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qatar
chance sporting
Unique cultural assets and a developing tourism sector make Qatar a stopover worth recommending, says Gary Noakes
F
ew people currently choose Qatar for an out and out week’s holiday, but due to its airline and growing reputation
as a sporting destination, a good number of UK travellers are choosing it for stopovers or short breaks. It’s a year since Qatar Airways relocated to the new Hamad International Airport and the airline now has nearly 150 routes, with 63 weekly fl ights from the UK alone. This and the 2022 World Cup, which Qatar will host, mean this tiny country shouldn’t be ignored. There has been no shortage of
recent publicity for Qatar – not all of it good – but despite the controversy the
country has hung on to its World Cup and the world will be watching
“Visiting during Ramadan or the 45C+ summer is best avoided. Modest dress rules apply, especially for women, although
swimwear is fine in hotels” GARY NOAKES, TRAVEL WRITER
for the next seven years as it builds an entire city to house the tournament. In oil-rich Qatar, money is no object and the estimated construction spend will be $200 billion – that’s four times that of the Sochi Winter Olympics, the costliest-ever Games. Another huge sum is being spent on cultural attractions including a spectacular National Museum. As 2022 approaches, the capital Doha will attract the vast majority of Qatar’s visitors, but until the building boom increases in intensity it will remain an alternative for those who consider Dubai’s lights too bright. Doha’s compact centre offers the
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Souq, the Museum of Islamic Art and the Corniche, a seven-kilometre bay promenade, all within walking distance. A cab ride away from the city is the Aspire Dome, the world’s largest indoor arena, where Premier League football teams often train. Outside the city a few resort hotels are emerging and some historical sites are found. “Qatar is unlikely to be what you are expecting,
it’s not the new Dubai; it’s a country with a unique character,” says Rob Mason, Abercrombie & Kent Senior Travel Consultant, Europe, Middle East and North Africa; who adds that alongside preparation for 2022, “Doha is fast becoming the cultural capital of the Middle East.” Mason believes Qatar’s cultural assets mean it appeals to mature clients. However he adds: “It’s also making inroads into the family market with openings like Ritz Carlton’s Sharq Village and Anantara’s Banana Island.”
Perfect ten See it all: You can do Doha in two or three nights, including a desert trip,
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