Qatar may be higher identified for its futuristic skyscrapers, natural-gas riches and 2022 World Cup internet hosting duties, however this tiny Arabian Peninsula nation, nearly completely surrounded by the nice and cozy turquoise waters of the Gulf, additionally provides loads of seashores to get pleasure from a refreshing dip. From family-friendly sands to an rising kitesurfing vacation spot, get able to dive in.
The most effective time of the 12 months to hit the seashore in Qatar is from March to Could and September to November, when it’s not too sizzling or chilly. As a basic 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 Seaside is one of the best seashore for households
If you wish to swim within the ocean however don’t wish to enterprise past the capital of Doha, Katara Seaside is the place to go. This 1.5km (0.9 mile) seashore adjoining to Katara Cultural Village is a nice sandy stretch with lounge chairs, shaded areas best for sheltering youngsters from the new solar, motorized and non-motorized watersports and a sprawling youngsters’s play space. With meals vans and eating places simply steps from the sand, you don’t must go far to search out lunch.
Katara Seaside costs a charge of QR50 for adults and QR25 for youngsters ages 7–17, nevertheless it’s significantly lower than you’ll pay to go to a personal seashore in Qatar. Single males will not be permitted within the household part; discover the lads’s part on the southern finish of the seashore.
Fuwairit Seaside is Qatar’s high kitesurfing vacation spot
The crunchy white sands of Fuwairit Seaside on Qatar’s northeast coast, about an hour’s drive north of Doha, are fringed by shallow, crystal-blue waters best 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 seashore, it’ll be simpler than ever to rearrange classes and transport.
You’ll be able to nonetheless drive as much as Fuwairit Seaside at any time of the 12 months to get pleasure from a swim. From April to July, the northern part of the general public seashore is often closed off to guard nesting hawksbill turtles.
Al Maroona Seaside is a good day journey with mates
Simply north of the mysterious Al Jassasiya Rock Carvings lies one in all Qatar’s most engaging stretches of sand, which, like a lot of the nation’s seashores, is greatest for swimming at excessive tide. Widespread with western expats on the weekends, Al Maroona Seaside (often known as French Seaside) is one in all Qatar’s few public seashores the place the gown code is considerably versatile, with most beachgoers tending to put on bikinis and briefs fairly than T-shirts and board shorts. There’s nothing to entertain (or shade) youngsters past the sand and sea at this distant, undeveloped seashore, round an hour’s drive north of Doha, nevertheless it does make for an excellent day journey with mates. Don’t overlook to pack a picnic lunch. The off-road entry is appropriate for 2WD automobiles.
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 journey from Shyoukh Port within the coronary heart of town. This crescent-shaped island is dwelling to the Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara. Dotted with palm timber, 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 get pleasure from its peaceable, 800m (2625ft) strip of sand, and you’ll merely purchase a day cross 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 Seaside has Qatar’s greatest scuba diving
Round an hour’s drive south of Doha, previous Qatar’s petroleum refineries and pure fuel processing crops, Sealine Seaside sits on the finish of the highway on the nation’s east coast. That is Qatar’s fundamental 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 embody 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.
Should you’re not diving, keep at Sealine Seaside 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 seashore to the south, the place you’ll discover a couple of easy locations to eat in addition to a gaggle of camel drivers angling to promote you a journey.
Umm Bab Seaside has an excellent desert oasis vibe
Most of Qatar’s greatest seashores lie on the nation’s east coast, however for one thing completely different, drive an hour west of Doha to Umm Bab Seaside. Also called Palm Tree Seaside for the small clusters of palm timber scattered across the sand, the shallow seashore is a well-liked tenting vacation spot for locals within the winter months, so look forward to finding a couple of tents and caravans alongside the shoreline.
Khor Al Adaid is one of the best seashore 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 types a pure border between Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Don’t overlook to pack your swimwear as you’ll little doubt be prepared for a refreshing dip after bouncing across the dunes in a 4WD. Organized excursions supplied by the likes of Qatar Worldwide Excursions sometimes run for 4 hours. The dunes start round an hour from Doha, immediately south of Sealine Seaside.
InterContinental Doha Seaside & Spa has Qatar’s greatest personal seashore
Should you’re searching for a lodge with seashore entry, the InterContinental Doha Seaside & Spa is difficult to beat. It’s dwelling to the capital’s longest personal seashore, so there’s loads of room to laze on a lounger and take in the sweeping views of the West Bay monetary district; it’s among the best 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 inexpensive QR200 (US$55), and charges are discounted for youngsters. There’s a seashore bar and several other good eating places adjoining to the pool and seashore space, together with the Peruvian restaurant La Mar, which is about to open its personal pool membership in late 2022.
Al Shamal Seaside provides 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 Seaside, which stretches alongside the Shamal Corniche, is a high-quality spot to absorb the vista. You’ll discover public loos, shade buildings on the sand and seating alongside the corniche. A number of easy eating choices will be discovered within the neighboring villages of Abu Dhalouf and Al Ruwais.
Native buses run right here from Doha, however the journey typically takes twice so long as the 90-minute journey by automotive.
YouTube video participant
Simaisma Seaside is a straightforward family-friendly getaway
North of Doha, Simaisma Seaside is Qatar’s most developed public seashore after Katara Seaside, with loads of family-friendly amenities. With calm, shallow waters and mangroves to discover on the northern finish of the seashore, it’s nice for youths, however the delicate, muddy sand isn’t best for constructing sandcastles.
Simaisma Seaside is well reached in half-hour by automotive, or it’s an hour by public bus.
