|
Doha, the
capital city of Qatar, is also the host city
of the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006 which
started from the 1st to the 15th of December
2006. This city is Qatar's main commercial
centre and also one of the most rapid
developing cities in Asia whereby the
tourist attractions in Doha will surely
amaze you. Qatar may be a small country
in the Middle East but its increasing
influence spreads beyond the Gulf
region. Qatar is known for attractions such
as its amazing limestone crops, crescent
sand dunes and spectacular beaches.
 The people of
Doha is known to treasure their traditions
and culture and is always ready to share
them with visitors from other parts of the
world. Doha is located on the east coast of
Qatar whereby this beautiful city has the
stunning Corniche bay on one side and the
vast mysterious sands of the desert on the
opposite side. Travelers who have visited
this city speak Photo: Waterfront at
Corniche in Doha highly of its world class
hotels and accommodations. Major places of
interest in Doha and important landmarks in Doha
include the Al Jazeera Arabic satellite
television station, Al Khor Museum which
displays the archeological findings from the
Al Khor area, Al Kout fortress, Al Wakra
Museum, Dubai Towers, Centre for Islamic
Information which has an unique concentric
tower, Doha Fort which has some incredible
traditional handicrafts among its exhibits,
Ethnographic Museum which displays one of
the few remaining wind towers in Qatar, Government House,
Maritime Museum which highlights the marine
heritage of Qatar, Qatar National
Museum at the Corniche showcases the geological
history of the country and important Islamic
artifacts, the headquarters of Qatar Petrolium
and RasGasa, the famous University of
Qatar and Weaponary Museum which displays a
variety of gold and silver swords and
daggers from the Gulf region.
 One main
tourist attraction which you should not miss
is to take a relaxing stroll along the
spectacular paved waterfront at Corniche,
lined with swaying palm trees, which offers
tourists a sensation view of the bay. This
stretch of coastline runs parallel to the
stunning Arabian Gulf. Doha is a well known
venue for holding important functions and
has a great reputation for hosting major
events such as the Athletics Grand Prix,
AIPS Congress, Football Cup, Golf Masters,
ITU Triathlon World Cup, MotoGP, Tennis
Open, West Asian Games and the World Trade
Organization Conference. The main reason
Doha is a popular sporting venue is because
this city has some of the best sports
stadiums and sporting facilities in the
region such as the Al Ahli Stadium, Al
Gharrafah Al-Zubarah Stadium, Al Itihad Sports Club, Al
Sadd Stadium (Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium),
Grand Hamad Stadium, Hamad Aquatic Centre,
Khalifa International Stadium, Khalifa
Tennis Stadium, Markhiya Sports Club and the
Qatar Sports Club Stadium. Tourists will
find the
 many historical sites in Qatar very
interesting. Some of the famous tourist
attractions worth exploring include the
rectangle Al-Ghuwair Castle which was built
with thick walls of stones and mud, Al-Jassasiya
which houses rare stone carvings and
engravings from the pre-historic times,
Al-Rakiyat Fort which has a rectangle shape
with four corner towers, Al-Thughb Fort
which is a famous desert fort, Al-Wajbah
Fort which is the oldest fort in Qatar and
also the battle site where the Ottoman army
was defeated, Al-Zubarah which is a famous
archaeological site in Qatar, Barzan Tower
at the Umm Salal Mohammed area, Marroub Fort
which displays excellent Abbasside
architectural design and the grand Umm Salal
Mohammed Fort which Islamic Centre showcases impressive
facade and unique architectural. Another
popular tourist area in Qatar which is about
ten minutes boat ride from Doha is the Palm
Tree Island which has stunning beaches and
excellent watersports facilities. Other
famous islands in this Middle East
country are Alia Island, Al-Saflia Island,
Haloul Island, Ishat Island and Shra'o
Island.
 Qatar is the
home of the beautiful Arabian horses called
the Oryx. Visitors are encouraged to visit
the Oryx Farm at Shahaniya. The best places
to get a first hand experience with these
horses are at the pure-bred Arab Show and Al
Shaqab Stud Farm. To enjoy the crystal clear
waters of the Arabian Gulf, tourists can
participate in the various water sports and
cruising activities. Sailing and scuba
diving are popular among foreign visitors.
Photo: Souq (market) in Doha
You can also cruise on a dhow (a traditional
Qatari fishing boat) in Doha Bay.
 For golf
enthusiasts, then make a trip to the Doha
Golf Club to play at the world championship golf course designed by Peter Harradine. For
a more challenging adventure, join the
exciting desert safari to the inland sea.
Sit in a four-wheel drive as you travel
along the remarkable sand dunes to get to
your destination whereby you can enjoy a
quiet swim in the warm inland sea. If shopping is
your favorite pastime, then you will surely
not be disappointed in Doha. You can buy
almost anything from its amazing shopping
complexes to the small stalls at the souqs
(markets). For branded goods, go to the City
Centre Doha which is also the biggest
shopping complex in the Middle East. If you
are looking for souvenirs or traditional
handicrafts, then the Souq Waqif is the
place to visit. This is the oldest
traditional market in Barzan Tower In Doha Doha which is packed
with shoppers everyday. So, make a
reservation to Doha today whereby the
spectacular crescent-shaped Corniche, the
stunning Arabian Gulf and the amazing sandy
desert backdrop awaits you besides great desert escapades,
tourist attractions and shopping
extravaganzas.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
|