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So you think you know
Qatar...? |
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A few facts you probably didn't know...
- Doha (Ad Dawha),
the capital city of Qatar means 'roundness',
according to the Centre for Geographic Information Systems.
-
 If
you are a movie buff, stay tuned in on the
Doha Film Institute which screens a number of
independent as well as popular films regularly. To watch the
more commercial films, head over to one of the cinema
theatres at the different malls around Qatar.
- For music, you have
options such as live jazz, classical music and others
performing in venues around Qatar every now and then. Jazz
lovers can check out
Doha Jazz at Oryx Rotana’s Jazz Club. The Qatar
Philharmonic Orchestra performs regularly in Katara’s
Opera House as well as open-air concerts at the
Museum of Islamic Art Park on some weekends.
-
 December
18 is the Qatar National Day. Some of its other annual
national holidays are Qatar National Sport Day
celebrated on the second Tuesday of February..
- World-renowned
architect I M Pei designed the
Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, with its magnificent
geometric architecture. It was opened in 2008 and is a blend
of both Islamic and modern architectural styles.
- Arabic is the
national language of Qatar but due to a large expatriate
population that resides here, English, Urdu, French,
Malayalam and Tagalog are also widely used.
-
 Qatar
hosts the
MotoGP every year at the Losail International
Circuit located to the north of Qatar. So if you have an
interest in bike racing, this is a great event to attend.
-
 Due
to the country’s expansive coastline, camping on beaches
or at the desert are popular options for the
adventurous. Some of the best beaches here include
Fuwairit Beach, Dukhan Beach, Simaisma Beach as well as
the most popular of them, Sealine Beach in Mesaieed
where dune bashing is a popular sport. Dune bashing
basically involves people riding up and down the large sand
dunes in a SUV vehicle.
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Best
spots to enjoy
pleasant weather in Qatar!
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-
Souq Waqif is one of Qatar’s most vibrant social
hotspots. It is a traditional cultural bazaar, which houses
a variety of shops selling traditional products as well as a
range of restaurants serving a variety of cuisines such as
Yemeni, Iranian, Iraqi, Thai, Malaysian, Indian etc. It is
also a popular place for visitors to smoke shisha pipes,
enjoy good food, or just relax after a long week. In
addition to these, Souq Waqif also has an interesting
veterinary surgery centre for falcons, which are the
traditional birds of Qatar.
- Summer in Doha
is usually quite harsh with temperatures flaring up to 50C.
Most people like staying indoors but evenings are slightly
cooler. With sunscreen, a hat on and by keeping yourself
constantly hydrated when outdoors, you should be fine.
Winters are much cooler and although the nights can get a
little chilly, it is the perfect season to sit outdoors,
enjoy camping and a BBQ at the beach or at the desert, or
sit outdoors at the city’s many parks and enjoy a picnic or
people watching.
-
 The
Corniche is one of the oldest landmarks in
Qatar; it features a long walking path that is approximately
5km long. People walk, exercise, enjoy family picnics
or simply sit by the sea for some fresh sea breeze and a
magnificent view of the glittering West Bay skyline.
-
 Karak
tea is one of the most popular beverages among local and
expatriate residents alike in Qatar. A number of eateries
serve this delicious, milky tea, which is infused with
cardamom. The best spots for Karak are Tea Time and Chapati
& Karak (in Katara Cultural Village).
-
 Although
Qatar is a desert, it has a diverse range of flora and
fauna.
Purple Island is an example of this. Located in 40km
from Doha near the township of Al Khor, Purple Island
is a fish-shaped island dotted with several low limestone
cliffs throughout it and a mangrove forest that has a range
of fish, shellfish as well as birds, including pink
flamingoes which transit through Qatar during their seasonal
migration. Every winter, traditional camel races are held
in Al Shahaniya, which are not to be missed.
-
 And
the fact we all know about: Qatar will host the FIFA
World Cup in 2022 for which it will build nine
eco-friendly iconic stadiums, some of which will be able to
host up to 80,000 people.
Hope you know just a little bit more about this amazing
place...
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