To experience Qatar in the capital, however, we recommend a visit to one of the typical oriental markets – especially the lively and colorful Souq Waqif or the central market, where mainly food is traded. And finally, the port in Doha is also worthwhile – both the old with the traditional dhows and the new, modern part. In addition, Qatar offers historical sites such as the Qalit Marir fortress in Zubara, the Ras Umm Saa peninsula with salt-resistant mangroves or Al Khor, with a dreamlike beach on the Persian Gulf that invites you to a beach holiday – and water sports enthusiasts (especially divers) get their money’s worth in the south of Qatar. Nature in Qatar, otherwise hilly areas in the northwest, sand, salt flats and dunes… after all, the emirate is one of the driest regions on earth.
The Pearl
Luxury at the gates of Doha
“The Pearl” – a pearl in the sea! For years, Doha and the rather manageable Qatar have had the ambition to secure a special place in the world of the super-rich with gigantic projects. One of the most ambitious visions of the emirate in the recent past was “The Pearl”, an artificially raised island on the doorstep of the capital. An estimated eight billion dollars went into the plan and execution to offer something extraordinary to the beautiful and the rich. Qatar took the art island “The Palm Jumeirah” in Dubai as a model.
Luxury where pearl divers once fished
It was no coincidence that the planners called this project “The Pearl”, because the “Pearl” was snatched from the sea where pearl divers had previously secured extra income. Today more and more of these white treasures of the ocean come from farms in Asia. At the gates of Doha, an area of almost twenty square kilometers was created from sand and gravel. According to the ideas of the planners, around 30,000 people should find a new home here in mostly luxurious residential buildings after completion. But this vision did not quite come true, because many things became much more expensive than originally planned. The target group of those interested is recruited from wealthy Arabs from the states on the Gulf.
European regions as role models
The high-quality villas from “The Pearl”, built by a construction company from Cyprus, should be based on European models – the living culture of Tuscany, Catalonia, Andalusia and Provence. The whole project actually resembles a necklace of pearls when completed. It is undoubtedly a visual asset for the region and, above all, a popular destination for vacationers during their stay in Qatar. “The Pearl” is worth seeing first and foremost from the air, because only from there the enormous dimensions can be recognized. The four marinas on the artificial island offer space for several hundred luxury yachts.
New national museum of Qatar
According to topschoolsintheusa, the National Museum of Qatar opened on March 28, 2019. The building, which was erected in place of the original Qatar National Museum, is designed by the architect Jean Nouvel. Located on vast grounds at the southern end of Doha’s Corniche, the museum rises out of the sea and is connected to the shore by two pedestrian bridges and a road bridge. The 40,000 m² museum is held in place by a series of interlocking panes that create cavities to protect visitors from the heat of the desert. The entire design looks organic. The royal palace from around 1900 was integrated into the architecture. The new National Museum provides information on the unique history of Qatar and its people from the past to the present, and with a glimpse into the future of the country.
Visitors will be able to learn and explore a lot about Qatar in eleven very individual galleries. The galleries are loosely structured in chronological order, starting with exhibitions on the natural history of the desert and the Persian Gulf, artifacts from Bedouin culture, historical exhibitions about the tribal wars and the founding of the state of Qatar, and finally the discovery of oil up to the present day. The exhibitions and installations exploring these themes present audiovisual experiences with carefully selected treasures from the museum’s collections. These collections currently consist of around 8,000 objects and include archaeological artifacts, architectural elements, household and travel objects, textiles, costumes, jewelry, applied arts, books and historical documents.
The museum, which is accessible to everyone, offers visitors a wide range of opportunities to participate, study or relax. An auditorium with 220 seats and a changing program of events ensure that every visit offers a new and exciting perspective. For those looking to relax and unwind, there are modern eateries including a stunning rooftop restaurant and a newly landscaped park that offers family-friendly interactive learning environments and also celebrates the native plants of Qatar. The in-house research center and laboratories offer new study opportunities for students and researchers.
