Doha

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Quick Facts

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Coordinates

• Latitude: 25.2948
• Longitude: 51.5082

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• 1 Doha Hostels
• 2 Doha Hotels

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Introduction

Doha

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Doha (الدوحة‎ Ad-Dōḥah) is the capital and largest city of Qatar, and has well over 400,000 inhabitants. This means over 80% of the total population of the country lives in the capital, one of the highest in the world. The city is located along the central western coast of Qatar and, like some cities in neighbouring countries, it is a combination of modern and traditional buildings such as mosques, with a large expatriate population. Although most travellers don't stay longer to see the city itself, there are good hotels catering to package tours from Europe and it is gaining popularity among people who want something different than Dubai.

Neighbourhoods

Sights and Activities

Modern Architecture

Experience the amazing building boom of downtown Doha. New and crazy buildings are going up every minute in this city that was nothing more than a few adobe structures a century ago. One of the most interesting is the soon to be opened Aspire Tower which is 318 m (1050 ft) high located in Sports City in Doha. The tower dominates the cityscape and offers great views from the top. Also seeing the city lit up at night from across the bay is amazing!

Doha's newest architectural addition is the I.M. Pei-designed Museum of Islamic Art. Opened in December 2008, it sits on its own island at the southern end of the Corniche. Despite the Islamic treasures within, the real star is the building itself which incorporates Islamic design features and motifs. Entry is free and no trip to Doha would be complete without a visit. The building, collection and associated library and study centre have been put together with obvious pride in a thousand years of Islamic achievement.

Shopping

Large shopping malls have sprung up in recent years with many world class brands opening outlets. This is one of the best places in the world to buy an expensive pen or watch! One of the most spectacular malls is Villaggio. Built on a Venetian theme it even has a canal running through the middle on which you can have a gondola ride. It seems no mall is complete without an ice rink (Villaggio and City Centre) or a fun park (City Plaza and Hyatt Plaza).

For a more genuine Arabian shopping experience visit the souqs in the centre of the city. The Souq Waqif (the Old Souq) has been rebuilt in ancient style even though most of the goods sold are more modern. Locals come here to buy toys, clothes, hardware and food. Similar shops and stalls are grouped together. It's a great place to buy souvenirs, some of which you won't find anywhere else while others are sold in the shopping malls at much higher prices. Bargain to reduce the price even further. Don't leave before looking in on the falcon souq. Falconry is a popular sport amongst Qataris and you can buy all kinds of falconry accessories and equipment including the birds themselves which cost thousands of rials.

On the roads outside the Souq Waqif are many other shops selling clothes, phones and electronic goods. Near the bus station is the gold souq where jewellery of all kinds can be bought. Bargain the prices down and be prepared to go to the next shop where you may get a cheaper price for the same item. If you have the time, jewellery can be made to your specification.

Shops are open from about 8am but often close during the afternoon and reopen again in the evening. The shopping malls are usually open from 10am to 10pm. Only supermarkets and grocery stores are open during the day on Friday (the holy day) but everything comes alive every day in the evenings when all the shops are open and the streets are full of people.

Other Sights and Activities

• Golf - Hit a few balls at the Doha Golf Club, but bear in mind it's not cheap!
• Desert Safari - Climb 60 m sand dunes and see the inland sand sea.
• Oryx Farm and Equestrian Club - Watch these pure Arabian horse up close and personal in their original habitat.
• Boating - Go for a motor boat ride or sailing in the amazing bays around Doha.

Events and Festivals

Weather

Doha has an arid climate with warm to hot weather. There is no rain whatsoever from May to October. From November to April, there are about 2 to 6 days a month with some rainfall, totalling less than 100mm of rain a year. Temperatures are pleasant from November to April. January is the coldest month with average maximum temperatures of 20 degrees Celsius, dropping to 13 degrees at night. June and July are the hottest months with daytime temperatures averaging 40 degrees Celsius and nights still around 30 degrees! Temperatures hitting 50 degrees are not uncommon during summer and together with sometimes humid conditions makes this time almost unbearable.

Getting There

By Plane

Doha International Airport (DOH) is the only airport in Qatar.

Most flights to and from the country are with the national airline Qatar Airways, rated as one of the best airlines in the world. Destinations of Qatar Airways include Nairobi and Dar es Salaam in the east of Africa, South African cities of Cape Town and Johannesburg, all countries in North Africa, major cities in Asia, especially in China, India and Pakistan, plus main cities in Europe. The United States is served as well, with flights to and from New York and Houston.

Neighbouring countries and other countries throughout the Middle East have connections on almost a daily basis and lots of other regional airlines fly to Qatar as well.

By Train

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

Getting Around

By Car

Hire cars are available and companies such as Europcar have offices in Doha. But beware speeding and reckless driving is very common on Doha roads where drivers are very pushy and take quite unnecessary risks for little apparent gain. This behaviour seems to be taken in good grace by other drivers and there are no incidents of road rage. Traffic jams are common in peak hours in the city and on the main roads.

Taxis are government run, clean, metered and well regulated. They are easy to spot with their turquoise livery but there is a shortage, so don't expect to be able to hail one easily in the street and if making a booking do so well ahead. Having said that, it is not uncommon for taxis to cruise the bus stops where several passengers may get in to share the fare.

By Public Transport

Government buses, turquoise like the taxis, are the only form of public transport in Doha. Most of the bus routes start and end at the main bus depot in the centre of Doha although there are other routes on the outskirts of the city. The system is not very extensive and service frequency is not more than about every 20-30 minutes. They are cheap however, with a flat fare of 3 rials (US$0.80, 0.60 Euros) per trip. This makes them well patronised by many of the guest workers from India and other parts of the subcontinent. They can be quite crowded especially in peak times and on certain routes. Be prepared to push through to get out and to shout to the driver to make sure he stops at your stop. If they go to the places you want to go, and you don't mind the waiting and the crowding, they are a good way of getting around.

By Foot

Doha is not really a walking city with footpaths often non-existent or in poor condition. In the centre of the city however, the souqs, Corniche, the Fort, Museum of Islamic Art, bus station and other things of interest are quite close together and walking is the best way to get around. The Corniche, an 8km promenade on Doha Bay, is full of people walking on weekends and public holidays. Westerners walking anywhere outside the centre of the city may be subject to some interest from drivers who slow down to have a look and may even offer you a lift.

By Bike

Cyclists are few and far between in Doha, even though it is flat, easy to navigate and not very big. Only the crazy driving makes it less than perfect for cycling.

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Budget

Mid-Range

Upscale

Work

Learn

Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

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