STUDY IN QATAR
Tennis With the Qatar Tennis Federation on a mission to promote the sport and develop the next generation of Qatari talent, visitors can expect to find world-class facilities and attend big events such as the Qatar Open. Prime spots include Smash Tennis Academy; Beach Club Al Khulaifat; and Doha’s Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, used for major tournaments. Outside of Doha, options include Dukhan Recreation Club, Mesaieed’s MIC Sports Club and Al Shaheen Recreational Center. Plus, many local hotels offer courts and arrange tennis socials.
Scuba diving Doha’s high-end hotels are one obvious place to book dives and courses, or buy or rent gear. Options include Poseidon Dive Center, at the Hilton, and Alghais Diving Center. The latter, which also offers freediving, has bases at Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara; the marina of the Ritz Carlton; and Sealine Beach Resort in Mesaieed, where the accessible man-made reefs are magnets for marine life. More adventurous sites include Othman Reef and Zeytuna Reef.
Golf Most of the best facilities are in Doha, principally Doha Golf Club and Education City Golf Club. Aside from its excellent main course the latter offers state-of-the-art practice and training facilities, courtesy of its Centre of Excellence, while its floodlit nine-hole, par-three course can be played at night when it’s cooler. For a change of scene consider Mesaieed Golf Club, south of Doha, or the Dukhan course on the west coast.
ATV Quad biking Similar to dune bashing in a four-wheel-drive buggy but with you at the helm, controlling the speed and pitch as you bash and crash the desert dunes, it’s guaranteed to get your blood pumping that much faster. Whether going solo, joining an organised group tour or taking a custom tour with friends it’s an ever-popular activity in the Khor Al Adaid inland sea area. Moreover, it’s instantly accessible, with operators such as Sand Line Dunes Qatar specifying no riding experience required, so you can get in and go.
SEVEN MORE TO TRY
KITESURFING Qatar’s expansive coastline and favourable wind conditions are driving the popularity of the sport and most local watersports operators offer lessons and equipment hire. Top spots include Zikreet, Al Mafar, Mesaieed’s Sealine Beach and Fuwairit. Options in the capital include the Spit, in Lusail.
PADEL
Qatar recently joined the International Padel Federation and Doha is set to host the Padel World Championship from 15-20 November 2021. While the racquet sport is gaining traction, for now the best bet for booking indoor courts is Doha’s PADEL IN, which also offers lessons and hosts tournaments.
HOT AIR BALLOONING Taking to the air offers the perfect way to drink in Doha’s futuristic skyline and coastline. It’s offered seasonally by operators such as 365 Adventures, subject to favourable weather conditions, with sunrise flights a popular choice. Expect to pay around QR999 per person for a 45-minute flight.
SANDBOARDING The dune-enlivened desertscapes of Khor Al Adaid, an hour’s drive south of Doha, is the ‘go to’ place to
get your sandboarding game face on. A staple for local operators, alongside activities such as dune bashing, you’ll be grinning from ear to ear as you carve up the sand (between face plants).
CAMEL RIDING Khor Al Adaid is also the ideal place to go camel riding, a fixture of the desert safari experience. Visitors can follow in the footsteps of the Bedouin tribes, who plied the area on their ‘ships of the desert’, the vantage point of a camel’s back ensuring an enhanced appreciation of the landscape.
DUNE BASHING This regional, high- octane classic needs litle introduction. Start off with a scenic drive out to Qatar’s southern desert region before holding tight as the expert driver careers up, down and around the dunes at breakneck speeds and exhilarating angles.
SAILING
Visitors can expect plain sailing at Doha’s Regata Sailing Academy, South Marina Yacht Club and Qatar Sails, while Doha Marine Sports Club is offers the chance to participate in traditional dhow racing. Alternatively, grab a dhow cruise from Doha’s Corniche.
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