Festival

Festival of the Senses

This annual festival is themed around sports. The venue is the Corniche and a number of tents are erected at this time, one each for taste, touch, smell and sight. This festival is unique and very interesting; in that it entails everything to do with sports- the importance of nutrition in sport, the various sporting equipment and gear, the smells associated with these as well as visual displays and photographs chronicling sport related activity over the years. A giant screen displays live sporting events from around the world.

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Overview & visitor information

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Fencing Grand Prix

Activity

This annual event is held in Al Sadd Club. It is conducted by the Fencing Federation of Qatar. The event lasts 3 days and is open to all fencers who hold licenses. Winners get an extremely generous cash prize of $30,000.

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Qatar Masters Golf

Activity

This event is held annually and is quite popular amongst the local people as well as golf enthusiasts from the world over. Golfers from the globe over converge on the city of Doha to compete in this tournament. Some of the biggest names in golf are no strangers to the city of Doha. The event is held in Doha Golf Club.

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Doha Cultural Festival

Activity

This festival is held annually. This event began in 2002. It is held and celebrated with much enthusiasm. There are many activities and festivities that accompany this event. These include International folkloric shows, heritage villages, countryside lifestyles exhibition, horse exhibition, children’s cinema festival, poetry night, musical night, Islamic calligraphy exhibition, costume shows and plays. The event lasts about 10 days and is held at venues throughout Doha including the Visual Arts Center, Alwaseel auditorium, the Ritz Carlton and a number of shopping malls.

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Emir GCC Camel Races Final

Activity

This event is held annually; the venue is the Al Shahaniya Race track. The finals of the races are always held here turning this into a venue for a select crowd of wealthy camel owners to compete against each other and win prizes. This is more than entertaining for participants

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Qatar Summer Wonders

Activity

This annual festival lasts two months. The venues are multiple and include the Landmark, City Centre and the Mall. The festival comprises excellent shopping discounts, theatre, dancing, food promotions, cultural and heritage displays and a variety of other performances. Tourists are bound to enjoy these festivities.

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Eid-ul-Fitr Festival

Activity

Doha comes alive when Ramadan comes to a close and the new moon becomes visible. The entire city is illuminated and beautifully decorated. Families, friends and loved ones gather together in parks, food joints and shopping malls to partake in the festivities.

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Tribeca Film Festival Doha

Activity

This festival, which is scheduled to be held in Doha for the first time in the year 2009, will hopefully carry on to becoming an annual event. The Qatar Museum Authority arrived at an agreement with the New York based Tribeca film festival to bring this world famous festival to Doha. The venue will be the Islamic Arts Museum as well as a number of other cinemas within the city. Apart from the films that will be screened here, the festival will feature other events too such as the “Doha Conversations”, a platform for encouraging dialogue and cultural understanding between Doha and the outside world.

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Paintball Tournament

Activity

This annual event is held at the Qatar Paintball centre. This is just the kind of event fun loving tourists look forward to.

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Power Boat Races

Activity

This event is held annually by the Qatar Marine Sports Federation along the Qatar coastline. Participants from all over the globe come to take part in these races. Power boating enthusiasts will absolutely love this thrilling and exhilarating event.

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What to do with Children in Tow in Doha

Activity

Aladdin’s Kingdom

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Souk Waqif

Market

Though it has been built relatively recently, the Souq Waqif is the best place to go if for a glimpse of traditional Qatari culture. Builders utilized traditional building materials like mud and wood to give it an authentic feel. Lots of traditional Arab goods are sold here, including spices, perfume, and clothing. There's also an Art Center that features art galleries, and sells art supplies for the creatively inclined.

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Heritage House Museum

Museum

This museum is located in a building dating back to the 1930s. It showcases the ethnography of Qatar. The architectural style definitely invokes nostalgia for the old Doha. The stone tower was a feature common to structures in the gulf region since they kept buildings ventilated and cool even in soaring temperatures. Even the exhibits harken back to a time now lost. Most of the pieces showcase the Qatari way of life before oil was discovered in the region.

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Aladdin’s Kingdom

Park

This outdoor theme park is a treat for children and adults alike. It was opened in 1994. A number of wonderful and adventurous rides can be opted for here. These include rollercoaster rides, go karts, bumper cars, trampolines and carousels. Also included is a video games arcade. Over twenty different rides are available here. Most visitors throng to the thunderbolt rollercoaster which zooms forth at a speed off over 70 kilometers per hour.

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Doha Zoo

zoo

Children and adults will love the diversity of fauna housed here. Over 1500 kinds of animals from the globe over are housed here. These include animals specific to the region such as Qatar’s national animal the Oryx as well as birds belonging to this region; A fascinating outing for all.

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Palm Tree Island

island

This is arguably Doha’s most well known and definitely the most popular attraction. Located in Doha Bay, the wonderful beaches are worth a visit. Children are able to enjoy in a shallow pool as well as on some fun fair rides. The dhow rides are also worth going on. Camel rides and water sports for the more adventurous are also available here.

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Weaponry Museum

Museum

This is one of Doha’s most interesting museums. The collection of weapons and arms is extremely impressive and some of the exhibits truly stunning reflective of expert craftsmanship. The main attraction is the famed Lawrence of Arabia’s dagger. Other pieces comprise of silver and gold daggers and swords some of which date back to the 1500s.

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Doha Fort

Fortress

This is a landmark dating back to the Ottoman colonization of Doha. It was built in the 1800s. Originally this fort served as a prison. It was restored in the 1970s and since then houses a museum showcasing Qatari history. Qatari paintings and arts and crafts are on display here. Exhibits include Bedouin handicrafts, gypsum and wooden ornaments, fishing equipment and boats, historical photos, artwork including oil paintings.

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Al Bidda Park

Park

This park is a wonderful area to unwind. Adults can relax and have a good time while children amuse themselves on the Ferris wheel and the train. Boating and skateboarding/ roller skating facilities are also available here.

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Islamic Arts Museum

Museum

The exterior of this museum is magnificent. The architectural style is extremely contemporary and it is definitely the face of modern Doha. The museum houses one of the largest collections of Islamic art the globe over. The pieces and exhibits are stunning and tell the story of the glorious Islamic civilization. Over 800 pieces and artifacts across 1400 years are on display in this 5 storey museum.

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Greens

Stop for lunch or dinner at this fabulous vegetarian joint. There is a diverse range of vegetarian dishes to choose from which are both innovative as well as eclectic albeit divine. These dishes include goat cheese fondue and garlic and bean curd tart. Veggie lovers will love this unique eatery.

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Al Shaheen

This lovely restaurant serves delicious Middle Eastern cuisine. The food is pricey but worth it. Reservations are required in this sophisticated and busy restaurant. The décor is wonderful, both chic sophisticated and at the same time simple. Customers are treated to breathtaking views of the surrounding bay as well as lovely Arabic music.

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Al Bateel

Mouth watering Arabian delights are served here. Fresh ingredients are used to churn out these high quality dishes. There is a wide range of authentic dishes to choose from here. Don’t miss out on dessert. Some delectable ice creams and sorbets are served here. The ship like interior of the restaurant is also quite eclectic.

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La Mer

Although pricey, the food served here is exceptionally good. Famed amongst the elite of Doha the Mediterranean dishes served here are truly divine. Customers are also able to enjoy fantastic views of the sea below.

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Al Saha Restaurant

Although pricey, the food served here is exceptionally good. For a taste of Lebanese cuisine come here and treat yourself to some unforgettable Lebanese delights.

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LeNotre Paris

Stop for lunch or dinner at this fabulous restaurant. The atmosphere is cool and hip; the deco contemporary. The dishes served are mouth watering. Fans of Parisian cuisine will be much more than satisfied.

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Crepaway

Vivacious and down to earth best describes the ambience of this restaurant. The crowd usually consists of youngsters who come to enjoy the live music and the karaoke. Dishes served include, soups, sandwiches, burgers, pizza and pasta. Desserts here are delicious as well and include Chocolate lover, oreogasm, and orange and magna melt.

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Ruby Wu’s

Foodies are unlikely to leave this place disappointed- delicious Chinese dishes from stews to chicken to vegetable dishes are served here. The garlic chicken and dumplings are divine. The atmosphere too is fantastic, very chic and elegant.

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Balhambar

This is a well known restaurant in Doha serving delightful traditional Qatari dishes. Both meat and sea food lovers will not be disappointed; this eatery serves some of the most delectable sea food dishes and roasted lamb.

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Al Bandar

This is one of Doha’s better known restaurants. It is no wonder as mouth watering dishes are served here- both international as well as local. The sea food, in particular, is divine. The ambience is vivacious; the interior interestingly shaped like a traditional dhow and incorporating Qatari interior design.