Qatar is situated in the “Heart of the Arabian Gulf” which not only describes its geographical location but also the importance given to the country’s Arabian culture, heritage and warm hospitality. A conference or exhibition visitor can enjoy Qatar’s year round sunshine, diversity of activities, friendly people and relaxing atmosphere.
The ‘Qatar Experience’ is a unique blend of adventure, leisure and Arabian tradition, from desert dune driving to exciting water sports, from fascinating museums to traditional markets. Qatar offers world-class hotels, restaurants and spa facilities and activities for all the family in a safe and secure environment.
With Qatar’s sophisticated meeting facilities, infrastructure and security, the country is well-positioned to host events of any size. Conference organizers will enjoy the ease of coordinating successful meetings and conferences, in addition to the first-class hotels and facilities available, Qatar offers beautiful scenery and wonderful shopping in a relaxing environment – a wonderful combination of business and pleasure.
Qatar welcomes its visitors in world class reputation and high standard hotels like the Sheraton, the Ritz Carlton, the Intercontinental, the Marriott and Al-Sarq Hotel which was recently awarded the prize of the second best hotel in the Middle East.
Life in Qatar had always been a story of sea and desert. Both were a source of livelihood despite all the hardships the Qataris faced. Today, the sea and the desert are still the source of wealth and a destination for anyone looking for an enjoyable day away from the hustle and bustle of modern day to day life.
They are also the backbone of tourism industry in Qatar: the sea with its calm beaches and its warm waters; the desert with its vista of endless stretches and marvels of nature as well as man-made wonders.
Visitors to Qatar will notice the various facilities readily available the moment their plane lands at Doha airport, a 10 to 15-minute drive away from hotels, recreational clubs and shopping centers.
Doha
Situated midway on the serene east shore of the Qatar peninsula, Doha is the capital of Qatar where almost 80% of the population live; it is the hub of cultural, business and economic activities of the country. A tour through the city would tempt you to visit scores of wonderful places which reflect the country's cultural identity and its rapid development. Among places that a vistor should not miss: Doha where a calm bay embraces the edges of the mainland. Not far away from the airport a scenic corniche runs along the bay. The Corniche, virtually “the lung of the city”, is a destination for people who enjoy walking and jogging especially from November to May when the weather is hospitable and temperatures are mild. Among other tourist attractions along the Doha bay is the harbor for traditional boats known in the Gulf region as “booms”.
Old Traditional Souqs
Doha thrives with many tradtitional souqs where visitors can discover the spirit of a truly oriental way of shopping. The falconry souq is worth visiting to have a look at the impressive falcons with their charm, beauty and the unimaginable prices paid for them. Next to the falconry shops stands the camel market. In the old traditional Souqs of Doha the exotic smells of spices, coffees mixed with the heady scent of cardamom, and medicinal herbs fill the air.
With every step, all shops of handicrafts, oriental textiles and glittering gold entice the visitor to have a look or haggle over prieces. At the end of your tour, you might refresh yourself with a glass of tea mixed with rosewater, or a cup of Arabian or Turkish coffee with cardamom flavor while sitting back in one of the traditional coffee shops scattered around town.
Modern Shopping Centers
While traditional markets are considered prominent tourist attractions, Doha city includes several state-of-art shopping complexes, making shopping a pleasure for individuals and families accompanying their children.
These complexes include entertainment facilities for children, restaurants and cinemas, Internet cafes and areas for ice hockey or ice skating. From time to time artistic shows and events are held there, as well as shopping festivals where attractive offers prizes are presented.
The main shopping centers in Qatar are: The City Centre Shopping Complex, The Mall Shopping Center, the LuLu Super Market, Hyatt Plaza, Villaggio and Land Mark.
Entertainment City (Kingdom of Aladdin)
The Kingdom of Aladdin lies in the West Bay area. It has more than 18 play features to suit all age groups. It also has a rest house, an artificial lagoon, a theater and a cafeteria.
The Zoo
The zoo lies 20 km from Doha on Salwa Road. It has a varied collection of animals, reptiles and birds as well as a mini amusement park for children.
Al- Rumaila Park
This park lies on Doha Corniche. It has grass areas, children rides, a popular market and restaurants. Now all visitors can enjoy the wireless internet free services at the Park.
Dahl El-Hamam Public Park
Situated in KHhalifa Al-Shamalia, this public park contains several green lawns, passages for walking and cycling, in addition to a football playground and various playgrounds for children.
Al Wakrah
A coastal small town situated half way between Doha and Mesaieed, A Wakrah is a thriving commercial and fishing centre. It is famous for its picturesque mosques, its booming fishing harbor and its traditional houses that reflect the old Islamic architectural style.
Alkhor
Lies north of Qatar, 57km north of Doha. Until the early 1940s of the past century the town used to be a thriving port and pearl fishing center. Despite that other trades have started to replace those trades, the town teems with relics that testify to the town's venerable history. Its fine mosques, its museum that houses valuable archeological pieces and acquisitions and its historical towers are some examples of those relics.
Khor Al Udaid Beach
This beach lies on the southeastern most part of the country, 78 km from Doha. This beautiful beach is distinguished by its fine sand dunes that can be as high as 40 meters in some locations. Other fine beaches include Fuwairit, Dukhan and others.
Al Jassasiya
Al Jassasiya is a range of rocky hills overlooking the northeastern coast of the country between the two villages of Al Huwailah and Fuwairit. They are famous for their numerous stone carvings and engravings, some of which date back to prehistoric times.
Almaha Sanctuary
This tourist attraction is established to protect Al Maha (oryx) the endangered desert antelope
Sealine Beach Resort
Situated 55 km from the capital, the resort offers a large variety of rooms, villas and chalets - all overlooking the sea; alongside with many sports and recreational activities and a number of restaurants.
Al-Gharriyya Resort
This resort lies on the waterfront of al-Gharriyya area in the north. It comprises a number of super deluxe villas, children playgrounds, a swimming pool and restaurants.