Doha, Qatar - attractions, holidays

Doha is the capital and largest densely populated city of Qatar. The metropolitan population is more than half of all the inhabitants of this Arab state. "Doha" literally means "big tree". Quietly located on the coast of the Persian Gulf, the state of Qatar for a long time remained invisible to tourist views. Therefore, even sophisticated travelers can often ask: "Doha ... Qatar ... Where is this?"

The peninsula of Qatar, located on the east of the Arabian Peninsula, borders on the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and across the sea - with Bahrain.

Qatar. Doha Airport welcomes passengers

The international airport, located 5 kilometers from the center of the capital, provides its customers with high-quality service. The benevolence and unobtrusive professionalism of the attendants evoke a pleasant admiration for the state of Qatar. Airport Doha pleases passengers with a clear and rapid organization of transit. The absence of the usual Asian confusion is best combined with the maximum of the services provided. Lounges, free Wi-Fi and a shuttle, children's playground, as well as many duty-free shops and restaurants, 24-hour post office and even three mosques can be found on the territory of this airport.

With temporary breaks between flights, passengers are provided with free hotel rooms and visa support.

Historical and economic facts

Even in the XIX century, where the magnificent capital city is now flourishing, the fishing village, which often provided shelter to pirates, was modestly located. They knew very well the port of Al-Bid, which was often forced to land during long wanderings along the Persian Gulf. Since 1916, Doha began to expand, becoming the administrative center of Qatar, which at that time was a British colony.

Since the middle of the last century, Doha (Qatar) has rapidly evolved. The rapid growth of this region became a justified consequence of the development of the oil and gas business. 1971 was marked by the proclamation of Qatar as an independent state, whose capital was Doha. Recently, the government of this country is looking for new ways of development: putting aside the sources of raw materials , the authorities of Qatar focus on the formation of an especially attractive tourist zone. Impressive efforts are made for the prosperity of aviation communications, great attention is paid to the promotion of fish industries and the extraction of pearls.

Features of sultry climate

In a hot tropical climate for European residents the most comfortable period for rest is from April to May and from September to October. In summer, the high humidity of the coastal regions and the exhausting heat drain the vegetation and the city of Doha. Qatar in the winter is almost endless, prolonged tropical rains, typical for this season.

Architectural Traditionalism

Of particular interest is the exotic Arab style and the maximum adaptation of traditional houses and buildings to the local climate. The characteristic development of the old quarters of the city, framed by palm trees, is strangely combined with super-modern houses and avenues. The central part of urban development is similar to one large building site, on which already come operating objects, most often - hotels. Luxury villas and magnificent palace ensembles of oil kings attract the eyes of not only idle tourists and noble guests, but also famous architects.

The most striking elements of Arab architecture gradually become a newfangled trend, spreading far beyond Islamic states. Illuminated advertising and a myriad of lights in the evening give the city an enchanting and especially festive look.

The population of Doha (Qatar)

A notable feature of these places is the indigenous people who make up a minority, while the rest of the population are emigrants from South Asia and the Mediterranean countries, as well as from the USA, Norway, France, Britain and many other countries. In the recent past, emigrants were legally prohibited from purchasing land plots in Qatar, but now these bans have been lifted for some areas.

Touring magnets

A lot of magnificent hotels and sandy beaches with swimming pools, water slides and other attractions entice lovers to sunbathe and frolic in the water element.

Local residents with great enthusiasm are falconry and camel races, attracting to such exotic entertainment curious tourists. A blossoming oasis in the middle of the desert is Qatar, Doha. Rest in this Asian country will cost a cheap price for tourists because of the lack of seasonality, and hence, discounts on living. Attractive shopping centers and souvenir shops, hotels, resort entertainment are designed for constant and considerable expenses, which are "affordable" not for poor people.

Umm Salal-Mohammed

The richest history of Qatar, evidenced by the expanding geography of archaeological excavations, attracts more and more researchers. The search for traces of ancient civilizations are concerned with specialists and simply intrigued philistines interested in Qatar (Doha) with interest. The sights of the young capital of the Arab state are not so monotonous and boring, as it seems to some. Truly fantastic visual associations arise when you visit the fort Umm Salal-Mohammed.

A small snow-white mosque with two turrets and an old minaret is strikingly contrasted with a dazzling white hot desert and azure sea. The mounds lying around the fort are closely studied by archaeologists. In all likelihood, their education is attributed to the 3rd millennium BC. E., and since according to the Islamic religion burial places in barrows are forbidden, they could be left by the most ancient pre-Islamic tribes, and even by mythical Atlanteans.

Museums

Being one of the supposed centers of the birth of mankind in Asia, Doha (Qatar) is interesting for its museums. In the palace of Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed there is a national museum, the main exposition of which is a two-level aquarium, inhabited by representatives of the underwater world of the bay. Some of them are currently threatened with extinction (for example, to local sea turtles). Of great interest are expositions that introduce visitors to traditional astronomical navigation devices and methods known to ancient seafarers. The historical evidence of the Arabian marine expeditions and various stages of the formation of Islam draws attention. Here you can find out about the traditional way of life of the Catharians and the gradual development of industry in this territory.

Much more popular is the museum of weapons, more consisted of collector's copies of the sheikh. The "highlight" of the meeting is the unique Arab silicon guns of the XII-XIX centuries. The ethnographic museum in the city of Doha (Qatar), located in a traditionally Qatar building, found during the construction of a shopping complex, allows you to feel and see the living conditions of local residents in the recent past, until the discovery of oil and gas in these areas. One of the museum expositions is the "wind tower" that has survived to our times, which in the old days represented a surprisingly effective system of natural conditioning of a dwelling, which is so necessary in a hot climate.

The extremely low crime rate makes this country one of the safest in the world. Therefore, it is believed that in the evening, not only locals, but also numerous tourists can safely rest and stroll through the most remote areas, looking at the city of Doha (Qatar). "This is where the delightful place, in which it is so hot and absolutely safe, but at the same time exotic and interesting, is quite expensive?" - travelers who traveled here say with sadness.