Countdown to the world cup: how to spend 100 hours in Qatar

Traditional wooden dhow anchored at Dhow Harbor in Doha Bay with spiral mosque and minaret in the background at sunset. View from Corniche promenade. Qatar, Middle East, Arabian Gulf.

By Alexandra Coulton

To mark 100 days until the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Qatar Tourism has revealed how fans can spend 100 hours in Qatar while visiting for a match.

With more than one million visitors set to descend on Doha for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, fans will be searching for activities to pack into their schedules whilst not attending matches.

There’s loads on offer for fans, and with the ‘Hayya Card’ – required to enter Qatar – providing free public transport, including the new air-conditioned metro on match days, it will be quick and convenient to discover the peninsula’s best sites and things to do without breaking the bank.

Action and adventure – 24 hours

With more than 560 kilometres of coastline, the calm crystal waters of the Arabian Gulf make Qatar an ideal spot for water sports. From beginners to the experienced, adventurers can try stand-up paddle boarding around The Pearl-Qatar, go sunset kayaking through lush green mangroves, or have a thrilling jet ski ride exploring the stunning skyline.

Then, a visit to the undulating sand dunes of Qatar’s desert is a must. Only an hour’s drive from Doha, one of the most popular tours is to experience the stunning Khor Al-Adaid or ‘Inland Sea’, recognised by UNESCO as a natural reserve with a beautiful landscape.

Luxurious tents at desert beach camp, Inland Sea, Khor al Udaid (iStock/bennymarty)

The journey commonly includes dune bashing in a 4×4, swimming in the beautiful waters and, of course, a camel ride.

Back in the city, families looking to get their thrill fix can visit Doha Quest, the latest of Qatar’s theme parks which opened last summer and offers an array of attractions for all ages.

Art and culture – 48 hours

One of the most breath-taking public art installations is East-West/West-East by Richard Serra, which comprises four, huge, 14-metre steel plates amongst the Ras Abrouq rock formations in Zekreet.

For those wishing to stay in the city, a number of iconic museums include the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ), with its captivating design in the shape of desert rose crystals, the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) designed by I. M. Pei, and the new 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum – an ambitious project, billed as the world’s most innovative sports museum.

A textile shop along the street in the Souq Waqif area in Doha (iStock/LordRunar)

Later, stroll through Souq Waqif, a traditional market, best experienced in the evening when the alleyway shops and restaurants come to life and fill with locals, residents and curious visitors.

The beach – 72 hours

For uninterrupted sunset views, try Al Shamal on the north coast and Fuwairit Beach. Those after a family-friendly break can visit Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas, which has 3.5 kilometres of powder-soft beachfront, Desert Falls Water & Adventure Park and recently launched a dolphin cruise.

Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas

Another option is taking a short boat ride to the glamorous Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara, which this summer reopened a surf pool and launched whale shark excursions.

Affordable exploration – 96 hours

One of the most intriguing areas is the Pearl-Qatar, an expansive man-made island to the north of Doha that features Mediterranean-style yacht-lined marinas, boutique shops and colourful Instagrammable streets in the Qanat Quartier zone.

For an area that blends more Arabian heritage with modern sustainable urban architecture, there is Msheireb Downtown Doha with its trendy cafes, art galleries and museums.

Visiting fans will be among the first to experience a range of new tourism developments set to launch just before the tournament begins. Exciting openings include Lusail Winter Wonderland on a sandy island, a state-of-the-art kite beach resort Fuwairit Kite Beach, the first “Entertainment Island” in Qatar Qetaifan Island North, and new public and private beach areas forming part of the West Bay North Beach Project.

Fuwairit Kite Beach (fkb.qa)

It is also worth a wander through one of the glittering shopping malls. The largest are the Mall of Qatar and Doha Festival City, with theme parks and family-friendly eateries amongst many hundreds of household-name brands.

Visitors will also find a huge variety of budget-friendly, delicious street food options, from tacos to shawarma. These are often all grouped together in a convenient zone such as the Lusail Night Market.

For an authentic local snack, every fan must try Qatar’s acclaimed café restaurant Chapati & Karak, named after an Indian-inspired flatbread treat and sweet tea available together for only a couple of dollars.

Now for the match! – 100 hours

For those final four hours, it is time for a match. Qatar is the first ever Middle Eastern or Arab nation to host a FIFA World Cup and has made big plans to ensure every traveller is treated to the experience of a lifetime.

Featured image: Traditional wooden dhow anchored at Dhow Harbor in Doha Bay with spiral mosque and minaret in the background at sunset. (iStock/bennymarty)

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