport.
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To put in your suitcase for Qatar
When you are a woman, going to Qatar (especially when it starts to get hot) and packing a suitcase adapted to the climate and customs can quickly become a real puzzle (or a Qatari one, we should invent a new expression)…
How to survive the high temperature while remaining correct toward the local population? Looking at my dressing room, I quickly felt like a libertine, unable to pull out a summer outfit that wasn’t short on the bottom or bare on the top… In short, I spent several hours trying on outfits to select a few decent ones, which actually came from a distant past as a hippie teenager…
In the end, I went through a lot of trouble for nothing, because at the risk of disappointing some, my fears were unfounded. Yes, you can walk around Doha with bare shoulders and even a skirt without anyone bothering you or giving you pointed looks. Of course, you shouldn’t go out in a bikini on the street, but I think that even in Paris, you wouldn’t do that, so there you go… So my only advice would be to take a shawl and a sweater to cover up, but that’s essentially because of the strong air conditioning, which is omnipresent in all buildings in the country.
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Useful information for Qatar
- For my part, I tested the destination at the end of April. It was sunny and hot (between 30 and 35 degrees) but it remains bearable compared to the stifling 50 degrees of the summer period. Temperatures are between 7 degrees in winter and 50 degrees in summer.
- Arabic is the official language, but it is very easy to make yourself understood in English almost everywhere.
- Doha is the capital of the Emirate.
- 80% of Qatar’s population are expatriates.
- Time difference with France: 1 hour.
- Currency: the Qatari Riyal.
- A 30-day visa must be paid for upon arrival in Qatar (visa also valid for Oman).
- The work week in Qatar is from Sunday to Thursday, and offices are closed on Friday and Saturday, which correspond to our weekend.
- Attention, remember to take an adapter; standard British plugs are used there.
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I also take this opportunity to thank Qatar International Adventures for having welcomed us so well and especially our guide Borhane, as well as my great travel companions, Mathilde from Stay Tuned For Food (with whom I often travel, like to Cap d’Agde), Cédric from The Parisian Eye, Thibault from Travel Me Happy, and Raphaëlle, our super chaperone.
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I hope that with all this, I have made you want to discover Doha and Qatar, perhaps during a future stopover, and if you too have your tips for this destination, don’t hesitate to share them in the comments!
Photo credits: Mademoiselle Bon Plan, Mathilde Meteye Photos not royalty-free, authorization from the photographer mandatory before any use
