Things to see and do Qatar

Moored on the corniche, the dhows take passers-by for a 30 minutes (quick trip to the skyline) to 2 hours ride (crossing to The Pearl), day or night, on small traditional boats. The music is loud and danceable, sometimes Bollywood because the drivers are often Indian. When the chemistry is good, a small party is created during the crossing. The photo breaks in front of the West Bay skyline - if possible at dusk when the towers light up - are the highlight of the trip.

Al Thakhira beach, located 60 km north of Doha, is a pretty wild sandy spit with more stones than fine sand, but we like its landscapes, its mangrove vegetation - a rarity in Qatar - and its crystal clear water. Right next to it is a small marina where there are a few fishing boats. People come here to picnic at sunset or to kayak during the day. To find it, turn left at the end of the Al Khor ledge road, then, after the village: the beach.

Turn left at the entrance to Dukhan, follow the coastal road for 9 km to Dukhan Water Sport. Beware of rocks in the water even if the beach is sandy.

If you don't mind swimming next to the huge petrochemical complex of the city, there is a beach here... We recommend you to continue your journey to the one located next to the Sealine Beach Resort, accessible by normal car, and especially a little more glamorous. Here you can rent quads and 4x4 with driver (highly recommended). You can also come and enjoy the beach and the two swimming pools of the Sealine Beach Resort by the day. It is more luxurious than the camps in the desert and accessible by sedan.

Also called Jazirat Bin Ghannam Island, this island near Al Khor can be visited by kayak with a biologist. The island is known for its mangrove, which gathers more than 50 plant species. It is home to many species of migratory birds during the winter. A rock offers a 360° view on Al Khor. On its shores lives a sea snail which, when in contact with an enzyme and light, produces a brilliant dye used in the Bronze Age in handicraft. It is the only site where it is present in the Arabian Gulf while it was common in the Mediterranean.

Just in front of Al Wakrah souq and its promenade lined with cafes and restaurants, there are old dhows falsely stranded separating well equipped beaches. They are equipped with lifeguard posts, shaded areas with umbrellas, toilets, barbecue areas, children's playgrounds, toilets, etc. Volleyball and soccer fields are located in the Al Jabal area. You have to swim dressed or in burkini of course, as it is a public beach, but the site is really pleasant and the water is clear and blue.

Two choices in this city: the beach (where you can't swim) in front of the largest swimming pool in the country at the Al Murwab Simaisma Resort with a daily entrance fee and activities such as jet skiing or pedal boats. Or the recently built public beach in Simaisma itself. It is located next to a beautiful mangrove and has about 30 fixed umbrellas, areas for barbecues but also a green corridor of 121 palm trees and 265 cedars planted. Toilets, children's games, soccer and volleyball fields, fixed umbrellas.

This nice public family beach - which means no bikinis and other short clothes, you have to swim "dressed" or in burkini - is located 1.5 km from Al Khor. It is equipped with shaded shelters, deckchairs with fixed umbrellas, changing booths and toilets. There are also barbecue areas, children's playgrounds, soccer and volleyball fields, facilities that attract families and groups of sporty friends who want to get out of the big city. We like the view of the mangrove here.

This green garden with waterfront restaurants has pools, fountains, soccer fields, promenades, children's playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball courts and bicycle paths. It is an area designed for Simaisma families, but frequented by people from Doha. It is lively during the day on weekends and in the evening on other days of the week. Many people come here to have barbecues with their families and friends. We appreciate the calmness that reigns here and the quiet and more natural atmosphere of the north of the island, far from the hustle and bustle of the big city.

During your expedition in the desert of Ras Abrouq, you will not fail to pass through the Oryx reserve near Film City. Managed by the Supreme Council for the Environment and Natural Reserves (SCENR), it is a closed place where Arabian Oryx breed, with the aim of reintroducing them to reserves in the country later.

The Qatar Oryx is the emblem of the national airline Qatar Airways. It is the only oryx in Arabia (the others are from sub-Saharan Africa) and depends on the antelope family. Of all the types of antelopes, the Arabian oryx lives in the hottest and driest environment. It has a uniformly white colour and darker spots at eye level. An oryx female weighs about 80 kg and a male 90 kg. Their gestation period is 8.5 months. A female can have 1 baby per year. They live about 20 years. Oryx eat little, the thin tufts of desert grasses or the shoots of bushes. They generally live in herds of 8 to 20 oryx. The oryx have been decimated by hunters: the flesh is highly valued and they use its horns and skin to make utilitarian and ornamental objects. Their race that was about to disappear is now protected. A farm has established, developed and protected herds. Several parks close to life in the wild have been developed, raising thousands of gazelles and hundreds of oryx, as well as this breeding centre in the middle of the desert that delights tourists passing through.

Sealine Beach, a rejuvenating oasis bordered by the sea and dunes, is open all day for those who would like to enjoy its luxurious and enchanting setting. The beautiful palm tree lined lawn borders two pools. The first is zen, elegant, deep blue and reserved for adults. The second, renovated with water games, is dedicated to children. The beach, a long ribbon of sand plunging into the turquoise water, invites you to relax. Sports enthusiasts will be delighted to try jet-skiing, stand-up paddle and kayaking. On site: restaurants and spa.

West Bay has an exceptional waterfront with its skyline as a backdrop. So Doha decided to wipe it out and start over, as always! The new West Bay North Beach located only 10 minutes from the metro station opened in August 2022 is shared between 6 hotels, but forms only a wide strip of pleasant sand. The idea is to create a 2 km long pedestrian walkway and bike path and to provide 100 bikes along the beach. New restaurants and cafés will open soon along the beachfront.