Stamped!

The City of Pearls

Doha architecture

Doha transformed itself from a small pearl-diving village into a global city in a single generation after the discovery of natural gas reserves in the 1970s. Qatar's per capita income is among the highest in the world. The city hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup — the first in the Arab world — building entire stadiums and a metro system to prepare. The Museum of Islamic Art, designed by I.M. Pei, houses one of the world's finest collections of Islamic artifacts spanning 14 centuries and three continents.

  • 5Landmarks
  • 1950Oldest · Souq Waqif
  • 300 mTallest · Aspire Tower
  • 6Architects

Before you go

  • Fly intoHamad International Airport (DOH)

    Hamad International Airport is consistently ranked among the best airports in the world for passenger experience. Its spectacular interior features a massive 14-meter-tall yellow teddy bear sculpture by Urs Fischer in the main concourse. The airport serves as the hub for Qatar Airways and is a major global transit point, connecting East and West. Its automated people mover and seamless transfers make long layovers genuinely comfortable.

  • CurrencyQatari Riyal (QR)
  • LanguageArabic & English

    Arabic is Qatar's official language, with Gulf Arabic as the spoken dialect. However, given that expatriates outnumber Qatari nationals by a significant margin, English serves as the everyday working language for business, hospitality, and services. Hindi, Urdu, Malayalam, and Tagalog are also widely spoken among the large South and Southeast Asian workforce. Qatari culture places great emphasis on hospitality — guests are traditionally offered dates and Arabic coffee (qahwa).

  • Getting aroundDoha Metro & Lusail Tram

    Doha's driverless metro system, which opened in 2019 in time for the World Cup, has three color-coded lines connecting the airport, city center, and major landmarks. The Lusail Light Rail Transit system serves the new planned city of Lusail, which hosted the World Cup final. Taxis and ride-hailing apps are the most common way for visitors to travel within the city. The climate-controlled interiors of Doha's malls and metro stations provide essential refuge from the extreme summer heat.

5 landmarks in Doha

  1. Museum of Islamic Art (Doha)

    Museum Park St, Doha, Qatar

    One of the most comprehensive collections of Islamic art in the world, housed in a striking building designed by I.M. Pei on an artificial island in Doha Bay.

    Built
    2008
    Architect
    I.M. Pei
    Style
    Contemporary / Islamic geometric
    Height
    45 m (148 ft)
    Stories
    5
    Today
    Museum

  2. Souq Waqif

    Al Souq St, Al Jasra, Doha, Qatar

    Doha's restored traditional market, where the mud-rendered buildings and narrow alleyways recreate the atmosphere of a 19th-century Qatari trading souq.

    Built
    1950
    Architect
    Traditional Qatari / restoration
    Style
    Traditional Qatari
    Height
    10 m (33 ft)
    Stories
    2
    Today
    Market / restaurant hub

  3. National Museum of Qatar

    Museum Park St, Doha, Qatar

    A museum shaped like the desert rose crystal, designed by Jean Nouvel to narrate Qatar's history from the ancient seas to the present day.

    Built
    2019
    Architect
    Jean Nouvel
    Style
    Contemporary / parametric
    Height
    40 m (131 ft)
    Stories
    3
    Today
    National museum

  4. Aspire Tower

    Aspire Zone, Doha, Qatar

    Doha's 300-metre landmark skyscraper built for the 2006 Asian Games, nicknamed The Torch — its top features a revolving restaurant and observation deck.

    Built
    2006
    Architect
    Hyder Consulting
    Style
    Contemporary
    Height
    300 m (984 ft)
    Stories
    36
    Today
    Hotel / observation tower / restaurant
  5. The Pearl, Qatar
    Photo: km2bp @ Mapillary.com, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    The Pearl, Qatar

    The Pearl-Qatar, Doha, Qatar

    A 4 km² artificial island built on Qatar's first offshore oil field, featuring Mediterranean-inspired marinas, luxury residences, and the Venetian-style Porto Arabia district.

    Built
    2012
    Architect
    Various international architects
    Style
    Mediterranean / contemporary
    Stories
    10
    Today
    Luxury residential / retail / marina

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