We love doha guide oct'15

We 2015 / 2016

GET AHEAD OF THE CURVE WITH A TRIP TO THE PEARL OF THE GCC

World Traveller | We Doha

the

welcome to

CONTENTS

DOHA

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As the capital city of Qatar, Doha is famous on a global scale for being awarded the FIFA World Cup in 2022. Prior to that historic announcement, the city had already embarked on an ambitious and headline-grabbing development drive (much like its GCC neighbour cities in the UAE) but, as you’d expect, the speed of that development has increased with the World Cup on the horizon. The city now boasts a wealth of exciting attractions, from some of the finest hotels on the planet to celebrity chef-backed restaurants, and from regular sporting events which attract the biggest names to some of the region’s cultural highlights, including the magnificent Museum of Islamic Art. Doha’s future looks very bright indeed, and now’s the time to see it being made…

THE ESSENTIALS The basics for getting to and getting around Doha.

5 HOTELS A villa on a private island or a lavish high-rise hotel suite? Take your pick.

13 RESTAURANTS Outlets bearing the name of a host of celebrity chefs can be found in Doha. Which to try first?

ABOUT THIS GUIDE Our team of writers have experienced all that Doha has to offer so as to provide you with the their expert recommendations. Enjoy our carefully curated picks, so you can enjoy the best there is on offer in this gorgeous destination.

20 SHOPPING From high-end and high-street, to souks and souvenirs, Doha has it all.

22 CULTURE Home to the finest museum in the Middle East, there’s also plenty else to stimulate in Doha.

25 ACTIVITIES Whether watching or participating, Doha is rife with opportunities for fun.

MANAGING DIRECTOR

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

SENIOR DESIGNER

ILLUSTRATOR

WRITER

Victoria Thatcher

David Wade

Andy Knappett

Andrew Thorpe

Chris Anderson To contact any of the team, email firstname@hotmediapublishing. com

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

EDITOR

DESIGNER

PRODUCTION MANAGER

John Thatcher

Richard Jenkins

Emi Dixon

Sikandar Chaudhary

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ESSENTIALS

World Traveller | We Doha

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ESSENTIALS All you need to know

Getting

Getting

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Arrival into Doha is via the state-of-the-art Hamad International Airport. All the main local carriers – Emirates, Etihad and, of course, Qatar Airways - are here. On arrival, all GCC citizens are eligible for a single-entry visa, valid for a one-month stay but open to renew for a further two months. Likewise, expat, GCC residents are also eligible for a single-entry, one-month stay visa, though only if their residence permit is valid for at least six months. In either case, the visa can be purchased at passport control - but only via card.

The free West Bay shuttle service was introduced in 2014, offering two routes around the popular district.

There are 36 stops in all, spread over a red line and a blue line, with four buses running from 6am until midnight. For venturing further afield, the Dohabus (www.dohabus.com) sets off from the City Centre Doha Mall and takes in all of the city’s major sights. A free bus runs between the Museum of Islamic Art and Mathaf: Museum of Modern Art, every day except Tuesday. On Fridays it runs on the afternoons only.

MONEY

For getting around at other times, taxis run throughout the city, but can be tricky to find or flag down – they usually queue up at the major malls, like Villaggio or City Centre Doha. To make it easier, try downloading the Uber or Careem Doha app to your smartphone.

The Qatari Riyal is the official currency of Qatar.

Banknotes are available in 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500, and there are plenty of ATMs dotted throughout the city and at the airport.

There are numerous car hire options at the airport if you want to drive yourself. Plans are in the works to introduce a water taxi service around the coastline in the near future, and Doha Metro is coming in 2019.

The

Dates for the

DIARY NOVEMBER 2015

FEBRUARY

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QATAR INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW Head to Mourjan Marinas at Lusail City to see the latest boats, yachts and accessories, with family entertainment.

QATAR MOTOR SHOW The biggest names in motoring pull out all the stops at the biggest car show in the region.

DECEMBER

18 QATAR NATIONAL DAY Marks Qatar’s unification and independence, with fireworks and celebrations around the country.

JANUARY 2016

2-9 QATAR EXXONMOBILE OPEN Watch Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and others at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex.

MARCH

20 QATAR MOTOGP The MotoGP – the motorbiking equivalent of Formula 1 – kicks off its 2016 season at Doha’s Lusail Circuit. Valentino Rossi won here in 2015 and is a huge fan of the night-time race.

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Let us offer you Arabian hospitality at its finest.

Let us teach you about our rich Qatari heritage.

Let us wrap you in luxury and comfort.

Let us keep a place in your heart.

Escape to the lush oasis of Sharq Village & Spa with exclusive privileges starting from QAR 1428 per night and receive a complimentary night when you stay for three.

For reservations, call +974-4425-6666 or visit us at ritzcarlton.com/sharqvillage.

Terms and conditions apply. Š 2015 The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company

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H OT EL S we love

Choose somewhere luxurious, or with great views and facilities. This city has something for everyone‌

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oha’s list of hotels grows longer and more enviable by the day. Many of the world’s top five-star chains hold the city in their sights, opening everywhere from West Bay to the Pearl-Qatar. And there are plenty equipped with great restaurants and spas if relaxation is your aim.

One of the newest additions to Doha is also the most unique. Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara sits on its own island off the coast, just a short yacht or helicopter ride away. Here there are 141 rooms, suites, pool villas and overwater villas, plus a private

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HOTELS

800-metre beach and a spa.

Keeping with the island theme, the Marsa Malaz Kempinski opened in early 2015, and sits on its own spot of land within the man-made Pearl-Qatar. Highlights include a mix of Arab and European architecture, 281 rooms and a private butler service.

A lavish spa is one of the draws at an old Doha favourite, the Sharq Village & Spa, operated by RitzCarlton. It remains a standout, thanks to its fantastic Arabic architecture, complete with its own souk. Or head along the coastline, past the

Pearl-Qatar, to the RitzCarlton Doha itself, with both a 235-berth marina and clubhouse all in close proximity. The view across to the Pearl-Qatar and West Bay from its La Mer restaurant on

the Arabian-inspired Jaula Spa, with its indoor gardens and tranquillity pools, plus a 400-metre private beach outside, among its facilities.

Its Isaan restaurant is probably the best in Doha for Thai food, and the hotel itself sits right “Banana Island opposite the many boutiques of the Lagoona Mall. But if Resort Doha by shopping is to be a big part Anantara sits on its of your stay, The Torch Doha own island” Hotel, the tallest in Doha the 23rd floor is breathtaking, at 300 metres, with its own and in the cooler months the revolving restaurant, is part hotel offers outdoor movie of the same complex as the screenings on its lawns. This sprawling Villaggio Mall. is also not far from the Grand Dramatic views are also on Hyatt Doha, its closest offer should you stay at the neighbour, which features wonderful Marriott Marquis

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1. Ritz-Carlton Doha.

2. Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara.

3. Marriott Marquis City Center Doha Hotel.

4. Sharq Village & Spa. 5. St. Regis Doha.

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6. Ritz-Carlton Doha.

7. Somerset West Bay Doha.

City Center Doha Hotel, in the heart of the city’s diplomatic area. It houses a super spa, apartment-sized accommodation in addition to its rooms, and a whole host of good restaurants to choose from – the Marriott chain is well known for its sublime steaks, and here the New York Steakhouse maintains the high standard.

Those in search of a more cultural vibe may prefer Hotel Souk Waqif, in the heart of one of Doha’s key attractions. The souk comes alive at night, with locals and tourists gathering to explore its shops or smoke shisha, making it easy to indulge with only a short walk home afterwards. The atmosphere might put you in the mood for something quirkier, such as the Al Jasra Boutique Hotel, with its 22 rooms and four designer suites. This has the Elements Spa, with treatments based around fire, water, air and earth, plus great Moroccan cuisine at the Argan restaurant.

The Kempinski Residences & Suites, the first hotel in the city by the well-known chain, can be found in West Bay. Featuring 370 suites, with a Sky Villa on the 61st and 62nd floors, guests can make use of the Pure Leisure & Wellness Centre, and great food at Aroma for fine dining, or a snack from Gourmet House, one of the city’s best 8

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“Dramatic views are on offer should you stay at the wonderful Marriott Marquis City Center Doha Hotel” delicatessens. Opposite is the W Hotel & Residences, which has two restaurants presided over by Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

The nightlife here is some of the best in Doha, thanks to its Crystal and Wahm venues, while the Bliss Spa has won awards for good reason.

Another making its mark on the food front, however, is the Four Seasons Doha, right on the edge of West Bay. It has 232 rooms, with 57 suites, each including king-size beds, plus a three-level outdoor grotto pool and two tennis courts among its facilities.

The new Nobu restaurant here – which is the world’s

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Let us take you on a cruise at sunset.

Let us delight your palate with our culinary skill.

Let us slow your world down at our Spa. Let us show you that sometimes life’s about being, rather than doing.

Cruise to the shores of The Ritz-Carlton, Doha and dive in a legend of service excellence where indelible memories are inspired and the heritage of Qatar is captured.

For reservations, call The Ritz-Carlton, Doha at +974 4484 8000 or visit us at ritzcarlton.com/doha. .

Š2015 The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company

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HOTELS

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8. Marriott Marquis City Center Doha Hotel.

9. Sharq Village & Spa. 10. Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara.

11. St. Regis Doha.

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largest – is a destination in itself. Food is also one of the draws at the Melia Doha in West Bay, which has Signature

by Sanjeev Kapoor offering modern Indian cuisine.

The other highlight here is Aceite, which has traditional Spanish tapas with a modern twist. Treat yourself to a stay in a Level Room, where in addition to a room heavy on the luxury you’ll be served complimentary food and drink at the private Level Lounge throughout the day.

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LO V E S The awardwinning St. Regis Doha sits just outside West Bay, and promises a sea view from each of its 336 rooms.

The personalised butler service, Remède Spa with 22 treatment rooms and two Gordon Ramsay restaurants are among the other reasons why this is a brilliant hotel.

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“Those in town for a longer term should look no further than the Somerset West Bay Doha”

rooms are complemented by eight restaurants and lounges. The pyramid-shaped Sheraton Doha is where this legacy of West Bay hotels began, however, and it has Sticking with West Bay, and stood the test of time, holding the Hilton Doha, is definitely up against the newcomers worth a look, for its mix of with its top restaurants and top-notch facilities, sea views recreation facilities. It is and private beach, with the regarded as fondly as the Eforea Spa and cocktails at InterContinental Doha, Trader Vic’s perfect for the further up the coast outside end of a busy day. So too is the of West Bay. Here is the InterContinental Doha The Belgian Café, one of Doha’s City, where stylish, spacious most popular nightspots, while

the private beach sometimes serves as a major outdoor concert venue.

Close to the airport, the Oryx Rotana Doha is a more than comfortable option.

Once you’re done exhausting its ample leisure facilities, and before retiring to your well-appointed room, make sure you enjoy the live music at its rather cool Jazz Club.

Another safe bet towards the airport is the Concorde Hotel Doha. Guests here can choose between Deluxe or Executive

rooms, with the latter adding a living room, but both are very well equipped.

Lastly, those in town for a longer term should look no further than the Somerset West Bay Doha, which features 200 two- and threebedroom apartments. Here, all basic needs are covered to ensure a home from home experience – a fully-equipped kitchen, home entertainment system and washing machine/ dryer - with a gym and pool to boot.

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The joy of successful business and continuous celebration...

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RESTAURANTS we love

Big-name chefs, international cuisine and al fresco dining are among the highlights of Doha’s restaurant scene, with some of the best anywhere in the region

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he great thing about eating out in Doha is that there is always somewhere new to try. Every attraction or hotel brings with it a range of options, making the scene here fresh and exciting.

In fact, what could be better than eating on an island, admiring the city skyline from afar? The Banana Island Doha Resort by Anantara offers the chance to do just that,

with multiple outlets catering to a range of tastes. For example, there’s the brilliant Q Lounge & Restaurant where you can enjoy a wonderful mezze, family favourite Ted’s American Diner, and Al Nahham for outstanding Arabic and seafood. The one that has people raving here, however, is Riva, for Italian fine dining. Eat inside or out, and savour the amazing antipasti, seafood, meat and

pasta dishes, with imported cheeses and fantastic desserts.

Back on the mainland, the recent opening on everyone’s list to try is definitely Nobu Doha. The global chain of Japanese master-chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, partowned by actor Robert De Niro, had been rumoured to open in Qatar for many years.

It has now done so, with its biggest branch ever at the

end of the marina in the Four Seasons Doha hotel. Head there to try such dishes as beef tenderloin with dry miso, or the legendary black cod yuzu miso.

Most of the hotels in Doha can be relied upon for housing the finest restaurants, but perhaps the one with the biggest concentration in terms of high standards is the St. Regis Doha. To start with, it has two restaurants presided 13

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1. Q Lounge & Restaurant.

2. Opal by Gordon Ramsay.

3. Opal by Gordon Ramsay.

over by Gordon Ramsay, the Hell’s Kitchen star himself.

An indoor garden area, The Conservatory, links the two, where guests can take a predinner drink. Then it’s on to either Gordon Ramsay, for classic fine dining, or Opal

by Gordon Ramsay, which is a lot more casual, serving up, amongst other things, pizza from the wood-fired oven.

Both are excellent.

But just as popular as Ramsay’s efforts here is the award-winning Hakkasan, with its modern take on Chinese cuisine. The stir-fry Chilean

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seabass with szechuan pepper is not a dish easily forgotten, with the same said of the pan-fried wagyu beef in spicy szechuan sauce. Most dishes here have achieved legendary status among Doha foodies, with the chocolate orange and blood orange sorbet their

“The award-winning New York Steakhouse serves up superior slabs of meat from America, Argentina and Australia”

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dessert of choice.

The Marriott Marquis City Center Doha hotel in West Bay is another that sets the bar high, with multiple venues offering quality fare. Cucina is regarded as one of the best Italian restaurants in the city, with the added spectacle of making its thin-crust pizzas in the brick oven it has built in the centre of the dining room. The award-winning New York Steakhouse can also be found here, serving superior slabs of meat from America,

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Argentina and Australia. The philosophy is always casual dining, quality food, and this is carried over into Ipanema, the hotel’s Latin American restaurant. With a pasadore moving between tables bearing huge skewers of juicy meat, as a live band plays in the background, it has all of the ingredients for a great night.

Established venues like this can make it hard for newcomers to shine, so when the latest hotels open their own restaurants, they understandably have to aim high. The Marsa Malaz Kempinski on the Pearl-Qatar, for example, has made its mark since early 2015 with Toro Toro and Antica Pesa. As its name may suggest, Toro Toro is a blend of Pan-Latin styles and South American flavours, brought to Doha

RESTAURANTS

by restaurateur Richard Sandoval, who has a similar restaurant, Pampano, nearby.

This is all about tapas-style dishes, while its neighbour, Antica Pesa, offers seasonal Italian.

The W Doha Hotel & Residences was one of the city’s first venues to entice a big-name chef. JeanGeorges Vongerichten opened here before he headed to Dubai, with two excellent restaurants. Market by JeanGeorges serves up classic contemporary European dishes, perfect for business lunches or evening meals, while Spice Market is the chef ’s take on the street food of South East Asia, with sushi, noodles and rice dishes.

Other long-standing favourites in Doha include the restaurants found at the Sharq Village & Spa. This

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Arabian-themed hotel carries the regional influence through to its spa and the sweets found in its café, with its own shisha lounge and souk. Parisa is its brilliant Persian restaurant, with sea views across Doha Bay as well as fantastic food.

There are inviting grills and stews on the menus, with a crème brulee infused with saffron for dessert.

The sister hotel to the Sharq Village & Spa is the Ritz-Carlton Doha, on the coast near the Pearl-Qatar.

The dining options here include the ever-excellent La Mer, located on the 23rd floor, with views back over the city. French fusion with Asian influences is a good way of describing its delectable dishes. A little different is Porcini, the Italian restaurant decorated with chandeliers for a classic dining style, serving up hearty pasta and meat dishes.

“Not every great restaurant in Doha is situated inside a hotel. One of its key cultural landmarks, the Museum of Islamic Art, houses IDAM, the first Middle East outpost from maestro Alain Ducasse”

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4. Opal by Gordon Ramsay 5. Market by Jean-Georges 6. Al Dana 7. Al Nahham

If, after a visit to La Mer, you develop a head for heights, you could always try one of Doha’s other elevated restaurants. La Verenne, on the 28th floor of West Bay’s Tornado Tower, has caused a stir in the last year or so, serving French cuisine in a contemporary setting.

Original paintings by Roy Lichtenstein and Damien Hirst can be found hanging on the walls, with the lunch menu changing on a weekly basis. Another to try is Three Sixty, which is actually the highest restaurant in the city, located on the 47th floor of

the Torch Doha hotel. Extra points are earned for being the only revolving venue of its kind here, taking around 90 minutes to complete an entire circuit – not too slow, but then not too fast so that the waiters spill your Mediterranean-inspired dishes everywhere.

But not every great restaurant in Doha is situated inside a hotel. One of its key cultural landmarks, the Museum of Islamic Art, houses IDAM, the first restaurant in the Middle East from French Michelinstarred chef Alain Ducasse.

With an interior designed by Philippe Starck, expectations will be high, and Ducasse’s contemporary French cuisine with an Arabic twist is a taste sensation. Dishes such as braised camel foie gras or marinated bonito from the Arabian Gulf are inspired.

From here, heading along the Corniche, you will find the only restaurant actually based there. It is an amazing setting, gazing across the water, and Al Mourjan certainly thrives without the competition. This Lebanese restaurant is one of the most famous in the city, with plenty of mezze, tagine, 17

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RESTAURANTS

8. Ted’s American Diner 9. Riva

World Traveller

LO V E S For a uniquely brilliant dining experience in Doha, head to Al Dana at Sharq Village & Spa. It’s the only oceanside restaurant in the city where, as you’d expect, fantastically fresh catches are the order of the day.

Try the signature seafood platter to sample the pick of it.

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shisha and Arabic coffee. It’s popular with those new to the city, and with good reason.

Food and heritage also come together at Katara Cultural Village, just past West Bay. Here you will find Saffron Lounge, with a menu from Michelin-starred Indian chef Vineet Bhatia, presenting dishes inspired by different areas of the country. Sukar Pasha can also be found here, serving up Turkish and Ottoman cuisine – expect mezze, grills, sujuk sausages and kaymak cream. Mamig, located nearby, is also worth a try as Doha’s first Armenian restaurant.

The Pearl-Qatar has its own share of restaurants too, to be enjoyed after a stroll along its marina. There are many places to take coffee or a snack, perhaps the most upmarket being the Emporio

Armani Caffe. For dining with real spectacle, however, Megu is the reason people visit. It has its own elevator at the entrance, taking you up to a lavish modern interior designed by Yasumichi Morita, who has done the same for this restaurant’s other locations elsewhere in the world. It is the perfect setting to enjoy crispy kansuri shrimp, Kobe beef carpaccio and platefuls of sushi and sashimi.

The restaurants in Souk Waqif are a little less flamboyant, but most offer al fresco dining, allowing you to sit and watch those walking the souk’s cobbled streets.

Tajine is a popular destination for Moroccan dishes, with Ishahan Garden serving up Iranian food and inviting guests to sit and eat on the floor, as is the traditional way.

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PROMOTION

SH OwePPIN G love Big designer brands and even bigger malls to house them can all be found in Doha, as well as souks and independent boutiques

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ny visit to Doha is sure to end with a few shopping bags amongst your luggage.

The city has a number of major malls, all vying for the attention of visitors, with even more on the way.

Two projects currently under construction are the Mall of Qatar, set to open in early 2016, and Doha Festival City, opening fully around 10 months later. Mall of Qatar will have a 19-screen IMAX cinema, a fashion-themed five-star hotel, Curio by 20

Hilton, and a theatre inside an eight-storey-high glass dome that will feature acrobatic shows in the style of Cirque du Soleil.

On completion Doha Festival City will house a Harvey Nichols department store, among 550 others, along with entertainment in the form of a 4D cinema, an Angry Birds theme park, and an indoor snow park.

For now, Villaggio Mall is the city’s shopping king.

Venetian-themed, it has a canal running throughout,

with gondolas available for rides. The food court is impressive, complete with an ice rink, and there are huge branches of Carrefour and Virgin Megastore, and an IMAX cinema. Those in search of designer brands will come here for Via Domo, an area reserved for luxury names, including Valentino, Ralph Lauren, Tom Ford and Jimmy Choo.

Lagoona Mall, not far from the Pearl-Qatar, is another mall priding itself on high-end clothing, mainly due to the

two luxury department stores dominating much of its floor space - Fifty One East and Paris Gallery.

Expensive tastes may also lead you to The Gate Mall, another popular destination that adds Paul Smith, Givenchy, Temperley London and Breitling to the list of names Doha can offer. A huge branch of Salam Stores serves as the main attraction, which itself houses even more desirable brands. Gourmet food outlets such as Jones the Grocer can be found here too.

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World Traveller | We Doha

World Traveller

LO V E S A shopping experience you will not forget in a hurry is Dragon Mart, which opened in Doha at Barwa Commercial Avenue near Industrial Area in 2014. On sale within this 21,000 sq m megastore are low-cost products mostly made in China, including toys, footwear, furniture, electrical goods, household items and clothing.

Who knows what you’ll end up leaving with?

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1. The Pearl-Qatar.

2. Spices on sale in the old souq.

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“Villaggio Mall is the city’s shopping king.

Venetian-themed, it has a canal running throughout” Other popular shopping destinations in the city include The Landmark Mall, which counters Villaggio’s Venetian theme with one of its own, made to look like an old Qatari castle. Highlights here include branches of UK mainstays Marks & Spencer and Bhs, plus a number of other high street fashion

brands. The City Centre Doha mall in West Bay carries these offerings too.

But not all shopping has to be indoors, and it is worth visiting The Pearl-Qatar to see the selection of outlets here. For every designer name, such as Alexander McQueen, Hugo Boss and Emporio Armani, there is something unexpected. Per Lei Couture, for example, is an independent boutique – with ‘Per Lei’ meaning ‘for her’ in Italian – that prides itself on a personalised service, with

3. Canal and Gondola inside the Villaggio Mall.

a VIP lounge for that extra touch, allowing customers to get closer to brands like Antonio Berrardi, Rochas and Osman. Or look for Impression Boutique, which carries garments from some of Doha’s own designers, such as Selina Farooqui.

The Pearl-Qatar is also where visitors will find QELA, the store of Qatar’s first homegrown luxury brand.

Specialising in leather goods, jewellery, shoes and women’s couture, it involves both Qatari and international

designers in its creations, while the work of local artists hangs on the walls.

From modern shopping in Doha to the ways of its past, don’t leave the city without touring one of the old souks.

Souk Waqif is the most well known, and the perfect place to find Bedouin blankets or cooking pots, with a pungent spice market also contained within. It is not far from the Gold Souk, just across the road, and the various material souks, such as Souk Al Ahmed.

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CU we LTlove URE With all of the developments around town helping to prepare for the future, Doha’s cultural side gives an intriguing glimpse into its past

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CULTURE

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ike many cities in the Middle East, Doha is developing quickly, with new five-star hotels and huge malls being built. But it is also a place that knows the importance of preserving its history, with much to offer in terms of art and culture.

In 2016, the Qatar Museum will finally open its doors, with stunning architecture

by Jean Nouvel, said to make it look like a desert rose growing from the ground.

Situated on the Corniche, it shares the same location as the original national museum, with a palace there before that. What will be inside is still under wraps, but historical donations from the royal family are expected.

The new venue will be opposite Doha’s biggest cultural landmark, for now at least, the Museum of Islamic Art, opened in 2008. The angular exterior was designed by ChineseAmerican architect IM Pei, and is the perfect setting for the valuable items within. The museum has a permanent display of Islamic artefacts from around the region, with some dating back to the ninth century, and a library, with additional exhibitions hosted regularly. There is also a fantastic restaurant, IDAM, with occasional events held outside its grounds.

A free bus operates to take visitors from the Museum of Islamic Art to the city’s other key cultural attraction, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, based in Education City. It showcases the work of artists from every Arab country, from the 1840s to the present. There is a permanent collection, with rotating exhibitions and workshops also.

Back over towards the Corniche, the Katara Cultural Village is another impressive location. The architecture is made to resemble an old Arab town, with a huge open-air amphitheatre as its centrepiece. The tiny buildings contain offices housing various art societies and institutions, while its many restaurants have been chosen specifically to highlight different cultures, such as India, Iran and Egypt. The amphitheatre stages a number of events, including concerts by the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, while a visit to the nearby QMA Gallery will reveal the work of more local artists, sculptures and visiting exhibitions.

“A free bus operates between the Museum of Islamic Art and Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art” If Katara has put you in the mood for exploring, Souk Waqif is another area worth a look, with old shops and traders very much in the tradition of the city’s past.

Locals haggle over material and other goods, stopping for shisha and tea afterwards. You will also find the Al Markhiya Gallery here, tucked away in one corner, with works from both emerging and established talent.

There seems to be a taste for art and culture in the city, to the extent that galleries have cropped up in the most unlikely places. For example, some of the major hotels, such as the Ritz-Carlton, W Doha Hotel & Residences and Grand Hyatt Doha, have their own areas for hosting exhibitions, with the Virginia Commonwealth University 23

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CULTURE

1. Three men in traditional dress in Souk Waqif.

2. The Museum of Islamic Art.

World Traveller

LO V E S The Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum is located just off the Dukhan Road, and is the closest you’ll find in the city to a traditional museum. Inside are old pearling and fishing boats, military artefacts, life-size models of Bedouin villages and even an F1 car. Admission is free, but it is advisable to contact the museum before visiting (fbqmuseum.org).

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Qatar’s VCUQ Gallery also open to visitors from the outside. Perhaps the most intriguing of these, however, is the Fire Station – literally an old fire station, not far from the Corniche. Presided

But you do not necessarily have to seek out specific venues, as evidence of Doha’s cultural side is everywhere you look. Stand on the Corniche and watch the dhows – traditional wooden trading ships, used in the “At Doha Heritage region for years. It may even Village you can see be possible to negotiate a Qataris making ride on one. Or visit Al Bidda traditional foods” Park, and there you will find Doha Heritage Village, where over by the Qatar Museums you can see Qatari nationals Authority, it has an artist making traditional foods and in residency programme, practising arts and crafts. with a full calendar of art, Culture with a more religious photography and installations.

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3. flavour can be experienced at the Fanar: Qatar Islamic Cultural Centre, not far from Souk Waqif. Here non-Muslims can learn more about Islam, with a mosque tour, the chance to experience Arabic hospitality and ask any questions.

There are many historic sites outside of the city too, dotted around the rest of the country, with impressive historic buildings such as Barzan Tower or Umm Salal Mohammed Fort. It might be best to organise a tour to

visit these, and your hotel concierge can help there, contacting companies like Arabian Adventures Qatar or Qatar Adventure. Ask them about seeing the horned oryx, the national symbol of Qatar – in Zekreet, about an hour from Doha, there is a farm housing both oryx and ostrich.

Or head to Al Shahaniya, just 45 minutes from the city.

Here you may spot a camel being trained for racing. See them in action at the stadium nearby, with races staged on Saturday mornings.

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AC T I V I T IE S we love

Doha certainly puts the ‘active’ in activities, with plenty of sports to try, but dig a little deeper and you’ll find there is something for everyone

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ou don’t have to wait until the 2022 FIFA World Cup to get a glimpse of big sporting names in Doha. The city is already host to a number of international competitions, with a chance to dust off your own skills at the same facilities once all the hype has died down. For example, every January the Qatar ExxonMobil Open takes place at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex, with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer often involved. The facility itself has 21 courts available for all skill levels and is open daily - perfect for brushing up your game.

The same can be said of the Doha Golf Club, which hosts the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters a few weeks after the tennis. Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson and Ernie Els are among the past winners here, and the immaculate 18-hole course sits alongside a smaller nine-hole floodlit version used

2.

“Doha’s natural surroundings, its coastline and desert, provide their own list of things to do” by the Qatar Golf Academy to help novices improve.

Those after something with a little more adrenaline might prefer to head to the Losail International Circuit, just outside the city. This hosts a number of motorsport events, for bikes and cars, and every spring serves as the venue for the first date on the MotoGP calendar, attracting names like Valentino Rossi. There is always something going on here, with a packed calendar of events, including track days allowing visitors to take to the circuit themselves. The 26

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venue also hosts go-karting at certain times, with full details on its website (www. circuitlosial.com).

With football currently being so important to Doha, you may be tempted to see a game. The local teams play in the Qatar Stars League, and with Xavi Hernandez, the former captain of FC Barcelona, recently moving here to play for Al Sadd Sports Club, there will definitely be some matches worth watching. Xavi has joined the team in a joint player-coach role, and will also

work at the Aspire Academy, the city’s top sports facility, which has swimming pools, football pitches, basketball and volleyball courts, with areas for fencing and lots of other activities.

Doha’s natural surroundings, namely its coastline and nearby desert, provide their own list of things to do. There are a number of companies in town who will be willing to take you on a desert safari, with dune bashing in a 4x4 followed by camel rides and sand-boarding, then dinner and an overnight stay at a

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Bedouin-style camp. Or take to the water with a dhow cruise or something more action-packed – there are plenty of hotels that offer scuba diving, jet skis, fishing trips and kayaking. The Banana Island Resort Doha

by Anantara, for example, is a good one for all of these, with its island location meaning you are already out to sea.

And when you’ve finished, you can wind down in the resort’s eight-lane ten-pin bowling alley, or with a try on the city’s only state-of-the-art full motion Formula 1 simulator.

Shopping malls here offer a surprising amount of entertainment too, with the most fun to be had at Doha’s biggest, Villaggio Mall. There are gondola rides around the mall, courtesy of the Venetian theme, while in the centre is an Olympic-sized ice rink.

There is also the Gondolania indoor theme park, with a number of rides, go-karts and laser tag.

The city caters well to children, with plenty of activities to keep them occupied. Doha’s only waterpark is Aqua Park Qatar, 27

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LO V E S For the ultimate in relaxation, book in for a spa treatment. The Six Senses Spa at Sharq Village & Spa is one of the city’s best, built to resemble a Middle Eastern village.

The 23 treatment rooms are each like a tiny residence, with facials and massages inspired by the region.

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covering 50,000 sq m and featuring a number of slides, pools and other splash-filled attractions. Highlights include a 2,000 gallon tipping bucket, a 200m-long lazy river and slides four storeys in height.

Something a little more sedate will be Café Ceramique at The Mall, where families can settle down to a few hours of painting crockery.

Imaginations and paints tend to run wild here, with the finished plates and cups 28

potentially making great gifts. Qatar Bowling Centre is another popular choice with parents in Doha, and can introduce a spot of healthy competition to youngsters.

There won’t be any dilemmas when it comes to finding activities once the kids are tucked away in bed either.

The city has a surprisingly vibrant nightlife, with Jazz at Lincoln Center in the St. Regis Doha hotel one of its stand-out venues. This is a nod

to the St. Regis New York, which has hosted some of the world’s best jazz musicians in its Rooftop Ballroom since the 1920s, and today has a partnership with the Jazz at Lincoln Center in Manhattan, spotlighting its best artists.

These names now perform in Doha too, meaning incredible musicians every night of the week except Sunday. Family jazz afternoons that all ages can attend are held here once a month.

1. Dune bashing.

2. Losail International Circuit.

3. The Khalifa International Stadium.

4. Ten-pin bowling 5. Doha Golf Club 6. Dhow cruise 7. Qatar Total Open tennis tournament

A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON TRAVEL.

MARRIOTT MARQUIS CITY CENTER DOHA HOTEL. HERE, BUSINESS IS NEVER ‘USUAL’.

Located in West Bay, Doha’s active business district; the 5 star hotel is in walking distance to the soon to open Doha Exhibition and Convention Center.

The hotel features ǍH[LEOH meeting rooms covering 1,200 sqm of state-of-the-art meeting space and 577 guest rooms.

With 10 acclaimed restaurants, a 35 meter outdoor swimming pool and the renowned Saray Spa, the hotel RNjHrs excellent leisure facilities.

MARRIOTT MARQUIS CITY CENTER DOHA HOTEL West Bay City Center, Omar Al Mukhtar Street Phone: +974 4419 5000 | marriottmarquisdoha.com

WEEKEND ESCAPE AT THE FINEST ADDRESS IN QATAR Escape to an exclusive beach with private oceanfront cabanas. Take a dip in the inviting blue waters of the Arabian Gulf. Savor flavors from 11 extraordinary restaurants and lounges. The joy of leisure redefined,

by The St. Regis Doha.

Come. Explore.

al gassar resort at west bay stregisdoha.com 974.4446.0105 stregisdoha.com/weekends

A LEGACY OF LUXURY .

NOW AT OVER

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