TravelDOHA 2020 Travel Guide Doha The shining jewel of Qatar, Doha is a multicultural city, home to most of the country’s population as well as expatriate communities from a range of origins. Shopping abounds in the city’s plentiful malls, while the Corniche impresses visitors with picturesque architecture and dazzling views of the harbor. Doha boasts myriad cultural facilities, including the futuristic Education City and the National Museum. Having hosted the 2006 Asian Games, the city is home to many sports complexes as well. 2 3 01. National Museum of Qatar SIGHTS Museum Park St, Doha, Qatar The new National Museum of Qatar gives voice Modern History of Qatar, each theme is presented to the unique story of Qatar and its people from across eleven highly distinct galleries. Spread over earliest times to the present day and onwards 1.5km, visitors journey through an exciting mix of towards its future. Designed to be both immersive all-encompassing environments and compelling and experiential, visitors can expect to encounter storytelling that will engage all the senses. a rich environment to explore. Organized in three Sights “chapters” — Beginnings, Life in Qatar, and The 4 SIGHTS 5 02. Museum of Islamic Arts 04. Al Thani Museum The Museum of Islamic Art represents The Museum tells the story not only Islamic art from three continents of the history of the Qatari people, over 1,400 years. MIA is the flagship but also of Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim of Qatar Museums which, under the Al Thani himself. His extensive leadership of its Chairperson H.E. international travel is represented with Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin eclectic pieces from over 4 continents. Khalifa Al Thani, is transforming the This intensely personal collection is a State of Qatar into a cultural capital journey through place and time, which of the Middle East. MIA sheds light Sheikh Faisal welcomes local and on our origins to illuminate our future. international visitors to share. Through safeguarding masterpiece collections of Islamic art and showcasing extraordinary exhibitions, MIA shares knowledge, spreading curiosity, understanding, and joy. Corniche, Al Samariyah | Ash-Shahaniyah, Doha, Qatar Doha, Qatar +974 4486 1444 03. Msheireb Museums 05. Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art Msheireb Museums are an integral Mathaf is a new institution dedicated aspect of the inner city's regeneration to Arab culture and creativity opened of the old commercial centre in Doha in Doha December 2010. Located near with its traditional community-based Education City, the museum is home lifestyle. The restoration of the four to a permanent collection offering a heritage houses, Bin Jelmood House, unique and comprehensive overview Company House, Mohammed Bin of modern Arab art and is poised to Jassim House and Radwani House, become a vital center for dialogue and into world-class museums forms a vital scholarship in the region. part of the Msheireb Downtown Doha development. Msheireb Downtown Doha, Doha, Qatar Education city off Al-Luqta street, +974 800 3642 Doha, Qatar + 974 4402 8855 6 SIGHTS SIGHTS 7 06. Grand Mosque 08. Al Wakra The state Mosque Qatar is one of the Al Wakrah is a city and municipality of largest mosques in Qatar and has been Qatar located halfway between Ad Dawhah renamed after the great Muslim theologian, and Mesaieed municipalities. Al Wakrah’s reformer, and pioneer of the 18th century eastern edge is the shores of the Persian “Imam Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhab.” Gulf. Ruled by the Al Khater family and Ibn Abdul Wahab (1703-1792) propagated the Al Buainain tribe, it was originally a for removing negatives and undesirable small fishing and pearling village. Over the innovations in Islam. He admonished years, it evolved into a small town with a Muslims to follow only the original values of population of more than 30,000, and it is Islam as typified by the Salaf and to discard considered to be one of the major cities exploitations introduced by bidah (heretic in Qatar. innovations) in his teachings. The state mosque is located in the Jubailat district of Doha just south of the Corniche, High on a hill overlooking the Qatar Sports Club in Al Qasr St, Doha, Qatar Doha’s West Bay. Doha, Qatar 07. Al-Zubara Fort 09. The Pearl-Qatar On the shores of Northwest Qatar, the The Pearl-Qatar (TPQ) in Doha, Qatar, is an historic fort of Al-Zubara overlooks the ruins artificial island spanning nearly four million of a once bustling pearling and trading town. square meters. It is the first land in Qatar Founded in the 18th century, Al-Zubara to be available for freehold ownership by was one of several independent settlements foreign nationals. Once fully completed, that operated outside of the control of large The Pearl will create over 32 kilometers empires that were jostling for influence in of new coastline, for use as a residential the region. Al-Zubara Archaeological Site estate with an expected 18,831 dwellings includes the ruins of a major 18th-century and 45,000 residents. Developed by United trading and pearling settlement, the ruins of a Development Company and planned by 19th-century settlement, and the iconic 20th- architecture and design firm Callison, the century fort that still stands proud against the island is located 350 meters offshore of desert skyline. In July of 2013, the site was Doha’s West Bay Lagoon area. In 2004, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage when the project was first revealed, the List in recognition for its preservation and initial cost of constructing the island stood Madinat Ash Shamal, Qatar as a unique example of a formative period. Costa Malaz Bay, Marsa Malaz island at $2.5 billion. It is now believed the project You can learn more about the site, its history, The Pearl, Doha, Qatar will cost $15 billion upon completion. environment and the work being carried out 011.974.4035.5555 there at the new exhibit in Al-Zubara Fort. 8 SIGHTS SIGHTS 9 10. Souk Waqif 12. Corniche Reincarnated in the last decade as the The Doha Corniche is a waterfront social heart of Doha, Souq Waqif is a promenade extending for several wonderful place to explore, shop, have kilometers along the Doha Bay. dinner or simply idle time away in one Running parallel to the Corniche is of the many attractive cafes. There has Corniche Street, the main thoroughfare been a souq on this site for centuries, as which connects Doha’s emerging West this was the spot where the Bedu would Bay business district with the south bring their sheep, goats, and wool to of the city and Doha International trade for essentials. It grew into a scruffy Airport. Formed following extensive warren of concrete alleyways by the dredging work carried out during end of the last century and at one point the late 1970s and early 1980s was almost condemned for demolition. which reshaped Doha’s coastline, the Thankfully, someone spotted its tourist Corniche is today a popular location potential, and the entire market area has among walkers, bikers, and joggers. been cleverly redeveloped to look like a Many of Doha’s landmarks are found Al Souq St, 19th-century souq, with mud-rendered Doha, Qatar along the Corniche which begins near Doha, Qatar shops and exposed timber beams and the Museum of Islamic Art and ends at +974 4433 6444 some beautifully restored original Qatari the Sheraton Park near the distinctive buildings. pyramid-shape Sheraton Hotel. 11. Qatar Islamic Cultural Center 13. Katara FANAR was chosen as their name because Katara is a cultural village in Doha, of their high-profile mission; to act as a Qatar. It is located on the eastern guiding light to the whole of mankind, coast between West Bay and the Pearl. and to help all non-Arabs to have a better It was soft-opened in October 2010 understanding of Islam and culture of Qatar. during the Doha Tribeca Film Festival FANAR is a governmental organization (DTFF), an event that it has hosted that presents culture to all world through ever since. a variety of activities such as Exhibitions, tours of the center, visits to the mosque and Arabic language Courses. FANAR is a Qatari milestone, known for its Islamic inspired architectural designs and amazing ornaments with a beautiful outlook of the city Doha. From the rich Qatari heritage of sailing at large, the lighthouse was a tangible Abdullah Bin Jassim St, way of returning to land safely. FANAR now Katara, Doha, Qatar Doha, Qatar uses this exact metaphor to act as a beacon +974 4444 7444 of light to humanity, hoping to present culture to feed and nurture the soul. 10 SIGHTS SIGHTS 11 14. Falcon Souq 16. City Center Mall For a glimpse of Qatari heritage, don't A veritable pantheon of the miss the Falcon Souq. You only have to shopping world. With its 350 shops, see the scale of the market, afforded from Debenhams to the Family its own traditional arcaded building off Development Centre (top floor, selling Souq Waqif, to understand the place of local crafts); its tented architecture, falconry in Qatari society. Evenings are marble flooring, and glass-fronted the best time to come, when you can lifts; its ice-skating rink, bowling alleys watch customers examining the birds and and climbing walls; its congregations discussing the finer points of falconry with of juice-sip- ping Qataris and huddles the shopkeepers. of homesick expatriates; and trolleys laden with eggs, packets of khobz (Arabian flat bread) and Egyptian olives, it’s more an event than an errand.. Souq Al Waqif, Doha, Qatar West Bay Area, Doha, Qater +974.4483.9990 15.