Qatar isn’t always what you would expect of a Middle Eastern country. While the capital city of Doha is best known for its iconic skyline, world-class museums and international sporting events, there are numerous other aspects of the country that make it special.
Below are five unique experiences you should seek out on your trip to Qatar:
Watch the Camel Races
There is a rich tradition of camel racing in Bedouin and Qatari society. You can visit the main camel racetrack, approximately 40 minutes north of Doha, in the area of Al Shahaniya. Camels can reach speeds of up to 40 miles per hour and are “ridden” by remote-controlled, toddler-sized robot jockeys dressed in racing silks.
The official racing season runs from October to February, drawing entries from neighboring countries and around the world. Major events, such as His Highness the Amir’s Main Race, which offers prizes for winners, including cash and brand-new cars, are held in March and April. During racing season, you can hop on a minibus at the facility and follow the competing camels around the track (on the circuit inside the main track).
If you come outside the season, you can still see the camels being taken out for their morning walk and training sessions, as well as explore the surrounding stables. Drive yourself or opt for an organized tour.
See Larger-than-Life Art in the Desert
Qatar has invested heavily in a public art program that extends beyond Doha. Spanish sculptor Richard Serra’s landmark work, East West/West East, lies on the western tip of the country and feels both otherworldly and part of the desert landscape. The installation in the hauntingly desolate Brouq Nature Reserve spans about a half mile and comprises four towering steel plates. The two inner plates reach 48 feet high, and the outer two plates are 55 feet high. To guarantee alignment, Serra examined the topography of the land, and the pillars were all positioned perfectly. The best time to visit is at sunset, when the prehistoric landscape takes on a golden glow.
Meanwhile, to Doha’s north, you can find Shadows Travelling on the Sea of the Day by Icelandic sculptor Olafur Eliasson. Near the landmark Zubarah Fort and the small village of Ain Mohammed, the installation contains a cluster of 20 mirrored circular shelters and free-standing rings. Depending on your physical perspective and, of course, the sun, they appear differently. Something special occurs when people are under the circular shelters, where the mirror turns the focus back on the individual.
Both sites are accessible by car from Doha.
Follow the Majestic Whale Sharks
It will come as a surprise to many, but the waters surrounding the peninsula of Qatar are home to a stunning natural phenomenon: the largest gathering of whale sharks in the world. Lured by rich plankton waters and warm currents of the area known as Al Shaheen, these majestic creatures frequently breach the ocean surface to feed. These are the largest animals on the planet — they can grow up to 60 feet long and weigh 40 tons — and it’s believed up to 300 congregate in Qatar’s northern waters.
These fish and the marine area that is their home are protected, but the Qatari government allows you to check it out through an organized tour. From June to September, you can book an all-day tour that takes you from Doha city to the very north of Qatar, to Al Ruwais. There, you board a boat to head into two of their habitats; along the way, a marine expert gives you a briefing.
Get Wet and Wild in a Waterpark
While waterparks are not unique to Qatar, this small (and hot) country has two top venues to enable you to slip and slide and keep cool.
The newest is Meryal, at Qetaifan Island North, just outside of Doha, home to no less than 53 slides. The centerpiece is The Rig 1938, a 260-foot tower that holds two Guinness World Records: the world’s tallest waterslide and the most waterslides from a single tower, with a total of 12. Rides are categorized according to “thrill level,” the highest being the drop slide, Vertigo, which dispatches thrill seekers from a height of nearly 250 feet.
Meanwhile, Desert Falls Water and Adventure Park, just a few miles from the Saudi border at Abu Samra, boasts 30 rides and slides. The Spinning Rapids Ride is found inside the Sea Caves section of the park, simulating riding rapids on a river, except down a nearly 105-foot mountain. The Cobra provides incredible views across the Inland Sea, but there are also more sedate rides for all ages.
Visit a Falcon Souq
The Falcon Souq in Souq Waqif is not just for tourists — this is where racing and hunting birds are bought and sold. Falconry is deeply rooted in Qatari culture, and falcons are not only highly prized but also revered as the national symbol.
Evenings are the best time to visit, especially on Thursdays, when owners and breeders gather to discuss the finer points of the ancient sport. You can see the feathered animals sitting on their perches, their heads and eyes covered in tiny leather hoods, as well as hold them (under supervision, of course).
Don’t miss stopping in at the government-run Falcon Hospital next door to the Souq Building, which treats injured and sick birds.
