Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
20
Doha Players
A4
21
Katara
E1
22
Landmark Shopping Mall
B2
23
Mall
E6
24
The Laughter Factory
D5
Shopping
City Centre Doha
(see 16)
25
Hyatt Plaza
A6
Landmark Shopping Mall
(see 22)
Villaggio Mall
(see 6)
History
With more than half of the population of Qatar residing in the capital, one would expect
Doha to have an ancient and powerful history. On the contrary, Doha was a small and in-
consequential fishing and pearling village up until the mid-19th century, when the first Al-
Thani emir, Sheikh Mohammed bin Thani, established his capital at Al-Bida, now the port
area of town. From a notorious safe haven for Gulf pirates, it became the British adminis-
trative centre in 1916 and the capital of the independent state of Qatar in 1971.
The University of Qatar (1973) and Qatar National Museum (1975) brought education
and culture to the city, and slowly the shape of Doha changed, one ringroad at a time,
from an ugly concrete rash to the elegant city of today. The masterstoke was the early con-
struction of Doha Bay, carved out of reclaimed land, and giving harbour to Doha's shrimp
industry, leisure for inhabitants and a vantage point that architects have exploited to the
full in West Bay.
With the new airport nearing completion, served by the world's 'five star airline', with
a whole new town centre growing alongside Souq Waqif, and with ambitious construction
and beautification projects well underway, the secret of Doha is sure to be outed well be-
fore the World Cup in 2022.
A PROMENADE UNDER THE PALMS
If you want an encapsulation of Doha in a day, try threading through the palm trees of Doha's beautiful corniche.
The 8km trip around Doha Bay affords some spectacular views of a growing city and invites plenty of rest-stops
along the way. Beware, it will feel more like a hike across the Sahara if you attempt the trip in summer.
