It’s all about to kick off

Going to the World Cup? There’s so much to see while visiting Qatar

2022-11-05 - BY NIGEL THOMPSON

We are just two weeks away from kick-off of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar. Supporters from England and Wales are getting ready to head to the greatest football show on Earth – but what else besides the beautiful game awaits for visitors in the tiny Persian Gulf host nation?

We’ve teamed up with Qatar Tourism to look at the latest attractions to see away from the big match action. National tourism chief Berthold Trenkel said: ‘‘Amongst the buzz around the tournament itself we hope people are wowed by Qatar’s state-of-the-art tourism developments.’’

Here are the sights we suggest seeing...

Winter Wonderland

Pack your shades and suncream for the Doha Winter Wonderland.

Instead of the chilly temperatures that greet visitors at the sister event in London’s Hyde Park, travellers here will be able to relax on the beach and take in festive seafront chalets, restaurants, 50 rides and a choice of cafes. Situated near Lusail City, just north of Doha.

Fuwairit Kite Beach (FKB)

FKB is a state-of-the-art kite beach resort in Fuwairit, a coastal village an easy hour’s drive north of Doha with excellent kitesurfing conditions thanks to consistent winds, ideal seas and powder-soft sands. The resort is designed around the kitesurfer’s lifestyle with everything you need for the water and even more out of it with a yoga studio, fully equipped gym, restaurants, pool and more.

The Outpost Al Barari

The Outpost will be the first of its kind in Qatar, integrating close-to-nature experiences, sustainability and luxury hospitality into one beautiful resort in the unique Inland Sea nature reserve, in the south of the country.

Surrounded by soaring sand dunes, 21 luxury lodges with private pools will provide the perfect retreat from the intensity of the World Cup, with stargazing, hot air ballooning, and immersive desert walks on offer, alongside spa treatments and culinary experiences.

Qetaifan Island North

Billed as the first “entertainment island” in Qatar, Qetaifan Island North will feature floating hotels, beach clubs and a water park with 36 rides – including The Icon Tower zone, featuring an 279ft-high slide, the highest of its kind in the world.

Set over 321 acres, the island is close to the Lusail Stadium, where the final of the World Cup will take place on

December 18.

West Bay North Beach Project

An extensive new tourism development on a premium beachfront in the heart of Doha, the public and private beaches will offer three distinct experiences with a wide variety of food and drink offerings for all tastes.

Qatar Creates

The country’s cultural body will unveil 40 new public artworks, transforming Doha into an outdoor museum experience.

Sculptures and installations will be located in popular public areas such as the main Souq Waqif and off the beaten track in places such as the expansive Qatari desert. Highlights will include US artist Jeff Koons’ 69ft high, 102ft wide mirror-polished stainless-steel sculpture in the form of a dugong – the gentle marine mammal that has inhabited the waters surrounding Qatar’s peninsula for centuries.

Forever Valentino, M7

To coincide with the unveiling of the Valentino autumn/winter 2022 haute couture collection and fashion icon Valentino Garavani’s 90th birthday, Maison Valentino is paying homage to its founder with its largest exhibition to date – the first in the Middle East. Forever Valentino will feature more than 200 Valentino haute couture pieces and pret-a-porter outfits, accompanied by accessories and fashion objects. Rarely seen ensembles designed for well-known celebrities will also be on show in the M7 centre in Doha.

Museum of Islamic Art

Not new, but newly reopened after an extensive reimagining, it’s a world class collection in a building which is an architectural tour de force from architect IM Pei. Simply unmissable inside and out.