The Arab Emirate of Qatar is slightly less popular than the better known Dubai. Nevertheless, Qatar has plenty to offer for a wonderful holiday or city trip. The Qatar Peninsula, on the Persian Gulf, has a desert climate. This means that the summer months are exceptionally warm and winter months in which you can enjoy pleasant temperatures above twenty degrees. How wonderful can it be, during the harsh and wet winter days in the Netherlands, to relax on one of the beautiful beaches of Qatar or to stroll along the many colorful souks? In the twenty-first century, Qatar has also discovered tourism. Ultra-luxury hotels are being built at a rapid pace and historical legacies are being restored. Most of the tourists stay in the vicinity of the capital Doha. This lively and modern city now has an impressive skyline, in which a number of striking architectural excesses stand out. But other places, such as the slightly more northerly Lusail, are also growing ambitiously. Everything is being prepared for the year 2022 in which the FIFA World Cup will be held here in Qatar. Check topmbadirectory for how to get to Qatar.
Top 10 sights of Qatar
#1. Aspire Tower
‘The Torch Doha’ is a more than three hundred meters high tower in the city of Doha, which serves as a hotel. The architect Hadi Simaan is responsible for the design as it was realized between 2005 and 2007. The Aspire Tower was originally designed for the 2006 Asian Games hosted by Qatar. On top, the fire was visible for the duration of the games. LED lighting has been installed on the outside, making the structure look even more impressive than during the day. At a height of three hundred meters there is a panoramic view all around. The rooms of ‘The Torch Doha’ hotel are spread over fifty-one floors. Another special tower in Doha is the Doha Tower. Check simplyyellowpages for mass media and culture of Qatar.
#2. The Pearl
Almost everyone knows the Palm Islands in Dubai, but Doha also has its own land reclamation project where living and relaxation come together. The Pearl consists of a main island and twelve smaller islands. It ensures that Doha has gained no less than 32 kilometers of coastline. The Pearl contains residential units, offices and various catering establishments and shops. A large marina has been built and there is a pleasant sandy beach where you can enjoy the sun, sea and sand. The architecture is a mix of Mediterranean atmosphere with Arabic influences. For example, part of The Pearl is inspired by the Italian city of Venice.
#3. Al Koot Fort
The historic military Al Koot Fort is also known as Doha Fort. This fort was built around 1927 by order of Sheikh Abdullah bin Qassim Al-Thani in the Al Bidda district of the popular city of Doha. Al Koot Fort was built on this site to protect the Waqif Souq from thieves. This was a place where a lot of trade was conducted. And that still hasn’t changed much. Al Koot Fort is a mosque where guards could pray and at the same time keep an eye on the prisoners. Fort Doha is now a museum and is therefore open to visitors.
#4. Museum of Islamic Art
This wonderful museum is also located in the city of Doha. To be precise in the port of this city. The design of this striking structure comes from the Chinese-American architect Ieoh Ming Pei. His advice to place the building on an island has been fulfilled. The MIA park is located around the museum of Islamic art. The ‘Museum of Islamic Art’ (MIA) has an inspiring collection from the period between the seventh and nineteenth centuries. Think of jewellery, clothing, ceramic objects and glass. Free guided tours are available on various days for enthusiasts. You can find more information about this at the link below.
#5. Doha Corniche
During the day it is pleasant to spend time on the Doha Corniche promenade of the city of Doha. Some cooling from the sea is certainly a relief during the sometimes very hot days. The Doha Corniche has changed considerably since its creation around the 1980s. Several high-rise buildings containing offices and hotels adorn the coastline of the city and make for a beautiful skyline of Doha. In addition to wonderful walks, the kilometre-long boulevard is also used for running. After all, you are not bothered by traffic and that is certainly pleasant.
#6. Camel races
Every weekend there is a lot of activity on Sheehaniya Road, just outside the city of Doha. Then camel races are held in Qatar. The training sessions for the camels are quite tough. But on the other hand, they are often very well cared for after the competition. Where young children of light weight used to be put on the camels, nowadays it concerns robots with a whip. These robots can then be controlled from a distance. For example, fewer violent accidents occur than in the past when mainly light-weight children were used. The idea of these robots comes from the inventor Rashid Ali Ibrahim.
#7. Khor Al Udaid
The desert area of Khor Al Udaid is located about eighty kilometers from the city of Doha. This part of Qatar is often visited for the beautiful landscape, the wonderful Khor Al Udaid beach and of course for sand boarding. This form of sport is very similar to snowboarding, but in the hot sand. To get there it is strongly recommended to do this with a four-wheel drive car. It is even better and more fun to explore this area with a guide. A combination with dune bashing is definitely worth recommending. Dune-bashing is a trip by four-wheel drive car through the dunes, where speed, heights and adrenaline kicks alternate in rapid succession.
#8. National Museum of Qatar
The futuristically designed National Museum of Qatar in the city of Doha is sure to be a sight to behold. Both the outside and the inside, once the museum is finished, are certainly admirable. The more than four hundred million dollar design of this museum comes from the French architect Jean Nouvel. In the museum you will soon be taken on a journey through time in an innovative way. All kinds of details from the history of the country, the Persian Gulf and Bedouin culture are beautifully highlighted. The museum on the Doha Corniche is expected to open its doors in 2016.
#9. Villaggio Mall
The nicest shopping center in Qatar is located in the vibrant city of Doha. Villaggio Mall is located in the Aspire Zone, an area developed for the 2006 Asian Games. In the year 2012, the Villaggio Mall underwent a small metamorphosis and is now ready to compete with other shopping centers in the United Arab Emirates. The mall has a theme park which is decorated as the Italian city of Venice. The Gondolania Theme Park invites you to take a romantic trip by gondola through the one hundred and fifty meter long canal. Meanwhile you pass all kinds of chic shops with breathtaking products. In the Villaggio Mall you can also visit an IMAX movie theater.
http://villaggioqatar.com
#10. Souq Waqif
The attractive Souq Waqif is located in the vicinity of Al Koot Fort. Years ago, the fort served to quickly fend off robbers targeting the merchandise at Souq Waqif. Nowadays there is still a lot of trade going on here in Doha. The entrepreneurs display their merchandise in a beautiful way, where the scents and colors quickly stimulate different senses. Between the shops you can discover various eateries that serve authentic dishes. In their own way, the traders try to motivate you to come and have a look at him. It should therefore not be news that negotiating the price is a national sport.
