Join Qatar 365 on hot air balloons, desert glamping and cruise ships – there’s no shortage of activities in Qatar in winter. Walk around the rejuvenated Old Doha Port, go for an adventure the wildlife reserve of Ras Abrouq, or relax in the serene surroundings of Sealine.
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00:00The country has embarked on a drive to increase tourism, so the ballooning was a good fit
00:08and having a festival every year brings a lot of joy and happiness to people.
00:15Hello and welcome to Qatar365 with me, Laila Humaira.
00:20On this episode, we explore all the ways residents and visitors can see Qatar's beauty spots,
00:26whether it's on wheels, wings or water.
00:29But first, you're probably familiar with the iconic skyline behind me.
00:33Doha's West Bay skyline is often appreciated by tourists on foot or by car.
00:38But Adel Halim embarked on a journey by air and sea.
00:45Just prior to landing at Qatar's Hamid International Airport, passengers are greeted by stunning
00:50views of the country's Pearl Island, the luxurious man-made island sitting on 4 million meters
00:56of reclaimed land.
00:58Many visitors head into the city along the picturesque Corniche, but that's just one
01:03way to experience Qatar's skyline.
01:06If you're seeking an adventure high in the sky, a hot air balloon ride may be what you're
01:11looking for.
01:12You'll get a bird's eye view of Doha and beyond from about 600 meters in the air.
01:18It's a totally different perspective.
01:20I mean, for me, I've been born and raised here and having the experience of flying in
01:27a balloon and seeing it from a different perspective is totally different.
01:33Same familiar areas, but the view is absolutely amazing.
01:39Captain Hassan Al Moussaoui is a long-time commercial pilot and says the beauty of a
01:43hot air balloon is captivating to people of all ages.
01:47We wanted to have something different.
01:49The country has embarked on a drive to increase tourism, so the ballooning was a good fit
01:55and having a festival every year brings a lot of joy and happiness to people.
01:59The Qatar Balloon Festival started in 2019 and recently completed its fifth edition.
02:04Fifty-seven balloons took flight, 50 were selected from 21 countries, and seven were
02:10locally made.
02:12Captain Hassan says Qatar has positioned itself as a place for family-oriented activities
02:17and its fun-for-all approach is a large part of the country's tourism strategy.
02:21I think it's a building block approach, and as we are building the different sectors that
02:28are supporting the tourism, it's just a natural evolution.
02:32But if airborne excursions aren't your thing, don't worry, you've got options.
02:36With more than four million visitors arriving in Qatar in 2023, the country is well on its
02:41way to achieving its stated goal of attracting six million tourists by 2030.
02:47One way to do that is by using its strategic advantage as a peninsula, surrounded mostly
02:51by water, with numerous water activities on offer.
02:55A popular water excursion is a relaxing dhow boat cruise like this one, with picturesque
03:00views everywhere you turn.
03:02So dhow boat holds a really significant cultural value in Qatar's maritime history, as it was
03:09used for pearl diving and fishing mostly.
03:12But now when visitors come here, they can enjoy the scenic views of the Doha skyline
03:19and can have a really relaxing and peaceful time, escape from the city in the sea.
03:26Experience Qatar offers immersive and authentic excursions around the country, from city to
03:31cultural tours, offering visitors unique ways to enjoy Qatar.
03:35They learn more about the history of Qatar, so their perspective changes.
03:39We have like different water activities, it's like for the people who love diving,
03:44we have snorkeling, we have paddle boarding, we have like cruise ships, so we have like
03:50a lot of water activities to do in Doha.
03:57Cruise season is back in Qatar, which means massive ships are docking at the old Doha
04:02port on a weekly basis.
04:04The picturesque Mina district is what welcomes thousands of tourists as they disembark the
04:09And while the word old is in the name of the area, the amenities and facilities are anything
04:15but.
04:16I spoke to Mohamed Abdullah Al Mola, the CEO of Old Doha Port, to find out how the harbour
04:21is boosting Qatar's maritime tourism.
04:27Thank you for having us today here at the Old Doha Port.
04:30Can you tell us first the historical and cultural significance of the Old Doha Port and how
04:35did it help shape Qatar's development as a country?
04:39Well, Old Doha Port has always been a very significant port for all Qataris who lived
04:46in Qatar back in the last century.
04:51In fact, it has many reasons for being a very significant role that played in the growth
04:58of the economics due to the fact that this port was the first and the only commercial
05:04port back in the 1940s, 50s, all the way till only recently, 2017, when all the commercial
05:13operations moved from this port.
05:17And just looking around, there are some very standout architectural features that preserve
05:24the old style of housing in Qatar.
05:26Why was it important to keep this cultural, architectural heritage when redeveloping this
05:34area?
05:35We tried to introduce a new architectural language by maintaining and reshaping some
05:42of the coastal houses that were residing on the coastal side of Qatar back in the 1940s
05:51and 50s.
05:52In a way, again, to reflect the history of the cities, a sign of appreciation again to
05:56our grandparents who have suffered back then and did all their best to make sure that next
06:05generations are living of the most economical and best lifestyle.
06:10One of the key highlights, as you mentioned earlier, during the winter season is the cruise
06:15season as well, when massive ships like the one behind us just sail into Qatar and dock
06:21themselves here and carrying hundreds and thousands of visitors.
06:25Can you tell us then the importance of the cruise season to Qatar's tourism industry?
06:31Well, cruise season definitely is one of the most important aspects that contributes directly
06:37to the tourism in Qatar.
06:39The passenger numbers have been increasing from year to year.
06:43So for example, last year, last season, 23, 20, 24, we have reached about 360,000 passengers
06:54in that season.
06:55The forecast for this season, hopefully we will hit 400 plus.
07:03So since the redevelopment of Old Doha Port, it's been a host of many major events, including
07:09recently the Amarigo Vespucci, the Italian Navy ship, the Qatar Boat Show, the World
07:14Aquatics Championship, art festivals, fishing competitions, beach cleanups, so many things.
07:20What are some exciting events in the pipeline this year for Old Doha Port?
07:24Today we have the Doha Port considered as a home porting.
07:29This year we have started some of the trips that start from Qatar and takes a tour in
07:36the region and ends in Qatar as well.
07:39Capacity wise, definitely the terminal can accommodate two mega cruise ships simultaneously,
07:47which definitely was one of the reasons that contributed in reaching into the home porting
07:53objective.
07:58From flying high in a hot air balloon to cruising along the Doha skyline, it's no wonder why
08:03Qatar is a hot tourist destination.
08:06And if all the fun makes you a little sleepy, there are plenty of hotels to sit back and
08:11relax after the sun goes down.
08:14Just be warned, as Yow and Ahus found out, some of them are so unique that you'd wish
08:18you'd never have to fall asleep.
08:23With over 40,000 hotel rooms, Doha has no shortage of memorable places to stay.
08:28From modest accommodation to five-star luxury, Qatar's capital offers something for all visitors.
08:33But for those dreaming of a little adventure or silence and serenity, I've left the dazzling
08:39lights of the city behind to explore the country's roads less traveled and hit the hay in some
08:44of Qatar's extraordinary hotels.
08:47First stop on my rather bumpy ride is the Outpost Albarari, located in the Inland Sea
08:52Nature Reserve.
08:53As the name suggests, the outpost is hidden away, nestled in a sea of sand some 66 kilometers
08:59south of the hustle and bustle of Doha.
09:03So the Outpost Albarari is located in the southern part of Qatar, and it's unique for
09:07its wild wilderness, desert wilderness, and its fast dunes, which are meeting the Arabian
09:17Gulf.
09:18The design was inspired by the surrounding landscape, as well the sustainable architecture
09:24of the hotel.
09:25It's not just the hotel's surroundings of dancing dunes that instills a sense of wonder.
09:30As the sun sets and the desert descends into darkness, the sky above Outpost lights up.
09:36It's a little bit past my bedtime, but who needs sleep in a dreamy setting like this?
09:41And there's plenty to see here after dark, through the hotel's telescopes or at this
09:45outdoor cinema for a movie under the shooting stars.
09:49So whether it's the action on the big screen or the splendors of the universe above, I
09:52might be in for a sleepless night.
09:55New dawn, new day, and I'm out for a thrilling time in the dunes this morning.
10:00Outpost has plenty of activities on offer to get your heart racing.
10:04We offer a wide range of activities, which is related to the desert.
10:10We offer camel tours, we do buggy safaris, electric fat bike tours, and as well we offer
10:16a wide range of wellness activities and yoga classes.
10:21For a bit more peace and quiet, I've traveled to the UNESCO-protected Al Reem Biosphere
10:25Reserve on Qatar's western coast, home to our Habitas Rosa Brugue Hotel, a luxury resort
10:32that is all about connecting with nature.
10:34So it is one of those places you can absolutely switch off.
10:38We don't have any TV, so you absolutely disconnect again being within nature.
10:42And then you walk through, you have a beautiful sea line, you can enjoy the nice clean air
10:48around the sea, and then we do these beautiful concepts of sound healing around here, again
10:54using the natural elements that are given to us.
10:57I like to do sound healings with a different instrument, such as crystal balls, gong, different
11:04special sounds, and I like to choose different locations around our property.
11:11It's kind of a haven for reconnection, rejuvenation, and wellness journey to encourage self-exploration
11:19and empower positive impact.
11:23With so much natural beauty in this land of sea, sun, and sand, dreams come to life
11:27before you even get into bed.
11:30Once you do lay your head to rest, the comfort and tranquility of hotels like Outpost and
11:34our Habitas guarantee you'll wake up rested and relaxed.
11:42From glamping under the stars to sailing as far out where the sky meets the sea, we hope
11:46you've enjoyed this episode, but that's all the time we have for now.
11:49For more, check out euronews.com and connect with us through our hashtag.
11:53Thanks for watching, and we'll see you next time on Katar 365.