Unique Things You Can Only See In Qatar

Think of a typical desert, and what features do you see inside your head? Well, presumably lots of sand and sun. What certainly doesn’t spring to mind, though, is water. Yet in Qatar the sea and the desert are actually right beside one another. That’s about as unusual a geographical feature as you’re ever likely to encounter.

Camel racing’s a beloved hobby in Qatar but it’s changed a lot over the years. Back in the day, it was actually children who rode the animals during races. This was obviously very dangerous, so in 2004 new jockeys started to be used. They weren’t grown-up human jockeys, though, but rather robot ones.

If you fly into Hamad International Airport, you’re in for a big surprise. Most airports around the world tend to be very similar but this one has a crucial difference. Inside the main terminal building you’ll find a gargantuan teddy bear sitting around. This thing weighs something like 22 tons and it cost close to $7 million to make.

If you happen to be driving about 12 miles outside of Doha, don’t be surprised if you end up feeling like you’ve slipped into the set of Mad Max. In reality, you’ve probably stumbled across the Al Wukair Scrapyard. This is a sort of car graveyard, where something like 20,000 vehicles have been dumped in the desert.

What are New York, London, Paris, and countless other major cities around the world missing? Camels! Doha, on the other hand, has its very own camel enclosure, so anyone with a fondness for the animals can go over to take a few photos. They can be found there during the daytime and into the late afternoon.

The landscape of Qatar is extraordinary in all sorts of ways and one of the more notable features is just how flat it is. In fact, only the Maldives is flatter. So you won’t be seeing very many hills or mountains throughout Qatar. Of course, the great, flat expanses are interrupted nowadays by all the skyscrapers.

Though originally completed in 1976, Khalifa Stadium’s since entered a new stage in its development. It’s been heavily modernized and renovated in advance of the 2022 World Cup, when it’ll host thousands of spectators. The tournament will undoubtedly mark the most significant phase in the arena’s almost 50-year timeline.

Surveying the options at a big buffet is an exciting time for anyone but this particular one’s insane. It’s reported that the Doha Marriott hotel has a buffet that stretches out for more than 300 feet. Dishes from all over the world are included in this gargantuan spread.

Before Qatar made it big from selling oil, pearls were a significant export. This product’s left its mark on the nation’s culture as a result and you can very much see that recognized today. The Pearl Monument’s a notable example — it’s a fountain carefully sculpted to look like an oyster showing off a pearl.

The Villaggio Mall stands on the western side of Doha and is filled with well-known brands and stores. It has everything you’d expect to find in a shopping mall, plus something a little more unique. Cutting right through the middle of the place is a canal — complete with gondolas.

Ardha is a style of dance involving swords. It’s Qatar’s national dance, which nowadays is often seen at special events such as at a wedding or some cultural gathering. Back in the day, though, the dance would be broken out in quite different circumstances. Namely, before a battle was about to commence.

Doha’s Olympic Cycling Track has quite the claim to fame: it’s the lengthiest uninterrupted cycle path on Earth. It was finished up in 2020 and stretches out for more than 20 miles. That’s an intimidating length, for sure, especially in the intense Qatar heat. But thankfully the route’s lined with benches and resting areas.

The Qatar National Convention Center’s quite the sight. From the outside, the building appears to be held up in place by white structures resembling trees. These are, in actual fact, inspired by the Sidra tree, which has a close association with the notion of knowledge and Qatar’s heritage.

For those with an interest in ancient history, the Al Jassasiya’s a fascinating place. There, close to 900 images etched into stone have been documented. These so-called “petroglyphs” give us a glimpse into the lives of the ancient people who drew them, some of whom seem to have dated back to the Neolithic period more than 4,000 years ago.

Not far from the shores of the Qatari capital Doha is a special island naturally shaped into a sort of crescent. Viewed from the air it resembles a certain yellow fruit, from which the isle has appropriately taken its name. Banana Island’s now home to a luxury resort and is open to paying visitors.

Filled with a whole bunch of rides and attractions, the Doha Quest indoor amusement park’s a fun day out. The center places a great deal of emphasis on hi-tech amusements, something that’s definitely reflected in its space-age decor. But for people who enjoy good old-fashioned roller-coasters, there are plenty of them, too.

Much of Qatar’s territory is barren and dry but that doesn’t mean there’s no agriculture. To the northwest of Doha, for instance, there’s actually a farm that specializes in holistic forms of farming. It’s called Heenat Salma and the people there grow plants and vegetables suited to a desert environment.

Sidra Medicine’s a hospital, yes, but one designed with tremendous care. The building itself comprises a trio of sails, which is a reference to Qatar’s history of sailing on the ocean. The hospital was the fruit of Cesar Pelli’s imagination, a figure who also designed New York’s World Financial Center.

Falcons are a big part of Qatari culture and the best place to appreciate that is at the Falcon Souq. This marketplace is filled with the birds and you’ll see lots of locals coming around to inspect them. According to Lonely Planet, Thursday’s the best day of the week to visit.

Pearl-diving was once a central part of Qatari life, a fact that’s still widely acknowledged in the country today. And in a certain spot where the activity once took place, an artificial island has been constructed. This place is home nowadays to luxury hotels, restaurants, and a whole bunch of other facilities.

Another example of innovative architecture found in Qatar is the country’s National Museum. Born from the imagination of architect Jean Nouvel, the design of this building was inspired by a crystal known as the desert rose. Fittingly, Qatar’s one of the few places on Earth where you can actually find this crystal.

Among the venues set to host games for the World Cup at the end of 2022 is the Al Thumama Stadium. The design of this place was heavily based on the gahfiya, which is a type of hat worn throughout the Arab region. The stadium will host around 40,000 spectators for each game during the tournament.

As parks go, Doha’s Oxygen Park is fairly groundbreaking. It was carefully designed with the aesthetic of natural areas in mind, and the shapes of rocks and different sorts of land formations are at the heart of the site’s layout. More practical considerations went into the plans, too, as the park was purposely constructed to ensure the wind travels through it in such a way as to have a cooling effect.

Much of Qatar’s urban area has been thoroughly modernized, so the Souq Waqif marketplace stands out nowadays. Though this historic trading spot has actually been renovated in recent decades, the more traditional feel of the place has been maintained. So it can be a great site to visit in order to get a sense of the country’s heritage.

Aspire Zone is a district in Doha dedicated entirely to sports — which explains why it’s also known as Doha Sports City. Here you can find all sorts of different sporting grounds and facilities, plus an educational center. It’s home to the 980-foot-tall Aspire Tower as well, which, for the time being, is the highest building in the country.

Walking around Qanat Quartier, you wouldn’t necessarily think you’re in Doha. If anything, it feels more like Venice. This neighborhood’s filled with canals, pedestrian pathways and squares, and buildings painted in pastel hues. A range of stores and boutiques can be found there, too, not to mention plenty of restaurants.

Anyone who loves caves should take a visit to Dahl Al Misfir if ever they’re in Qatar. At roughly 130 feet deep, no other cave in the country has quite the same magnitude. Plus, fibrous gypsum is a major component there, which gives the whole cave a sort of ethereal, glowing feel.

For an awe-inspiring sight to behold in Qatar, there are few better places to visit than the Golden Masjid. This mosque’s an example of the Ottoman style but what really makes it stand out is its golden exterior. When the sun catches this place just right, it looks incredible.

The Katara Amphitheater’s a mishmash of styles. It’s a classical Greek theater, for sure, but it also has some flourishes with a distinctly Islamic character. It’s a good place to visit, as the structure itself is beautiful and it also has great views of the shimmering sea.

Qatar can get extremely hot, which definitely makes walking around a challenge. But at the public square known as Barahat Msheireb, a novel solution to that problem has been introduced. A retractable roof has been installed, so when conditions become too intense and warm the roof can be spread out to block the sun.