Things to Know About Doha
A Wealthy Nation
Today, Qatar stands as a beacon of wealth and is one of the richest countries in the world. The small, modern city didn’t always have this status. From the 1930s until the 1950s, Qatar was one of the poorest countries in the Middle East. In the 1990s, the nation struck oil however and started building what is one of the most thriving business capitals in the world. Unsurprisingly, a period of intense development followed and led to Doha becoming one of the premium Middle East destinations for overseas travellers. It is not only a common stopover destination, but a place worth booking flights to Doha directly.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup
In 2014, Doha was awarded the chance to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup; an event that will bring thousands of travellers around the world through the gates at Doha International Airport (DOH)..
A Hub To The World
Along with Dubai Airport, Doha International Airport (DOH) is one of the busiest connecting airports in the world. Qatar Airlines have gone from strength to strength offering flights to more than 160 destinations around the world. Because of the amount of people travelling via Doha International Airport (DOH), many travellers in the city are only there for a couple of hours. (Tip: If you do have a long layover and would like to explore the city, make sure you have the correct paperwork and visa to do so). If you’re booking return flights to Doha and are planning on spending some time in the city, you’re in for a real treat.
Things To Do And See
Hit The Dunes
Much like other Middle Eastern cities, Doha is sandwiched between the ocean and desert. When booking your flights to Doha, it’s important to remember that there’s so much more to do outside of the city. One popular to-do is an exhilarating trip out into the dunes. The massive mountains of sand are as thrilling to traverse in a 4WD as they are beautiful to look at. Book your sand excursion once your plane tickets to Doha have been organised on Webjet.
Visit the Museum of Islamic Art
When looking for things to do while holidaying on flights to Doha, the first thing that comes to mind might not be fine art. But Doha’s brilliant Museum of Islamic Art will change that perception. It’s a treasure trove of jewellery, calligraphy and textiles - each with their own, important story to tell about the history of Middle Eastern culture and artwork. With some of these one-of-a-kind items dating all the way back to the 7th century, a trip to the gallery will make for an unforgettable experience.
Attend A Sporting Event
With the 2022 FIFA World Cup looming, Doha International Airport (DOH) and the city itself has been gearing up for the past five years. Not only has the city undergone some vast improvements to host the increase of tourists, but the football stadiums are built and open for sporting and music events all throughout the year. Once you have those tickets to Doha in the bag, make sure you take a look which events are happening during your stay. Tip: if your flights to Doha are connecting flights and your layover coincides with an event at Khalifa Stadium, it is a 4-minute train ride from Doha International Airport (DOH).
Go Shopping
Keen shoppers may already have their eye on hitting a mall once their flights to Doha arrive. Understandably so, given that the malls in Doha are simply incredible; a visit to one of these emporiums may just be enough to motivate shopaholics to book plane tickets to Doha (along with plenty of luggage allowance, of course). There are plenty of malls and boutiques sprinkled throughout the city, with many stocking some of the finest fashion, fragrances, tech and produce in the world. The most well-known mall in Doha is Villaggio Mall. It has more than 200 stores, an indoor canal (with gondola rides), and more. If you’ve got tickets to Doha as your layover (and you have the time), Villaggio Mall is just 25 minutes’ from Doha International Airport (DOH).
