Events & Activities in Qatar: Autumn 2025

Events & Activities in Qatar

CULTURAL

Events and Activities Events and Activities

Events in Qatar August – November 2025

Sports in Qatar

An overview of the local sports scene, including Qatar Olympic Committee, federations and associations, and sports facilities.

Sports Events August – November 2025

Sports Activities

A comprehensive list of clubs, societies and associations, from Archery to Water Sports and Beach Activities.

Feature – Traditional Qatari Games

Many countries have their own traditional children’s games, and Qatar is no exception...So, let the games begin!

Health and Wellness

Options for holistic wellness, Pilates and yoga.

Leisure Activities

Clubs, societies and activities, from Arts and Crafts to Theme Parks and Play Zones.

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Events August – November

These are just some of the events taking place over the coming months – for more see our online calendar at marhaba.qa. For sports events see the separate calendar in this section. Events may be changed or cancelled.

August 2025

Ongoing Qatar Argentina and Chile 2025 Year of Culture Discover the rich heritage of both nations via a programme of collaborative exchanges, exhibitions, film screenings, culinary festivals, workshops, and more. yearsofculture.qa

Ongoing FBQ Family Map Treasure Hunt The Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum invites young visitors and their parents to follow Adam, FBQ’s Camel mascot, on a discovery journey through the museum halls. Friday at 2 pm/4 pm. alsamriyaestate.com

Ongoing QNL Heritage Library permanent exhibition Books, manuscripts, photographs, maps, globes and travellers' instruments depict the interaction between Arabs and the West over the centuries, along with the history of science, literature, writing and travel. Use the QNL app for easy access to the collections or to make enquiries. qnl.qa

Ongoing Honour the Past, To Celebrate the Future: Qatar's Educational Vision A permanent exhibition showing the journey of female education in Qatar from 1938 to 2006. Highlighted is the impact made by the first girls' school, Banat El Doha (later renamed Umm Almo'mneen Primary School) and its founder Amna Mahmoud Al Jaidah, along with the Ministry of Education. It is now Liwan, a creativity hub since 2019. liwan.org.qa

Liwan Design Studios and Labs

Until 27 Aug Summer Camp Activities for children of all ages, including storytime, craft-making, and exploration in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Register online at qnl.qa Qatar

National Library

Until 1 Sep Printed Nostalgia (right) Nostalgia is a universal feeling, an emotional return to a past moment, place, or connection. Explore personal and collective memories by 99 international artists across multi media reflecting architecture, culture, migration, and everyday life. firestation.org.qa Fire Station

September

Cotton Candy Clouds, Photography on Nikon z5, 2022

1 Sep – 4 Dec Memememememe The exhibition asks 'At what point does a meme become a movement?'. See how the evolving definition, significance and impact of memes is reshaping communication, through the themes of Mass and Length, and Time and Volume. Innovative scenography, design and art commissions will question: what does it mean to meme? mediamajlis.northwestern.edu Media Majlis at Northwestern University in Qatar

2 – 4 Qatar Event Show A B2B exhibition dedicated to the growing events and entertainment industry in Qatar, where event suppliers, industry professionals and clients can see the latest innovations, trends, and opportunities. See their Facebook page for updates. DECC

9 – 10 Qatar Digital Talent Ecosystem Dialogue An exclusive event for C-Suite and HR leaders, showcasing Qatar’s commitment to digital transformation and workforce development. There will be networking opportunities, cuttingedge insights, and collaborative problemsolving. digitaltalentdialogue.com JW Marriott Marquis City Center Doha

20 – 24 Lingan Smart Hotel Exhibition and Lingan Robotic Exhibition The inaugural edition of a multi-themed international trade platform. The events bring together leading sectors like domestic robots, smart hotels, new energy vehicles, and textiles and apparel, providing a unique channel for Chinese manufacturers to connect with Middle Eastern markets. linganexpo.com DECC

What's on at National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ)

Until My Story from the Museum

Dec

The programme invites participants to explore creativity by writing short stories for children in Arabic inspired by Qatar's environment and heritage. For students grades 5–12, every Sunday 9 am – noon, online registration required.

Until A Sneak Peek at Qatar Auto Museum

2 Jan 2026

The exhibition features three amazing cars in the Mawater Gallery. The new Qatar Auto Museum will explore the past, present and future of the automobile and is in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 to support the cultural, educational and tourism sectors, investments in the automotive industry, and hosting for automotive events such as the Qatar Geneva International Motor Show and Formula 1.

Opening times Sunday/Monday/Wednesday/Saturday 9 am – 7 pm, Thursday 9 am – 9 pm, Friday 1:30 pm – 7 pm, Tuesday closed. Last entry is 45 minutes before closing time.

Admission Tickets must be obtained online in advance. Visitors are asked to dress modestly in keeping with Qatari culture. 4452 5555, nmoq.org.qa C4

21 – 24 The 4th Doha Conference on Combating the Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Property: Crisis Preparedness and Cultural Heritage Protection – Prevention to Recovery Organised in partnership with UNESCO’s Regional Office for the Gulf States and Yemen and the Embassies of the US, France and Italy in Doha, and part of the Library’s Himaya programme to prevent the loss of cultural heritage in the MENA region. Open to cultural heritage professionals, government officials, legal experts, NGO's, academics, media and students – register online at qnl.qa Qatar National Library

2 Oct

30 Sep – Qatar Medicare 2025 Healthcare and medical trade exhibition and conference, gathering stakeholders, government officials, health companies, medical tourism facilitators, hospitals, and international organisations. The Qatar Beauty & Wellcare Show will run concurrently, providing an environment where healthcare, beauty, and wellness converge. medi-qa.com, beauty-qa.com DECC

October

9 – 11 Aspetar World Conference 2025 The conference will showcase Aspetar's pioneering multidisciplinary approach to optimising athlete healthcare and performance, across four subjecs: Sports Injuries; Medical Conditions in Sports; Sports Science and Performance; and Sports Pharmacy, Nursing, and Dentistry. aspetar.com Aspire Zone

12 – 14 INDEX Design Qatar, Big 5 Construct Qatar and Cityscape Interior design, construction and real estate events. See innovative products and the latest trends shaping these sectors in Qatar, and explore projects by 60+ developers. index-qatar. com, big5constructqatar.com, cityscape-events.com DECC

13 – 15 3rd Qatar Proteomics Conference Weill Cornell MedicineQatar (WCM-Q) presents the third edition of the conference, where leading academic scientists, researchers, and scholars can share their latest findings and experiences in proteomics and bioinformatics in eight sessions spanning cutting-edge technologies and critical health challenges. qatarproteomics.com The St. Regis Doha

The

Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) and Qatar Museums Gallery – Al Riwaq

2/9/16/23 Naskh Calligraphy (Beginners)

Workshop to learn about naskh, one of the oldest forms of Arabic calligraphy, and known for its simplicity and clarity. Naskh has great value among Muslims, as all copies of the Quran are written using this script. Free to attend, registration required 13/20/27 Kufic Intermediate

The word kufic is related to the city of Kufa in Iraq, and it was developed from Hijazi script. Kufic calligraphy is distinctive, with bold and vertical letters which often looks like modern.

29 May – A Seat at the Table: Food & Feasting in the Islamic World

8 Nov

An exploration of the role food plays across the Islamic world and within Muslim traditions. Organised in five sections, on display are more than 100 objects from the MIA collection, plus loans from several Qatar Museums institutions and the Qatar National Library. Each section will include a video of a contemporary chef preparing a dish that reflects his or her culinary traditions. Organised by MIA in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).

Curator-led tours – 12 August and 16 September at noon, in English.

My Plate at the Table – Library and Art Workshop Series – every Wednesday in August for teens and young adults to explore identity, culture, and belonging through art and design.

Until 20 Dec Escape Room: The Banquet of Secrets

Qatar’s first museum escape room experience. Rooms within rooms explore Islamic scholarship, through interconnected chambers themed around four key figures: the Islamic Traveller, Cook, Physician, and Calligrapher. Explore ancient medical practices, culinary traditions, celestial discoveries, and the art of the pen. Sunday/Tuesday/Thursday 3 pm/4:30 pm/6 pm.

Until 30 Dec In the realms of Mecca: A journey through the rituals of Hajj and Umrah

On display in the Library is a model of the Ka’ba, the second Qibla after Al Aqsa Mosque for Muslims, where visitors can learn more about the Ka’ba's door, kiswa, and the water drain. The exhibition also has a replica of the original Quran, currently on display at the Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul. This printed copy of the Quran is unique, with five sections on each page – three larger sections are written in the Thuluth script, and two in the Naskh script, both traditional Arabic calligraphy styles. This model was created by Turkish calligrapher Ahmad Qora Al Husari.

Every month MIA Library: Monthly Arabic Storytime and Story Time at MIA Library

Opening times Saturday/Sunday/Monday/Tuesday 9 am – 7 pm, Thursday 9 am – 9 pm, Friday 1:30 pm – 7 pm, Wednesday closed. MIA Park is open 24 hours.

Admission Tickets must be obtained online in advance. Visitors are asked to dress modestly in keeping with Qatari culture. There is a free shuttle service between MIA and Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Qatar National Library, and Fire Station. 4422 4444, mia.org.qa C4

© MIA, Doha/Qatar Museums. Photo by Chrysovalantis Lamprianidis

What's on at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art

Ongoing Mathaf galleries The museum's collection bring an original perspective to local and global conversations on art and society. Galleries 1–7 are for temporary exhibitions, Galleries 8–12 are the permanent collection. A selection of works from the permanent collection is available via Google Cultural Institute.

Until 9 Aug Your Ghosts Are Mine: Expanded Cinemas, Amplified Voices

Featuring work by more than 40 filmmakers and video artists from the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia, previously on view at the ACP-Palazzo Franchetti during the 60th International Art Exhibition at the Venice Art Biennale in 2024. The 10 immersive sections across 7 galleries are dedicated to themes such as deserts, ruins, borders and exile.

Until 9 Aug Qatar: Close to my Soul

Artworks from the Collection of Abdulla bin Ali Al Thani, from the late 1960s onwards, giving an overview of Qatari art, artists, movements, and ideas that have shaped modern and contemporary art from the country. Inspired by a well-known poem and song by Abdullah Al Hammadi, 'Allah ya 'Omri Qatar', three sections explore the beauty of the country's natural landscape and architecture, portraits of society, and the art of abstraction, across various media and archival materials.

Until 9 Aug Wafa Al Hamad: Sites of Imagination

Wael Shawky, Al Araba Al Madfuna (Part III), 2016, video still

Yousef Ahmad, Untitled, 2018, oil on canvas

The first comprehensive museum exhibition of pioneering Qatari artist, educator, and designer Wafa Al Hamad (1964–2012). Featured are 23 works from the Permanent Collection across a diverse range of media.

Select days Action model drawing An expressive and unforgettable drawing experience that combines observation and action.

3 September/1 October/26 November

Select days Art Adventure Hands-on workshop to explore various materials and techniques, inspired by renowned artists.

Adult sessions: 13 September/20 December

Teen sessions: 16 August/8 November

Ongoing Art Lesson with Ismail Azzam Join artist and curator Ismail Azzam for free lessons in portraiture techniques using media like pencil, charcoal and paint. The lessons are for people with basic to intermediate sketching and drawing skills, each participant must bring their own sketchbook. Lessons are in Arabic. Every Sunday for all, Tuesday for beginners, 4 pm – 6 pm, registration is required.

Opening times Saturday/Sunday/Tuesday/Wednesday 9 am – 7 pm, Thursday 9 am – 9 pm, Friday 1:30 pm – 7 pm, Monday closed.

Admission Tickets must be obtained online in advance. Visitors are asked to dress modestly in keeping with Qatari culture. There is a free shuttle service between Mathaf and the Museum of Islamic Art, Qatar National Library, and Fire Station. The Mathaf stop on the Education City public tram service is approximately three minutes away from the museum. 4402 8855, mathaf.org.qa C2

16 Russell Peters live in Qatar: Relax World Tour 2025 Russell Peters returns to Doha for the third time as part of his Relax World Tour, with a night of nonstop stand-up comedy. Venue to be confirmed. visitqatar.com

20 – 22

Qatar LED & Power Expo (LEPEX) and Qatar International Facility Management Conference and Exhibition (QIFMCE) Held under the Patronage of HE Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiya, Minister of Municipality, showcasing cutting-edge technology, trends in LED lighting, sustainability, and best practices. ledpowerexpo.com, qifmce.com DECC

28 – 30 Hospitality Qatar Exhibition Celebrating a decade as a premier platform for the global hospitality sector. This year the event makes its debut hosting the first Bocuse d'Or National Selection, offering Qatar-based chefs a rare opportunity to showcase their talent in one of the world’s most elite culinary competitions. hospitalityqatar.com DECC

November

4 – 6 Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD) 2025 Coming 30 years after the first one in Copenhagen, where 10 Commitments were agreed upon (the Copenhagen Commitments on Social Development), world leaders will evalute the achievements in eradicating poverty, ensuring inclusive economic growth, addressing inequality, and strengthening global cooperation. social.desa.un.org/world-summit-2025 QNCC

4 – 8 Kids Expo 2025 Exhibition and Conference Covering the education, healthcare and entertainment needs of children from birth to age 15. The conference will discuss the implications of children growing up surrounded by video games, television and smart devices. kidsexpo.qa DECC

5 – 8 Qatar Boat Show The inaugural edition was a record-breaking success, and this second edition will be even more spectacular, with more prestigious brands, cutting-edge innovations and the world’s most luxurious superyachts. boatshowqatar.com Old Doha Port

18 – 22 Geekdom 2025 A hugely popular pop culture event, for fans of gaming, art and film. See their Instagram page for updates. Lusail Boulevard

20 – 22 17th Gulf Heart Association conference In association with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), bringing together leading cardiologists, healthcare professionals, and researchers to explore the latest advancements in cardiology and cardiac care. gulfheart.org Itqan Clinical Simulation and Innovation Center

20 – 28 Doha Film Festival (DFF) A vibrant platform for cinema lovers, including film competitions with international juries and awards to extend the reach to wider audiences, showing Qatar’s role as a global hub for cinema and give opportunities to new talent. dohafilm.com

24 – 26 Qatar Travel Mart Leading tourist destinations will show trends across business, medical, entertainment, sports and halal tourism sectors, as well as conferences and exhibitions, and highlight the continued growth of Qatar’s tourism industry. qtmqatar.com DECC

25 – 26 MWC25 Doha A platform for achieving the goals of Qatar’s Digital Agenda 2030 and Qatar National Vision 2030, with summits and keynotes aligned with three core themes: AI Nexus, Intelligent Economies, and Connected Industries. mwcdoha.com DECC

Upcoming events

Dec 2025 Doha Forum 2025 Under the banner ‘Equity in Action: Beyond Promises to Progress’, the forum will ask stakeholders to move beyond rhetoric and take definite action to address crises such as conflicts, health and education emergencies, and natural disasters. dohaforum.org Sheraton Grand Doha Resort and Convention Hotel

Dec 2025 Qatar International Art Festival 2025 More than 1,500 artworks by over 400 artists, highlighting both traditional and modern art. visitqatar.com Katara Cultural Village

Dec 2025 World Summit AI and Intelligent Health MENA The world's most prestigious AI summits gather the AI ecosystem of enterprise, big tech, startups, investors and academia. The summits have a commitment to fostering diversity and equality, believing in the democratisation of AI to make it accessible to all. qatar.worldsummit.ai DECC

Dec 2025 WSJ Tech Live Dow Jones and the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) have signed a five-year partnership to bring the flagship WSJ Tech Live event to Qatar, starting from 2025 – the first time the event will be held in the Middle East. The invitation-only conference will bring together C-suite executives, investors, innovative startups and influential venture capitalists from across the world. techlive.wsj.com Venue to be confirmed

Jan 2026 Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX) Organised by the Qatar Armed Forces, with participation from national and international defence companies, naval leaders, defence ministers, and chiefs of staff. dimdex.com QNCC

Feb 2026 Art Basel Qatar A partnership with Qatar Sports Investments and QC+, Art Basel Qatar will celebrate Qatar’s vibrant cultural landscape and the dynamic arts ecosystem of the MENA region. The inaugural edition will depart from the traditional booth model with a new fair format. The show's artistic director is Egyptian-born artist Wael Shawky, and will explore the theme ‘Becoming’: humanity’s ongoing transformation and the evolving systems shaping how we live, believe, and create meaning. artbasel.com/qatar/the-show M7 and Doha Design District (DDD)

Feb 2026 Web Summit Qatar International entrepreneurs, investors and the next generation of leaders will convene to connect the tech world and drive innovation. The Impact Community at Web Summit Qatar programme showcases startups that are making a positive impact on their communities and which are striving to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. qatar.websummit.com DECC

Feb 2026 21st International Conference & Exhibition on LNG (LNG2026) This prestigious event for the LNG industry will coincide with the start-up of the North Field LNG expansion project and the commissioning of one of the largest carbon capture and storage schemes in the world by Qatar, the world’s largest LNG producer. qatarenergy.qa QNCC

Nov 2026 International Telecommunication Union's Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26) ITU’s highest decision-making body, the Plenipotentiary Conference is an important platform to address global priorities related to spectrum management, digital standards, equitable connectivity and regulatory foundations of a rapidly evolving digital landscape. itu.int Venue to be confirmed

Lectures, exhibitions and workshops

Throughout the Year

• 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum Storytime sessions, guided tours for families and schools. 4452 5200, 321qosm.org.qa B2

• Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar Dean’s Lecture Series. 4454 8400, qatar.cmu.edu C2

• Embrace Doha Workshops, events and tours offering a look at Qatar's rich culture. embracedoha.net

• Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar Public talks and conferences. 4457 8100, qatar.georgetown.edu C2

• Heenat Salma Farm Workshops and activities including sadu weaving, pottery and aromatherapy. 5096 0007, heenatsalma.earth

• Katara Exhibitions, cultural and music events, and workshops. 182, katara.net B4

• Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art Exhibitions, workshops, artist encounters and guided tours for families. 4402 8855, mathaf.org.qa C2

• Museum of Islamic Art Workshops, educational programmes, library and gallery tours. 4422 4444, mia.org.qa D4

• National Museum of Qatar Online tours, workshops, lectures, and activities for schoolchildren. 4452 5555, nmoq.org.qa C4

• Qatar Foundation Community events, public talks, tours and workshops. 4454 0000, qf.org.qa C2

• Qatar National Library Workshops, educational and academic programmes, reading events and chess club. qnl.qa C2

• Virginia Commonwealth University of Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) Gallery lectures, exhibitions, and community classes in art, design and crafts. 4402 0555, qatar.vcu C2

Music, drama and more

• Doha Film Institute Film screenings and festivals, workshops and educational programmes. dohafilminstitute.com

• Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra Performances and world premieres of Western and Arabic music. qatarphilharmonicorchestra.org

• Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha Pub Quiz at Shehrazad on the last Monday of each month. 4428 1555, radissonblu.com D3/4

• The Doha Players An amateur dramatic society that presents a range of shows and open mic nights throughout the year. See their Facebook page

• The Doha Singers Qatar's largest and oldest amateur choir. dohasingers.com

Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) C4 4033 1111, decc.qa

Katara Cultural Village B4 182, katara.net

Msheireb Downtown Doha D4 800 3642, msheireb.com

Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) C2 4470 7000, qncc.qa

Qatar Museums qm.org.qa Qatar Tourism visitqatar.qa

To be included in our listings, email marhaba@qatar.net.qa

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Sports in Qatar

Qatar Olympic Committee

The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) was established in 1979 to oversee sports events and subsequently became members of the International Olympic Committee, the Olympic Council of Asia, and the Arab Sports Games Federation. In 2024, Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani was re-elected President of the QOC for the new Olympic term (2024–2028).

QOC released its 2023–2030 Strategy in March 2023, with three main objectives: ensuring sports excellence; promoting Olympic culture; and achieving comprehensive sports development.

QOC runs several campaigns to engage residents in keeping fit and healthy, including National Sport Day on the second Tuesday of February each year – one of only a few countries to hold such a public holiday – as well as events for schoolchildren and the promotion of women in sport. olympic.qa

Sports Federations and Associations

• Air Sports • Athletics • Basketball

• Billiards and Snooker • Bowling

• Boxing and Wrestling • Chess • Collegiate Sports

• Cricket • Cycling and Triathlon

• Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon • Esports

• Fencing • Football • Golf • Gymnastics

• Handball • Motor and Motorcycle • Paralympic

• Rugby and Hockey • Sailing and Rowing

• School Sports • Shooting and Archery

• Women's Sports • Swimming • Table Tennis

• Taekwondo, Judo and Karate

• Tennis, Squash and Badminton • Volleyball

• Weightlifting • Winter Sports

Sports Facilities

Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) D3 Facilities include Aspire Dome, Aspire Park, Hamad Aquatic Centre, Khalifa International Stadium, the Ladies Sports Hall and Ladies Club, tracks and playing fields. AZF runs the community sports initiatives Aspire Active and Step Into Health. 4413 8188, aspirezone.qa

Aspire Academy Applied sports science support to student-athletes; hosts international sports stars using the facilities. 4413 6570, aspire.qa

Aspetar The first specialised orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital in the Gulf region, offering treatment for injuries. 4413 2000, aspetar.com

Other faciities include: Asian Town Cricket Stadium

• Corinthia Golf Club • Doha Golf Club

• Doha Sports Park • Education City Golf Club

• Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex

• Lusail International Circuit

• Lusail Olympic Shooting Range

• Lusail Sports Arena

• Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club

Previous international sporting events include: Tour of Qatar (men's and women's cycling)

• 15th Asian Games (2006) • 2011 AFC Asian Cup • 12th Pan Arab Games (2011)

• FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) (2014) • Men’s Handball World Championship (2015)

• AIBA World Boxing Championships (2015) • UCI Road World Championships (2016)

• FIG Artistic World Gymnastics Championships (2018) • 2019 IAAF World Championships

• Formula 1 Ooredoo Qatar Grand Prix (2021) • World Padel Championship 2022

• FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM • AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™

• 2024 FINA World Aquatics Championships • AFC U23 Asian Cup (2024)

• FIP World Padel Championships Qatar (2024)

Annual international events: Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar (MotoGP)

• Commercial Bank Qatar Masters (golf) • FIA World Endurance Championship

• Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix • Longines Global Champions Tour (equestrian)

• Qatar Classic Squash Tournament • Qatar ExxonMobil Open (ATP 250)

• Qatar Table Tennis Open • Qatar TotalEnergies Open (WTA 1000)

• Wanda Diamond League Doha (athletics)

Coming up: 2030 Asian Games

Get Involved! Also in this section: Sports Activities has a list of clubs and associations to join, while the Sports Calendar has an overview of events. Make sure you keep up to date with all the latest news – visit marhaba.qa, subscribe to our newsletter, and follow us on our socials. m

Sports Events Calendar

This is just a selection of sports events – to have yours listed, email marhaba@marhaba.com.qa. Events may be subject to a change of dates/cancellation. See our online calendar at marhaba.qa and follow us on our social media channels to keep up to date.

August 2025

Until 27 Aug Ladies Day at Sea Caves Waterpark Every Wednesday 3 pm – 9 pm, enjoy this exclusive pass to sun-soaked fun and fabulous vibes. salwabeachresort.qa Hilton Salwa Beach Resort

Until 28 Aug InflataCity 2025 Keep the kids entertained at this mega inflatable playground, this year with new inflatables as well as Paintless Paintball, Bazooka Ball, interactive carnival games, arcade classics, a cinema, mascot performances, and a food court. inflatacity.com Qatar National Convention Centre

Until Dec Qatar Trail Series 2025 A series of competitive community races in Fuwairit, Sealine, Al Zubara, Al Wakra and Al Khor. Open to all, with a number of age groups and distances; registration is via the QSFA app. visitqatar.com

May 2026

Until Qatar Stars League The domestic football season begins again, with the league featuring 12 clubs competing over 22 weeks for the championship. All matches are broadcast live on Alkass Sports Channels. Fans can buy tickets at qsl.qa

May 2026

Until Equestrian sport Race meetings every Wednesday and Thursday afternoon at Al Rayyan Park and Al Uqda Racing Complex in Al Khor. qrec.gov.qa

September

25 – 29 Seashore Phoenix Games 2025 Qatar’s premier functional fitness competition returns for its fifth edition. This high-intensity event welcomes both men and women athletes in a challenge of strength, endurance, and skill. For more information, see the Phoenix Games or Erada Fitness Instagram pages. Aspire Ladies Sports Hall, Aspire Zone

28 Sep – QTerminals Qatar Classic Squash PSA Platinum Premier squash event featuring the world's best players. psasquashtour.com Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex

4 Oct 1 Nov

October

30 Oct – UIM-ABP Aquabike Circuit Pro World Championship 2025 Qatar will host a round of the championship for the first time in 10 years. The final round of the 2025 World Championship will be hosted by the Doha Marine Sports Club (DMSC) and Aquabike Promotion. aquabike.net

3 – 27 Nov FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025™ This will be the first 48-team FIFA World Cup tournament, with nations drawn into 12 groups of four teams. The top two teams in each group, along with the eight best third-placed sides, will qualify for the Round of 32, and thereafter the tournament will be played in a knockout format. This prestigious youth competition has launched the careers of some of football’s biggest stars, and host nation Qatar will aim to improve on its best finish, fourth place at the 1991 edition. Qatar will host the tournament annually between 2025 and 2029. All matches up until the final will be held across eight pitches at Aspire Zone, with the final at Khalifa International Stadium. fifa.com

7 – 11 GCC Padel Championship Various age categories, including U-14, U-18, men's, and women's teams. qatartennis.org Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex

22 UFC® FIGHT NIGHT DOHA In partnership with Visit Qatar, the debut event will see some of UFC’s most talented athletes enter the Octagon, spotlighting the best in combat sports and live entertainment. visitqatar.com, ufc.com

bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena

27 – 30 International Series Qatar 3rd Edition 2025 Organised by the Qatar Golf Federation,with professional golfers from across the region and beyond. olympic.qa Doha Golf Club

27 – 30 Formula 1® Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2025 One of the last races of the season, and also one of the sprint race weekends, and the full race takes place over 57 laps of the 5.419-km Lusail International Circuit under the floodlights. Fans can choose hospitality packages including a Gordon Ramsay dining experience and VIP viewing with F1® insiders online at visitqatar.com, lcsc.qa, formula1.com

27 – 30 FIA Formula 2 Championship 2025 F2 has helped many drivers on the road to F1, including a record four drivers promoted from the 2024 championship. The latest Dallara F2 car was introduced in 2024 to be a closer match to the F1 cars, as per FIA safety regulations and technologies. fiaformula2.com, lcsc.qa Lusail International Circuit

Upcoming Events

1 – 18 Dec FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025™ A total of 16 teams from the Arab world will compete in Qatar for the second time in a row, after the country successfully hosted the competition in 2021. The tournament will kick off on 1 December, with the final on 18 December, Qatar National Day. fifa.com Multiple venues

12 – 13 Dec T100 Triathlon World Championship Final Visit Qatar will be hosting the Qatar T100 Triathlon World Championship Finals from 2025 to 2029 under an agreement with the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO), World Triathlon, and the Qatar Cycling and Triathlon Federation. The swimming segment will be in the waters of the Arabian Gulf, and the cycling and running segments will be across Doha and Lusail City. The multisport weekend will also hold a number of events for amateur participants, allowing them the opportunity to compete in the new 100km triathlon distance (2km swim, 80km bike, 18km run) alongside elite professional triathletes. t100triathlon.com/qatar/participate

Ali

Dec 2025 –

Qatar Equestrian Tour The Qatar Equestrian Federation and Al Shaqab have jointly launched the region’s biggest international equestrian event and the largest in history with 10 major competitions and a total prize pool of €10 mn.

31 December 2025 – 31 January 2026: HH The Father Amir Tour, with four five-star international showjumping championships

11 – 14 February: HH The Amir’s Sword Festival

18 – 21 February: CHI Al Shaqab

4 – 7 March: Longines Global Champions Tour

11 March – 4 April: Doha International Equestrian Tour

October: Hathab Series. alshaqab.com

Jan 2026 Samla International Not for the faint-hearted! Samla means strength and perseverance in the face of hardship in Arabic. This is a non-stop 100 km pointto-point endurance challenge that will see contestants swim 2 km, cycle 44 km, run 49 km, and kayak 4 km within a strict 12-hour cut-off period. visitqatar.com

Feb 2026 Qatar TotalEnergies Open A premier WTA1000 event, a showcase of the best stars in women’s tennis for over 20 years. qatartennis.org, wtatennis.com Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex

Feb 2026 Qatar ExxonMobil Open Now an ATP 500 event, with the world's top men's tennis players like Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic entertaining fans both on and off court. qatartennis.org Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex

Mar 2026 Qatar 1812 KM – FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Named in honour of Qatar’s National Day, competitors will be tested as they race from day into night, over a maximum of 10 hours at the Lusail International Circuit. The circuit features a flat, high-speed layout with minimal elevation changes and maximum grip, an ideal proving ground for the sport’s most advanced prototypes and production-based GT cars. Manufacturers include Porsche, Ferrari, Toyota, Cadillac, Aston Martin, Peugeot, Alpine, and BMW in the premier Hypercar category, while the LMGT3 class features marques such as Corvette, Lexus, Ferrari, BMW, and Mercedes-AMG. lcsc.qa

Nov 2026 ISSF World Shooting Championships The Qatar Shooting & Archery Association will be hosting both a leg of the 2026 ISSF World Shooting Championships and the 2025 ISSF World Cup Final, encompassing rifle, pistol and shotgun events. This is the first time Qatar has hosted the ISSF World Shooting Championships and the fourth time of hosting an ISSF World Cup leg. issf-sports.org

2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 The FIBA Basketball World Cup is a high-profile international men's basketball tournament. Hosted by Qatar, this will be the first to be held in the Middle East and North Africa region. Contested by 32 nations, the teams will also be aiming to secure a place at the LA 2028 Olympic Games or the FIBA Olympic Qualifying tournaments. fiba.basketball

2030 21st Asian Games Qatar previously hosted the 2006 Asian Games and under 'Project Legacy of the Doha 2030 Asian Games' will use the infrastructure built for this event and the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. The Asian Games will be across 54 sports and disciplines in 39 state-of-the-art venues. agdoha2030.qa m

Revving Up for Motorsports!

By Sarah Palmer

Get in gear for some high speed racing this autumn in Qatar, with an exceptional experience guaranteed for spectators at a world-class circuit.

The evolution of motorsport at Lusail International Circuit

Lusail International Circuit lies on the outskirts of Doha. The track and complex took just over a year to build, cost USD58 mn and had almost 1,000 staff working around the clock to get it ready for the inaugural event, the Marlboro Grand Prix of Qatar on 2 October 2004.

The 5.4 km track is surrounded by artificial grass to prevent sand from the desert from blowing onto the circuit. The main straight is over 1 km long giving overtaking opportunities at Turn 1, and there are a number of medium and high-speed corners, including some popular quick left-handers. The first night time Grand Prix in history took place in 2008, thanks to the construction of permanent outdoor lighting. This was such a success that the Qatar event is now one of the most spectacular on the MotoGP calendar.

But it isn’t just MotoGP that Qatar is now known for. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, sporting events were cancelled, leaving a gap in the FIA Formula One World Championship 2021 season. Qatar quickly stepped in to assist and hosted its first Formula One race, the Qatar Grand Prix, in place of the cancelled Australian Grand Prix.

The country subsequently signed a 10-year deal with Formula One to start in 2023 – 2022 was skipped to avoid any clash with the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM. The initial Formula One event saw some issues arise, namely the small pit garages that were designed for MotoGP, as well as the need for temporary team hospitality buildings in the paddock. The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) were tasked with implementing the Lusail Circuit Upgrade Project as part of the country’s preparations to host future Qatar Grand Prix Formula One events.

There are now grandstands for 40,000+ spectators, increased parking, an entirely new pits and paddock complex, medical centre, race control, media centre and expanded fan zones. The surrounding and internal roads were also redeveloped. The circuit itself was resurfaced but there were no changes to the layout.

Take the fast lane to these events!

Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2025

The extravaganza that is Formula 1 will be returning to Qatar at the end of November.

The calendar for the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship is another 24-round season with the event marking its 75th anniversary. The Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix will be the 23rd and penultimate round of the season, and is one of the six sprint weekends alongside Shanghai, Miami, Spa, Austin, and Sao Paulo.

Tickets can be purchased online at lcsc.qa or via the app, with a number of options available, including general admission, grandstand seats and hospitality packages for single days or for all three days. Off the track, the Fanzone will be packed with a multitude of activities for all ages, from simulators and interactive games to vibrant cultural experiences, and culminating in thrilling concerts by global superstars.

Schedule

28 November – Practice 1 4:30 pm (local time, GMT +3); Sprint Qualifying 8:30 pm

29 November – Sprint 5 pm; Qualifying 9 pm

30 November – Race 7 pm, under the floodlights

For updates, visit lcsc.qa, formula1.com, marhaba.qa

FIA Formula 2 Championship 2025

For the second year in a row, a Formula 2 race will be taking place at the same time as older sibling Formula 1.

Formula 2 is an open-wheel racing category, the second tier of formula racing in the FIA Global Pathway and run at selected rounds of the Formula One World Championship. The championship is a one-make racing series (also known as spec racing series), therefore all teams and drivers run the same car, the Dallara F2 2024.

The appeal of one-make car racing is that no driver has a technological advantage over others. This allows for success based more on driver skill and car setup rather than engineering skill and budget. This is popular at an amateur level due to affordabiility, thanks to using a common engine and chassis.

Winners of the Formula 2 championship often graduate to Formula 1, with past champions including Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, George Russell, and Oscar Piastri. In 2025, four rookie drivers currently have Formula 1 drives: Kimi Antonelli, Ollie Bearman, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Isack Hadjar.

The race weekend schedule is still to be confirmed. For updates, visit lcsc.qa, fiaformula2.com, marhaba.qa

NB: Fans must buy tickets for both events from authorised sellers and resellers only. Tickets purchased from unauthorised third-party websites or resellers will be invalid and you won’t be admitted into the event.

A Sneak Peek at Qatar Auto Museum Project

Fans wanting to see the past, present and future of motoring should visit the National Museum of Qatar for a preview of the new Qatar Auto Museum, designed by the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), led by Pritzker Prize–winning architect Rem Koolhaas.

The new museum, located along Lusail Street between the 5/6 Park and Katara Cultural Village, is a 30,000 sq m space with permanent and temporary galleries that explore the history of the automobile and its impact on global life and culture. In line with Qatar National Vision 2030, the development of the museum will complement the state’s efforts to support the cultural, educational and tourism sectors, its investments in the automotive industry, and its ability to host global automotive events.

A Sneak Peek at Qatar Auto Museum is on until 2 January 2026. Entrance to the exhibition is free with museum admission. Reserve tickets in advance online at nmoq.org.qa

Sports Activities

Archery

Evolution Sports Qatar Multiple locations For adults and children aged 7+. 4407 6772, evosportsqatar.com ✓

Aviation and Skydiving

365 Adventures Multiple locations Flights over Al Thakhira mangroves, hot air balloon rides, paratriking, and sports and adventure packages. For ages 15+. 3339 3323, 365adventures.me ✓

Asfary Multiple locations Gyroplane, hot air balloon rides and paratriking over Doha landmarks. For ages 12+. 5543 4313, asfary.com ✓

Qatar Flying Club Al Khor airfield Flight training programmes, sightseeing tours of key landmarks. 5566 5658, qatarflyingclub.net

iFLY in Doha Quest Doha Oasis D4 Indoor skydiving in a vertical wind tunnel. From age 3 onwards. Open Monday to Wednesday 3 pm –8:30 pm, Thursday to Saturday 5:30 pm – 11 pm, closed Sunday. 4410 3444, dohaquest.com ✓

Sky Masters Sports Club Mesaieed Paratriking at Sealine Beach/Inland Sea. 6000 4011, flowcode.com/page/skymasters.qa

Badminton

Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha D3/4 Floodlit court. 4428 1621, radissonblu.com/en/hotel-doha ✓

Baseball and Softball

Qatar Little League A chartered member of Little League International, the world's largest organised youth sports organisation. Children aged 4 – 18 can play and enjoy the games of baseball and softball. Volunteers are always welcome! qatarlittleleague.com ✓

Marhaba updates this section every issue, however details may change after going to press. If your organisation is listed on these pages, email any changes to us at marhaba@marhaba.com.qa. Many of the locations can be found using the maps in this guide. Marhaba pocket maps can be purchased at bookshops and stores around town.

Also see:

• Leisure Activities for dance classes, fishing, theme parks and play zones.

• Health and Wellness for wellness, Pilates and yoga.

• Hospitality in Qatar for a complete list of hotels and their fitness facilities.

✓ An activity for children or one that children can participate in.

Basketball

Evolution Basketball Qatar Multiple locations For adults and children aged 3+. 4407 6772, evosportsqatar.com ✓

Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha D3/4 Floodlit court. 4428 1621, radissonblu.com/en/hotel-doha ✓

SFQ Sports Academy Multiple locations For children aged 3+. 6622 2962, sfqsportsacademy.com.qa ✓

Bowling

300 Bowling Center Al Thumama Mall E4 Bowling alley, pool/billiards and gaming area. Open daily 10 am – 3 am. 4444 0260, 3363 3838 ✓

Banana Island Resort Doha By Anantara C5 8-lane bowling alley with authentic American diner. Open Sunday to Wednesday 10 am – 10 pm, Thursday to Saturday 10 am – 11 pm. 4040 5050, anantara.com/en/banana-island-doha ✓

Gondolania Bowling Center Villaggio D2 12-lane bowling alley. Open Sunday to Wednesday 10 am –11 pm, Thursday/Saturday 10 am – midnight, Friday 1 pm – midnight. 4403 9800, gondolania.com ✓

Multaqa Bowling Center Education City C2 12-lane bowling alley. Open Sunday/Tuesday/Thursday 4 pm – 9:30 pm, Monday/Wednesday/Friday/ Saturday 8 am – 9:30 pm. 4454 0267 ✓

Megapolis Entertainment Center The Pearl Island B4 Bowling alley, darts, billiards, escape rooms and racing simulator. Open 24/7. 4437 8444/84, megapolisqatar.com ✓

Qatar Bowling Center D4 32-lane bowling alley. Open Sunday to Wednesday 2 pm – midnight, Thursday 2 pm – 1 am, Friday 8 am – 6 pm (leagues), 6 pm – 1 am (open to all), Saturday noon – midnight. 4435 3054/3336 2722, qatarbowlingcenter.com ✓

Aleph Doha Residences, Curio Collection by Hilton

Yalla! Bowling Vox Cinema, Doha Oasis D4

8 bowling alleys, VIP restaurant. Open daily 10 am – 11 pm. 4410 6111, dohaoasis.com ✓

Cricket

Qatar Cricket Association QOC Building, Al Dafna C4 Training, development, facilities and practice nets. 4494 4941, qatarcricketassociation.org ✓

Stallions Cricket Academy Multiple locations Coaching and events for adults and children. 3140 8994, stallions-qatar.com ✓

Cycling

Banana Island Resort Doha By Anantara C5

Explore the island by bike or Segway. 4040 5050, anantara.com/en/banana-island-doha ✓

Qatar Chain Reaction Multiple locations Volunteer branch of the Qatar Cycling and Triathlon Federation open to all road and mountain bike riders. Friday morning rides, track nights at Lusail International Circuit and more. qatarchainreaction.com

Qatar Cycling Federation Near College of the North Atlantic-Qatar B3 Events and development of the sport. 4447 5522, qatarcycling.org ✓

Darts

Doha Darts League Shamrock Tavern, Delta Hotel C3 The league runs from September to March. Join the Facebook group for details.

Fencing

Clement Sports Multiple locations Training for ages 4 to adults, also offers archery, corporate and private events. 7751 2469, clementsports.com ✓

Evolution Sports Qatar Multiple locations For adults and children aged 4+. 4407 6772, evosportsqatar.com ✓

Fitness Classes and Gyms

For dance and Zumba see Leisure Activities, for Pilates and yoga see Health and Wellness, both in this section.

Al Messila, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Doha E4 Outdoor bootcamp, personal training and jogging tracks. 4445 0000, marriott.com

Altitude Elite Lusail City A4 Personalised training for peak performance. 5085 5825, altitude.qa

Alwadi Hotel Doha – MGallery D4 Personal training and TechnoShape body slimming sessions at M|Fit gym, for hotel guests only. 4009 9999, alwadihoteldoha.com

Anytime Fitness Multiple locations Daily fitness and yoga. 4414 4999 (Al Muftah Plaza), 4469 7215 (Al Wakra, ladies), 4411 1999 (Al Wakra, men), 4411 4999 (Mall of Qatar), anytimefitness.qa

Aspire Active Aspire Zone D2 Classes for men, women, and children aged 6 months+. Registration form and schedule are online. aspireactiveqa.com ✓

Banana Island Resort Doha By Anantara C5 Functional training, stretching and mobility, personal trainer on request. Open 24/7. 4040 5050, anantara.com/en/banana-island-doha

Banyan Tree Doha D4 Fitness classes and exercise rooms. 4410 3333, banyantree.com ✓

Bounce Fitness Multiple locations Bootcamp, martial arts, yoga and gymnastics for adults and children. 5061 1266, bouncefitness.com.qa ✓

Centara West Bay Hotel & Residences Doha B4 Fitness centre and studio, HIIT for adults and fitness classes for children, kids club and two swimming pools. 4009 5555, centarahotelsresorts.com/centara/cwq ✓

Dana Club C4 Aquarobics, aerobics and HIIT including ladies-only classes and Jump Gym for kids. 4496 0600, danaclub.com.qa ✓

Delta Hotels City Center Doha C3 The Emerald Gym is fully equipped with pool and steam rooms. 4470 3333, marriott.com ✓

Education City Golf Club C2 Gym for general fitness; coaching by PGA golf professional for golf swing, stretching and core stability. ecgolf.com ✓

Evo Active – Evolution Sports Qatar Multiple locations Ladies only/adults and children aged 16+. 4407 6772, evosportsqatar.com

Evolve Multiple locations Classes at several hotels, personal training and nutritional advice. 5040 3234, evolvemindbodysoul.com ✓

Fairmont Doha A4 Aquarobics, movement and mobility, custom coaching; also has a climbing wall. 4030 7200, fairmont.com/doha ✓

The OQ

Fitness First City Center Doha C4 Fitness classes and separate male/female gyms. 4411 5999, qatar.fitnessfirstme.com

Four Seasons Hotel Doha C4 Circuit training, spinning, HIIT (adults), gymnastics and tennis (children). 4485 8888, fourseasons.com/doha ✓

Grand Hyatt Doha B4 CrossFit, aqua gym, Tae Bo and core. 4448 1060, doha.grand.hyatt.com ✓

Hilton Salwa Beach Resort Separate male and female training zones available, for guests aged 16+ only. 4423 6666, salwabeachresort.qa

InterContinental Doha Beach & Spa B4 Circuit training, Tabata, bootcamp, boxing, CrossFit and Burn. 4484 4828, doha.intercontinental.com

InterContinental Doha – The City B4 Abs and aerobics classes. 4015 8888, intercontinental.com/dohathecity

Mandarin Oriental, Doha D4 TRX, seasonal outdoor personal training, power walking and running. 4008 8888, mandarinoriental.com/doha

Marsa Malaz Kempinski The Pearl – Doha A4 Daily group and one-to-one classes, two fitness areas (one ladies/men, one ladies only). 4035 5555, kempinski.com/marsamalaz

Mondrian Doha A4 Open 24/7, complimentary Diet or Fitness DNA Test with membership. 4045 5555, sbe.com/hotels/mondrian/doha

OxFitness Lab The Gate Mall C4 Street (CrossFit box), Ride Tribe (indoor cycling), Circle (weights), Encore Pilates, and Raise the Barre. 4020 6430, oxfitnesslab.com

Park Hyatt Doha D4 Separate female/male gyms. 4009 1234, parkhyattdoha.com

Pullman Hotel West Bay C4 More than 40 exercise stations, open 24/7 for hotel guests. 4009 4000, pullman-doha-westbay.com

Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha D3/4 Personal training and aquacise. Free daily stretching classes for club members and hotel guests. 4428 1621, radissonblu.com/en/hotel-doha ✓

Raffles Doha A4 Gym for guests and members only, private fitness sessions, nutrition consultations. 4030 7100, rafflesdoha.com

Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha D4 Open 24/7, classes include TRX, Pilates, Tabata, spinning and Kangoo Jump. 4429 8888, rixos.com/en/hotel-resort/rixosgulf-hotel-doha ✓

Rosewood Doha B4 Movement studio and classes on the outdoor deck, HIIT, rhythmic cycling, Aquaphysical mat training, personalised coaching. 4030 3333, rosewoodhotels.com/en/doha

Sharq Village & Spa, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel Doha D4 Daily HIIT, Zumba toning, kickboxing, spinning, circuit training, full moon yoga, aquarobics, 24/7 gym. 4425 6666, ritzcarlton.com/doha

Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel C4 Open 24/7, fitness training, assessment, yoga and spinning. See the online schedule. 4485 4600, fitness.sheratongranddoha.com ✓

Strongbox Qatar Doha Sports Club B4 CrossFit, conditioning and personal training. 5050 2954, strongboxqatar.com

The Ned Doha A4 Ned's Club Gym has state-ofthe-art equipment, studios, personal trainers and group classes. 4406 1111, thened.com/doha ✓

The OQ A4 Aqua boxing, aqua gym, body pump, circuit training, CrossFit 4004 1555, theoq.com

The Ritz-Carlton, Doha A4 Core conditioning and toning, low impact, power walking, spinning and more. 4484 8173, ritzcarlton.com/doha ✓

The St. Regis Doha B4 Free classes and personal training for guests and members. 4446 0304, stregisdoha.com ✓

The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa D4 WestinWORKOUT offers circuits, stretching, abs, HIIT and personal training. 4492 1600, marriott.com

W Doha Hotel & Residences B4 Fully equipped FIT gym open 24/7. 4453 5555, marriott.com

Waldorf Astoria Doha Lusail A4 Gym, training area, Zen Wellness Yoga Zone on the terrace, and My Equilibria instinctive wellness training installation. Live and virtual classes include reformer Pilates, barre, yoga, and spinning. 4456 5656, hilton.com

Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay C4 Separate gender studios, spinning and stretching classes, three mind and yoga studios, juice bars, and an elevator for members. 4008 9000, hilton.com

Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som Al Ruwais Bespoke Optimal Physio-Fit offers activities and gym access to help alleviate pain, improve posture and boost overall fitness. 4477 6500, zulal.com

Football

Aspire Zone Foundation D2 Five-a-side pitch with FIFA quality artificial turf and foam shock pad underlay. Open daily 4 pm – 11 pm. Book online at booking.aspirelogistics.qa, lifeinaspire.qa ✓

Ability Friendly Qatar Foundation Multaqa C2 Sunday – Thursday, small group sessions available for anybody with a disability or special need, aged 5+. 4454 0772, abilityfriendly@qf.org.qa ✓

Evolution Soccer Qatar Multiple locations For adults and children aged 3+. 4407 6772, evosportsqatar.com ✓

Lusail Football Academy Doha Sports Park B4 Qatar’s first QFA-approved private football academy for children aged 3+, with league games for adults. 3067 7463, lfa.qa ✓

Frisbee

Team Qatar Ultimate Frisbee Lusail City A3 Meet-ups Sunday and Tuesday 7 pm, Friday 5 am. 3152 6632, qatarultimatefrisbee.com ✓

Gaelic Football

Qatar GAA Multiple locations Male, female and children's teams, playing 9-a-side games with 12 players. Games are seven minutes long, with 10 minute finals, as per the Middle East GAA County Board Rules. There are also hurling teams. See their Facebook/Instagram pages. ✓

Golf

Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara C5 9-hole putting course, Starting New At Golf progamme, and Ecobioball to play and feed the fish! Open daily 9 am – 5 pm. 4040 5050, anantara.com/en/banana-island-doha ✓

Corinthia Golf Club A3 Located at Gewan Island next to The Pearl Island, the club offers a fully floodlit, nine-hole par 3 golf course, set among natural lakes and manicured greens. 5109 9699, corinthiagolfclub.qa

Doha Golf Club B3 18-hole championship course, 9-hole floodlit academy course, putting and chipping greens and world-class practice facilities. Coaching available with PGA professionals from the Qatar Golf Academy. The New Golfer Membership offers everything needed to get started. Open daily 6 am – 9 pm. 4496 0715, dohagolfclub.com ✓

Education City Golf Club C2 Designed by Jose Maria Olazabal, the course has an 18-hole Championship course, 6-hole Championship course and 9-hole par 3 course. The Centre of Excellence has a driving range installed with Power Tee automated teeing system and TrackMan technology. Lessons available with PGA professionals. The 9 hole par 3 course is floodlit for night golf. Open daily 6 am – 8 pm. ecgolf.com ✓

Gymnastics and Trampolining

Bounce Inc Tawar Mall C3 Indoor trampoline park, training classes, free jumping, dodgeball and more, for adults and children aged 3+. 4408 6500, bounce.qa ✓

SFQ Sports Academy Multiple locations Gymnastics classes for children aged 2+. 6622 2962, sfqsportsacademy.com.qa ✓

The Gymnastics Academy Multiple locations For gymnasts of different abilities, aged 3+. Follows the British Gymnastics floor and vault syllabus but also trains on bars, beams and trampolines. gymacademydoha.com ✓

Hockey

Doha Hockey Club Multiple locations Welcomes players of all levels keen to play social hockey. Monday 7 pm, Friday 8 am, youngster programme for ages 5+ Friday/Saturday 8 am. dohahockeyclub.com ✓

Wanderers Hockey Qatar Field hockey in Qatar since the 1970s. bosco_menezes@hotmail.com

Horse Riding Lessons and Camel Rides

Al Samriya Riding School Al Samriya Estate, next to Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani's farm in Al Sheehaniya. Lessons for adults and children, daily rides, pony club, trails and events; café; shop with equestrian items. 4490 2359, alsamriyariding.com ✓

Sealine Beach, A Murwab Resort Enjoy a leisurely horse or camel ride along the beach. 4476 5299, sealinebeachqatar.com ✓

Ice Hockey and Ice-Skating

Gondolania Ice Arena Villaggio D2 Public sessions and lessons at the Olympic size rink. 4450 7873, gondolaniaicearena.com ✓

Qatar International Ice Hockey League Villaggio D2 A fun, recreational league with organised games. qhockey.com

Kids Clubs

Al Messila, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Doha E4 Little Explorers' Kids Club has a mini gym with kid-friendly equipment, a large outdoor playground, cinema, and an edu-training lab. 4445 0000, almessiladoha.com ✓

Evolution Sports Qatar Multiple locations Multi-sports holiday camps for ages 4 – 11. 4407 6772, evosportsqatar.com ✓

InterContinental Doha Beach & Spa B4 Tennis competitions, sports days, activities and seasonal events. 4484 4828, doha.intercontinental.com ✓

InterContinental Doha – The City B4 Aladdin Kids Club has games and activities for ages 5 – 12. 4015 8888, intercontinental.com/dohathecity ✓

Marsa Malaz Kempinski The Pearl – Doha A4

The Titan Tikes Kids' Playroom offers games, toys, arts and crafts. For ages 4 –12. 4035 5555, kempinski.com/marsamalaz ✓

Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha D4 Rixos Premium Qetaifan Island North A4 The Rixy Kids Clubs have daily activities, treasure hunts, beach and pool games, arts and crafts and talent shows. 4429 8888, rixos.com/en/hotel-resort/rixos-gulf-hotel-doha; 4144 4444, allinclusive-collection.com ✓

Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel C4 Weekdays 8 am – 1 pm, for ages 5 –12. 4485 4600, fitness.sheratongranddoha.com ✓

The St. Regis Marsa Arabia Island, The Pearl Qatar A4 Activity programmes daily 10 am – 7 pm. 4020 4477, marriott.com/dohxp ✓

Waldorf Astoria Doha Lusail A4 Kunuz kids club daily 10 am – 7 pm, Kunuz Teens Friday/Saturday noon – 9 pm. 4456 5656, hilton.com ✓

Martial Arts and Boxing

Centara West Bay Hotel & Residences Doha B4 Boxing for adults and children. 4009 5555, centarahotelsresorts.com/centara/cwq ✓

Evolve Multiple locations Boxing and Muay Thai workouts. 4407 6772, evolvemindbodysoul.com ✓

Four Seasons Hotel Doha C4 Boxing classes. 4494 8888, fourseasons.com/doha

InterContinental Doha The City C4 Kickboxing, boxing, taekwondo, karate for children. 4015 8888, intercontinental.com/dohathecity ✓

Mandarin Oriental, Doha D4 Thai Chi, Muay Thai. 4008 8888, mandarinoriental.com/doha

SFQ Sports Academy Multiple locations Kickboxing, karate and taekwondo for adults and children. 6622 2962, sfqsportsacademy.com.qa ✓

The Korea Taekwondo Centre Al Muthana Complex, Salwa Rd D3 Daily from 3 pm (except Friday). For adults and children aged 5+. See the Facebook group for details. 5556 3305 ✓

Multipurpose and Family Clubs

Aspire Zone Foundation D2 Public fields open daily 8 am – 9 pm; also football fields, basketball and volleyball courts, paddle boats, cycling tent and mini pitches. lifeinaspire.qa ✓

Dana Club C4 Basketball, mini-football, table tennis and volleyball facilities for members and their guests. 4496 0600, danaclub.com.qa ✓

Hilton Salwa Beach Resort The private Sports Academy has an indoor training facility and nine outdoor pitches, for professional athletes and sports teams. 4423 6666, salwabeachresort.qa

Netball

Evolution Netball Qatar Multiple locations For adults and children aged 3+. 4407 6772, evosportsqatar.com ✓

Padel, Squash and Tennis

Al Messila, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Doha E4 Outdoor tennis and padel courts. 4445 0000, almessiladoha.com ✓

Banana Island Resort Doha By Anantara C5

Synthetic tennis and padel courts. 4040 5050, anantara.com/en/banana-island-doha ✓

Doha Oasis D4 Five indoor padel courts. Open Saturday to Thursday 10 am – midnight, Friday 4 pm – midnight. 5533 8830, dohaoasis.com ✓

First Fit Training Multiple locations For adults and children aged 4+. 3300 0779, fftsports.com ✓

Four Seasons Hotel Doha C4 Complimentary racquets and balls for use on the outdoor Rebound Ace courts. 4485 8888, fourseasons.com/doha ✓

InterContinental Doha Beach & Spa B4 Tennis and squash lessons, outdoor padel court. 4484 4828, doha.intercontinental.com ✓

Khalifa Tennis & Squash Complex C4 Courts available for hire. The tennis school offers training for children aged 5+. 4440 9666, qatartennis.org ✓

Marsa Malaz Kempinski The Pearl – Doha A4

Two padel courts, one tennis court. Kids’ tennis lessons Saturday/Thursday by appointment. 4035 5555, kempinski.com/marsamalaz ✓

Padel Garden Doha Katara Cultural Village B4

Seven outdoor courts in Katara Hills. see their Instagram page. 4032 5528 ✓

Family exercise classes at Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som

Padel In Multiple locations Qatar’s first indoor padel club. Book court hire at thepadelin.com ✓

Padel Qatar Qatar Sports Club C4 Court hire can be booked online. 3381 2201, padelqatar.com ✓

Qatar Foundation C2 The Dome Padel Club is ladies only daily 11:30 am – 5:30 pm, 7 pm at weekends; mixed slots 6:30 am – 11 am/6 pm –midnight. The Education City Golf Club padel courts are open daily 6:30 am – 10 pm. Make bookings at playtomic.io ✓

Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha D3/4 Tennis training for groups and individuals; tennis and squash courts available for hire by the hour. 4428 1621, radissonblu.com/en/hotel-doha ✓

Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel C4 Indoor tennis and squash courts, outdoor padel court. Private and group lessons for adults and children, tennis socials. 4485 4600, fitness.sheratongranddoha.com ✓

The Ritz-Carlton, Doha A4 Tennis and squash courts, lessons available. 4484 8173, ritzcarlton.com/middleeast ✓

The St. Regis Doha B4 Tennis and padel court hire, lessons for adults and children aged 12+. 4446 0304, stregisdoha.com ✓

The St. Regis Marsa Arabia Island, The Pearl Qatar A4 Padel court open daily 8 am – 10 pm. Packages available, rackets and ball cans can be rented/purchased. 4020 4477, marriott.com/dohxp

The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa D4 Two squash courts for hire. 4492 1682, westindoha.com ✓

Waldorf Astoria Doha Lusail A4 Four padel courts and two tennis courts. Advance booking required. 4456 5656, hilton.com ✓

Rock Climbing

EsQalar Sports Aspire Zone D2 Qatar's first company dedicated to rock climbing sports. Open Thursday to Tuesday 2 pm – 10 pm. 5553 7177 ✓

Rugby

Doha Rugby Football Centre Doha Sports Park B4 Mens' first/second/third/vets teams, ladies team, and minis/youth for children. doharfc.com ✓

Running, Athletics and Triathlon

Al Messila, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Doha C3 Running/jogging tracks, fitness trail and nature trail. 4445 0000, marriott.com

Doha Athletic Club Multiple locations All ages and abilities are welcome for informal meet ups and

training sessions. The club is run by Liz McColgan, 10,000m World Champion, Olympic Silver Medallist and now Director of Athletics at Qatar Foundation. See their Facebook page for details. ✓

Doha Bay Running Club Multiple locations Informal group meeting weekend mornings and weekday evenings, open to all. Join the Facebook group for details.

Katara Cultural Village B4 More than 2 km of walking/running track in Katara Hills. Please observe the dress code when visiting. katara.net ✓

Qatar Triathlon Federation Near University of Doha for Science and Technology B3 Events and development of the sport. 4447 5522, qatartriathlon.org ✓

TriClub Doha Multiple Locations Training and events starting each September. triclubdoha.com ✓

Scuba Diving and Snorkelling

Banana Island Resort Doha By Anantara C5 Scuba diving and diving courses, also RAID certification and snorkelling. 4040 5050, anantara.com/en/banana-island-doha ✓

Doha Sub Aqua Club (DSAC) Between Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha and Sharq Village & Spa D4 Qatar's British Sub Aqua Club. Diving trips, training and social events. Meets every Tuesday at 7 pm. See their Facebook page for details.

Poseidon Dive Center Hilton Doha C4 PADI courses, professional dive training, Rebreather programmes. 6608 4040, pdcqatar.com ✓

Shooting and Target Ranges

Al Hadaf Shooting Range Al Waab D3 Simulator, rifle, airgun, skeet and more. Open Saturday to Wednesday 4 pm – 8 pm. 4141 7777, alhadafrange.com

Al Ramii Shooting Club Lusail City A3 Shotgun, rifle, pistol and archery. Open Saturday to Wednesday 4 pm – 8 pm. 4495 3114, alramiiclub.qa

Lusail Shooting Club Lusail City A3 Open Sunday to Friday 4 pm – 8 pm. 4495 3114, qsaa.qa

Spinning

Fitness First City Center‑Doha C4 Separate classes for men and women. 4411 5106, qatar.fitnessfirstme.com

The Ritz-Carlton, Doha A4 Daily classes; booking is essential. 4484 8173, ritzcarlton.com/doha

Swimming

Aleph Doha Residences, Curio Collection by Hilton C4 Al Dafna's highest indoor pool on the 52nd floor; ladies only days available. 4004 7000, alephdoharesidences.curiocollection.com ✓

AlRayyan Hotel Doha, Curio Collection by Hilton C1 Three outdoor pools: one for children with jumping water jets, one lap pool, one relaxation pool. 4489 9000, alrayyanhilton.qa ✓

Al Messila, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Doha E4 Outdoor Grand Pool set in an oasis of indigenous trees, plus an indoor recreational pool. 4445 0000, marriott.com

Aspire Active Aspire Zone D2 Classes for men, women and children; online schedule and registration. 4413 6219, aspireactiveqa.com ✓

Ability Friendly Qatar Foundation Recreation Center C2 and Al Khor Recreation Center. Sunday – Thursday, 1:1 classes for all levels from beginner to advanced. Available for anybody with a disability or special needs, aged 4+. 4454 1398, qf.org.qa/community/ability-friendly-program ✓

Banana Island Resort Doha By Anantara C5

100 m pool, water slides, kids water park, and a surf pool with lessons available. 4040 5050, anantara.com/en/banana-island-doha ✓

Evolution Swimming Qatar Multiple locations For adults and children aged 3+. 4407 6772, evosportsqatar.com ✓

Fairmont Doha A4 Indoor pool on the 5th floor, and wave pool. 4030 7200, fairmont.com/doha ✓

Four Seasons Hotel Doha C4 Grotto pools and family-friendly pools with water slides. 4485 8888, fourseasons.com/doha ✓

Freestyle Aquatics at Aspire Aspire Dome Swimming Pool D2 Swimming, snorkelling and scuba diving for people with special needs and disabilities. 5019 2328, tryfreestyle@gmail.com ✓

Grand Hyatt Doha B4 Three outdoor pools, two children's pools, one indoor pool for adults. 4448 1060, doha.grand.hyatt.com ✓

H2O Swim Club Multiple locations Competitive and leisure programmes, for adults and children aged 8 months+. 5564 1475, h2oswimclub.com ✓

Le Méridien City Center, Doha C4 Indoor and outdoor pools, whirlpool. 4041 3333, hilton.com ✓

Le Royal Méridien Doha A4 Outdoor pool, children's pool, whirlpool. 4141 6000, hilton.com ✓

Marsa Malaz Kempinski The Pearl – Doha A4 Eight outdoor pools, whirlpool bath and children's pool. 4035 5555, kempinski.com/marsamalaz ✓

Mondrian Doha A4 On the 26th floor, the pool shares the space with the gym. 4045 5555, sbe.com/hotels/mondrian/doha ✓

Park Hyatt Doha D4 Semi-covered pool on the 6th floor. 4009 1234, parkhyattdoha.com

Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha D3/4 Aquacise classes, private swimming lessons. 4428 1621, radissonblu.com/en/hotel-doha ✓

Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel C4 Lessons for children. 4485 4600, fitness.sheratongranddoha.com ✓

Steigenberger Hotel Doha D4 Rooftop temperature-controlled pool, children's pool. 4020 1666, steigenberger.com ✓

The Chedi Katara Hotel & Resort B4 60 m outdoor pool, one of the largest in Doha. 4144 7777, chedikatara.com ✓

The Ritz-Carlton, Doha A4 Indoor Junior Olympic pool, outdoor freeform pool. Call first for availability of instructors for classes. 4484 8173, ritzcarlton.com/middleeast ✓

The St. Regis Doha B4 Olympic-sized pool and children's pool for use by guests and members. 4446 0304, stregisdoha.com ✓

The St. Regis Marsa Arabia Island, The Pearl Qatar A4 Outdoor family and children's pools. 4020 4477, marriott.com/dohxp ✓

The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa D4 Four pools available, including indoor, outdoor, kids and waves pool. 4492 1682, westindoha.com ✓

Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay C4 Indoor 26 m pool. 4008 9000, hilton.com

Volleyball

Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha D3/4 Floodlit court. 4428 1621, radissonblu.com/en/hotel-doha ✓

The St. Regis Marsa Arabia Island, The Pearl Qatar

Water Sports and Beach Activities

For fishing see Leisure Activities in this section

Angry Dragons Qatar Katara Beach B4 The Pearl Island B4 New and seasoned paddlers always welcome. See their Facebook page for details.

AquaSports Qatar Multiple locations Kayaking in Al Thakhira mangroves and other locations, stand up paddle and kiteboarding. Events and private parties. aquasportsq.com ✓

Banana Island Resort Doha By Anantara C5 Beach sports, stand up paddle, banana/donut rides, kayaks, HamacLand Floating Lounge, and Pontoon Tea/Dinner. 4040 5050, anantara.com/en/banana-island-doha ✓

Discover Arabia Adventure tours at Al Thakhira nature reserve, educational programmes for schools, mangrove planting and environmental clean-ups. Also kayaking, snorkelling and overnight camps. 3023 3207, discoverarabia.today ✓

Discover Qatar The destination management division of Qatar Airways offers tours and excursions with sun, sea and sand. 4423 7999, discoverqatar.qa ✓

Doha Dragons Qatar Katara Beach B4 Paddling sessions according to the weather. Equipment is provided. See their Facebook page for details. ✓

Fuwairit Kite Beach, Tapestry Collection by Hilton A one-of-a-kind resort on Qatar's northern coast, designed around the kitesurfing lifestyle. The beach destination is also a place to stay, dine and enjoy sports like volleyball, football, padel, and yoga. Day pass is QAR300 per person which includes resort sports facilities and an F&B credit of QAR200. Open daily 10 am – 5 pm. fkb.qa

Hilton Salwa Beach Resort Desert Falls Water and Adventure Park is one of the largest theme parks in the Middle East with 18 attractions and 56 rides and slides. Beach activities include kayaking, stand up paddle, hydro bikes, football, tennis, basketball, volleyball and yoga. Open Saturday to Wednesday 10 am – 5 pm, Thursday/Friday 10 am – 6 pm. Pre-booking required, rides and slides subject to availability. 4423 6666, salwabeachresort.qa ✓

InterContinental Doha Beach & Spa B4 Jetskis, tubes, wakeboarding, kitesurfing, stand up paddle and a water trampoline in the lagoon. 4484 4828, doha.intercontinental.com ✓

Katara Beach B4 Waterskiing, kneeboarding, parasailing, jetskis, boat/gondola rides, sailing and kayaking. Open daily 3:30 pm – 11 pm; no swimming after sunset. Please observe the dress code when visiting. katara.net ✓

Marsa Malaz Kempinski The Pearl – Doha A4

Knee boarding, wakeboarding, kayaking, boat rides, pedal boat, hydrobike and stand up paddle. 4035 5555, kempinski.com/doha ✓

Qatar Dragon Boat The Pearl Island A4

Dragon boat team building, festivals and youth programmes. New members of all levels are welcome. 5505 2204, qatardragonboat.com ✓

Q-Explorer Multiple locations Mangrove kayaking, jet ski tours of Doha's Corniche, scuba diving, and dhow/yacht cruises. Events for schools, corporates, and private parties. 4472 5146, q-explorer.com ✓

Regatta Sailing Academy InterContinental

Doha Hotel & Residences B4 A Royal Yachting Association training centre offering activities, corporate events and parties. 5550 3484, regattasailingacademy.com ✓

Rixos Premium Qetaifan Island North A4

Five acres of attractions, including the Meryal Waterpark featuring The Rig 1938, an 85-metre tower holding two Guinness World Records; open daily except Monday, noon – 8 pm. Also tube slides, wave pool, interactive river, live shows, private beach, beach club and restaurants. 4144 4444, allinclusive-collection.com; 4144 4000, meryalwaterpark.com ✓

Sealine Beach, A Murwab Resort Day visitors can use the pool areas and beach; activities include jet skis and boat rides. 4476 5299, sealinebeachqatar.com ✓

Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel

C4 Banana/donut rides, wakeboard, waterskiing, kayaks, jet skis, stand up paddle, water bikes, cruises and fishing. 4485 4600, fitness.sheratongranddoha.com ✓

The Chedi Katara Hotel & Resort B4 Exclusively for hotel guests with private beach, cabanas, 60m-long pool and water sport activities. 4144 7777, ghmhotels.com/en/katara ✓

The Ritz-Carlton, Doha A4 Outdoor lagoon pool, a large sandy beach with cabanas, and landscaped gardens offer guests a relaxing retreat. 4484 8173, ritzcarlton.com/middleeast ✓

The St. Regis Doha B4 Banana/donut rides, wakeboard, waterskiing, kayaks, jet skis, stand up paddle, parasailing, boat rentals. 4446 0304, stregisdoha.com ✓

Waldorf Astoria Doha Lusail A4 The only private beach in Lusail City. The family water park has fountains, surfing stations and slides. 4456 5656, hilton.com ✓

Traditional Qatari Games

By Ola Diab

Many countries have their own traditional children’s games, and Qatar is no exception...So, let the traditional games begin.

With the advancement of technology, the way children play has changed significantly. Today, many children are glued to screens – whether on phones, TVs, iPads, or other electronic devices – watching YouTube, browsing video-sharing platforms, or playing video games. As a result, it has become rare to see children actively running and playing.

In the past, before the rise of electronic entertainment, children were more physically active, engaging in outdoor games and traditional pastimes.

Many countries have their own traditional children’s games, and Qatar is no exception. To preserve these cultural activities for future generations, organisations such as Qatar Museums (QM), Qatar Tourism (QT), and the Ministry of Culture promote and organise traditional games, particularly during special occasions like Qatar National Day.

In 2013, QM published the book Traditional Games in Qatar by Qatari folklorist Khalifa

Al Sayed Al Malki. The book is available in both English and Arabic and can be purchased online through the QM website at qm.org.qa

There are at least 100 games in ancient Qatar, played by children as well as adults, using basic available tools and materials in their surroundings or environment such as rocks or stones, and rope. Due to Qatar’s conservative traditions and culture, some games are traditionally played exclusively by either boys or girls. However, there are still many games that can be enjoyed by both together.

Al Dawama

This traditional game is played by a group of boys using a conical wooden piece, or top. A string is wound around the top, and when released, it starts

spinning. The skill of the player is tested as they try to pick up the spinning top and see who can keep it spinning the longest in the palm of their hand.

Al Khashesha

This game is played by both boys and girls. The first player closes their eyes while the other players hide in different locations. The objective for the first player is to find the others before they can return to the starting point. If the first player catches any of the hiders, the game resets, and they must start over. However, if a hider manages to return to the starting point without being caught, the first player must begin the search again. This game promotes both agility and strategy while also offering a fun way to engage children in physical activity.

Al Rein

The traditional team sport combines strength, agility, speed, and quick thinking. The game is played between two teams, each with varying numbers of players. The players begin by collecting flat stones and stacking them on top of one another. Once the stack is built, they mark a spot about 1.5 m away from it. A raffle is drawn to determine which team will go first. The team that wins the raffle sends one player to throw a ball at the stone stack, aiming to knock over as many stones as possible. While the first team rushes to retrieve the ball, the second team quickly works to collect and re-stack the toppled stones. This back-and-forth continues until all the stones are knocked over. Then, the second team takes their turn, and the cycle repeats. The game is not limited to just two teams; more teams can join, making it a lively and competitive game of strategy, speed, and coordination.

Al Saba or Sebbah

Also known as Sebbah, Al Saba is a game played with pebbles or small stones and is played by a group of boys and girls sitting in a circle on a sandy ground, facing each other. A big square is drawn on the ground and each child puts three stones in different places on the square. Once the game starts, each kid tries to make a straight line and the kid that finishes first is the winner.

Al Shakha

A simple and enjoyable game commonly played by both boys and girls aged 3 and above. Requiring minimal space, the game begins with the players dividing into two teams through a raffle. Two players remain on the ground, sitting facing each other with their legs stretched out. The other players then take turns running from a distance and attempting to jump across the stretched legs. The two players on the ground try to catch or block the jumper by stretching their legs, earning points for their team whenever they succeed in doing so. The game is easy to understand and fosters fun and friendly competition.

Ana Altheib Bakelkom, or The Wolf and the Mother

This traditional multiplayer game is played by both boys and girls under the age of 10. One child takes on the role of the wolf (usually a boy), while another plays the mother, whose job is to protect her 'children' from the wolf. At the start, the mother secretly assigns each child a colour without the wolf hearing. The children hide behind a barrier, such as a cloth or a drawn line. The wolf then approaches, saying, 'I am the wolf, I have come to eat you,' to which the mother responds, 'I am the mother, I am here to protect you.' After several exchanges, the wolf must guess a colour. If the chosen colour belongs to a child, that child must come out, and the wolf chases them, trying to catch them before they return to safety. The game continues until time runs out.

Busbit, or Dead or Alive

This traditional game was played to train boys to hold their breath for as long as possible, preparing them to become skilled divers during the pearl harvesting season. Typically, only boys participated. The game takes place along the seashore, where a hole is dug in the sand. The first player covers his head with a ghitra (a traditional cap or headdress), and the other players bury him in sand while repeatedly chanting, 'Is Busbit dead or alive?' The buried player must respond 'alive' for as long as he can hold his breath. Once he can no longer

continue, he calls out 'dead,' marking the end of his turn before the next player takes over.

Dahouri

This traditional Qatari game involves pushing or rolling a metal wheel, usually a bicycle wheel, using a long stick or a metal wire. The game is popular among young boys in Qatar and teaches them to control the wheel, be quick, and manoeuvre it cleverly to reach the finish line before others. It encourages agility, coordination, and quick reflexes, making it both a fun and competitive outdoor activity that sharpens skills while offering excitement.

Gallinah and Matou

It is a traditional multiplayer game using two wooden sticks. One stick is about 15 cm long, tapering at both ends, while the other is around 30-40 cm long. The objective of the game is for the batsman to hit the smaller stick with the larger one, first lifting it off the ground and then hitting it as far as possible. The player who manages to hit the smaller stick the farthest wins the game. It’s a simple yet engaging game that tests skill, accuracy, and strength.

Board games

Board games such as Monopoly, Scrabble, and chess are popular around the world, including in Qatar. The country also has its own traditional games, such as dama and carrom, which are cherished pastimes that bring people together, promoting both mental skill and social interaction across generations.

Carrom

Although old, this traditional board game has remained popular among both adults and children, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, when friends and relatives gather together. The game is played on a square wooden board with four pockets, located at each corner, to collect the falling pieces. Carrom can be played by two or four players, seated on opposite sides of the board. At the centre of the board is the queen piece, surrounded by six pieces of alternating colours, with twelve additional pieces placed in an outer circle. Players use a striker piece to flick the other pieces into the corner

pockets, and the player who pockets the queen piece earns a bonus point. It’s a game of skill and strategy, offering hours of fun and competition.

Dama

Dama is a traditional board game similar to draughts (checkers) and chess, widely played in Qatar and across the GCC. Variations of the game also exist in Sudan, Egypt, Jordan, and other MENA countries, as well as in the Philippines, Spain, and Latin America.

In Qatar, dama was a popular pastime for pearl divers, particularly after the strenuous fishing season. It was traditionally played at home gatherings and cafés, serving as both entertainment and a way to teach younger generations about fishing and its challenges. The game encourages strategic thinking, planning, and mental agility, making it a valued recreational activity.

Played on either an 8x8 in or 10x10 in board, dama involves two players moving pieces diagonally, capturing opponents by jumping over them. Some variations allow backward movement when a piece is 'crowned' after reaching the final row. The objective is to eliminate all opponent pieces or block their movement.

Dama remains popular among young Qataris, promoting intelligence and mental engagement. Majlis Al Dama in Souq Waqif serves as a dedicated space where players – mainly elderly men – gather to keep the tradition alive.

To Qatar From Around the World

There are many games played across the globe that share the same English names but are known by different names in Qatar and other regions. These games often have unique variations or cultural twists that make them distinct in each location. In Qatar, traditional and modern games are enjoyed by children and adults alike, and many of them have regional names and rules.

Al Gaiss (hopscotch)

This traditional game tests players' physical strength as they throw the gaiss, a metal or iron disc, towards a chosen target. It is played on solid ground rather than sand. A small hole, about three inches deep and wide, is dug as part of the game. To make it more challenging, players place bets using al telah, round glass pieces that determine the winner and loser. The game begins with a drawn line on the ground, approximately 3-4 yards from the hole, followed by a raffle to decide the starting player.

Al Laqfa (jackstone)

The quick and fun game is typically played by young children, often sitting in a circle. It is similar to the popular game of Jackstone or Jacks. In Al Laqfa, the player uses one hand to throw a smooth stone into the air while quickly grabbing the remaining stones from the ground. The goal is to catch the thrown stone along with the others before it falls. The game can be played by a single player or in a group, offering a challenge of agility and coordination.

Al Teela or Teela (marbles)

Also known as Teela, Al Teela is a traditional multiplayer game played with glass marbles of various sizes. The game typically involves 2 to 10 players. The first player is called Awwal, while the second player is known as Akho Alawwal (the brother of the first). The third player is Akho Toosh, and the last player is referred to as Toosh. The objective of the game is to flick the opponent's marbles out of the playing area, which is marked by shallow holes on a flat surface, similar in size to a coffee cup. Al Teela requires focus, strategy, and cleverness to win, making it a challenging yet fun game. The game is typically played during the time between the asr (afternoon) and maghrib (sunset) prayers, usually 1-2 hours before sunset

Dominoes

Dominoes is a popular game played by 2 to 4 people, using a set of 28 rectangular pieces, which are marked with numbers ranging from 0 to 6. Each number appears on 7 pieces. The game is commonly enjoyed in the majlis and is also played professionally. The objective is not only to match numbers but also to outsmart your opponents, as it involves careful strategy and calculation. The challenge lies in anticipating your opponent’s next move and in balancing the known numbers with the ones still hidden. The game is both a test of skill and mental sharpness, making it a fun yet competitive pastime.

La Tattahadani wa La Atahadak or Don't challenge me or I will challenge you (arm wrestling)

This arm wrestling game that emphasises strength and determination is often played by young people seeking to test their power and feel heroic. In this game, two players face each other while sitting opposite on chairs, with a table placed in front of them. A neutral referee oversees the match, and the players wrestle using their arms until one of them is declared the winner by the referee. The game is characterised by enthusiasm and competitive spirit.

Natt Al Habl (jumping rope)

This is a single-player or a multiplayer game, played by girls using a rope. They draw who goes first and do this by standing in a single line and the eldest starts counting from 1-10, where the player the number 10 lands on goes out of the game. This continues till the last one remains and this person will start the game. The first player starts skipping till she stops or trips. The multiplayer game consists of two teams. After the draw, two players from one team hold the rope on each side and two or more players from the other team jump the rope until one of them gets tired or they fall or trip. This goes on until the time is up.

Taag Taag Tagia (duck duck goose)

Taag Taag Tagia, also known as Duck Duck Goose, is a popular multiplayer game enjoyed by children in various cultures. Players sit in a circle facing each other with their eyes closed while one person runs around them, singing a special song called 'Taag Taag Tagia.' The runner drops an object, typically a ghitra, behind one of the players and races away. The player behind whom the object was dropped must chase after the first player, trying to catch them or return to the vacant spot in the circle. The player who is left standing without a spot to sit must start the game over. It’s a fun and active game that requires speed, strategy, and quick reflexes.

Tagyah or Shad Al Habl (tug of war)

A traditional team game played in Qatar and many other parts of the world. It involves two teams of equal strength, who pull on opposite ends of a rope. The goal is for one team to pull the other across a designated line or marker, often drawn in the sand or on the ground. The game tests both physical strength and teamwork, as both teams must work in unison to overpower the other. Traditionally, Tagyah was played during gatherings, festivals, and special occasions, and it remains a popular activity in Qatar, especially among children and adults alike. m

Health and Wellness

Marhaba updates this section every issue, however details may change after going to press. If your organisation is listed on these pages, email any changes to us at marhaba@marhaba.com.qa. Many of the locations can be found using the maps in this guide. Marhaba pocket maps can be purchased at bookshops and stores around town. Also see:

• Leisure Activities for dance classes, theme parks and play zones, and Sports Activities for fitness classes, gyms, clubs and associations – both are in this section.

• Places to Stay in the Hospitality, Hotels and Dining section for a list of hotels and fitness facilities.

Holistic Wellness

Al Messila, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Doha E4 Ladies-only wellness retreat with hydrothermal facilities and 'The Worlds' hydro-wellness areas (Oriental, Mystic, Mineral and Floral); yoga also available. 4445 0000, almessiladoha.com

Banana Island Resort Doha By Anantara C5

Holistic advice, alternative therapies and life coaching. 4040 5050, anantara.com

Doha Longevity Hub by Clinique La Prairie at The St. Regis Marsa Arabia Island A4 Guests have the opportunity to discover their Longevity Index and receive advanced therapies and personalised packages for a successful wellness journey. 4020 4488, longevity hub.cliniquelaprairie.com

Four Seasons Hotel Doha B4 Ice room, colour therapy room. 4494 8888, fourseasons.com/doha

Heenat Salma Eco-farm and Camp Al Sheehaniya Yoga and nidra meditation under the stars; workshops on traditional and Arabic Islamic medicine (aromatherapy, kohl and fumigation) using the farm's plants. 4441 1195, heenatsalma.earth

Raffles Doha A4 Biohacking treatment, also known as human enhancement, using lymphatic drainage and alpha/beta frequencies to improve health and wellbeing. Custom programmes available for body and mind. 4030 7100, rafflesdoha.com

Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay C4

Personalised consultations, Lemi quartz crystal bed, Alphasphere sensory room. 4008 9000, hilton.com

Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som Al Ruwais

Retreats from 3 to 14 nights offer weight loss, nutrition and relaxation programmes, as well as fitness, yoga and Pilates. 4477 6500, zulal.com

Pilates

Four Seasons Hotel Doha C4 Online monthly schedule. 4485 8888, fourseasons.com/doha

Mandarin Oriental, Doha D4 Mat Pilates, Reformer, posture assessment with a certified physio. 4008 8888, mandarinoriental.com/doha

The St. Regis Doha B4 Gender-specific yoga, Pilates, and Power Plate classes. 4446 0304, stregisdoha.com

Yoga

Abesq Doha Hotel & Residences D3 Yoga studio, in-room yoga mats. 4492 3333, ihg.com/abesqdoha

Banana Island Resort Doha By Anantara C5 Ashtanga, Hatha, yoga stretch and meditation. Booking essential, call first for up to date schedule. 4040 5050, doha.anantara.com

Centara West Bay Hotel & Residences Doha B4 Yoga on Tuesday/Saturday. 4009 5555, centarahotelsresorts.com/centara/cwq

Fairmont Doha A4 Group classes, usually on Fridays. 4030 7200, fairmont.com/doha

Four Seasons Hotel Doha C4 Vinyasa and Hatha yoga. Call first for monthly schedule. 4494 8888, fourseasons.com/doha

Hilton Salwa Beach Resort Sunset beach yoga for strength, flexibility, breathing and wellbeing. Friday 5 pm. 4423 6666, salwabeachresort.qa

InterContinental Doha The City C4 Swasthi and body balance. Schedule changes weekly, call first. 4015 8888, intercontinental.com/dohathecity

Mandarin Oriental, Doha D4 Classes, yoga therapy. 4008 8888, mandarinoriental.com/doha

Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha D3/4 Yoga sessions. 4428 1621, radissonblu.com/hotel‑doha

The OQ A4 Power Yoga and Pilates. 4004 1555, theoq.com

Vishnu Swasthi Yoga Studio Doha, Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel C4 Hatha, power, slimming and detox. See the online monthly schedule. 3320 2331, vishnuswasthiyoga.com

W Doha Hotel & Residences B4 Yoga/pilates –call first for availability. 4453 5555, marriott.com

Waldorf Astoria Doha Lusail A4 Zen Wellness Yoga Zone on the terrace and My Equilibria instinctive wellness training installation. 4456 5656, hilton.com

Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay C4 Mindful meditation and yoga. 4008 9000, hilton.com

Leisure Activities

Arts and Crafts

Arts and Crafts Center B3 A vibrant centre, offering art classes and workshops for all ages. Caters to events, birthdays, schools and universities. 4486 5201, artsandcrafts.qa ✔

Fire Station C3 A contemporary art space committed to supporting artists, curators and the wider public through their residencies and public programmes. 4422 4222, firestation.org.qa

Heenat Salma Farm Al Sheehaniya Offers courses and workshops in botanical art, architectural sketching, colouring and more. 4441 1195, 5096 0007, heenatsalma.earth ✔

IAID Performing Arts (IAID) D4 Offers courses from beginner to advanced covering colour theory, art styles, drawing and painting techniques, visual art perception and portraits. 4432 0974, 4441 1234, iaidonline.org ✔

International Artists of Doha (IAD) Group for professional artists living in Qatar who get together and exhibit on a regular basis. 6699 0122, see their Facebook page for more details

International Arts and Music School Multiple locations Offers workshops in arts and crafts 7727 5999, 5058 1988, iamschoolqatar.com

Katara Art Center (KAC) Building 5, Katara Cultural Village B4 Courses and workshops in photography, printmaking, design, drawing, painting, ceramics and more. 4408 0244, dohakac.com ✔

Candela Entertainment for Music & Arts Excellence Tower C3 Formerly the Music & Arts Atelier, offers drawing and painting classes. 3300 3839, atelierqatar.com ✔

Paint The Town Qatar Multiple locations A division of Trinity Talent Qatar. A leisurely event, where participants are taught how to paint. Each session consists of a different painting taught by an artist. 7759 1219, paintqatar.com

Prism Music and Arts D4 Art department offers drawing, painting and sculpting classes 3114 6999, prismmusicandarts.com ✔

Marhaba updates this information for every issue; however, details may change after going to press. Please check with the organisation concerned. If your organisation is listed, email any changes to marhaba@marhaba.com.qa. Many of the locations for the following listings can be found on the Map of Greater Doha in this guide. Marhaba pocket maps can be purchased at bookshops and stores around town.

✔ Indicates either an activity for children or an activity in which children can participate.

Qatar Art Center (QAC) C3 Art residency and art hub, founded in 1993 by HE Sheikh Hassan bin Mohammed bin Ali Al Thani. 4487 7477, qatarartcenter.org

Qatar Fine Arts Association Building 13, Katara Cultural Village B4 Aims to raise the level of scientific and technical artists, and maintain their production. 4408 1469, see their Facebook page ✔

VCUarts Qatar Community Education Program

C2 Courses in jewellery design, fashion design, dressmaking, drawing, Photoshop, Illustrator, watercolours and more. 4402 0555, qatar.vcu.edu

Visual Art Center D2 Acts under the umbrella of the Ministry of Sports and Youth, offers services in all aspects of visual art. It covers basic drawing techniques, painting, printmaking, graphic design and illustration, photography, ceramics, basic design and computer graphics. 4408 1388/471

Boat and Fishing Trips

Many tour companies offer half- and full-day dhow and fishing trips. Water sports are available at an extra cost. See Sightseeing in the Discovering Qatar section for tour companies and Sports Activities in this section for water sports.

Fishing and parasailing trips Call Bassel on 5551 8100

National Cruise Organises cruises and tours on the sea including dinner cruises, city tours, corporate cruises, birthdays and other special occasions as well as fishing and beach trips. 6600 0926, 7799 9666, nationalcruise.com ✔

Qatar Sea Angling Association Founded in 1987 to encourage anglers to meet up regularly to share knowledge, bait and tackle tips, and a little adventure fishing around Qatar as well as support local research. qsaa.net

Ronautica Middle East B4 Yacht charters, day boat charters and fishing trips. Contact the Harbour Master at The Pearl Island. 6674 1577, 4409 5279, ronauticame.com

VCUarts Qatar Community Education Program

Cinemas

Located in Gulf Cinema, the first cinema in Qatar, Qatar Cinema was established in 1970 and oversees cinemas in Qatar – Al Thumama Mall, The Mall, Royal Plaza and Katara Cultural Village. 4467 1620/25, qatarcinemas.com

For cinema listings, visit cinemaqatar.com, or download the Cinema Qatar app. Pre-book tickets at q-tickets.com, or download the QTickets app. Also check out Marhaba's Cinema Guide, marhaba.qa/cinema-listing-doha

Asian Town Cinema F3 Offers four cinemas with 500 seating capacity each. 4499 9013

Cineco 3, Al Khor Mall A 3-screen cineplex. 4029 6503/4453 3445

Cineco, Gulf Mall C3 A 13-screen multiplex. 4031 0600

Cineco, Villaggio Mall D2 Offers 13 cinemas including one IMAX 3D. 4451 7001

Flik Cinemas 4442 0838, flikcinemas.com

• Lagoona Mall B4 4443 2757

• Mirqab Mall D3 4434 0737

Katara Cinema, Building 49 B4 Luxurious cinema with four VIP theatres. 5028 5994

The Mall Cineplex D4 Offers three cinemas. 4467 8666

Novo Cinemas Call Centre 4031 5800, novocinemas.com/qatar

• Novo Cinemas, 01 Mall E3

• Novo Cinemas, Centro Qatar A3

• Novo Cinemas, Mall of Qatar C1

• Novo Cinemas, Msheireb Galleria D4

• Novo Cinemas, Place Vendôme A4

• Novo Cinemas, Souq Waqif D4

• Novo Cinemas, Tawar Mall C3

• Novo Cinemas, The Pearl Island B4

Qatar Bahrain Cinema, City Center-Doha C4

A 14-screen multiplex. 6503 6086, 4493 3355

Qatar Cinema, Al Thumama Mall E4 A 5-screen cinema with a VIP screen. 4017 1614

The Cinema Palace, The Royal Plaza D3

A 3-screen cinema. 4432 0938

VOX Cinemas qat.voxcinemas.com

• Doha Festival City B2 4435 4444

• Doha Oasis D4 4410 4100

Clubs – Hobbies

Children's Literature Center Affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, the centre was established in 2012 as the first children’s literature centre in Qatar. Holds reading and writing activities for children. See their Facebook page. 6607 7488 ✔

Doha Skaters A community of professional and amateur skaters or roller bladers led by Coach Ahmed Alghorab, commonly found on Lusail Marina. Hosts events and training. See their Instagram and Facebook pages 7701 3335 ✔

Doha Stitches A ladies only sewing and crafting charity group where members use their sewing and crafting skills to give back. Join their private Facebook group.

Doha Writers' Workshop A community of teachers, students and professionals interested in writing, reading and the art of sharing experiences through words. Join their private Facebook group.

Flower Each Spring Formerly known as Friends of Nature, celebrates a flower from Qatar’s environment every year. Launched in 1999, the programme is directed at children and nature lovers, organising trips to Ras Al Matekh, Al Khor. 7002 0543, flowereachspring.org

Friends of the Environment Centre (FEC) C3 Raising environmental awareness and conservation. 4487 4725/4731, fec.qa (Arabic) ✔

Gery's Sports (Qatar Roller Skating) Multiple locations Offers roller skating classes to all levels See their Facebook and Instagram pages for more details 7774 2004 ✔

Heenat Salma Farm Al Sheehaniya Offers courses and workshops in multi-shafting weaving, palm weaving, silk painting, sadu weaving, handbuilding clay, pottery and more. 4441 1195, 5096 0007, heenatsalma.earth ✔

HOG Qatar Chapter D3 (Harley Owners Group®) Aims to increase the level of enthusiasm toward Harley Davidson motorcycles. 4463 2429/28, harley-davidsondoha.com

Qatar Arabic Language Society Katara Cultural Village B4 Established in 2022 to become the first civil cultural association specialised in supporting the Arabic language and implementing initiatives and activities that contribute to the dissemination and advancement of Arabic in Qatar 182, katara.net

Qatar Cinema, Al Thumama Mall

Qatar Billiards & Snooker Federation (QBSF) D4

Founded in 1991 to establish a base of players who are able to lead the sport of billiards, pool and snooker. qbsf@qbsf.qa, qbsf.qa

Qatar Chess Association D4 Chess training and tournaments for children. 4494 4290/91/92, 4469 4349 (girls), 4465 9791 (boys), qatarchess.com ✔

Qatar Camel Mzayen Club C3 Established by the Ministry of Sports and Youth, the club supports camel activities and races, works to develop camel farms and activities, organise local camel festivals, participate in regional and international festivals, and more. The Mzayen Club app is available on iOS and Android. 3237 5118, qcamelmc.qa

Qatar Duners Connect with other bikers, and take on the dunes. Join their private Facebook group.

Qatar Flying Club Al Khor A private flying company at Al Khor Airport, offering pilot training, gyro-copter training and weight shift, discovery flights from above, and private pilot’s licence. 4457 1491, qatarflyingclub.net

Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) Lusail International Circuit A3 The federation organises motor and motorcycling rallies, and accepts volunteers interested in marshalling at the rallies. 4437 9885, qmmf.com

Qatar Natural History Group (QNHG) Share a broad range of interests including archaeology, geology, botany, marine life, conservation and the natural world. qnhg.org ✔

Qatar Photography Center Building 18, Katara Cultural Village B4 Established in 2021 by the Ministry of Culture as Akkas Photography Center, it offers courses and workshops with the aim of improving and enriching the local photography scene. 5583 3807

Qatar Photographic Society (QPS) Building 18, Katara Cultural Village B4 Photographic courses in English and Arabic, call for current schedule. Also ad hoc exhibitions. Call or visit for details of course fees. 4408 1812, katara.net

Qatar Poetry Center (Diwan Al Arab) C4

Operating under the Ministry of Culture, the centre works to promote poetry and literature, taking into account Qatar's literary heritage, and be the right platform for Qatari poets to develop and succeed. 4405 5738, 6656 4777, diwanalarab.qa

Qatar Quilt Guild A guild of ladies meet for sewing and technique workshops and contests. See their Facebook page for more details.

Qatar Reads C2 Previously known as the National Reading Campaign (NRC), Qatar Reads is a programme by Qatar Foundation (QF) that hosts a variety of outreach initiatives to communicate the importance of reading and create interest in reading among all residents. qatarreads.qa ✔

Qatar Scientific Club E3 Established in 1987, it offers training programmes, workshops, and activities in STEM education (mathematics, information technology, engineering and mathematics). Children aged 9 – 12 can join the Children’s Club. 4469 6200, qsc.org.qa (Arabic) ✔

Qatar Skating – Extreme Sports D4 A roller and quad skating school, offering top-quality instruction on roller skating for children and adults. See their Facebook and Instagram pages for more details 5583 1199 ✔

Stand Up Comedy Qatar (SUCQ) Qatar’s own stand-up comedy club. It promotes local comedians and hosts occasional stand-up comedy shows. See their Facebook and Instagram pages. 3370 3012

SustainableQatar An independent, volunteer-based organisation addressing environmental issues relevant to Qatar. sustainableqatar.com

The Official Elvis Presley Fan Club of Qatar Officially recognised by Graceland and Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. Join events, activities and outings. qatarelvisfans.qa

Words & Strings The first spoken word society in Qatar with a bilingual outlet for poets, spoken word artists, and musicians. Holds monthly open poetry and music nights. wordsandstrings.xyz

Youth Hobbies Center Katara Cultural Village D4 Photography programmes for teens. Basic skills required. See their Instagram page for more details 4408 1812 ✔

Qatar Reads

Clubs – Recreational

Al Jasrah Cultural and Social Club Souq Waqif D4

Established by the Ministry of Sports and Youth in 1960, the club is one of the oldest literary clubs in the Arab world and hosts many writers and intellectuals from the Arab world, offering free training courses in various creative areas such as writing, theatre and music. 4427 3124, 3318 1359, moc.gov.qa

Al Khor Community Al Khor A housing complex, offering excellent facilities to employees of QatarEnergy LNG and Al Khor International School (AKIS) with three clubs: Al Dhakira Club, Al Nakheel Club and Al Waha Club. 4473 4555, akcommunity.org

Al Khor Cultural Center Al Khor A cultural and social centre of the Ministry of Sports and Youth established in 1981 for men with specialised cultural activities, recreational and scientific programmes. It was expanded in 2006 to include a ladies section with social and cultural programmes. 4472 2015 (men's section), 4472 0362 (women's section)

Al Khor Girls Center Established by the Ministry of Sports and Youth in 2012 as a youth centre to empower women and young girls, and highlight their abilities in commitment to Islamic customs and values by organising various activities and initiatives. 4472 0600, 7747 0887, kgc.org.qa ✔

Dana Club D3 A private members club, offering families a place to relax, dine, exercise and play with a range of recreation facilities, restaurants, lounges, children’s activities and meeting rooms. Membership options are available and cater for singles, couples and families. 4496 0600/66, danaclub.com.qa ✔

Dukhan Recreation Club (DRC) Dukhan One of the oldest clubs managed by QatarEnergy (QE) and open to its staff only with several fitness and entertainment facilities. 4014 1879

Dukhan Water Sports Club Dukhan A sailing club for QatarEnergy employees only. 4014 1894

Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) D3 Inaugurated in 1992, the centre is a meeting place for prominent Indian community members. 4468 6607, iccqatar.com

Qatar Fertiliser Company (QAFCO) Clubs Mesaieed For employees only at Al Banush Club. 4409 1777

Qatar Foundation (QF) C2 Recreational facilities at QF's Recreation Centre, Education City Club House, Awsaj Academy Recreation, Student Centre (Multaqa), Qatar Academy Al Khor (QAK) Recreation, Qatar Academy Msheireb (QAM) Recreation, and The Dome Padel Club are open to the public and include various events for both children and adults, including fitness and sports classes, children’s activities, workshops and camps. 4454 0000, qf.org.qa ✔

SANAD Doha Msheireb Downtown Doha (MDD) D4

The private members club houses Dar Sanad, a premium lounge for client or business meetings; SAWA by Sanad, a Michelin-recognised Levantine restaurant; and Salat Al Aliya, a cigar lounge with a selection of premium cigars from around the world. 4142 7000, sanaddoha.com

The Diplomatic Club B4 Members can indulge in an array of facilities ranging from culinary delights, well-crafted events, salon and spa services, meeting and events halls, and recreational facilities such as an outdoor swimming pool, fitness classes, gym studios, a private beach, water sports and more. 4411 0312, thediplomaticclub.com ✔

Culinary

Caramel Sweet Arts D3 A one-stop shop for home bakers and cake decorating enthusiasts, offering a variety of cake decorating and baking classes as well as a retail area with a large range of products and equipment for the cake decorating enthusiast. 4029 7509, 7047 3565, carameldoha.com

Heenat Salma Farm Al Sheehaniya Offers culinary classes in its artisanal kitchen with a 'farm to table' concept every Monday and Tuesday from 5 pm to 7 pm at QAR150 per person. 4441 1195, 5096 0007, heenatsalma.earth ✔

Leaders Cooking Academy D4 A cooking and barista academy and café as well as a hospitality and food consultancy. 3330 6677, see their Instagram page

Qatar Culinary Professionals (QCP) D3 An association representing professional chefs in the food service industry in Qatar. 4418 0654, qatarcp.org

The Cooking Academy (TCA) C3 A local culinary start-up providing cooking classes for professionals and food lovers. 4039 0497, cookingacademy.qa

SANAD Doha

Cultural and Language Courses

See Education Courses, Tutoring and Lectures and Arabic/Islamic Culture Courses in the Education section.

Dance

Bailamos Salsa Asas Twin Towers C3 Teaches salsa, bachata and kizomba at all levels. See their Facebook and Instagram pages. 7040 4143

Brava Studio 22 La Croisette, The Pearl Island B4 Offers a wide variety of dance, dance fitness and aerial arts classes to all ages. 4002 2000, bravastudio.co ✔

Candela Entertainment for Music & Arts

Excellence Tower C3 Formerly the Music & Arts

Atelier, provides salsa, bachata, tango, ballet, hip hop, oriental belly dance, heels dance, Irish dance and Afrobeat classes for all levels. 3300 3839, atelierqatar.com, candelaentertainment.com ✔

Emotion Dancing Academy Al Reem Tower C3 Formerly Yamativo Mambo Qatar, offers salsa, bachata, tango, Afrobeat, modern dance, and street dance classes for all levels. See their Instagram page for more details. 5554 0533 ✔

Fitness First City Centre-Doha C4 Offers a wide variety of dance including Irish, Bollywood, modern and more. 4411 5999, qatar.fitnessfirstme.com

IAID Performing Arts (IAID) D4 Classical and contemporary dances of India, jazz, classical ballet; contemporary, dance and hip hop for teens and kids. 4432 0974, 4441 1234, iaidonline.org ✔

Prism Music and Arts D4 A performing arts academy for music, arts and dance. 3114 6999, prismmusicandarts.com ✔

International Centre for Music (ICM Qatar)

Multiple locations Offers courses to learn the solos and variations in classical as well as contemporary ballet. 4467 1354, 4490 7878, icmqatar.com ✔

Salsa n Candela Excellence Tower C3 By Candela Entertainment for Music & Arts, provides salsa, Cha-Cha, bachata, Brazilian Zouk, kizomba, tango and other latin dance classes. 3300 3839, salsancandela.com

Skills Development Centre (SDC) D3 Offers Indian classical dance, modern dance, classical music, fine arts, karate, yoga, etc. 4441 3955, sdcqatar.org ✔

Swasthi Academy D3 Provides training in classical and contemporary dance forms, classical and instrumental music genres, and martial arts, as well as wellness programmes. 5077 0025, swasthiacademy.com ✔

Some hotels and resorts in Qatar offer dance classes – check with your chosen venue for details.

Debating and Public Speaking

Al Banush Club Toastmasters Online meetings on the first and third Tuesday every month at 6:30 pm. 3354 6316, toastmasters.org

Al Khor Toastmasters Club Meetings on the second and fourth Monday every month at 7 pm on Zoom. 5563 8213, 6678 2272, toastmasters.org

Birla Gavel Club Birla Public School D4 One of the US registered Gavel Clubs in Qatar with 45 permanent student members from classes 7 to 12, conducting programmes such as debates, group discussions, Just-A-Minute (JAM), table topics, prepared speeches, etc. 7727 9583, bpsdoha.com ✔

Doha Debates C2 A Qatar Foundation (QF) initiative founded on focusing on reaching solutions through live debates, videos, blogs and podcasts 4454 2844, dohadebates.com

Doha Gavels Club D4 Toastmaster club for children. Part of Doha Toastmasters Club. 5572 0680 ✔

Doha Toastmasters Club D4 Meetings on first and third Saturday from 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm on Zoom. 5516 9399, doha.toastmastersclubs.org

QatarDebate Center C2 A member of QF and the national debating organisation for Qatar. qatardebate.org

Qatar Toastmasters Club D4 Meetings on the first and third Sunday every month at 7 pm – 9:30 pm on Zoom. 7400 6238, toastmasters.org

Drama

Doha Film Institute (DFI) B4 Offers programmes, workshops and labs in acting, screenwriting and other aspects of filmmaking. dohafilminstitute.com ✔

Film and Theater Academy Multiple locations Offers acting classes, workshops and courses for adults and children. See their Facebook page for more details. 7751 9168 ✔

IAID Performing Arts (IAID)

Mockingbird Academy C2 Delivers a high-quality performing arts programme and classes. 4407 6851, mockingbirdacademy.com ✔

The Doha Players C2 A not-for-profit community theatre producing plays and musicals for the benefit of volunteers and audiences alike. Open daily from 10 am to 9 pm. thedohaplayers.com ✔

The Drama Club by The Doha Players C2 Provides drama classes for young people aged between 6 and 17. dohadrama.com ✔

Theater Affairs Center D3 Established by the Ministry of Culture in 2016, the centre aims to develop and educate theatre talents with professional theatre skills. 4405 5720

Groups and Associations

1st Doha Scout Group, British Scouting Overseas (BSO) Delivers an active programme of indoor and outdoor activities for English-speaking children aged 6 – 18 years from all backgrounds. 1st-doha-scout-group.org ✔

Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar (AYCM Qatar) C4 Established in 2015, AYCM Qatar is an independent, non-profit, think-and-do-tank for environmental awareness and advocacy, research, and policy analysis. aycmqatar.org ✔

British Guides in Foreign Countries (BGIFC) For girls only, aged 5 – 14 years. bgifc.org.uk, dess.org ✔

BSA Scout Troop 970 A scout-led, adult-guided organisation chartered by the American School of Doha (ASD), with applications open for Boys Troop 970, Girls Troop 970, and adult volunteers. qatarbsa.org ✔

Canadians in Qatar Bringing Canadians of Qatar together through social events by holding monthly social events. Join their private group on Facebook.

Doha Women Forum (DWF) A platform where women from various backgrounds share ideas, empower and inspire one another, and learn from industry leaders and professionals. It hosts the

largest event for women in Qatar, the Doha Women Forum, annually. 6616 1692, dohawomenforum.com

Dutch Speaking Association of Qatar (DSA) Welcomes those who speak Dutch. dsaqatar.org

Expat Women in Qatar Organises meetups and events for expatriate women. expatwoman.com ✔

Hadiqaa C2 Manages and operates out of the Education City Microfarm. Includes a 50 bed community garden, and a 10 bed greenhouse and teaching space, which hosts workshops and events for individuals and schools. 5020 2681, hadiqaa.com ✔

How Women Work (HWW) Aims at empowering women to grow and succeed by supporting their mental health. 5057 9078, hwwglobal.com

IAM Filipina A non-profit and volunteer-based Filipina group established to guide and support Filipinas to succeed in their career through mentoring, coaching, events and outreach activities. iamfilipina.org

Indian Women's Association, Qatar (IWA Qatar) Exchange expertise in various cultural social fields. iwaqatar.com

Lebanese Community in Qatar (LCIQ) A community group with more than 8,000 members for all things Lebanese in Qatar. Join their private group on Facebook.

Qatar British Business Forum (QBBF) Supporting trade between the UK and Qatar, QBBF is a socially active organisation representing a broad membership. qbbf.com

Qatar Expat Women Community Helps women with the transition from their homeland to Qatar. See their Facebook page for more details. ✔

Qatar Irish Society Organises social, sporting and cultural events throughout the year in order to promote closer relations in the Irish community in Qatar. Join their private group on Facebook.

Qatar Professional Women's Network (QPWN) An informal networking group for any woman regardless of nationality, profession, age or educational background. qpwn.org

Qatar Scouts and Guides Association Formed by Law No 18 of 1997 to promote the scouting and guiding movement through offering youth-targeted and programmes. 4404 5896, scoutsqatar.edu.gov.qa ✔

Qatar Social The largest social community in Qatar for expatriates and locals that hosts free networking events and meet-ups for members to socialise and make new friends in Qatar. Join their private Facebook group and/or WhatsApp group.

Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar (AYCM Qatar)

Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) Founded in 2002 under Amiri Decree No 14, the QBA is a non-profit and non-governmental organisation that brings together Qatari business leaders. Membership is open to Qatari nationals aged 30 and above. 4435 3120, qataribusinessmen.org

Qatari Businesswomen Association (QBWA) An independent non-profit entity working under the umbrella of the QBA. Hosts regular meetings, networking programmes, events and conferences. Membership is open to Qatari and non-Qatari female residents of Qatar. 5589 6144, qbwa.qa

Qatari Society of Al Gannas Building 13, Katara Cultural Village B4 Founded in 2008, a cultural association for falconers, representing Arab falconers and hunters in international and regional contests, providing support and organising events. The society includes the best facilities and equipment, and encourages research and studies in the field. 4408 1490, algannas.net

Scots in Qatar Holds regular functions throughout the year including St Andrew's Night Ball, Burns Supper and summer ceilidhs. scotsinqatar.com

Sudanese Professional Association and Sudanese Women's Association (SWA) in Qatar A formal association of Sudanese professionals that organises professional, business, social and cultural events for the Sudanese community in Qatar. See their Facebook page for more details

SvenskariQatar (Swedish Association of Qatar) Regular gatherings and social events for children and adults. See their Instagram page for more details.

The Cambridge Society of Qatar Cambridge University alumni in Qatar who meet regularly to socialise, listen to eminent speakers and to discuss ways of promoting links between Qatar and Cambridge University. alumni.cam.ac.uk

Tuesday Ladies Group (TLG) Founded in 1976, an English-speaking network of international women living in Qatar offer a a wide range of events, activities and interest groups to form new friendships, develop new skills, and share advice and local knowledge. Meets every alternate Tuesday from September to May. Summer Coffee Mornings held from May to August. tuesdayladiesgroup.com

Women’s Circle C4 An experience by Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel and life coach Anahi aimed at bringing women in Qatar together to share each other's journeys in a safe and enriching environment. linktr.ee/womenscircle.qa

Groups Seeking Volunteers

Al Shaqab C2 Friends of Al Shaqab Volunteer Program is open to residents of Qatar. Play an active role in organising and supporting events, while gaining valuable experience and skills. 4454 1992, alshaqab.com ✔

Animal Resources Department D4 The government vet has a trap-neuter-return (TNR) team and offers free treatments, neutering, spaying, vaccinating and microchipping. 184/4426 1656

Ezdehar Qatar Charity's volunteer initiative, working to raise awareness about the importance of volunteer work through providing training and courses to those interested in volunteering to nonprofit organisations. ezdehar.qcharity.org

BarkinQ Run by a dog-loving couple, rescuing stray or abandoned dogs to rehome abroad – not a shelter. See their Facebook page for more details

Cat Lovers Qatar A group of volunteers who rescue injured, sick and dumped cats in Qatar with the aim to re-home them. They also neuter/spay cats and make sure any health issues are treated. See their Facebook and Instagram pages for more details

DeapQatar Conservation The Doha Environmental Actions Project (Deap) is a team of volunteers seeking to restore the natural beauty of the beach and sand dunes in Qatar and raise awareness on the importance of preserving the environment. See their Facebook and Instagram pages for more details. ✔

Education Above All (EAA) Volunteers can be involved in one-time or ongoing initiatives – handson, or an administrative and support level – in Qatar and across Asia under EAA's Volunteer Program of Reach Out To Asia (ROTA). 4454 1603, educationaboveall.org ✔

Paws Rescue Qatar A group of individuals who rescue and rehome dogs and cats. pawsrescueqatar.org ✔

Qatar Animal Welfare Society (QAWS) A non-profit organisation dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of animals in Qatar. Funded by public donations along with support from volunteers, it is home to over 200 animals. 5539 6074, qaws.org ✔

Qatar Museums (QM) D4 Volunteers can attend events, training and exhibitions, and lead guided tours and experience behind-the-scenes opportunities. Registration is open for those 16 years old and above. Younger volunteers may join if they are supervised by a family member or guardian. 4422 4100, volunteers@qm.org.qa, qm.org.qa ✔

Qatar National Library (QNL) C2 Registration is open to residents of Qatar 16 years old and above. 4454 0100, registration.qnl.qa/volunteer-at-qnl ✔

Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) Multiple locations Qatar's first volunteering charitable organisation, QRCS is an active member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. QRCS works to help vulnerable individuals and communities in Qatar and across the MENA region. 4402 7777, 16002 (hotline), app.qrcs.org.qa/Volunteering

Qatar Volunteers A volunteer group that participates in fundraising events, blood donation, beach cleanups, and disaster response. See their Facebook page for more details.

Qatar Voluntary B3 One of the youth centres of the Ministry of Sports and Youth. It strives to spread a volunteering culture to all members of the Qatari society through organising activities, programmes and events. 4467 4888, voluntary.qa ✔

TNR Qatar A volunteer organisation promoting trap-neuter-return (TNR), the humane solution to the cat overpopulation problem, saving cats lives. tnrqatar.com

Health and Fitness

See Sports Activities and Health and Wellness in this section for comprehensive listings of activities and classes.

Libraries

Academic Libraries can be found at the following universities, which are accessible to the general public, but with restrictions:

• GU-Q Library in Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) C2 4457 8280, library.qatar.georgetown. edu

• HBKU Library in Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) C2 4454 6644, hbku.edu.qa/en/hbku-library

• Health Sciences Library at Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar (WCM-Q) C2 4492 8100, qatar-weill.cornell.edu/health-sciences-library

• Library at Carnegie Mellon University Qatar (CMU-Q) C2 4454 8683, library.cmu.edu/qatar

• NU-Q Library in Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) C2 4454 5090, qatar.northwestern.edu

• TAMUQ Library in Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ) C2 4423 0040, library.tamu.edu/qatar

• The Library in Qatar University (QU) C3 4403 6338/4097, qu.edu.qa/library

• VCUQatar Library in Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) C2 4402 0587, qatar.vcu.edu/library

British Council Qatar D3 Information Centre has books, magazines, videos, DVDs and internet access. 800 5501, britishcouncil.qa ✔

Dar Al Kutub Al Qatariya D4 The oldest national library in the Gulf region, reopened in Al Rufaa in March 2025. It showcases rare books and manuscripts, in addition to other books documenting the history of Dar Al Kutub. 4402 2138, daralkutub.qa

House of Wisdom at Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som Al Ruwais Inspired by the historic Grand Library of Baghdad, it is home to over 4,000 books about the benefits of good health, traditional healing cultures, science, holistic medicine and more in English, Arabic and other languages. Open to staying guests only. 4477 6500, zulal.com

Institut Français du Qatar B3 Provides information about different aspects of French and Frenchspeaking culture and civilisation: literary, artistic, social, scientific and technical. 4493 0862, institutfrancais-qatar.com ✔

Maktaba Qatar C3 As the first public children's library, it is a space where imagination comes to life through books, play and programming for children of all ages. 4427 8810, maktabaqatar.org ✔

Mathaf Library C2 A research library specialising in modern and contemporary Arab art from the region with one of the largest and most comprehensive collection of books and publications on art history and modern art worldwide. Publications are in English, Arabic and other languages. 4402 8830, mathaf.org.qa

Qatar National Library (QNL)

MIA Library D4 Consists of specialist books on Islamic art, art reference books, museum collection and exhibition catalogues and monographs, scholarly periodicals on art and related areas including auction house catalogues. Publications are in English, Arabic and other languages. 4422 4444, mia.org.qa

National Museum of Qatar Library D4 Comprises over 30,000 books with four collections: Rare Books, Special Qatari Heritage Collection, Antique Gastronomy Collection and Object Handling, in addition to a reading room. 4452 5555, nmoq.org.qa

Qatar Digital Library (QDL) C2 Developed as part of a 10-year partnership between Qatar Foundation (QF), Qatar National Library (QNL) and The British Library, QDL is a free and vast archive featuring the cultural and historical heritage of the Gulf and wider region freely available online for the first time. It includes archives, maps, manuscripts, sound recordings, photographs and more, complete with contextualised explanatory notes and links, in both English and Arabic. qdl.qa

Qatar National Library (QNL) C2 Gives residents access to nearly one million books, periodicals, and special collections. Register with RP/ID at library.qnl.qa/selfreg. QNL members can pick up a membership card. 4454 0100, qnl.qa ✔

Music Centres, Groups and Choirs

Doha Chamber Choir A cappella choir has vacancies for all voice parts, especially tenor. Rehearses weekly from September to June. Varied repertoire. Performs for booked events only (weddings, parties, etc). 7011 8887, qatarconcertchoir.com

Doha Community Music Ensembles A full size symphony orchestra and wind symphony for amateur musicians. Open to new members of all ages and nationalities. 3385 7784, dcmeqatar.com ✔

Doha Jazz Performs several genres of jazz and other styles such as blues, Arabic and classical music. 5571 0746, dohajazz.com

Drumming Qatar Teaching African djembe drumming and rhythm. Open to all. Contact Patrick Dilley on 3384 2330, drummingqatar.com ✔

IAID Performing Arts (IAID) D4 Music courses include piano, keyboard, guitar and vocals in Western notations, following the London College of Music (LCM) syllabus. Examinations are held every six months by LCM examiners. 4432 0974, 4441 1234, iaidonline.org ✔

International Centre for Music (ICM Qatar) Multiple locations Offers classes in piano, keyboard, violin, guitar and music theory, as well as voice lessons. 4490 7878, icmqatar.com ✔

Music Affairs Centre D3 Established in 2016 under the Ministry of Sports and Youth, it aims to raise awareness of music culture and its importance in society. 4478 9356, qmusic.qa

Music Square 51 East, Lagoona Mall B4 Offers a selection of the world’s best music and pro audio brands. It is also home to the Yamaha Music School, which offers various piano, guitar, and other lessons or courses. See their Facebook page for more details. 4433 5598, 51east.com/eng/music-square.html ✔

Qatar Concert Choir A not-for-profit audition choir performing a wide range of classical and contemporary choral music. qatarconcertchoir.com

Qatar Little Voices Led by the director of Qatar Youth and Junior Choirs, Little Voices is a lively once-weekly music appreciation programme and a pre-choir entry class for young children. Class size is limited. 4036 3139, hub@sisq.qa ✔

Qatar Music Academy (QMA) Katara Cultural Village B4 Member of Qatar Foundation (QF) and Qatar's leading academy of music, offering comprehensive music education programme, which draws on practice and music theory, and incorporates both Arab and Western classical music curriculum. 4454 8191, qatarmusicacademy.com.qa ✔

Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra (QPO) C2 Member of QF, founded in 2007 by HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser. It consists of more than 100 musicians chosen by a jury of international music professionals. They perform western and Arabic music in local and international settings. 4454 8185, qatarphilharmonicorchestra.org

Qatar Youth and Junior Choirs Qatar Youth Choir is for singers aged 14 – 18, singing from the great classical and contemporary choral repertoires. Qatar Junior Choir is for singers aged 8 – 13 years and is the feeder choir to the senior Qatar Youth Choir. qyj-choir.com, qatarconcertchoir.com ✔

Siwar Choir Qatar's leading Arabic youth choir established by JeemTV, formerly known as Al Jazeera Children's Channel (JCC), bringing together Arabic traditions with fresh and exciting music. jeemtv.net ✔

The Doha Singers A choral group that presents several concerts every year. dohasingers.com

Theme Parks and Play Zones

Entry fees and opening timings change per season. Call ahead and check for up to date information.

Adventure Rooms Qatar D4 60-minute real life escape room game. Solve puzzles, find keys, and beat the clock to escape. Suitable for ages 7 and above. 7050 0139, adventureroomsqa.com ✔

Banana Island Adventure Park For adrenaline seekers, featuring zip line courses, climbing walls, giant swing, bouncing nets, rope course, free fall, airbag jump, tubby jump, and human slingshot. Opening hours: Daily 10 am – 8 pm. Admission: Adults QAR300, QAR250 for childlen aged 5 and above. Not suitable for children below 5. Family passes with 15% to 25% discounts. 4040 5041, adventureparkdoha.com ✔

Desert Falls Water & Adventure Park Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas Features 18 attractions with 30 rides and slides. Opening hours: Daily 10 am –6 pm. Admission: Juniors (below 1.2 m in height) QAR195, adults QAR250, group of four QAR500. Ladies Night on Wednesdays 7 pm – 11 pm; adults QAR195, juniors (below 1.2 m in height) QAR150. Extra charges for lockers and towels. Prebooking is required and tickets can be purchased online. Access to adventure attractions such as canyoning, diving, go-karting and laser tag are not included in the general admission ticket and can be purchased separately on site. 4423 6666, salwabeachresort.qa ✔

Doha Quest Doha Oasis D4 A 32,000 sq m indoor theme park with more than 30 rides and attractions, featuring a mix of adrenaline-heavy thrill rides, media-controlled simulators, virtual reality experiences, and family-friendly attractions. Quest’s signature rides are the EpiQ Coaster, crowned as the world’s tallest indoor roller coaster, the Magma Blast, the world’s tallest indoor drop tower, and new indoor skydiving attraction iFLY Quest. Opening hours: Monday 11 am – 10 pm, Tuesday to Saturday 2 pm – 11 pm, closed on Sunday. Admission: Junior Ticket (4 – 12 years

old): QAR160, Adult Ticket (13 years old and above): QAR235, children 4 and below enter for free. 4410 3444, dohaquest.com ✔

Farah Multiple locations A full indoor theme park that combines the typical Family Entertainment Center (FEC) environment with Various Activity Rooms (VAR) designed to encourage imaginative play, social and pretend play opportunities, skill development and other open-ended play opportunities. Opening hours: Daily 1 pm –10 pm. Admission: Playing card with QAR100 minimum charge. Top-up avaliable. 4427 2807/4017 8934, farahqatar.com ✔

KidZania Doha Aspire Zone D2 A 5,500 sq m child-sized city where children aged 1 – 14 can perform real-life tasks with more than 60 handson activities. Opening hours: Saturday to Thursday 11 am – 10 pm, Friday 1 pm – 10 pm, closed on Sunday. Admission: QAR95 for adults aged 17 and above, and children aged 2 – 3, QAR160 for children aged 4 – 16, and free for children 1 and below. 4482 6222, doha.kidzania.com ✔

Lusail Winter Wonderland Al Maha Island, Lusail City A4 Jam-packed with festive fun, over 50 rides and attractions, food and drinks, and live entertainment presented by Qatar Airways. Opening hours: Opens only in winter. Admission: Purchase of the entry wristband is required in advance online. Top-up of wristbands is available online and at the entry gate. lusailwinterwonderland.com ✔

Meryal Waterpark Rixos Qetaifan Island North, Lusail City A4 A new, expansive waterpark, spanning over 281,000 sq m, featuring 36 waterslides and the tallest water slide in the world, the Iconic Tower stands at 85 m with 12 waterslides. Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday noon – 8 pm, closed on Monday. Admission: Adults QAR310, Junior (1.2 m and below) QAR245 and free for children aged 2 and below. Buy tickets online to save QAR50 per ticket. 4144 4000, meryalwaterpark.com ✔

Banana Island Adventure Park

Desert Falls Water & Adventure Park

OliOli®Doha Katara Cultural Village B4 The gift box-shaped recreation centre is an experiential children’s play museum with hands-on activities to inspire positive play where children are free to wander, wonder and discover in six spaces – Kinetic Gallery, Water Gallery, Fitness Gallery, teamLab Future Park, Creative Lab, and WonderSphere – designed to foster their creativity, curiosity and imagination. Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday 1 pm – 9 pm, closed Sunday and Monday. Admission: QAR135 for children aged 2 –16, QAR67 for children aged 12 – 23 months, two hours access with one free adult included, QAR45 for extra adult above the age of 16. 4408 1266, olioli.qa ✔

Qatar Bowling Center (QBC) D4 The 2,000 sq m bowling facility is operated and managed by the Qatar Bowling Federation (QBF), and is the official training ground of Qatar National Bowling Team. The centre includes 32 bowling lanes, billiards, snooker, table tennis and mini football as well as ProShop, offering a variety of branded bowling equipment. Opening hours: Sunday to Saturday 2 pm – midnight, Thursday 2 pm – 1 am, Friday 6 pm – midnight, Saturday noon – midnight. Admission: QAR35 per hour; QAR8 per game from 2 pm – 4 pm; QAR12 per game from 4 pm onwards. Shoe rental is free of charge, QAR3 for bowling socks. 4435 3054/3336 2722, qatarbowlingcenter.com ✔

WOW Park Lusail Boulevard, Lusail City A4 From high-flying thrills, such as the gravity-fuelled Zip Coaster and the GCC’s highest indoor climbing wall, to immersive experiences such as the Exploration Caves and Laser Tag, the indoor World of Wonders (WOW) family entertainment centre also features a dedicated toddler zone, Doha’s first and only mini-bowling alley, and the newest release of state-of-the-art arcade games. Opening hours: Saturday to Thursday noon – midnight, Friday 2 pm – midnight. Admission: Entry is free with charges per game, activity or experience. 4000 1109, wowpark.qa ✔

Yippy Land Entertainment Palms Mall and 17 La Croisette, Porto Arabia, The Pearl Island B4 From arcade video games to redemption prizes and unique novelties – there's something for everyone. Every Monday, play selected games for just QAR1. Opening hours: Sunday to Wednesday 11 am –10 pm, Thursday 10 am – 10:30 pm, Friday 12:30 pm – 10:30 am, Saturday 10:30 am –10 pm. Admission: Playing card with top-up value per game/activity. 6647 2101 (Palms Mall), plgtrade.com ✔

Fun Ville A play area for kids between 1 – 12 years of age. Opening hours: Saturday to Wednesay 10 am – 10 pm, Thursday 10 am – 11 pm, Friday 1 pm –11 pm. Admission: Playing card with top-up value per game/activity. 4427 0491, abusidramall.com ✔

Al Thumama Mall E4

300 Bowling Center Includes bowling alleys, pool tables, and a PlayStation gaming area. Opening hours: Daily 10 am – 3 am, Friday 1 pm – 3 am. Admission: QAR15 per person per game. Additonal QAR3 for shoes and QAR2 for socks. 3363 3838, linktr.ee/300bowling ✔

Battle Zone Entertainment Indoor paintball court for those aged 7 and above. Opening hours: Sunday to Wednesday 4 pm – 10 am, Thursday 4 pm – midnight, Friday 2 pm – midnight, Saturday 2 pm – 10 pm. Admission: QAR50 for children aged 7 – 13, and QAR100 for adults aged 13 and above. 7741 0774, battlezoneqa.com ✔

New City Entertainment Indoor family entertainment centre with more than 80 games. Opening hours: Saturday to Wednesday noon – 10 pm, Thursday and Friday 2 pm – midnight. Admission: Playing card with QAR100 minimum charge with 'one game for one riyal' policy for 72 hours only. 6600 4616 ✔

City Center-Doha C4

Fun City Rides, activities and video games for the whole family. Opening hours: Saturday to Wednesday 10 am – 10 pm, Thursday and Friday 10 am –midnight. Admission: Playing card with top-up value per game. 4483 9501, citycenterdoha.com ✔

InflataPark Qatar’s first indoor inflatable park inside a mall. The 1,000 sq m custom-designed inflatable park is suitable for adults and kids over the age of three. Opening hours: Saturday to Wednesday 10 am – 11 pm, Thursday 10 am – 11 pm, Friday 12:30 pm – midnight. Admission: Single Entry QAR35 for 25 minutes and QAR65 for 50 minutes; Family Pass (two adults and two children under 12 years of age) QAR120 for 25 minutes and QAR225 for 50 minutes; Nanny Pass QAR25 for 25 minutes and QAR40 for 50 minutes. 5113 8418, inflata-park.com ✔

Abu Sidra Mall E2

InflataPark

Doha Festival City B2

Angry Birds World First Angry Birds World, featuring over 20 rides and attractions for all ages. Opening hours: Indoor: Saturday to Wednesday 10 am –10 pm, Thursday 10 am – midnight, Friday 1 pm –midnight; Outdoor: Saturday to Wednesday 1 pm – 10 pm, Thursday and Friday 1 pm –midnight. Admission: QAR100 individual card, QAR250 family card with minimum QAR50 top-up value. 4042 0444, angrybirdsworld.qa ✔

Caboodle Pamper & Play Indoor edutainment playground, café and kiddie salon. Opening hours: Saturday to Wednesday 10 am – 10 pm, Thursday and Friday 10 am – 11 pm. Admission: Stay & Play (up to 12 years) supervised by an adult 12+ years) QAR65 first hour, QAR35 additional hours. Guardian Rate QAR25 (first hour), supervised by an adult 12+ years; Drop & Shop (1 – 12 years of age) QAR95, supervised by Caboodle. 4482 3233, caboodle.qa ✔

Snow Dunes A snow park at -4˚C all year round, themed around a fantastical Arabian town, complete with an Arabian-style castle. Opening hours: Saturday to Wednesday 10 am – 10 pm, Thursday 10 am – midnight, Friday 1 pm –midnight. Admission: Silver Package QAR180 per person, Gold Package QAR240 per person, Platinum Package QAR450 per person. 4035 4444, snowdunes.qa ✔

Spark Sense and Play An indoor all-rounded centre with a playground, creative wor kshops and café where a child can play, learn, and create. Opening hours: Saturday to Wednesday 10 am – 10 pm, Thursday and Friday 10 am – 11 pm (closed during Friday prayers). Admission: QAR80 per child and extra fee for workshops. 4488 7233, thesparkplay.com ✔

Virtuocity A digital gaming hub equipped with full motion racing simulators, escape rooms and a multipurpose eSports arena. Opening hours:

Saturday to Wednesday 10 am – 10 pm, Thursday 10 am – midnight, Friday 1 pm –midnight. Admission: Sunday to Wednesday Day Pass QAR150, Thursday to Saturday Day Pass QAR200. PC and Console Gaming Arenas: QAR50 – QAR150 (per hour). 4042 0499, virtuocity.qa ✔

Doha Mall E3

Ball Pit and Trampoline Opening hours: Saturday to Thursday 1 pm – 10 pm, Friday 2 pm – 11 pm. Admission: Ball pit QAR15 (10 min), QAR20 (15 mins), QAR35 (30 mins), QAR50 (1 hour). Trampoline QAR20 (15 mins), QAR30 (30 mins), QAR50 (1 hour).

Action Land Soft play area Opening hours: Saturday to Thursday 1 pm – 10 pm, Friday 2 pm – 11 pm. Admission: QAR15 (20 mins), QAR25 (30 mins), QAR50 (1 hour).

Ezdan Mall, Al Gharrafa C3

Rocket Tower A ball pit by 360 Play where you can climb on the high standing rocket tower, and slide down to dive into the sea of balls. Opening hours: Weekdays 10 am – 11 pm, weekends 10 am – midnight. Admission: 14 years of age and below. Prices range from QAR30 to QAR180. 5061 1526, 360-play.me ✔

Fun Ville A play area for kids between 1 – 12 years of age. Opening hours: Saturday to Wednesay 10 am – 10 pm, Thursday 10 am –11 pm, Friday 1 pm – 11 pm. Admission: Playing card with top-up value per game/activity. 4479 6754, gharrafa.ezdanmall.qa ✔

Ezdan Mall, Al Wakra F5

Fun Ville A play area for kids between 1 –12 years of age. Opening hours: Sunday to Wednesday and Saturday 10 am – 10 pm. Thursday 10 am – 11 pm, Friday 1 pm – 11 pm. Admission: Playing card with top-up value per game/activity. 4483 2593, wakra.ezdanmall.qa ✔

JumpTastic An indoor trampoline park. Opening hours: Sunday to Wednesday 10 am – 10 pm, Thursday and Saturday 10 – 11 pm, Friday 10 am – 11 am/12:30 pm – 11 pm. Admission: 1-hour session QAR75 (ages 3 – 13), 2-hour session QAR105 on weekdays and QAR140 on weekends. 4416 5761, linktr.ee/jumptastic.qa ✔

Kids Corner A unique indoor play environment for children ages 1 to 7. Opening times: Saturday to Thursday 8 am – 8 pm, Friday 3 pm – 8 pm. Admission: QAR60 per hour. 7775 9824, kidscornerqatar.qa.com ✔

Angry Birds World

Gulf Mall C3

GOFUN Qatar An indoor facility, providing a variety of play areas and game machines. Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday 1 pm – 10 pm, Friday 1 pm – 10 pm, Saturday 11 am – 10 pm. Admission: Playing card with top-up value per game/activity. 4031 0651, gulfmalldoha.com ✔

Hyatt Plaza D2

Jungle Zone This indoor jungle-themed playground has rides for different age groups and a video arcade area. Opening hours: Saturday to Thursday noon – 10 pm, Friday 1 pm – 11 pm. Admission: Playing card with top-up value per game/activity. 4499 9699, hyattplaza.com ✔

J Mall B3

300 Bowling Center Includes bowling alleys, pool tables, and a PlayStation gaming area. Opening hours: Saturday to Thursday 10 am – 3 am, Friday 1 pm – 3 am. Admission: QAR15 per person per game. Additonal QAR3 for shoes and QAR2 for socks. 6007 0300, linktr.ee/300bowling ✔

Landmark Mall C3

Circusland Has rides, games, trampolines and a large activity zone suitable for the whole family. Opening hours: Sunday to Wednesday 1 pm –10 pm, Thursday and Friday 1 pm – 11 pm, Saturday 9 am – 10 pm. Admission: Tokens per game/activity. 4487 6111/6333, landmarkdoha.com ✔

JumpTastic An indoor trampoline park. Opening hours: Sunday to Wednesday 10 am – 10 pm, Thursday and Saturday 10 – 11 pm, Friday 10 am – 11 am, 12:30 pm – 11 pm. Admission: 4416 5761, linktr.ee/jumptastic.qa ✔

Mall of Qatar C1

Caboodle Pamper & Play Indoor edutainment playground, café and kiddie salon. Opening hours: Saturday to Wednesday 10 am – 10 pm, Thursday and Friday 10 am – 11 pm. Admission: Stay & Play (up to 12 years) supervised by an adult 12+ years) QARR65 first hour, QAR35 additional hours. Gradian Rate QAR25 (first hour), supervised by an adult 12+ years; Drop & Shop (1 – 12 years of age) QAR95, supervised by Caboodle. 4488 7232, caboodle.qa ✔

Kids Corner A unique indoor play environment for children ages 1 to 7. Opening times: Saturday –Thursday 8 am – 8 pm, Friday 3 pm – 8 pm. Admission: QAR60 per hour. 7775 9824, kidscornerqatar.qa.com ✔

KidzMondo Doha More than 70 scaled-down businesses including a central plaza, fire station, clock tower, police station and hospital theatre. Opening hours: Saturday to Thursday 10 am –10 pm, Friday 1 pm – 10 pm. Admission: QAR90 for children aged 1 – 3 and adults (above 14), QAR135 for children aged 4 – 14, QAR85 special needs, and free for children below 1. 4028 5888, kidzmondodoha.com ✔

Rush Action Park Attractions include trampolines, a zipline, motorised ninja course, a net course and a football cage arena. Gaming, interactive activities and a scoreboard system suitable for children aged 4 – 14. Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday 2 pm – 10 pm, Friday 1 pm – 10 pm, Saturday 10 am – 10 pm. Admission: QAR100 per hour. 4028 5990, mallofqatar.com.qa ✔

XtremeLand A multi-entertainment centre with 7D Theater, Drop and Twist Tower, Giant Slide and Clip N Climb, and more for children of all ages. Teenagers will enjoy motion fun at Trampoline Park while TagaJ and soft play will provide rotating inflatable fun and activities for toddlers and kids. Opening hours: Saturday to Thursday 10 am –11 pm, Friday noon – midnight. Admission: Playing card with top-up value per game/activity.

4486 5473, mallofqatar.com.qa ✔

Mirqab Mall D3

Funderdome An indoor family entertainment centre. Opening hours: Saturday to Thursday 10 am –11 pm, Friday 1 pm – 11 pm. Admission: Toddler Play Area QAR50 per child (up to 100 cm), Active Play Area QAR80 per child. 4443 9740, funderdomedoha.com ✔

Hangout A gaming hub with a range of games from consoles and cars and flight simulators, to an Escape Room and VR and arcade games. Opening hours: Daily 10 am – 11 pm. Admission: Playing card with top-up value per game/activity.

4476 1127, hangoutqatar.com ✔

KizMondo Doha

Jump Trampolines, soft play and plenty of physical activity. Opening hours: Daily 10 am – 10 pm. Admission: Regular QA60 (select activities for two hours); Ultimate QAR90 (all activities for two hours). 3007 6888, 4447 9313, jumpqatar.com ✔

Msheireb Downtown Doha (MDD) D4

Ground Control Msheireb Galleria A 2,300 sq m interactive entertainment centre that combines classic games with the latest interactive technologies. The centre includes an advanced 10-lane bowling alley, innovative arcade games, high-speed racing simulators, modern table games, advanced billiards, air hockey, table football, jet pong and digital darting. The centre also provides a dedicated area for parties, or corporate team-building events. Opening late 2025.

PLAY-DOH Fun Factory A comprehensive innovative experience designed to stimulate imagination, beginning with a colourful wall of PLAY-DOH constructions and unique interactive surfaces that allow visitors to transform simple materials into magnificent artistic works. Opening late 2025.

NERF Action Xperience An arena for confrontational games, targeting the youth demographic in a fun environment, equipped with digital scoreboards, adding a competitive character to their adventures. Opening late 2025.

Place Vendôme A3

Caboodle Pamper & Play Indoor edutainment playground, café and kiddie salon. Opening hours: Saturday to Wednesday 10 am – 10 pm, Thursday and Friday 10 am – 11 pm. Admission: Stay & Play (up to 12 years) supervised by an adult 12+ years) QARR65 first hour, QAR35 additional hours. Gradian Rate QAR25 (first hour), supervised by an adult 12+ years; Drop & Shop (1 – 12 years of age) QAR95, supervised by Caboodle. 4482 3233, caboodle.qa ✔

Jumpino Trampoline Park A giant family playground with wall-to-wall trampolines, so you can jump, climb, play and party. Opening hours: Sunday to Wednesday 10 am – 11 pm, Thursday to Saturday 10 am – midnight. Admission: QAR100 for one hour, QAR180 or two hours; adults assisting kids QAR35. 4006 0269, jumpinotrampoline.com ✔

Kids Corner A unique indoor play environment for children ages 1 to 7. Opening times: Saturday to Thursday 8 am – 8 pm, Friday 3 pm – 8 pm. Admission: QAR60 per hour. 7775 9824, kidscornerqatar.qa.com ✔

Magic Village Engaging children to learn arts and crafts. Opening hours: Saturday to Thursday 10 am – 11 pm, Friday 10 am – midnight. Admission: Prices vary per item. See their social media pages for more details. 5121 2166 ✔

Trocadéro Theme Park A theme park with rides, carting and bowling. Opening hours: Sunday to Wednesday 10 am – 11 pm, Thursday and Saturday 10 am – midnight, and Friday 2 pm –midnight. Admission: Play card with a minimum charge of QAR50. See their Instagram page for more details. 3000 2537 ✔

Royal Plaza D3

Ray's Reef A play area for children between the ages of six months and 14 years, offering arts and crafts, mini movie theatre, water play zone and more. Opening hours: Saturday to Thursday 11:30 am – 10 pm, Friday 3:30 pm – 11 pm. Admission: QAR40 for entry. Tokens for video and redemption games, and spin art can be purchased as an extra. 4413 1122, royalplazadoha.com ✔

Tawar Mall C3

BOUNCEinc Qatar An indoor trampoline park with more than 100 interconnected trampolines. Opening hours: Sunday to Wednesday 2 pm –10 pm, Thursday to Saturday 10 am – 10 pm. Admission: General (jumpers over 110 cm in height) QAR100 first hour and QAR90 per extra hour. miniBOUNCE Zone (kids under 110 cm in height who can walk unassisted) QAR90 first hour and QAR55 per extra hour. Premium Access (access to all areas) QAR120 first hour and QAR110 per extra hour. 4408 6500, bounce.qa ✔

Noor Land A children's play area with a ball pit, bumper cars, fairground rides and more for children of all ages but specifically toddlers. Opening hours: Daily 10 am – 10 pm. See their facebook page for more details. 7733 5544 ✔

Caboodle Pamper & Play

The Gate Mall C4

CurioCITY Center of Play All family fun: Hands-on learning playgrounds, workshops, toy shop and cafe, parties. Opening hours: Daily 10 am –10:30 pm. Admission: Children from 1 to 16 years, QAR140 per hour. 7723 3233, centerofplay.com ✔

Museum of Illusions Doha A captivating display of holograms, optical illusions, and installations that challenge our perceptions and reveal the deceptive nature of reality. Opening hours: Saturday to Thursday 9 am – 10 pm, Friday 1 pm – 10 pm.

Admission: Adult (16+ years) QAR80; Child (3 – 15 years) QAR60; Family (2 adults and 2 kids under 15 years) QAR220; Group (5 adults) QAR340; Special Needs QAR40. Free entry for children below three years old. 4020 6273, museumofillusions.qa ✔

Rebound An indoor trampoline park. Opening hours: Saturday – Thursday 10 am – 10 pm, Friday 1 pm – 10 pm. Admission: QAR100 per child per hour. 5037 2142, see their Instagram page ✔

The

Pearl Island B4

Beach Centrale A family-friendly destination with three climate-controlled pools – a main pool for adults with an artificial sandy beach, a second swimming pool and a water park for children. There are also changing rooms, lockers, and food and beverage kiosks. Opening hours: Daily 6 am –6 pm. Admission: Residents QAR50, visitors QAR100, children under the age of 2 enter for free. 800 6222, thepearlqatar.com ✔

CurioCITY Center of Play 18 La Croisette, Porto Arabia All family fun with hands-on learning playgrounds, workshops, toy shop and café, parties. Opening hours: Daily 1:30 pm – 9 pm.

Admission: Children QAR140 per hour (1 to 16 years). 7723 3233, centerofplay.com ✔

Ecolandia Lulu Mall, Giardino Features a giant ball pit and thrilling slides, an artificial sand pit with fun sand toys and structures, and Interactive Soft Play Zones. Opening hours: Daily 10 am – 10 pm. Admission: QAR30 per hour (1 year and below), QAR65 per hour or QAR120 for 3 hours (2 to 10 years). 5570 0969, 4006 0402 ✔

Megapolis Entertainment Center Medina Centrale

An indoor entertainment destination, offering an array of games and activities such as escape rooms, virtual reality simulators, bowling, darts, billiards, karaoke and more. Opening hours: Monday to Wednesday 10 am – 2 am, Thursday 10 am onwards, Friday (closed for Friday prayers 11 am – 1 pm) and Saturday open 24 hours,

closed on Sunday. Admission: Playing card with top-up value per game/activity. 4437 8444/84, megapolisqatar.com ✔

miniBOUNCE Doha by BOUNCEinc Qatar Porto Arabia, Tower 22, Marina Way 22 Soft play zones to mini trampolines, tailored for little explorers under 140 cm. Opening hours: Daily 10 am –10 pm. Admission: QAR90 per child per hour. bounce.qa/minibounce ✔

The Mall D4

Fun Day An indoor children's theme park. Opening hours: Saturday to Thursday noon – 8:30 pm, Friday 3:30 pm – 9:30 pm. Admission: QAR30 per child. 4465 7969, themalldoha.com ✔

Villaggio Mall D2

Gondolania Theme Park The indoor theme park includes a 4D cinema, bowling, laser wars, go-karting, and more. Opening hours: Sunday to Wednesday noon – 9 pm, Thursday and Saturday 9 am – 10 pm, Friday 1 pm – 10 pm. Admission: Playing card with a minimum of QAR50 with top-up value per game/activity. 4403 9800, gondolania.com ✔

Gondolania Ice Arena Olympic sized ice rink accredited by the Ice Skating Institute Asia (ISIAsia). Opening hours: Sunday to Wednesday 9 am – 10:30 pm, Thursday to Saturday 9 am – 11:15 pm. 9 am – 10 am booked for lessons. Admission: First come, first served. QAR55 per person per session (30 minutes), QAR15 gloves, QAR10 socks, QAR20 skating seals. Children under the age of 7 must be accompanied by an adult guardian over the age of 18. QAR150 for coach, and QAR175 for assessment. Private lessons cost QAR625 – QAR900 per student; QAR150 annual membership fee. 4450 7873 gondolaniaicearena.com ✔

Magic Village Engaging children to learn arts and crafts. Opening hours: Daily 10 am – 11 pm, Friday 1 pm – midnight. Admission: Prices vary per item. 6609 9229, see their social media pages ✔ m

Gondolania Theme Park

& ENTERTAINMENT?

Subsidiary of