The Middle East is home to some truly amazing destinations you’ve got historic hubs such as Lebanon and Oman, emerging destinations like Saudi Arabia or Erbil in Iraq and of course cities of the future in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. However, nothing quite matches up to the state of Qatar.

Qatar provides the perfect blend of old-world hospitality and contemporary luxuries. You’ll be spoilt for choice with attractions namely museums, galleries, shopping centres, parks, desert safaris and so much more. 

Getting in and Getting Around

Qatar is easy enough to reach by air the main airport, Hamad International and is the hub for the national carrier Qatar airways which has one of the world’s most far reaching fleets. Hamad international airport is modern, fully equipped and tremendously well run.

Getting around in Qatar is easy enough and there are several ways to do this. Buses and metro are two forms of public transport available, the metro only within Doha whereas buses are set up for intercity travel. Taxis are extremely popular, services such as Uber, Karwa and Careem car are widely used as are more traditional cab hailing methods and taxi ranks. The other option to get around is to simply rent a car, roads in Qatar are well maintained, signed and safe to drive on, so you shouldn’t have an issue getting around with your own car.

Things to do & See

Qatar is a city that will keep you entertained for days on end, you’ll find cultural attractions (covered later in this chapter), places of historical significance, modern shopping centres, a thriving waterfront bay, stunning parks and memorable adventure experiences. 

The Corniche is undoubtedly the standout attraction, a thriving waterfront space perfect for a pleasant walk, kite flying, viewing the sunrise & sunset, admire the skyline or enjoy a nice meal. To get a true sense of what Qatar is about take a walk along the corniche.

Doha is jam packed with stunning modern shopping malls the Villaggio, mall of Qatar and Festival City Mall are some that come to mind. However, for an alternative shopping experience check out Souq Waqif, the traditional old marketplace of Qatar. The Souq is home to some great restaurants, shisha lounges and is extremely vibrant especially at night. 

Qatar is majority desert and surrounded by the sea so water sports and desert adventure are must. 

Dining

Qatar boasts a plethora of dining options. You’ll be spoilt for choice, Italian, French, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese and Thai food is popular. There is an abundance of American establishments to choose from as well as many traditional Pakistani and Indian restaurants. Dessert lounges and coffee shops are scattered throughout the city. Our recommendation is the Nusr-Et steakhouse made famous by Nusret Gokce a.k.a Salt Bae. 

Accommodation

There are many great hotels to choose from in Qatar. We recommend the exquisite Ezdan Palace Hotel, a travel and hospitality award winner, profiled on the following page. For a business trip we endorse the Movenpick Hotel Doha, a modern well-equipped award-winning establishment. 

To sum up, Qatar is an emerging destination that has it all, a rich history, cultural heritage, a modern capital, a vibrant culinary scene and friendly locals. With the 2022 world cup coming up more will soon discover this amazing country.

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