Electric Qatar
World Cup venue strikes right notes as Jacqui Thake targets a great time
Floating on my back in a hot sea, starfish-style, I was pleasantly tossed around and pummelled by agitated waves. The darkening sky was gripped by a hundred shiny orange tentacles as the sun tried to cling on to the cloudy end of the day.
My mind drifted back to Humphrey – the camel who had earlier carried me unenthusiastically around a desert track he had clearly trod too many times before. I swear he even sighed as he dropped to his knees to let me off.
It may be all part of the desert experience, and Humphrey certainly looked healthy enough, but I felt
much happier leaving him to his languid lunch while I moved on for a much faster – and less questionable – ride.
The last time I went dune bashing, it was many years ago in a rusty old Jeep in Dubai. I was immediately told where the sick bags were – and, boy, did I nearly need them.
This time I was in Qatar – host country for the FIFA World Cup 2022, which starts on November 20 – and I was ushered into a very smart Lexus SUV for a fun but slightly sedate turn around the dunes.
The undulating scenery was spectacular enough and there were a few heart-stopping moments as we teetered on the edges of sandy cliffs with sheer drops, but the ride was tailored to the needs of a rather nervous companion. It only really got exciting when one of the others in my tour group switched on his phone and tuned into the rousing Superman theme.
Our driver promised me more exhilaration if I were to return with a group of like-minded thrill-seekers – so be sure to choose the right fellow passengers to get your money’s worth.
But what was worth the Qatari riyals was the fantastic Arabian feast that awaited us after we’d had our fill of swimming and lazing on sumptuous sunbeds by the country’s inland sea, Khor Al Adaid. Dish after delicious dish was brought to our desert camp table; the legs almost collapsing under the weight of the plates of meat, fish, breads, sauces, dips,