Qatar may be higher recognized for its futuristic skyscrapers, natural-gas riches and 2022 World Cup internet hosting duties, however this tiny Arabian Peninsula nation, virtually solely surrounded by the nice and cozy turquoise waters of the Gulf, additionally affords loads of seashores to take pleasure in a refreshing dip. From family-friendly sands to an rising kitesurfing vacation spot, get able to dive in.
The perfect time of the 12 months to hit the seaside in Qatar is from March to Could and September to November, when it’s not too scorching or chilly. As a common rule, women and men ought to put on a T-shirt and board shorts when swimming at public seashores. At personal seashores, bikinis and swimwear briefs are completely acceptable.
Katara Seashore is one of the best seaside for households
If you wish to swim within the ocean however don’t wish to enterprise past the capital of Doha, Katara Seashore is the place to go. This 1.5km (0.9 mile) seaside adjoining to Katara Cultural Village is a nice sandy stretch with lounge chairs, shaded areas supreme for sheltering youngsters from the new solar, motorized and non-motorized watersports and a sprawling kids’s play space. With meals vans and eating places simply steps from the sand, you don’t must go far to seek out lunch.
Katara Seashore fees a charge of QR50 for adults and QR25 for kids ages 7–17, nevertheless it’s significantly lower than you’ll pay to go to a personal seaside in Qatar. Single males aren’t permitted within the household part; discover the lads’s part on the southern finish of the seaside.
Fuwairit Seashore is Qatar’s prime kitesurfing vacation spot
The crunchy white sands of Fuwairit Seashore on Qatar’s northeast coast, about an hour’s drive north of Doha, are fringed by shallow, crystal-blue waters supreme for kitesurfing. The kiting (learn: windy) season runs from January to June, and with a kitesurfing resort attributable to open in late 2022 on this in any other case undeveloped seaside, it’ll be simpler than ever to rearrange classes and transport.
You’ll be able to nonetheless drive as much as Fuwairit Seashore at any time of the 12 months to take pleasure in a swim. From April to July, the northern part of the general public seaside is often closed off to guard nesting hawksbill turtles.
Al Maroona Seashore is a nice day journey with mates
Simply north of the mysterious Al Jassasiya Rock Carvings lies certainly one of Qatar’s most engaging stretches of sand, which, like many of the nation’s seashores, is greatest for swimming at excessive tide. Well-liked with western expats on the weekends, Al Maroona Seashore (also referred to as French Seashore) is certainly one of Qatar’s few public seashores the place the costume code is considerably versatile, with most beachgoers tending to put on bikinis and briefs moderately than T-shirts and board shorts. There’s nothing to entertain (or shade) youngsters past the sand and sea at this distant, undeveloped seaside, round an hour’s drive north of Doha, nevertheless it does make for a perfect day journey with mates. Don’t overlook to pack a picnic lunch. The off-road entry is appropriate for 2WD autos.
Banana Island is a superb escape from Doha
Go away Doha behind for a day of enjoyable within the solar on Banana Island, a 30-minute catamaran experience from Shyoukh Port within the coronary heart of the town. This crescent-shaped island is house to the Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara. Dotted with palm bushes, it’s the closest factor to a tropical island escape you’ll discover in Qatar. You don’t should be a visitor of the luxurious lodge to take pleasure in its peaceable, 800m (2625ft) strip of sand, and you’ll merely purchase a day move that features boat transfers and credit score to spend at resort eating places and on watersports. The resort additionally has a surf pool, with two broad lanes simulating ocean waves.
Sealine Seashore has Qatar’s greatest scuba diving
Round an hour’s drive south of Doha, previous Qatar’s petroleum refineries and pure gasoline processing vegetation, Sealine Seashore sits on the finish of the highway on the nation’s east coast. That is Qatar’s most important shore diving vacation spot, and whereas the dive websites aren’t one of the best within the Gulf, it’s nonetheless enjoyable to verify them out. Most important websites embrace New Membership Reef and GMC Reef, each synthetic reefs the place crabs, stingrays and tropical fish hand around in submerged automobiles and monster tires, and the Dooba, a sunken barge the place you might spot a turtle or two.
If you happen to’re not diving, keep at Sealine Seashore Resort and you’ll laze on lounge chairs or in cabanas in your swimwear of selection, or slip into extra conservative swimming apparel and be a part of locals on the public part of the seaside to the south, the place you’ll discover just a few easy locations to eat in addition to a gaggle of camel drivers angling to promote you a experience.
Umm Bab Seashore has an excellent desert oasis vibe
Most of Qatar’s greatest seashores lie on the nation’s east coast, however for one thing totally different, drive an hour west of Doha to Umm Bab Seashore. Often known as Palm Tree Seashore for the small clusters of palm bushes scattered across the sand, the shallow seaside is a well-liked tenting vacation spot for locals within the winter months, so anticipate finding just a few tents and caravans alongside the shoreline.
Khor Al Adaid is one of the best seaside for journey
Join an exciting off-road journey to Khor Al Adaid, Qatar’s spectacular “inland sea,” the place monumental shifting sand dunes meet the azure waters of a singular tidal embayment system that varieties a pure border between Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Don’t overlook to pack your swimwear as you’ll little question be prepared for a refreshing dip after bouncing across the dunes in a 4WD. Organized excursions supplied by the likes of Qatar International Tours usually run for 4 hours. The dunes start round an hour from Doha, straight south of Sealine Seashore.
InterContinental Doha Seashore & Spa has Qatar’s greatest personal seaside
If you happen to’re in search of a lodge with seaside entry, the InterContinental Doha Seashore & Spa is difficult to beat. It’s house to the capital’s longest personal seaside, so there’s loads of room to laze on a lounger and absorb the sweeping views of the West Bay monetary district; it’s among the finest vistas in Doha.
Like most of Qatar’s resorts with personal seashores, day passes can be found to nonguests, however they don’t come low-cost – weekend entry prices QR350 (US$96). Weekdays are extra reasonably priced QR200 (US$55), and charges are discounted for kids. There’s a seaside bar and several other good eating places adjoining to the pool and seaside space, together with the Peruvian restaurant La Mar, which is about to open its personal pool membership in late 2022.
Al Shamal Seashore affords one of the best sunsets over the ocean
For uninterrupted views of the solar setting over the ocean, head to Qatar’s north coast. The tremendous shallow and rocky seashores up right here aren’t one of the best for swimming, however when the solar goes down, Al Shamal Seashore, which stretches alongside the Shamal Corniche, is a effective spot to soak up the vista. You’ll discover public loos, shade buildings on the sand and seating alongside the corniche. A number of easy eating choices might be discovered within the neighboring villages of Abu Dhalouf and Al Ruwais.
Native buses run right here from Doha, however the journey usually takes twice so long as the 90-minute journey by automobile.
Simaisma Seashore is an simple family-friendly getaway
North of Doha, Simaisma Seashore is Qatar’s most developed public seaside after Katara Seashore, with loads of family-friendly amenities. With calm, shallow waters and mangroves to discover on the northern finish of the seaside, it’s nice for teenagers, however the tender, muddy sand shouldn’t be supreme for constructing sandcastles.
Simaisma Seashore is well reached in half-hour by automobile, or it’s an hour by public bus.
