Qatar Activities

Qatar is a very family-orientated country and visitors will find that most activities on offer are suitable for children as well as adults. There are family parks and family days at the malls and most evenings on the Corniche, you’ll see many families enjoying a picnic together. At the Landmark Mall, Circus Land features abundant activities for youngsters, as does Extreme World at the City Center Mall.

Oryx Farm and the Equestrian Club
The oryx is Qatar’s national animal, and can be seen by visitors, in its natural surroundings, at the Oryx Farm in Shahaniya. This animal isn’t found anywhere else in the world in such large numbers. While in the area, you can also admire the beauty of the Arabian horses at Al Shaqab Stud Farm. Arabian horses are considered another national treasure and the Qatar Race and Equestrian Club welcomes visitors to see its stables of magnificent animals.

Palm Tree Island
Palm Tree Island can be reached by a 10-minute ride in a dhow, from the Corniche. The island features entertainment that will be enjoyed by the whole family: there are swimming pools, a children’s play area, lovely gardens, restaurants and cafés and beach access to both shallow and deeper swimming areas.

Doha Zoo
Traditional zoo animals and many native species can be seen at the Doha Zoo, in attractive grounds with shaded viewing areas. The national animal of Qatar, the oryx, is a feature of the zoo. A children’s play area is popular and the lush green grounds are perfect for picnics.

Al Bidda Park
The park is located opposite the Corniche and has ornamental pools and waterways with wooden bridges. Other amenities include a children’s playground, skateboard park, an outdoor theatre and a number of small food and souvenir stalls.

Qatar has committed to developing an infrastructure and facilities to support sporting activities and events, with the goal of becoming a leading sports destination. The 15th Asian Games were held in Doha in 2006, indicative of the progress made in this regard.

Horse racing is one of the oldest and most popular sports in Qatar. The Equestrian Club hosts several seasonal race meetings, with intensive competition due to the significant financial prizes offered. In addition, international horse ‘beauty contests’ are held here, attracting global interest.

Falconry remains a popular sporting activity. The birds were used by Bedouins to help in hunting game, which constituted an important addition to their diet. Today in Qatar, falconry features during the hunting season, which runs from October through March. Owners and falcons continue to train during the off-season to prepare for competitions. The falcon has incredibly sharp eyesight, allowing it to zero in on its prey from high above it, while flying at speeds of over 60mph.

Golfers will enjoy playing at the Doha Golf Club, an 18-hole, par 72 championship course which has hosted a number of major international golfing championships. You’ll also find a 9-hole academy course that’s and the Mesaiseed Golf Club, an older, well-established facility featuring an outstanding course, tennis courts and a swimming pool.

Qatar’s location on the Gulf, with its shallow warm waters, makes it an ideal spot for visitors interested in learning to dive. There are two artificial reefs that were developed for scuba divers, where you will find abundant marine life.

Sailing is enjoyed here by locals and visitors and you’ll find several private companies that offer dinghies and windsurfing boards for hire, as well as sailing lessons for the beginner and the more experienced sailor. For a special treat, a sunset cruise on a traditional dhow around Doha Bay offers a stunning view of Doha at night and luxury yachts can be hired for half-day and full-day fishing excursions.

Water sports enthusiasts have a full-range of facilities and amenities to choose from. There are jet-skis and water-skis, kayaks, pedal-boats and water cycles for hire. For those who have a real sense of adventure, there’s also parasailing, surfing and wind-surfing on offer. Most hotels will have a variety of equipment available.

Qatar offers a multitude of diverse dining options, many of which are of excellent quality. European cuisine is served in the luxury hotels such as the Ramada or the Marriott, where you’ll also be able to enjoy alcoholic beverages with your meal. Hotel restaurants are the only venues where this is possible and the prices are rather steep. Authentic Indian and Pakistani food is on offer in many of the city’s eateries ranging from quite basic operations to larger, family-orientated establishments. Thai cuisine is also popular and available at snack bars and more upscale surroundings. 

Middle Eastern cuisine is featured at most restaurants and includes breads, hummus, kebabs and many other items that can be bought at the souks as take-away or from much more elegant eateries. Lebanese food and refined Persian specialties are also available at reasonable prices, and can be found around the Corniche. 

Looking for something to eat in the souks can be an adventure and something that’s worth a try. The setting is authentic and even if some of the places seem a bit run-down, you’re likely to find that the food is quite good. Fast food restaurants have found their way to Qatar, with McDonalds serving up a ‘McArabia’ which can only be found here.

Shopping is a major attraction for visitors to Qatar and ranges from the fascinating souks to the larger shopping complexes. Doha boasts the largest shopping complex in the Middle East, City Center, which offers well-known international brands and also features many facilities for the family. 

The markets, souks, are an enticing mix of sights and scents, where you can try your skills at haggling over prices on a wide variety of goods. Souk Waqif is Doha’s oldest traditional market, founded by Bedouin traders for buying and selling meat, milk, wool and other basic requirements. It has recently been renovated to look as it did a 50 years ago, a maze of narrow alleyways packed with an assortment of goods ranging from traditional clothing, implements and incense to camping equipment and other modern-day requirements. Other souks around the city specialise in items such as textiles or gold.

Of the malls, City Center is currently the largest, offering a wide range of shops to choose from. Other malls in Doha include the Landmark, the Hyatt Plaza, the Mall and Villagio. Shops, restaurants and entertainment for children are found at all malls. Blue Salon is a good choice for finding designer goods at discounted prices as it features special sales twice annually. Many good tailors can be found throughout the city with Doha being a good place to have clothes made to measure and also to have designs copied. 

Shopping hours are generally Monday to Saturday, 08:00 to 12:00 and 16:00 to 19:00, although some malls are open until 21:00. A number of shops close on Friday.