Qatar Calling

 Sudeshna Sanyal


Qatar is a very small country in the Middle East. It is located in the northern partof the Arabian Peninsula, south of the Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf). With its east-west extent of only 100 km. and 200 km. north-south extent, it is relatively obscured by its prominent neighbours like Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Today Qatar is the cynosure of the world’s eyes as this tiny nation will be hosting the 2022 FIFA Football World Cup which is one of the world's biggest sporting events.

The FIFA Football World Cup, since its inception in 1930, had never been hosted so near India and therefore, a large number of Indians, and of course, people from all over the world are expected to visit Qatar to witness the world cup matches in 2022. Who knows how many of us will decide to make that journey! Thus this is a good time to know a little bit about what a tourist can expect in Qatar.

Qatar, like all other oil-rich Gulf countries, is changing fast – every year new tourist attractions are being built, old ones are renovated and this tiny peninsula is getting completely transformed.

Let us begin this brief tour of Qatar from the Corniche in Doha. Doha is the capital of the country and its biggest city. Most cities in the Gulf have a corniche--a water front promenade. The beautiful Corniche in Doha has parks at the two ends of its 7 km stretch along the sea. Tourists enjoy dhow rides after a walk along the Corniche. The Corniche and the near by Souq Waqif are loved by locals, expats and tourists alike.

Doha Skyline as seen from the Corniche

Qatar’s history goes back thousands of years. Archaeologists have found evidence of 4000 year old human settlements in the peninsula of Qatar. There is reference to Qatar in the works of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, the ancient Greek geographer Ptolemy and also in various old Arab-Muslim historical sources. Qatar became prosperous under the Abbasid rule in the fourteenth century. This period was followed by the Ottoman rule. During the First World War, Qatar became a British Protectorate and finally became completely independent on 3 September 1971. Qatar has been ruled by the Al-Thani Dynasty since the mid-nineteenth century. The present ruler of Qatar is HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.  

A visit to the new National Museum of Qatar, spread over 1.5 km, will accord us a ring-side view of the above-mentioned history of Qatar dating back millennia. The museum’s unique galleries, designed to be ‘both immersive and experiential’ will lead us through the history of Qatar from the beginning to the modern times. The Museum of Islamic Art which houses exclusive exhibits from three continents are a visual treat. Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum, in Al Sheehaniya, houses the exquisite private collections of Sheikh Faisal ranging from valuable manuscripts, a torture chamber, vintage cars, dinosaur fossils and a plane to an authentic Syrian house, brought to Qatar from Syria!

National Museum of Qatar: Inspired by the crystal structure of a rock formation known as the desert rose, the museum is designed by famous architect Jean Nouvel

National Museum of Qatar: Films on history and culture of Qatar are projected on the walls of each gallery -- from floor to ceiling

Museum of Islamic Art: Looks like a lady in a hijab! - Designed by famous architect I.M. Pei

Vintage Cars: Sheikh Faisal Museum


                      
Syrian House : Sheikh Faisal Museum

 

Museum of Islamic Art: The Ramayana, Mughal, Late 16th Century



Qatar National Museum: This interactive map shows movement of people due to change in season


Qatar occupies an area of 11,521 sq. km. The topography consists of flat rocky plains with a range of low limestone outcroppings in the west and the north. There are a number of inland seas which house a variety of natural flora. There are excellent beach resorts like the Salwa Beach Resort and Sealine Beach Resort. There are many licensed tour operators who organise desert safari sand dune trips in the south of Qatar. These exhilarating trips range from half day to overnight Arabian adventures.

Inland sea

Sand dunes


Qatar experiences a desert climate with hot summers and mild winters with brief showers. In summers, sometimes the temperatures rise above 40°C. This is the reason why for the first time in its history the Football World Cup will take place in the months of November and December in 2022.

Qatar witnessed a period of massive economic development and modern revival during the rule of HH Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani (1995 – 2013). According to the government sources, ‘the GDP increased by more than 24 folds and per capita GDP by about six folds.’ Over the last two decades, the country has transformed due to a number of governmental strategies to improve infrastructure and develop various industries. The government is also focusing on inculcating a culture of appreciation of art and sports by installing art work of famous artists in public places, organizing various cultural events and premier sporting events in the country.


The Katara Cultural Village in Doha hosts international, regional and local festivals, performances, exhibitions and a variety of cultural activities throughout the year. Just a leisurely stroll through the Cultural Village will amaze any visitor with its most uncommon architecture. There are places and activities for every age and every taste. Many sculptures by acclaimed sculptors can be seen in the Cultural Village like ‘Gandhi’s Three Monkeys’ by Subodh Gupta and ‘Force of Nature 2’ by Lorenzo Quinn.

Amphitheatre : Unique Architecture at Katara Cultural Village

BOHO Social Restaurant : Unique Architecture at Katara Cultural Village

The Veterinary Clinic : Unique Architecture at Katara Cultural Village

Seen in the photo is one of ‘Gandhi’s Three Monkeys’ by Subodh Gupta 

 Sculptures at Katara Cultural Village

‘Force of Nature 2’ by Lorenzo Quinn

Sculptures at Katara Cultural Village


Most tourists have an irresistible inclination towards shopping.  A large number of shopping malls in Qatar cater to every budget. Doha Festival City, Villaggio Mall, City Center Mall, Lagoona, 21 High Street, Al Hazm Mall are some of the innumerable shopping malls offering world class local and international brands.

Villaggio Mall: The ceiling looks like the sky



Villaggio Mall: Gondola ride in the mall 

The Souq Waqif in Doha is a traditional market place which is also a well-known tourist spot famous for cultural activities, restaurants, areas for animals, shops selling souvenirs, garments, spices, perfumes, etc. Just a walk around the winding lanes in the souq will give us a feel of stepping back into the past.

Souq Waqif: The sleeping souq in the afternoon

Souq Waqif at night

Souq Waqif: Traditional market


The Al Zubara Fort and Archaeological site on the north-western coast is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The fort has a museum which exhibits archaeological finds from the region. The ancient Zubara town which is a recently excavated archaeological site was a thriving pearl fishing and trading port in ancient times.

Al Zubara Fort: UNESCO World Heritage site

Excavated ancient town of Zubara:UNESCO World Heritage site

A visit to Qatar will not be complete without visiting at least a few of the 12 wonderful stadiums built in 7 cities. Most of these stadiums are surrounded by beautiful family parks and other facilities.  Some of the other unique attractions in Qatar are Pearl Qatar, Banana Island, Purple Island, Baladna Farm, MIA Park, Aspire Park, Al Khor Family Park & Zoo, parasailing in Katara beach, kayaking at Al Dhakira, etc.  A large number of exciting events reflecting local and international arts and cultures are organized throughout the year in the country.

The people, both the Qataris and the expats, are very hospitable and helpful. Arabic is the official language and English is widely spoken all over the country. Qataris constitute 12% of the population and the remaining 88% are expats. Majority of the people live in the capital Doha and the rest in other towns like Al Khor,Dukhan, Al Wakrah, Mesaieed, Al Ruwais, etc.

Al Ruwais: A waterfront park

Al Khor: Corniche

Traditional Arab Police

The Spiral Mosque: Qatar Islamic Culture Centre - FANAR

Souq Waqif: Funny Ice Cream Seller


This concludes our short tour of Qatar. Now it is time to go to the airport! The new spacious international airport, Hamad International Airport is beautifully decorated with many installation art like the Lamp Bear by Swiss artist Urs Fischer and Small Lie by KAWS among others. The airport also has a wide range of facilities along with world class duty free shops including the famous Harrods of London. So diverse are the range of experiences that Qatar offers, it has something for every traveler bitten by the travel bug.

Lamp Bear by Urs Fischer at the Hamad International Airport, Doha

Small Lie by KAWS at Hamad International Airport, Doha

* Student, 1990

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