Doha on the Persian Gulf Coast

Qatar is a peninsular Arab country whose terrain includes an arid desert and a long Persian (Arab) Gulf shoreline with beaches and dunes. On the coast, you’ll find the capital city of Doha which is a modern city with a waterfront that offers many parks and a wonderful and impressive skyline.

Souq Wagif is a wonderful marketplace that counts as the highlight and social heart of the city. The marketplace has been here for centuries and the Bedu used to bring their sheep, goats, and wool to trade for essentials. This marketplace has been redeveloped so that now it resembles a 19th-century souq with mud-rendered shops, exposed timber beams, and beautifully restored original Qatari buildings.

If you want to see something really different take a look at the Bird Souq. You’ll find it right behind the spice section of Souq Waqif. There is a collection of caged birds such as pigeons, parrots, cockatiels, and budgerigars.

The Museum of Islamic Art has found its home on its own purpose-built island and sits surrounded by a landscape of lawns and ornamental trees right off the corniche. The museum is shaped like a post-modern fortress with minimal windows, and a “virtual” moat and spectacular views across the water. It has the largest collection of Islamic art in the world which has been collected from three continents. The museum was designed by IM Pei (architect of the Louvre Pyramid). The entrance is lined with palms and inside light and space is brought in by the dome. The art collection takes up three floors. The permanent collection is on the first and second floors. When you want to take a rest you’ll find the cafe downstairs. There is an excellent museum shop. You can get a free 40-minute guided tour in English and Arabic.

Close to the Museum of Islamic Art, you’ll find the beautiful Al Corniche. Right on the waterfront of Doha Bay, this is an attractive-looking crescent. In the background, you can see spectacular views of dhows on the water and skyscrapers in the distance. On late afternoons on Fridays, the beach fills up with families of all nationalities.

On the northern end of Al Khor Corniche is a 10km stretch of beach known as Al Thakhira. Much of this seashore is sabkha (salt flats) which can become like quicksand and can be treacherous when wet but also provide much adventure. This beach offers visitors a lovely old shoreline, mangroves, outcrops, desert, and many birds. It is favored by bird watchers.

MIA Park is a lovely green space near the Doha waterfront. This is where you can see Richard Serra’s vertical steel sculpture which is known as “7”. It is the first public piece of art that was displayed by this celebrated artist in the Middle East. On the first Saturday of every month from October to March, you can find stalls here that sell arts and crafts, clothing, and souvenirs.

Gallery Al Riwaq is located at the edge of MIA Park. It is a modern gallery space that offers wonderful temporary exhibitions with participating artists like Damien Hirst and Takashi Murakami.

The Weaponry Museum is a small museum with an impressive collection of armor and arms dating from the 16th century. You can see an array of gold and silver swords and daggers among them a khanjar or ceremonial dagger that once belonged to TE Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia). The museum can be seen by appointment or with a tour guide.

Katara Beach is a great place to cool off and swim close to the city. This 1.5 km beach is located at the Katara Cultural Village. You can also enjoy dining and a show at the adjoining arts center. Children under six have free admission to the beach. There’s a ladies-only section and one-piece swimming suits are advised.

Doha Fort was built during the 19th-century Turkish occupation. It has been used as a prison and as an ethnographic museum.

One of the largest parks in the Gulf region is Aspire Park which is one of Qatar’s finest landscapes. Big crowds gather here on weekends. It is a wonderful place to get away from the city for a while and even have a picnic.

Here you can see the Torch Tower which is also known as the Aspire Tower. This is an amazing 300m high building that served as a giant torch for the 15th Asian Games. Today it is a lovely hotel and well worth a look at.

The Pearl Monument stands at the northern “sea” end of the corniche. It marks the entrance to the dhow harbor. It is a great spot for photos.

The Clock Tower is an important landmark and a great way of knowing where you are in the city.

Barzan Towers rise high into the Arabian Sky and offer great views of the sea. It was built to serve as a watchtower. The tower is a rectangle building with three levels and an external staircase. All around is an unusual oasis of greenery, palm trees, a brook, and animals just behind the towers.

Doha Tower has been fully restored. It was built in the early 20th century by the Qatar Emir to keep a watch over pearl divers and to use as an observatory to inspect moon phases and to look at ships approaching the coast.

A visit to Doha Film City can make you feel like you’ve stepped into an American West ghost town. It is like being on the set of a Hollywood movie right in the middle of the Arabian Desert. The Film City is located on the Ras Abrouq Peninsula some eighty km from Doha. You will see a mini Arabic town with traditional mud-brick houses with wooden doors, there is a mosque, lots of gates, and a lookout.

About thirty minutes from the city center you’ll come to the Doha Zoo. Today the original zoo has been renovated and now has been converted into a safari park. This is home to some rare species like the Oryx which is presently an endangered species. The Oryx is the country’s national animal. It is a member of the antelope family with large straight horns. The zoo has different areas like Asia Woodland, Africa Safari, and South American rainforest. Visitors will be able to get to see animals from all three of these places.