Travel writing based on first-hand experience
Explore the most stunning beaches in Qatar from the serene Khor Al Udaid to family-friendly spots like Al Wakrah. Find the perfect seaside retreat for relaxation, adventure, or family fun.
Table of Contents
1. Katara Beach
It is a pleasant sandy stretch adjacent to the Katara Cultural Village, and is the right beach for those who want to swim and enjoy the ocean waters near Doha.
Katara Beach is the best option for families, as it offers a children’s play area, food carts, and various motorised and non-motorised water sports on its outskirts. There are also restaurants suitable for lunch, steps away from the beach.
The beach is 1.5 kilometres (0.9 miles) long; It is dotted with lounge chairs and perfectly shaded areas from the scorching sun for children.
The men’s section is at the southern end of the beach, but single men are not allowed to enter.
Price: The fees imposed to enter the beach are lower than their counterparts in the private Qatari beaches, where an adult fee of 50 Qatari riyals, equivalent to 14 US dollars, is imposed, while children between the ages of 7 and 17 years pay a fee of 25 Qatari riyals, equivalent to 7 dollars.
2. Fuwairit Beach
Fuwairit Beach is located north of Doha, an hour away by car, on the northeastern coast of Qatar.
It is considered the best destination for those who want to enjoy kitesurfing, where shallow, crystal-blue waters surround the soft white sand, and the hawksbill sea turtle nests are spread along its northern coast, so it was closed to protect them.
The kiting season runs from January to June, and swimming can be enjoyed from April to July.
3. Al Maroona Beach
Located north of Doha, an hour’s drive away, is one of the most attractive beaches in Qatar.
It swarms on weekends with foreign expats and has become known as the French Beach.
It is also one of the few beaches that offers flexible swimwear codes, allowing bikinis and shorts, and is the perfect destination for a great day trip with friends.
It is preferable to swim at high tide, which is the case at most beaches in Qatar. The mysterious Jassasiya rock carvings are nearby.
Al Maroona Beach is an undeveloped beach, as access to it is suitable via two-wheel drive vehicles, as the road is bumpy, it is recommended to buy lunch in advance, as there is no restaurant or cafe available on the beach, and there is nothing to entertain children or protect them from the sun, so it is suitable more for adults, not for families.
4. Banana Island
Banana Island is named for its crescent shape, which makes it the closest thing to a tropical island.
Banana Island is a 30-minute boat ride from Al Shuyukh Port and is ideal for a fun day in the sun.
The island is home to the Banana Island Resort Doha, a palm-fringed 800-meter (2,625-foot) stretch of tranquil sandy strip managed by Anantara.
The island also has two wide lanes that simulate ocean waves with a swimming pool.
You can buy a permit to spend one day on the island. The permit includes the services for which you will be charged—boat transportation, water sports, and the restaurants you will visit —so you can dispense with the hospitality of a luxury hotel.
5. Sealine Beach
Although it is not the best beach in the Gulf for snorkeling, it is the leading destination for beach diving in Qatar.
Sealine Beach is located on the East Coast Road, south of Doha, an hour’s drive away, as it passes near natural gas stations and Qatar Petroleum refineries.
The beach includes the sunken Doba barge, where sea turtles are encountered, while the beach consists of artificial reefs in two locations (New Club Reef) and (GMC Reef), where crabs and stingrays roam, and you also find submerged cars swimming in tropical fish.
Sealine Beach Resort provides you with sun loungers if you do not want to dive, and you can choose the swimwear you want by offering cabanas equipped with swimwear.
Traditional clothing also makes it easy to join the locals on the public section of the beach, where you’ll find camel driver tours and simple places to eat.
6. Umm Bab Beach
Umm Bab Beach is a shallow beach located west of Doha, an hour away by car. Although the eastern coast includes the best beaches in Qatar, it offers a different kind of beach, with a fantastic atmosphere in a desert oasis, where palm trees are scattered in small groups.
Umm Bab Beach, also known as Palm Tree Beach, is scattered with tents and caravans in small numbers along the coast, and is famous in winter as a distinctive and popular camping destination for the local population.
7. Khor Al Udaid
Khor Al Udaid Beach is a unique beach that is an inland sea in Qatar.
It lies on the border between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, forming a stunning natural boundary where azure waters meet soft dunes.
It is one of the best beaches for adventure, with refreshing swimming, as the rugged roads along the creek provide ideal conditions for a special adventure. Qatar organises four-hour tours of jumping around the dunes in four-wheel-drive vehicles.
It should be noted that the dunes spread south of Sealine Beach, about an hour from Doha.
8. North Beach- “Al Shamal Beach”
North Beach stretches along the northern coast of the State of Qatar, a 90-minute drive from Doha.
This beach offers the best views of the unique sunsets over the ocean, but swimming isn’t ideal here, as there are many shallow, rocky areas.
On the beach, seating areas and shaded structures along the corniche are available, along with public bathrooms.
Nearby villages such as Al Ruwais and Abu Al Zuluf offer many simple dining options, and local beach trips are also available via buses from Doha.
9. Simaisma Beach
Simaisma Beach is a public beach about a 30-minute drive from Doha and ranks second in terms of service development after Katara Beach.
Simaisma Beach is located north of Doha and is suitable for families, as mangrove trees dot the north of the beach, along with calm, shallow waters and soft, muddy sand ideal for children.
Simaisma Beach has plenty of family-friendly facilities; It can be reached via public buses, which take an hour.
10. InterContinental Doha Beach & Spa
This resort has the longest and best private beach in Doha, with sun loungers spread out for relaxation and unwinding.
The resort offers beachside hotel accommodations along with the best views of the scenic West Bay area.
There are many good restaurants around the beach, as well as a coffee shop.
The InterContinental Doha Hotel provides tickets for non-guests, like most hotels in Qatar for one day, but they are costly for the weekend, as the cost is $ 96, equivalent to 350 Qatari riyals; While the prices are affordable for the rest of the week and children get a discount, as the price reaches 55 US dollars, equivalent to 200 Qatari riyals.
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