Sightseeing and things to do TABLE OF CONTENTS

— p. 3 CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS — p. 14 SHOPPING — p. 16 NATURAL LANDMARKS — p. 17 POINTS OF INTEREST — p. 18 TRIP — p. 19 WATER ACTIVITIES — p. 20 SAILING Cultural Attractions NATIONAL MUSEUM OF

Jutting out at the start of the Corniche is Qatar’s extraordinary new national museum created by the famous architect Jean Nouvelle. It is symbolically placed at the starting point of your journey into the heart of downtown . The site also hosts the previous historic home to the son of the founder of Qatar, Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani. The museum opened its doors to the public on March 28 of 2019. A portion of the site of the new museum is dedicated to the extensive restoration of the former palace of Jassim Al Thani, built in the early 1900s. The interior of the national museum tells the story of Qatar in three distinct chapters: Begin- nings, Life in and Building the Nation. Presented across 11 galleries, the visitor’s chronological journey, which extends on more than 1.5km, starts in the geological period, long before the peninsula was inhabited by humans, and continues to the present day. The museum also hosts a number of special programmes and events.

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Admission QR 50 for adults (standard ticket) Free for children under 16 QR 25 for students (50% discount)

Opening hours Sunday to Wednesday: 9am - 7pm Thursday and Saturday: 9am - 9pm Friday: 1:30pm - 9pm Last ticket: One hour before closing from Sunday to Wednesday. One hour and a half from Thursday to Saturday.»

Address Museum Park St, Doha, Qatar The National Museum of Qatar is located on Museum Park Street across from the Corniche in Doha, Qatar. Limited parking is available on-site on a first come, first served basis. Tel: +974 4452 5555

3 Cultural Attractions MATHAF MUSEUM ARAB MUSEUM OF MODERN ART

The Mathaf Museum of Modern Arab Art opened in 2010 in and hosts regular exhibitions of contemporary art with a permanent collection of regional art and design. The museum is part of Qatar Museums, led by H.E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Mathaf hosts exhibitions, education programs and events that explore and celebrates modern and contemporary art while offering an Arab perspective on international art. The Mathaf collection includes over 9000 works today, making it the world’s largest specia- lised collection of its kind.

Address Education City - Qatar Foundation Gate 1, off Al-Luqta Street, Doha, Qatar Tel: +974 4402 8855 / 8830

Opening hours Monday: closed Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday: 11am - 6pm Friday: 3pm - 8pm

Admission Free admission to the permanent collection exhibition. QR25 for temporary exhibitions. Free entry for students and children under 16 to all exhibitions.

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4 Cultural Attractions MSHEIREB MUSEUMS

Msheireb Museums includes four restored heritage houses in the Msheireb reconstruction area of Doha: Bin Jelmood House, Company House, Mohammed Bin Jassim House and Radwa- ni House. These are all located within easy walking distance of each other. Each small museum has a different focus. Bin Jelmood House focusses on the history of the Arab slave trade. Company House has arti- facts, videos and information about the start of the oil and gas trade in Qatar. Mohammed Bin Jassim House gives the history of Msheireb and plans for the future. Radwani House is a traditional home.

Address Mohammed Bin Jassim Street, Doha, Qatar Tel: +974 800 3642

Opening hours Monday to Thursday: 9.00am - 5.00pm Friday: 3.00pm - 9.00pm Saturday: 9.00am - 5.00pm Sunday: Closed

Admission Free admission

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5 Cultural Attractions MUSEUM OF ISLAMIC ART

The stunning Museum of Islamic Art, designed by I.M. Pei, famed for his modern wing of the Louvre in Paris, is an icon for art, culture and heritage, housing precious works from more than 200 years of Islamic civilization. The Museum of Islamic Art represents Islamic art from three continents over 1,400 years. MIA is the flagship of Qatar Museums, which under the leadership of its Chairperson H.E. Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, is transforming the State of Qatar into a cultural capital of the Middle East.

MIA sheds light on our origins to illuminate our future. Through safeguarding masterpiece collections of Islamic art and showcasing extraordinary exhibitions, MIA shares knowledge, spreading curiosity, understanding, and joy.

Address , Corniche, Doha, Qatar Tel: +974 4422 4444

Opening hours Tuesday: closed Sunday, Monday, Wednesday: 10.30am - 5.30pm Thursday, Saturday: 12pm - 8pm Friday: 2pm - 8 pm

Admission Free admission

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6 Cultural Attractions KATARA CULTURAL VILLAGE

Katara Cultural Village serves as a guardian to the heritage and traditions of Qatar and en- deavours to spread awareness about the importance of every culture and civilization and as such, Katara hosts international, regional and local festivals, workshops, performances and exhibitions. The Cultural Village Foundation is an exceptional project of hope for human interaction through art and cultural exchange. Keeping pace with the emerging global culture that em- phasizes the importance of diversity in human development, Katara Cultural Village is the largest and the most multidimensional cultural project of Qatar.

Address Al Moasses street, Doha, Qatar Tel: 974 4408 0000

Opening hours Exhibition: 9am - 11pm Katara Beach: 9.30am - 5pm

Admission Village: Free entrance Katara beach n°3 (Gate 1&5): Adults - 25 QR, Children below 16 - Free Katara beach n°4: Families only - free entrance

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7 Cultural Attractions SHEIKH FAISAL BIN QASSIM AL THANI MUSEUM (28km from Doha City center)

This Museum holds enormous cultural importance in Qatar and internationally as it reflects the journeys taken by Sheikh Faisal, as well as his passion for creating a fascinating experience for the public to enjoy and a valuable resource for education. The Sheikh Faisal Museum holds a large diversified collection of unique and extraordinary artefacts from over 4 continents. The world class collection contains pieces from the Jurassic age through to the early Islamic period and up to the present day, across four themes: Islamic Art, Qatar Heritage, Vehicles, and Coins & Currency.

Address Al Samariyah, Doha, Qatar Tel: +974 4486 1444

Opening hours 9am - 5.30pm Closed on Fridays and Sundays

Admission Free admission

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8 Cultural Attractions (23km from Doha City center)

Barzan Towers, known as the Mohammed Fort Towers, are watchtowers that were built in 1910 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Jassim Al Thani. They are located at the southern side of the defensive system established at the end of the 19th century and start of the 20th cen- tury to protect the ‘Raudah’, a valley where precious rainwater is collected when it flows down from higher ground.

Opening hours 24 hours and visitors just need to sign in at the gate.

Address Located in Umm Salal, Doha, Qatar

9 Cultural Attractions EAST-WEST / WEST-EAST BY RICHARD SERRA (80km from Doha City center)

Richard Serra’s public art has always been driven by a desire to take sculpture off the pedestal and on to the streets. This breathtaking sculpture in the Brouq nature reserve spans over a kilometre and comprises four steel plates, each over fourteen metres in height. To guarantee perfect alignment, Serra examined the topography of the land and beautifully enhanced the vast, desolate space in the heart of the desert. The result is spectacular and although modern, timeless.

Address Brouq nature reserve, Qatar

Opening hours All day

Admission Free entrance

10 Cultural Attractions AL ZUBARAH FORT (100km from Doha City center)

Al Zubarah was a thriving pearl fishing and trading port. Now it’s Qatar’s largest heritage site, with its impressive city wall, ancient residential palaces and houses, markets, industrial areas and mosques. It’s one of the best-preserved examples of an 18th and 19th century Gulf merchant town and in 2013 was named a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Address Madinat Ash Shamal, Qatar Tel: +974 4442 4771

Opening hours 8am – 4 pm Closed on Friday mornings

Admission Free admission

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11 Cultural Attractions AL KOOT FORT

Al Koot Fort, most commonly known as Doha Fort, lies in the center of the city of Doha and was built in 1880 by the Ottomans as a police post. It was built on a slight elevation in the proximity of a dry waterbed known as Wadi Musheireb. This waterbed used to be a gathering place where Bedouins and locals would trade a variety of goods, primarily livestock goods. This gathering place grew into what is now known as the .

From 1906 on the fort was used as a prison. In 1915 the fort was abandoned by the Ottomans. In 1927, the dilapidated Turkish fort was rebuilt by Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani into the Al Koot Fort we see today. As a result of the building activity, the inside of the fort might not be accessible to the public.

Address Ukaz St, Doha, in the Souq Waqif neighberhood.

12 Cultural Attractions AL RAKAYAT FORT (94km northwest of Doha)

The fort of Al Rakayat, north west of Doha, is one of several desert forts dating back to the 19th century, and one of the few that were renovated during the 1980s. A freshwater well sits in the fort and the scattered remains of a village can be found nearby. Al Rakayat is the Arabic word for ‘well’ and it’s believed that the fort was built to protect the essential sources of water in the area. It is typical of desert forts, with three rectangular towers and one cylindrical one. Three sides of the central courtyard are aligned with narrow rooms, without windows and doors, that open onto the light and spacious courtyard.

Address 15 minutes away from Al Ruwais, the most northern city in Qatar.

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13 Shopping SOUQ WAQIF

At any time of day, Souq Waqif is always bustling with people walking around the alleys win- dow-shopping or enjoying their shisha with friends and family at restaurants. It provides an excellent place for people to gather, shop for traditional knick-knacks, spices or just enjoy a good meal. It has a number of boutique hotels located around its premises that are part of the Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels. There are also stables for horses and camels at the Souq. Restaurants specializing in cuisines from different parts of the Middle East and North (MENA) region are located all along the souq with international cuisines such as Malaysian, French, and Indian. Souq Waqif being an Ooredoo hotspot also allows visitors to log onto the web with free wireless Internet. Live performances and seasonal festivals with street artists and traditional folk troupes make it a one-of-akind cultural bazaar in Qatar

Address Grand Hamed Street behind the Corniche, Doha, Qatar

Opening hours Daily 10:00 - 12:00 and 16:00 - 22:00

14 Shopping

GOLD SOUQ The Gold Souq is a maze of shops specialising in local and imported jewellery made from gold or silver. Pieces including diamonds, pearls and other stones are widely available. All gold jewellery sold in Qatar has a govern- ment stamp ensuring its purity. Jewellery can usually be engraved on the spot. Many of the jewellers are highly skilled and can make a piece of jewellery to order; repairs and resi- zing can be done. Qatari, European and Indian styles are all avalable. Most shops are happy for people to look around without making a purchase. Most items are priced by weight, depending on the value of gold that day. The souq is particularly lively in the evening.

Address Al Ghanim Central Bus Station, Doha, behind the Alfardan Centre off Grand Hamad St

SOUQ AL DIRA Lantern lights, smooth floors, stained glass windows and arches invite visitors into this souq. Most of the stores in this souq specia- lize in high-end ‘designer’ fabric. Accessories, shoes, and Arabian perfume are also retailed here.

Address Al Ahmed St, Doha, Qatar

15 Natural landmarks THE SINGING SAND

There are certain conditions in which the mo- vement of sand grains can create a low mur- mur or ‘singing’ – a phenomenon often re- ported by desert explorers. Qatar is fortunate in having sand with the right abrasive qualities in an area that also experiences the necessary wind and moisture conditions to create this wonderful, if weird effect. While the ‘singing’ occurs naturally, it can be triggered by sliding down the face of the or running along its crest, whereupon each footstep creates a humming that cannot only be heard but also felt as a vibration through the feet.

Address 15km off Salwa Road, towards Mesaieed, Doha, Qatar

16 Points of interest

Doha Corniche is a seven kilometre (4.4 miles) long, palm-fringed promenade and dual car- riagway, which extends in a horseshoe shape around and the city’s sea front.

It is lined with luxury hotels, clubs and apart- ments; various fine, important government buildings; lovely open, manicured parks with family facilities and public buildings such as museums and a library.

People love to stroll and jog along the cor- niche, especially during the balmy evenings, taking in the twinkling sights of the city and the Arabian Gulf.

17 Desert Trip

A top place to visit while you live in Qatar is naturally the desert. The desert offers a challen- ging terrain for those seeking adventure in Qatar. There are a number of desert-centric ac- tivities that you can engage in. Some of them include renting a dune buggy on the beach near Sealine Beach Resort as well as dune bashing, which remains a popular sport with both Qataris and expatriates. A four whell-drive SUV is required.

4 HOURS TRIP 4x4 Jeep with driver Water and soft drinks Insurance

Schedule: 9am - 1pm or 2pm - 6pm

FULL DAY TRIP 4x4 Jeep with driver Water, soft drinks and BBQ Meal Insurance Bathroom with showers Sand Skiing and Sand boarding Bonfire, Music, Volleyball, Snorkeling and Swimming (with own equipment)

Schedule: 9am - 5pm or 2pm - 9pm

OVERNIGHT CAMPING 4x4 Jeep with driver Water, Soft drinks and BBQ Meal Insurance Bathroom with showers Sand Skiing and Sand boarding Bonfire, Music, Volleyball, Snorkeling and Swimming (with own equipment) Clean sleeping bags

Schedule: 9am - 5pm or 2pm - 9pm

Against Charge: Quad biking Shisha Camel riding

Address Al Rawabi Street #16 Muntazah, Doha, Qatar Tel: +974 44553954

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18 Water activities DHOW CRUISES

Address Most often Doha Corniche or Dhow Harbour, Doha, Qatar.

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A must in Doha. For a chance to see the city from the sea, consider taking a dhow ride around the Bay. These local fishing boats, legacy of Qatar’s seafaring nation, leave from the jetty in front of the beautiful Museum of Islamic Art. All the tour companies offer a few hours dhow cruises with usually a meal and traditional mu- sic for around QR300 per person.

THE DIPLOMATIC CLUB

Address Al Istiqlal Street, Lagoon, Doha, Qatar Tel: +974 4484 7450 Email: [email protected]

Opening hours From 8am to 10pm

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Looking to set sail on the Arabian Gulf, searching for an exclusive dining place or a fun expe- rience? Also worth the experience is a ride on the BBQ Donuts at the Diplomatic Club, a ride that takes you around the West Bay. Breakfast, lunch or dinner is provided for 8 persons depen- ding on the time of the day you ride in it.

19 Sailing

REGATTA SAILING ACADEMY Created in 1959, Regatta Sailing Academy offers various sailing activities for children and adults to discover or improve their sai- ling skills as well as boat hire for experienced sailors. The academy was founded in 1996 and is accredited by the Royal Yachting As- sociation since 2012.

Address The Academy is currently located at the North Beach of Katara, Doha, Qatar Tel: +974 4442 4577

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KAYAKING, SUP & KITE TOURS AquaSports offers kayak and SUP tours, expeditions as well as PaddleFit classes and SUP lessons. Nestled along the coast near is a vast beautiful mangrove forest, the best ways to access the forest is by kayak. Paddle Qatar will take you through the network of channels that have been carved out by tidal action. The area supports a lot of birdlife and is a favourite destination for nature lovers. Suitable for families and those looking for a re- More infos laxed easy paddle taking in the greenery and birdlife of the nature reserve.

Address StrongBox Al Jazi Gardens Compound, Westbay, Doha Tel: +97466963494

Admission QR 200

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