A Peninsula of Art, Sand and Skyline
Qatar is a country on a small peninsula projecting into the Arabian Gulf from the east of Saudi Arabia, known for its capital Doha, its investment in museums and architecture, and its desert and coastal landscapes. The country is compact, which makes it easy to enjoy a great deal in a short stay: a morning among galleries, an afternoon in the souk and an evening on the Corniche are all within a few minutes of one another. Qatar also hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which brought new stadiums, metro lines and public spaces.
Culture sets the tone. The Museum of Islamic Art, designed by I. M. Pei and opened in 2008, stands on its own island at the edge of Doha Bay, and the National Museum of Qatar, shaped like a desert rose, tells the story of the peninsula. Beyond the capital, the north holds old fishing villages and forts, and the south the dunes of the Inland Sea. Travellers who know Dubai or Abu Dhabi find Qatar more compact, more focused on culture and unmistakably its own.
Dunes, Inland Sea and Coastal Calm
The desert is a short drive away. The Khor Al Adaid, known as the Inland Sea, is a rare inlet where the sea reaches into the dunes, and dune driving, camel rides and desert camps are classic excursions. In the north, the mangroves of Al Thakira and the beaches of Zubarah add quieter experiences, and Zubarah Fort and archaeological town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, preserves a pearling and trading settlement from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Qatari cuisine is generous and warmly spiced, with machboos, harees and fresh seafood alongside Arabic coffee and dates, and Doha's restaurants span the traditional to the international. For a tourist board or hotel partner, Qatar's mix of desert, sea, museums and sport is an easy story to tell, and the neighbouring Saudi Arabia and Ras Al Khaimah extend the journey for those who want a wider Gulf itinerary.
Read the full Qatar guide on Visit Travel Group, or see VisitQatar.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.