Historic places in Doha

Historic places in Doha

1. See

   Al Jazeera Studios

   One of Qatar's claims to fame is the Al Jazeera news network, which broadcasts to hundreds of millions around the world. The studios are not made to be a tourist attraction, although you may be able to contact the office and ask for a tour. A small on-site museum is dedicated to journalists who have died in the field, and has various timelines and displays about the network's history.

2. See

   Al Koot Fort

   Doha Fort

   Built in 1880 during the Ottoman period, this big white fort is in what is now the parking lot of Souq Waqif. At the time it was built, however, the fort was on the outskirts of the city. It was used as an ethnographic museum, the building is undergoing renovations and is closed, although it is still a popular place to take photos.

3. Do

   Al Shaqab Horse Centre

   Just "Al Shaqab"

   A state of the art horse riding facility and equestrian centre highlighting the importance of the Arabian horse and the detailing the history of equestrianism in the area.

   Closed · opens 7:30 am tomorrow·Varies

4. See

   Ministry of Interior building

   A massive and actually quite sinister building resembling a fort, (usually) only to be seen from outside during a drive around.

5. See

   Msheireb Enrichment Centre

   A small museum with photographs and artifacts illustrating the historic development of Doha from small fishing town to modern city. The exhibit is sponsored by developer of the Msheireb project near Souq Waqif.

   Mon-Thu 09:00-20:30; Thu 12:00-20:00; Sat 15:30-18:00·Free

6. See

   Msheireb Museums

   متاحف_مشيرب

   A collection of four historic houses in the new downtown district of Msheireb: Mohammed bin Jassim House, Company House, Bin Jelmood House and Radwani House. They feature exhibits on the Msheireb community, traditional Qatari family life, the history of the oil industry, and slavery and exploitation.

   Mon-Sat 09:00-17:00; open Fri until 21:, closed Sun·Free

7. See

   National Museum of Qatar

   Opened in early 2019. The original museum was housed in an early 20th-century palace; its extension, now under construction, was designed by French architect Jean Nouvel and inspired by the desert sand rose. The extension and original palace can both still be viewed from the outside.

8. See

   Souq Waqif

   Souq Waqif is the renovated Arabic market quarter, where one can easily wander around the maze-like corridors for hours. The souq is organized more or less by what is sold. There is a section of spice shops, another of textiles, and even a quarter with falcons for sale. Stables with Arabian horses are not far from the falcons, and camels are kept near Al Koot Fort and the parking lot. Also look for places to buy souvenirs, sit down to smoke a Sheesha, or enjoy food at one of the restaurants bordering it. Traditionally-dressed Qatari police occasionally patrol the souq area, in the morning mounted on camels and in the evening on horseback. The souq was completely rebuilt on the site of an older souq, and therefore can feel somewhat artificial; however it is a very popular place for locals, particularly on weekends.

   Closed for lunch 12:30-15:30

9. Buy

   Souq Waqif

   Also referred to as the Old Souq, this is the best place to pick up souvenirs and rub shoulder with locals. There are good restaurants and sheesha cafes here. There are also falcon shops, and some dealers will allow you to handle and photograph them. Also worth visiting are the horse stables (near the falcon shops) and the camels (near Al Koot Fort).

   Daily 10:00-12:00, 16:00-22:00

10. Eat

    Shebestan Palace Restaurant

    Good Persian food.

    12:00-00:00 daily

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Doha (CC BY-SA 4.0).