Doha Qatar in 180 Minutes
Doha Qatar in 180 Minutes
It feels like an age since we last packed our bags and visited a new country. Finally, after nearly two years, we are back on the road and in the air after our failed attempt to visit Algeria last year. It may sound crazy to leave south eastern Spain in August when the sun is shining and beach and pool life is the norm, but everyone needs a change of scenery, especially two travel junkies like ourselves. We have been stuck on 92 countries visited around the world for quite some time now, so a great excuse to dust off the backpacks and go exploring. So where to next? Before we share that, it was time to drop into Doha Qatar for a layover. Here is our review of Doha Qatar in 180 Minutes.
Doha Qatar in 180 Minutes
After many hours of research and planning we decided to visit a new destination in Asia, the location to be revealed soon! On the way, however, we decided to avail of a stopover and to explore a new destination. Qatar was an interesting option, especially when we booked Qatar Airways for our trip. Some more plotting and planning was done to work out the perfect itinerary from our home here in Spain. After flying from Madrid, we decided to avail of a nine hour layover in Qatar. A crazy decision you may think, but a great opportunity for us to visit a new part of the world. We had previously visited its near neighbour United Arab Emirates in the past, so nine hours would give us enough time to visit this capital city which is expanding year upon year and recently hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2022.
After a smooth morning flight from Madrid, we arrived in Doha just before 5pm local time, we had pre booked a three hour city tour run by Qatar Airways which would transport us direct from the airport in an air conditioned bus, show us the main attractions of the city and have us back in the airport with plenty of time to spare for our connecting flight later that night. The tour was simple to book online and cost us the grand total of 54 euros for two people, very reasonable in theory, but would the final product be worth it?
Tours appeared to leave each hour so we decided to take the 7pm tour after a scheduled landing just before 5pm, the only condition being we check in one and a half hours before the tour. We had thirty minutes to spare when we reached the airport, so before we made our way out through customs and into arrivals, we found the Discover Qatar desk where we checked in for our tour. There were many others waiting to take the tour from all around the world with English the main language used to communicate. A group role call was announced before we made our way with the guide through the airport and out via security. This process was smooth and simple resulting in us waiting one hour for the tour to begin by 7pm.
We took time to look around the airport which was clean, modern and efficient. Before we knew it, another role call was taken and we were taken outside to our awaiting bus. The first thing that struck us was the sheer heat in the air. It was dark, as it was 7pm, but it was around 40 degrees centigrade. Coming from Spain in summer this wasn’t a total shock, but it still felt a lot warmer than usual. From the oven like conditions outside we made our way inside the frigid, air conditioned coach with comfortable leather seats. Our tour guide, originally from Mozambique, took the microphone and explained the itinerary for the next three hours.
Doha Qatar in 180 Minutes
Early impressions of the city were what we expected, clean streets, beautiful buildings, organised and safe. We soon passed the 974 stadium used during the FIFA World Cup 2022. The stadium is quite unique as it is made from recycled shipping containers, legacy plans involved dismantling the stadium and moving it to Africa or South America, and the former site to be transformed with a waterfront development, although this hasn’t happened at the present time. Our guide gave us some interesting information about the country and life before and after the World Cup. It is astonishing when you think that there is a population of approximately 2.7 million people with expats making up 88 percent of the total population. Our guide explained how she arrived in the city back in 2011 and that most of the buildings you see today weren’t even there only a few years back. The growth of the city is staggering and very reminiscent of the changes which have, and continue to happen in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
Our first stop was the Museum of Islamic Art, as we were on a tight schedule, this would only be for photos as the museums location provides the perfect place to capture traditional Dhow boats, and the financial district in the background with impressive skyscrapers and illuminations. After some pictures, we made our way back onto the bus having baked in the warm night air. We made our way along the Corniche where our guide pointed out more iconic skyscrapers from the first built to the latest. It felt very much like Dubai, or Kuala Lumpur as mentioned previously, so finding out this country’s true identity would be hard in such a short time. The Dhows moored on the harbour gave a glimpse into times past, but nowadays they are used more as pleasure vessels for families to celebrate birthdays and get togethers, not for catching fish like they used to.
The Dhows almost represent life in the new Qatar, gone are the days when many of the locals survived on fishing, all around stands the symbols of the new Qatar and Doha with shiny buildings, luxury cars, fancy street lighting and well paved roads showcasing all that the discovery of oil back in the late 1930s and 40s has done to change the landscape and people of this region forever. Where there is oil, there is money, and Qatar has a lot of it. Sadly, we all know that those who like to get rich don’t get rich from giving it away, so there are bound to be many underpaid and overworked making this country get where it wants to be today. Despite this, our guide did give us a background into life as an immigrant with plenty of jobs, good education and quality healthcare reasons why many choose to come and live here from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and beyond. Many work long hours to send the money back home to support their families.
Doha Qatar in 180 Minutes
We moved onto the Katara Multipurpose Hall. Katara’s landmarks include a 3,275-square-metre marble amphitheatre, blending ancient Greek and traditional Arabic design elements, which can seat up to 5,000 spectators. The complex is also home to the Ottoman-style Golden Mosque, adorned with gold tiles, and the Katara Mosque, designed by Turkish architect Zainab Fadil Oglu and decorated with turquoise and purple mosaics. Traditional pigeon towers, constructed of brick and clay and measuring 15 metres (49 ft) in height, are another distinctive feature. The Opera House, seating 550, is the only venue of its type in Qatar and hosts concerts and cultural events. As we moved along the streets, our guide explained why there was a stream of water running alongside the pavement, apparently it is to cool the surrounding air which gets very hot, especially during the summer, simple, but effective, despite most of our group gasping for water and struggling to stay cool.
The setting here was stunning with a lovely view out to the financial centre and locals strolling around after evening prayer. It gave a glimpse into times past in Qatar, a blend of new and old which seems to be what this city is striving for. After getting back onboard the bus we made our way to our final stop, Souq Waqif which is a bustling blend of sights, sounds, and scents that captures the heart of Qatar’s rich culture. You can wander through its winding alleys, lined with spice stalls, handcrafted goods, and local art. Immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere where tradition meets the modern, and each moment offers a new discovery. This is a local and tourist hot spot, but boasting many things to do for first time visitors. Upon entering the markets perimeter, you will find many camels grazing with opportunities to take a ride on them. Inside the market there are the usual shops selling everything from fridge magnets to flutes.
It is nice to walk around but you will still find the shop owners haggling and squeezing out a deal so be prepared to walk away or be tough, otherwise you will overpay for something you don’t really need! We escaped by buying a couple of fridge magnets and repairing my wrist watch battery, but the dealers would have us leaving with dishes to replica stadiums from the World Cup if they had their way! We strolled around the market taking in the smells of the spices before taking a seat at one of the wooden benches nearby. It was like being transported to a bygone era in the Middle East, but turn around and those dominating, flashy lights of the financial district and towering buildings quickly bought you back to 21st century earth. After a 45 minute stop by our guide at the market it was time for us to make our way back to the airport some twenty five minutes drive away.
Doha Qatar in 180 Minutes
The guide gave a little more history about the city and country before we arrived back at Hamad International Airport. We had heard how this airport is fast becoming one of the world’s busiest and best so we had four hours to now explore. First stop was food, on the lowel level there was a small food court, clean with plenty of staff but the prices were eye watering. We paid the equivalent of over fifty euros for some poor chicken and salad, two small shish kebabs and sweet and sour chicken. If the quality of the food was good then it wouldn’t have been so bad, but it was reheated and of poor quality. What didn’t help were the pushy staff trying to get you to buy food, we were hungry, we didn’t need much persuading! In the end we were happy to have some food inside us so didn’t dwell on it or complain, but if they want to attract more people and leave them with a great experience, then the food options, price, and quality need improving in the near future.
Second problem was now the cold, yes the cold! From the heat of the oven like conditions outdoors, the inside of the airport was almost Arctic like, especially for Paula. Thankfully Qatar Airways supplied us with free blankets when we approached their information desk. We then took a train, yes a train/monorail to a different part of the airport for a change of scenery. Here we strolled around the stunning Orchard.
At the heart of the Orchard is a beautiful indoor tropical garden, home to a diverse collection of trees, plants, and shrubs sourced from around the world. A serene water feature further enhances the atmosphere, creating a refreshing and calming space for travellers. We now live in a generation of people living with their phones glued to their hands taking selfies and this place was selfie paradise. Traveller after traveller from around the world taking the opportunity to take pictures of this unique setting. A very clever idea from those in charge to raise the airport’s profile even further with free marketing.
Nearby were the usual high end stores and celebrity endorsed restaurants but we were happy to find a nice area to enjoy a tea and to charge our phones before our next flight in the early hours of the morning. Being stuck in an airport for any length of time isn’t many peoples’ idea of fun but there are certainly worse places to be. If you ever want to be stuck in an airport for a longer period of time then this is the place. We can see how this destination and airport is growing year on year with plenty of investment.
So that was our 180 minutes in Doha, Qatar. Would we go back? Once you have seen it, it probably would be enough for many people, but the city and country is forever changing. We hope to return someday and use the airport as a hub to reach many destinations. Qatar Airways certainly is one of the best for comfort, food and efficiency. The Middle East is taking full advantage of its strategic position between Europe, Asia and Australasia. Qatar and Doha just another place cashing in on this opportunity to lure travellers from the four corners of the globe.
We highly enjoyed our visit to country number 93 on our list but it’s now time for number 94. Qatar is being built on artificial islands and artificial reefs and with that will come artificial emotions and feelings to get you to spend your money here. It’s not a world that really appeals to us, but for a few hours it was a pleasure. We just hope the future Qatar doesn’t forget its roots and doesn’t blend into another soulless, glitzy theme park, it is so much more than that. Keep it real Qatar, fake is boring and ultimately fades into the distance.
Doha Qatar in 180 Minutes.
