Doha

The Gulf's rising star, with the Museum of Islamic Art, the old souq and the Inland Sea desert; Qatar Airways' free stopover program and visa-free entry make it a popular transit destination.

Doha is the capital of Qatar, on the east coast of the Qatar Peninsula, which juts into the Persian Gulf from the east of the Arabian Peninsula. Most of the country's roughly 3 million people live in Doha and its surroundings. Fueled by natural gas wealth, Doha has transformed in just over two decades from a fishing port into a modern Gulf city, and became known worldwide through the 2022 World Cup. The city unfolds along the crescent-shaped Doha Bay: at the southern end of the bay is the old quarter, with Souq Waqif, the Museum of Islamic Art and the National Museum of Qatar, the core of any cultural visit; north of the bay is the West Bay skyscraper cluster; farther north are Katara Cultural Village, the man-made Pearl Island and the new city of Lusail. About 60 km south of the city lies the Inland Sea desert, for dune bashing and the striking spot where desert meets sea. The climate is tropical desert: November–March is the most comfortable, with daytime temperatures of 20–28°C; April–October is scorching, with July–August often above 45°C and high humidity, so outdoor activities are best limited to early morning and evening. Getting there: Qatar Airways flies nonstop to Hamad International Airport in Doha from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu and other cities (about 8–9 hours), and it is a popular connecting hub to Europe and Africa; Chinese citizens can enter visa-free for 30 days, and Qatar Airways transit passengers can book a "free stopover" hotel package. The Doha Metro has three lines (Red, Gold and Green), serving the airport, the old quarter, West Bay, Katara and Lusail at low fares; taxis and ride-hailing via Uber and Karwa are also convenient. We suggest 2–3 days; on a one-day stopover you can cover the old souq, the Museum of Islamic Art and the Corniche. Notes: in public places, cover shoulders and knees, and women should wear a headscarf when visiting mosques; alcohol is served only in licensed hotels; eating and drinking in public during daytime in Ramadan is prohibited; on Friday mornings most museums and shops open late.

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