The fantastic contrast between the past and the future attracts tourists.
Qatar is a country where modernity, with its skyscrapers and high-tech parks, coexists with endless desert and 1400 years of Islamic history. Its modern appearance originates from the past of the country—the reason why tourists from all over the world treasure coming to Qatar. In 2015 alone, the country received 2.93 million tourists, 3.7% more than in 2014.
Who should go to Qatar?
Qatar is the classic destination for a fun-filled family sabbatical. Urban entertainment is aimed at both young people and adults, while beach resorts and sports facilities offer a comfortable and fulfilling holiday for the whole family.
If travellers are looking for a place to unwind and engage themselves in a new culture, Qatar is the place to be. They will find the perfect fusion of luxury spas, authentic cuisine and desert adventure here.
What does Qatar offer tourists?
Qatar has gorgeous museums and galleries, great concert venues, and carefully guarded historic buildings and forts.
Among them are the Qatar Cultural Heritage Village, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Al-Zubara Fort, the famous Museum of Islamic Art, the Mathaf Arab Museum of Contemporary Art, Sheikh Faisal Bin Qasim Al Thani Museum and the Msheireb Museums.
Visitors to Qatar are enchanted by the bustle of traditional markets, where they can find anything from silk to spices and taste dishes from all over the Middle East.
Qatar’s commitment to the advancement of art is reflected in presenting various installations created by the world’s best artists. Among them is Damien Hirst’s Miraculous Journey in front of Sidra Medical and Research Center, by Richard Serra in the park of the Museum of Islamic Art, Power of Nature II by Lorenzo Quinn at the Qatar Cultural Center, Subodh Gupta’s Three Monkeys of Gandhi at the Qatar Cultural Center.
Just 20 minutes from the centre of Old Doha, on the-Pearl Qatar Island, tourists can enjoy shopping, dining in fine dining and all kinds of entertainment. Shopping malls in Qatar consist of luxury boutiques and recreational areas, and entertainment for children and teens.
Astonishing landscapes
Travellers can take a boat trip on a dhow boat and cherish Doha’s cityscape against the backdrop of a sunset, or take a bus tour of the city’s main pulls.
Due to the country’s favourable geographical position in the Arabian Gulf, you can see the desert and the sea’s breathtaking landscapes. Sand dunes and picturesque limestone cliffs give way to mangrove trees that grow along the 560-kilometre coastline.
Fret not; getting around in Qatar is not complicated. You can use car rental companies In Doha or uber.
Gypsum deposits in the peninsula centre have contributed to the emergence of a geological phenomenon called “desert roses”. The most striking impression is made by the Dal al-Mesfer cave with a depth of 40 meters. This cave is formed from an accumulation of gypsum crystals and sometimes illuminates with a faint glow similar to the moonlight.
Binh Gunnam Island, located in the north of Qatar, is also known as the “Purple Island“. This name goes back to its rich history when in 1400-1100 BC., the Kassites dyed fabrics here magenta. Today, a trip to the island is a beautiful way to spend a day away from the city, enjoying the island’s unique flora and quiet surroundings.
Fuwayrat Beach, home to the Bissa sea turtles, is also nearby. Every year between April and July, the turtles return to the beach where they were born to lay their eggs. Tourists can see the turtles taking their first steps to the sea.
Qatar is the largest dugong habitat in the world after Australia. These herbivorous sea giants, weighing more than 400 kilograms, swim in northwest Qatar’s waters and glide along the entire coast in summer.
Those who are lucky may spot a graceful Arabian oryx out of the corner of their eye. These antelopes have not been found in the wild since the 1970s, and they were returned to their natural environment ten years later in the Ras Brook Sanctuary.
