The North
This area contains most of the historic sites, including Umm Salal Mohammed, a relatively large village dominated by the ruins of a 19th-century fort. At Al Zubara is the Qalit Marir Fortress. Al Khor is the second-largest city, situated around a natural shallow harbour. Gharya has a golden sandy beach stretching for miles. Ruwais boasts a harbour, from where there is an occasional dhow service to Bahrain. There are also good beaches at Fuwairat, on the northeast coast, and Ras Abruk, opposite Hawar Island.
The West Coast
There are beaches at Umm Bab (‘The Palm Tree Beach’), Dukhan and Salwah, near the Saudi border.
The South
This is a region of sand dunes and beaches, offering opportunities to go pearl hunting, or to practice any number of watersports. The ‘inland sea’ of Khor al-Odeid is the center of a region of outstanding natural beauty, surrounded by the Sandi Hills, accessible only to 4-wheel-drive vehicles.
Ishat Island
Located on the southeastern portion of the country, Ishat Island has a total area of about 20 square kilometres. It consists of three flat-topped islets bordered with light coloured cliffs and two detached rocks lying northeast of Khor Al-Udaid.
Shra’o Island
Situated about 48 kilometres northeast of Ishat Island, Shra’o Island rises to 36.5’ and has many hummocks. There is also a small fringed reef and a sandy beach used by turtles to lay their eggs. Just three hours away from Doha by speedboat, Shra’o Island serves as a haven to thousands of seabirds.
Haloul Island
This hilly island rises to an elevation of 190 feet and is surrounded by excellent fishing grounds. The seabed is made up of coral reefs with a large variety of magnificent and beautiful coral fish and offers wonderful opportunities for scuba divers to observe marine life.
Al-Saflia Island
Just a 15-minute boat ride from Doha, Al-Saflia Island is considered a tourist resort – even with its tiny size of .8 square kilometres.
Alia Island
To the west and complimenting Al-Saflia Island lies the small land mass of Alia Island – just slightly over 2 square kilometres in size
Historical Interest
Marroub Fort
Built during the Abbasside period on the foundations of an older fort, Marroub Fort is located on the west coast of Qatar and bears the marks of Abbasside architectural style. To the north of the Fort, 250 houses were grouped together in an arch formation.
Al-Ghuwair Castle
Al-Ghuwair Castle was built during the early 19th century and is now in ruins. It was constructed with thick walls of stone and mud in a rectangular shape.
Al-Thughb Fort
Located on the northwest part of the country, approximately 110 kilometres from Doha, al-Thughb Fort is rectangular with four towers – a common design for desert forts erected between 17th and 19th centuries.
Al-Zubarah
Situated just 100 km west of Doha lies the town of Al Zubara, an important archeological site famous for its old fort. This fort-turned-museum was constructed in 1938 during the reign of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani and was erected on the ruins of a neighbouring fort. The fort itself is square-shaped with circular towers in three of its corners and a rectangular tower in the fourth. With high, thick walls, this fort also served as a coast guard station and, until the mid-1980s, was used by the military.
Al-Rakiyat Fort
Restored in 1988, Al-Rakiyat Fort was constructed sometime during the 17th and 19th centuries. Made of mud and stone, this fort, as with many others in Qatar, is shaped as a rectangle with four corner towers.
Barzan Tower
Originally built as watchtowers, Barzan Tower is the western tower of two that were erected around the Umm Salal Mohammed area. This Tower was built during the late 19th century and its ‘T’ shape is considered a unique architectural style in the Gulf region. It is a rectangle construction with three levels and an external staircase.
Umm Salal Mohammed Fort
Located about 20 kilometres north of Doha and built during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this Fort is distinguishable by its high thick walls and impressive façade. Inside the fort, you will find several examples of architectural and decorative elements.
Al-Wajbah Fort
With its high towers and thick walls, Al-Wajbah Fort was the site of a famous battle and is considered the oldest fort in the country. In 1893 AD, the people of Qatar, under the leadership of Sheikh Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani, defeated the Ottoman forces.
Al-Jassasiya
Composed of a number of rocky hills overlooking the northeastern coast of Qatar, the hills of Al-Jassasiya contain numerous stone carvings and engravings which are speculated to date back to pre-historic times. Known for its fine beaches, Al-Jassasiya and its neighbour, Fuwairet, are popular for weekend excursions.
