Welcome to Qatar – the Pearl of the Persian Gulf, the second flattest country in the world after the Maldives, a country of futuristic skyscrapers, luxury lifestyle, worldwide culinary spots cohabiting with old traditions, endless desert landscapes, an Inland Sea and a coastline of 563 kilometres.
Qatar is one of the safest and most urbanized countries in the world, with a rapid growth of population which from less than half a million people in 2000, has sextupled over the past two decades. This sunny destination and its high standards attract a lot of expats making the Qataris minority on their lands.
99% of the nation’s population lives in cities, more than 80% of which is settled in the capital or its suburbs. Doha isn’t only the fastest growing city, a political and economic centre of Qatar, but it’s also home to 2022 world’s best airport - Hamad International Airport. Let’s also praise Qatar Airways for being one of the world’s best airlines operating more than 150 destinations and offering great comfort, luxury 5-star experience and hospitality to their passengers. Have you noticed the Arabian Oryx on the Qatar Airways logo? Well, for those of you who didn’t know the oryx is the national animal of Qatar.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Qatar was inhabited since prehistorical times. Following the rise of Islam, the country later was ruled by local and foreign dynasties before falling under the control of the House of Thani in the 19th century. The Thani dynasty signed a treaty with the British recognizing its separate status. Qatar became a British protectorate in the early 20th gaining its independency in 1971.
Location: The State of Qatar is a Middle East country located on the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is an independent emirate on the west coast of the Persian Gulf. This peninsular Arab country is sharing borders with Saudi Arabia, and maritime borders with Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
Size: 11,581 km2
Capital: Doha
Population: 2,980, 566 (2022) - more than 70% of the population is under the age of 30, just 15% of the citizens are Qatari and men outnumber women by three to one.
Currency: Qatari Riyal. For reference: 1 QAR = 0,27 EUR; 1 QAR = 0,27 USD
Economy: From being famous for thousands of years for its pearl diving industry which is still celebrated as a key part of the country’s culture, Qatar turned into one of the most important oil and gas producing countries in the world. Qatar is the largest global exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Best time to visit: Prepare for hot humid summers (June – September) with temperatures rising up to 50C and mild winters (December – March) with temperatures varying between 7C and 24C. I would recommend you visit during spring or fall (April, May, October and November) as those are the most pleasant months for experiencing Qatar.
What to pack: A high sunscreen protection should be your best friend in the State of Qatar. Be aware and respectful of the culture of the country. Make sure to avoid tank tops, shorts and mini-skirts. Conservative clothing covering your legs and shoulders is recommended.
Photography: Drone use is prohibited. Only citizens of the country may fly drones in Qatar after requesting permission from the CAA.
How to get around:
By Taxi – all taxis are metered. You can order and pay online, or in cash, if you wish. We used Karwa Taxi. The transfer from the airport to the city centre is roughly 30 minutes.
By bus - bus fare could only be paid with Karwa Smartcard.
By metro – their driverless metro has three lines: red (coastal), green (educational) and gold (historic). Fun fact: The Doha Metro is in Guinness breaking the record for the largest number of tunnel boring machines operating simultaneously in a single project.
Car rental – thanks to the cheaper gas in Qatar, this could be a great option if you are planning to drive a lot. An international driving license is accepted for seven days from the date of your arrival. After that, you must apply for a temporary driving license at the Traffic Department of the Ministry of Interior.
WHERE TO STAY
FOUR SEASONS DOHA
Four Seasons Doha is not just a hotel, it’s a destination - a place to create and collect memories, a place that made us feel welcome and special. Thank you for the pampering and feeding all our senses.
We had an amazing in-room breakfast experience at their beautiful spacious and super luxurious Ambassador Suite overlooking the sea. I suggest you try their in-room dining at least once. However, the breakfast at Elements (International cuisine) is also amazing and the service there is beyond. Special thanks to the chef for preparing and making reality some of my special wishes.
Their Shisha Terrace is something you should definitely go for – dive into the Arabic culture and traditional food while having the best shisha. I am not a smoker, but I couldn’t skip it and I truly enjoyed this encounter.
Après-Spa Café is the place to be after a wellness day or a SPA treatment. Their menu is not only healthy, but they offer an entire special card (FOLIA) of plant-based options which I couldn’t resist trying. Delicious!
If you are an afternoon-tea fan, the Seasons Tea Lounge is inviting you to enter a world of Parisian chic and elegance while enjoying high-tea and French delicacies.
Another restaurant that impressed us and it’s a must-try when in Doha is Nobu – one of the best dining experiences not only in Qatar but in general. Chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa’s signature, new-style Japanese cuisine and the place being the world’s largest Nobu restaurant is proudly carrying the award ‘’Restaurant of the Year’’ at the Time Out Doha. Shrawan, our waiter was of such great help and satisfied all our desires and senses with the best-tasting menu. A vegan tasting-menu for me and a normal one for my partner.
And this is not everything, Four Seasons has a Pool Grill reopening in September, The Library Lounge and Study reopening in August, Arabica Lounge and the Isle Lounge.
After a well-deserved food coma is time to relax at one of the pools or to pamper yourself at the Four Seasons Doha SPA.
Their Jet Peel Treatment was one of the best facials I’ve ever had and the result – radiant skin is visible right after the treatment. Pressured oxygen is used to detoxify, exfoliate and infuse nutrients into the skin. Length: 90 minutes.
Instagram: @fsdoha
Book here: Four Seasons Hotel Doha
BANANA ISLAND RESORT DOHA
The Maldives?! No, this is Qatar! Banana Island Resort is located on a natural island in the Persian Gulf just 25 minutes away from Doha. The island earned this name thanks to its curved banana shape. Banana Island is a great escape from the bustling city life and the giant skyscrapers. Well, if you miss this you can still see Doha’s skyline in the distance - the view is stunning at sunset, or by night.
The resort is family-friendly offering different water sports and activities such as banana boats, kayaking, surf pool, dive centre, bowling, cinema, SPA centre etc.
All rooms/villas are overlooking the sea – some with a private pool, while others are a few steps away from the beach, but the most breathtaking villas are the overwater ones. They are super spacious offering all comforts a family could need.
Regarding the restaurants – you could choose from several dining options such as Azraq – Middle Eastern; Al Nahham – mezze platters and traditional regional cuisine; Riva – Mediterranean; Q Lounge & Restaurant – Indian cuisine with International options; Ted’s – retro American family diner; Tanzerin – light bites at the pool; Zest – all-day café and bakery; in-room dining; in-villa BBQ; floating snacking/breakfast experience; dining by Design – private dining experiences for special events.
Special thanks to our butler Muthu who made our stay unforgettable. Overwater Villa, floating fruit tray and a sky ablaze with the fire of the setting sun. Let’s raise our coconut water and say ‘Cheers’ to the good times we had at the Banana Island Resort Doha!
Instagram: @bananaislandresort
Book here: Banana Island Resort Doha (anantara.com)
WHAT TO DO AND VISIT
FIFA WORLD CUP 2022
2022 turns out to be a big year for the country as the first-ever winter and carbon-neutral FIFA World Cup will take place in Qatar. Being a host of such an incredible event Qatar invested a huge amount of money and resources, and currently is in a hectic preparation mode for the upcoming event.
This year the country expects to welcome over 1,2 million visitors coming for the event. The problem – they don’t have enough accommodation. Qatar and its under 30,000 hotel rooms are already booked. The rest of the soccer fans will be able to get the ‘’authentic taste of Qatari camping’’ and live in specially built for the event Bedouin tents in the desert, sleep on a cruise ship or rent shared villas or apartments.
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF QATAR
Welcome to this immersive contemporary space hosting the National Museum of Qatar. A place to enjoy stunning architectural artwork and meet Qatar’s past, present and future.
MUSEUM OF ISLAMIC ART
Currently closed for renovation. The Museum of Islamic Art is built on an artificial projecting peninsula near the dhow harbour. This museum is not only presenting the past and the Islamic heritage but it’s also meeting the future with its extraordinary modern architecture designed by the architect I.M.Pei.
DOHA CORNICHE
Seven-kilometer-long, this waterfront promenade is the ‘’iconic postcard’’ of Doha. The Corniche walkaway around Doha Bay is full of parks, restaurants, clubs and cultural attractions.
THE PEARL-QATAR & QANAT QUARTIER
The Pearl-Qatar aka the Arabian Riviera is an artificial island and the first place in Qatar to allow freehold ownership of foreign residents. An island famous for its luxury lifestyle, premium shopping, rich entertainment possibilities, great culinary experiences and pedestrian-friendly zones such as Qanat Quartier also called the little Venice of Qatar. They advertise it as the place where Venetian Charm meets Arabian Chic and I honestly couldn’t find a better description for this place. Qanat Quartier has even its own “Rialto Bridge”, multiple canals arched with more bridges, piazzas and the typical for Italy pastel-coloured buildings.
SOUQ WAQIF
For a more authentic experience go to Souq Waqif – a traditional market where you can find different spices, souvenirs, traditional garments, Shisha lounges etc.
FALCON SOUQ
The falcon is the national bird of Qatar and is recognized by UNESCO as a living human heritage. The Qataris keep their Bedouin historical ties and traditions alive turning the falconry into a sport. In the past, the falcons were trained and used to hunt other birds the most popular of which was and still is the Houbara bustard, which is facing extinction. I will remain speechless here…
The price of a falcon normally is between QAR 100,000 and QAR 400,000, with some species of Gyrfalcon that can fetch up to 1 million.
ROBOT CAMEL RACING
Another unusual futuristic decision. Camel racing is an old tradition which takes place at Al Shahaniya every year from October to February. The lighter the jockey, the faster the camel. The Qataris used to utilize children for those races but this had to stop as using child jockeys violates human rights laws. The reason why Qataris had to come up with another ‘’light’’ solution and started to mount robots and control their camels remotely.
KATARA TOWERS
The Katara Towers are located in Qatar’s future city Lusail and are representing the traditional scimitar swords. They are still under construction.
KATARA CULTURAL VILLAGE
Contemporary architecture and a place to enjoy art, culture, beach days and cuisine. The Katara Cultural Village is located in the West Bay and hosts halls and exhibition galleries, libraries, an opera house, a Greek Amphiteathre, a planetarium and so on.
THE PEARL MONUMENT
We’ve already mentioned the importance of pearls in Qatar. Playing a significant economical role in the past, the pearl is still honoured and recreated into a monument located at the entrance of the Dhow Harbour.
KHAWR AL UDAYD KHOR AL ADAID – INLAND SEA
Located in Al Wakrah Municipality in the south-east of the State of Qatar, Khawr Al Udayd (aka Khow Al-Adaid) is one of the three places in the world where the sea and the sand dunes meet. This Inland Sea nature reserve opens horizons of an infinite desert and pristine waters.
DESERT SAFARI
Ride the dunes in a 4x4 vehicle and greet the sunset and/or the sunrise in the desert. You could also choose an overnight option and feel like a Bedouin sleeping in a desert camp.
The State of Qatar impressed me with its innovative thinking and brave decisions trying to keep its traditions but shape them in a modern fresh way. I had a great time despite the extremely hot and humid weather aka free 46C outdoors sauna. If you are interested in the Arab world having a pioneering vision, hustle for more, luxury lifestyle, safety and growth opportunities, this is your place.