Things to see and do Qatar

The Museum of Islamic Art (MIA), which had a spectacular and well-conducted scenography by Wilmotte, has been closed for two years and will be renovated in September 2022, just before the kick-off of the World Cup. Inside, in addition to the museum, there is a gift shop, the IDAM restaurant (by French chef Alain Ducasse) and the MIA café. Qatar wants to surprise, and even dazzle, with this new permanent exhibition in preparation, and for the moment, little information is filtering out about its content. We can mention some key pieces that will probably be preserved.

The building.

In the year 2000, Ieoh Ming Pei, in front of the pavilion of ablutions built in the thirteenth century within the mosque Ahmad Ibn Touloun in Cairo, makes meet the balance of geometry and light. A kind of alliance of the desert and the sun, a purification. "A cubist work", says Pei, about this building commissioned by Sultan Lajin. It is a dome supported by an octagonal drum resting on a square base, with four arched entrances and a fountain for ablutions in the center. In 2008, the building of the Museum of Islamic Arts is inaugurated and the spectacle of beauty is obvious: a universal classic is born, child of the Gropius workshop and a Cairo fountain, a complex form surmounted by a circular, then octagonal, then quadrangular luminous well, a delicate fortress of French sandstone, pierced by rare visible openings but provided with a monumental bay window on the sea side. All around, the MIA park, a work of art in its own right, open day and night with numerous games and activities for the whole family, a work of art by Richard Serra and relaxing green lawns.

The Collection.

It exhibits nearly 600 objects of Islamic art, foremost among them a superb 10th-century Spanish bronze horse, rare Iranian rugs, an impressive collection of copper astrolabes, and a wealth of Indian jewelry. A dark wood from Brazil alternates with polished, striated or layered porphyry from Argentina. Sober central display cases put the objects at viewing height and allow them to be seen from all angles. The option chosen for the second floor is a thematic display, while the second floor emphasizes chronology, from Umayyad Spain to Ayyubid Egypt, from the Iran of Tamerlane to the India of Shah Jahan. "A room has been specially set up on the theme of the figure," emphasizes the museum director, to contradict the received idea that Islamic art is only abstract. One comes across hunting scenes from Persian manuscripts as well as leopards scattered on an Indian carpet. The richness of the collections, gathered over a period of ten years, leaves one breathless.

The Book of Secrets in the results of the ideasin interactive digital version. "This manuscript was copied in 1266 in Toledo from an eleventh-century original by the Andalusian engineer Ibn Khalaf al-Muradi. This single copy is kept in the Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana in Florence. "It is a rare source for those who study ancient Arabic technology to which research on Renaissance inventions such as those of Leonardo da Vinci refers," says Massimiliano Lisa of the Italian research center Leonardo3. The manuscript is of Arabic origin. It migrated from Spain to Italy and now it is returning to the Muslim world through this permanent exhibition in Doha. This work is a testament to the importance of technology in showcasing cultural property, with animated three-dimensional models and a holographic touch screen."

Imperial decree, or firman, of Soleïman the Magnificent. Turkey (1559).

"In this edict written in Ottoman Turkish, Suleiman the Magnificent ceded a palace in Istanbul to his granddaughter. The text begins with an invocatory formula and ends with the signatures of the witnesses. The tughra, the signature of the sovereign, occupies a central place: it is of an impressive size and abundantly ornamented. Originally intended to represent the hand of the sultan through a thumb and three fingers, the tughra evolved from a rudimentary form to an abstract and sophisticated configuration. The tughra of Suleiman the Magnificent - who ruled from 1520 to 1566 - is one of the most beautiful. At first it resembled that of his father, but eventually it became different. Here, the ultramarine blue letters are underlined with gold; the verticals, curves, loops and interlacing, executed with a confident hand, give the tughra a musical rhythm, while the different compartments of this calligraphic composition are lined with delicate shoots, spiral leafy branches and small flowers which, although in different shapes, are in harmony. The paper is dotted with large blue dots, and the lines of text appear in gold or black behind a golden dotted line. The impressive tughra, the elegance of the divani (Ottoman chancery script), the gold used, the substantial size of the scroll, and the prominence of the few lines of text give this document a great deal of majesty and turn an official paper into a work of art."

Amulet, India, dated AH 1041 / AD 1632.

"The white jade has been polished: it is smooth to the touch. It bears an elegantly calligraphed inscription in nasta'liq. Engraved into the white jade, it creates a subtle white-on-white effect, barely perceptible but present on three sides of the amulet, on the front, back and bottom. It consists of Quranic verses; it also indicates the name and titles of Shah Jahan and the year 1041 (1631-1632). This haldidi, a type of pendant believed to help calm the wearer's "heartbeat," was made a few months after the death of Mumtaz Mahal, the emperor's wife, who immortalized his love for her by building her a magnificent mausoleum, the Taj Mahal."

Cup, Iraq (probably Basra), 9th century.

"This bowl is of an extraordinary minimalism. Its only decoration is a line of calligraphy that stretches across only half of its surface. It is a striking effect. This very aerial writing plunges the cup into a deep silence, partly due to the particular place given to the "void". "ma 'oumila salouha" ("What was done was worth it"), says the sentence in cobalt blue, written in kufic characters. The removed line vibrates at the end of the letters, and turns into a foliated pattern. In the early 9th century, Muslim potters were fascinated by Chinese porcelain. The potters of Basra, a ceramics center renowned for the quality of its production, had the ingenious idea of covering their modest ceramics with an opaque glaze to give it a more refined appearance. But the real innovation was the introduction of cobalt blue decorations on a white background. They were thus at the origin of the "blue and white" ceramics that flourished in the hands of Chinese potters a few centuries later."

Hind, fountain mouth, Spain, mid 10th century.

"This beautiful deer, with its peaceful attitude and pensive gaze, probably originated in a 10th century Andalusian palace. There, water must have cascaded from its heart-shaped mouth. A rather similar deer has been found in the ruins of Madinat al-Zahra (near Cordoba), and it is possible that both adorned the same fountain. In Islamic palaces, fountains are very important architectural elements. A fountain with a doe and a stag must have had a highly symbolic function, because the association of these two animals, male and female, represents in mystical thought the union of men and women in their spiritual journey. The sculptural quality of this doe, especially its head, is astonishing. No naturalism, but a stylized form that captures the essential features of the animal. The abstract dimension, which lends the animal its stylized form, is reinforced by a decoration of arabesques: the lines undulate, forming a regular pattern based on half-palmettes encircled

"www.louvre.fr

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.

Angry Birds is an amusement park designed for the whole family that opened in 2018. It is located within the huge mall Doha Festival City. It has about 15 indoor attractions and rides, including a giant trampoline, and 6 outdoor attractions in a water park. The site is animated with concerts and giant mascots loved by children: the birds Red, Chuck, Bomb, Matilda and Stella. For teens, there is an arcade with many games, and a carnival is held in October or November.

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.

The museum of the Emir's cousin, Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani, a great lover of everything, houses an incredible and diverse private collection of over 33,000 pieces. We advise you to organize this visit with an erudite guide who will be able to give you explanations on the objects exposed, because most of the showcases have almost no legend or dating. At the end of 2022,two small museums will open, dedicated to its favorite collections: cars and carpets.

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.

Tired of the heat wave, nostalgic for your ski vacations? OK, it's not eco-friendly in a country like Qatar, but nothing is impossible here, especially not producing a large quantity of snow, putting it under a bell and offering winter sports in a shopping mall all year round. On 9,500^m2, 17 snow cannons produce snow for the dunes where you can ski or snowboard at about 50 km/h. In this icy world, beginners who want to learn to ski and children who want to sled or play in the snow will be delighted.

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.