Exploring Qatar: A Journey Through History
Exploring Qatar’s fascinating history rewards travelers with a glimpse of rich traditions and cultural heritage passed down through generations. The sense of individuality has become embedded in Qatar’s progression, development, and contemporary vision, leading to incredible places where the past and future collide.
Since the 1970s, developments in art, architecture, and cultural projects like museums have come into their own, all interwoven with deep respect for the nation’s past. Archaeological sites are well-preserved, offering a window into the past among a mix of modern mega-projects, futuristic smart cities, and skyscrapers.
Get a history lesson at the National Museum of Qatar
Before the 18th century, Qatar was inhabited by nomadic Bedouin who set up small villages around pearl diving and fishing. Even today, if you know where to look, you can see how the Bedouin tribes that moved to the city for a new way of life didn’t forget their roots.
The best place to start your exploration is at the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ), housed in a breathtaking piece of modern architecture inspired by the desert rose – a gypsum formation found locally in the desert. The museum brings the story of Qatar and its people to life, showcasing its culture and traditions along with the country’s ties to places around the globe. NMoQ is organized into three chapters: Beginnings, Life in Qatar, and The Modern History of Qatar, which take visitors on an evocative journey from the geological forces that shaped the peninsula to the present day.
The museum surrounds the Old Palace, once the home of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani and the seat of government. Together, the Old Palace and NMoQ complement each other: two buildings from different times, indicating a harmonious co-existence between the past and the present.
Walk through the narrow alleyways of Souq Waqif
For centuries, Bedouin would bring their goods to trade at the ancient market site of Souq Waqif, with the first permanent shops built around 250 years ago. Before that, vendors sold their wares from makeshift stalls, as the market often flooded. The souq’s name derives from this tradition; waqif means ‘standing’ in Arabic.
After a fire tore through the market in 2003, it was refurbished to replicate a 19th-century market, with wooden beams, narrow alleyways, and mud-brick buildings as a reminder of the days when it was the social heart of Doha. Such has been the success of this rehabilitation venture that the souq keeps growing to accommodate new ‘old alleyways.’
Today, Souq Waqif is one of Doha’s most popular destinations, and one of its most traditional. Walk through its alleyways and marvel at the different spices, dates, nuts, cloth, fragrances, makeup, clothing, accessories, shoes, toys, and antiques – it feels like stepping into the Qatar of the past. The main streets, where you’ll find modern restaurants and cafes, is the perfect place to sample Qatar’s famous karak chai – black tea flavored with cardamom and evaporated milk.
Feel a sense of community at Msheireb Downtown
Doha’s downtown area, Msheireb, which translates as “a place to drink water”, was once the center of Qatar’s commercial activities and community living. From just a well, it grew into a hub where Qatari culture, heritage, and community flourished.
Today, the area has transformed into what’s billed as the world’s first sustainable downtown regeneration project. The architecture is modern and contemporary but blended with Qatari culture, creating an ambiance that feels right at home. In the spirit of the original neighborhood, Msheireb Downtown’s central square retains a sense of community and traditional roots, which are the essence of Qatari heritage.
Walking through the square, you can marvel at a district where history and modernity collide. The surrounding restaurants, cafes, and hotels are where people reconvene to socialize and reconnect. For a glimpse of the future, you may even take a ride on the battery-operated, sustainable public transport, the Msheireb Tram.
Take a dhow ride on the Corniche
The dhow – a traditional sailing vessel with a long, thin hull and one or more triangular lateen sails – has played a critical role in local culture since the pre-oil era. During that time, most people lived on the coast, with fishing and pearl diving as the main sources of income. Later, these vessels were adapted to carry heavy loads of goods.
Almost 100 years later, the dhow remains prominent; you’ll find plenty along the Corniche, but their role has changed. Consider a ride through the Gulf waters, with the stunning Doha skyline as your backdrop. Rates range from 20 to 50 Qatari riyal (about $6 to $15) per person, but haggling is often part of the cultural experience.
Stroll through a Fereej in Katara Cultural Village
Katara Cultural Village, an iconic landmark in the West Bay area of Doha, showcases the country’s history and its connection to the cultural heritage of the ancient Bedouin. The name “Katara” recalls one of Qatar’s ancient names, which appeared on maps as far back as AD 150 and resurged as “Katara” in the 18th century.
Today, Katara Cultural Village is a fusion of generations. It resembles a Qatari ‘Fereej’, a typical neighborhood with winding alleyways and cobbled pathways that open onto granite-tiled courtyards. Everywhere you turn, there’s something to delight – colorful water fountains, a beautiful beach promenade, or majestic Katara Hills.
Among Katara’s most striking structures are the huge pigeon towers, the Blue Mosque, the Golden Mosque, and the Greek-inspired grand amphitheater. Exhibition spaces continually feature displays that showcase the culture of Qatar, while families can enjoy relaxing at Katara Beach, a fun spot to enjoy Doha’s waters.
Explore Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum and the Fort of Al Wajbah
For a dose of culture outside Doha, head for the Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum. Located just 13.5 miles from Doha in Al Samriya, the museum features the sheikh’s personal collection of artifacts dating back to prehistory, as well as historic objects from the early Islamic era and everyday items in Qatar until technology took over. Each piece was handpicked by Sheikh Faisal himself on his travels, paying homage to Islamic traditions and the Qatari lifestyle.
To see another key place in Qatar’s history, a 30-minute drive from Doha leads you to the fort of Al Wajbah. In 1893, the army of Sheikh Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani defeated the Ottomans there, making the fort a site of immense historical significance and national pride. Its four watchtowers stand impressively in the picturesque landscape.
Wander through mysterious Film City
No one quite knows when the mysterious Film City, located about an hour and a half from Doha, was built. Some say it was constructed recently for a promotional video for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, while others claim it was built for a movie.
Regardless of its origin, stepping into Film City feels like traveling back in time. It perfectly recreates a traditional Qatari village from before oil was discovered, complete with mud-brick houses, a mosque with minarets, arched lookout towers, and palm-tree-dotted courtyards. Feel free to explore – everything is open, and you may have the eerie place all to yourself, allowing you to suspend disbelief and envision another era.
