Doha, Qatar travel guide and things to do: An expert expat's tips

Katara Beach in Doha, Qatar.Credit: iStock

Elena Chan heads up the marketing communications for the FIFA World Cup 2022 accommodation, selling more than three million room nights over 28 days.

SEE

Visit Souq Waqif for spices and delicious hummus and falafel. Qatari life is not all about the sparkle, but even the underpasses to the souq are lined with marble and chandeliers, while the underground, air-conditioned metro is also all marble, with concealed automated carriage doors opening as the train pulls to a halt. No such things as open tracks here. Select a seat in the VIP section with leather seating, or in a regular cabin, which is pristine.

Elena Chan heads up the marketing communications for the FIFA World Cup 2022 accommodation.

DO

The weekends are Friday and Saturdays in Doha, so on Friday mornings, I decompress with a brisk 45-minute walk to Katara Hills (not during summer), a run up the steps of the amphitheatre, then a catch-up with friends at Boho Social, a lovely covered outdoor lounge space with egg chairs overlooking the Persian Gulf and Katara Cultural village (bohosocialqatar.com katara.net). Afternoons can be spent beachside at a five-star resort such as the Intercontinental Doha Beach Resort – it's a way of life here (ihg.com).

EAT

Saturday breakfast at IZU, in the Mandarin Oriental hotel, is a must. The heavenly food is made by legendary chef Izu Ani, and the bruschetta with marinated tomatoes and burrata and the fresh fruit bowl are winners, (mandarinoriental.com). Outdoor dining is preferred except during the summer when humidity is around 65 per cent, even though most restaurants have air-conditioning units outside.

DRINK

The lychee martini is the drink of the moment in Doha, where it's customary to go out a few evenings a week; I take mine in Ambar, at the Mandarin Oriental. Friday Brunch is a long, long, long four-hour, all-inclusive lunch that starts after Friday prayers, at noon. Choose your menu with unlimited soft drinks or alcohol. Brunch costs from QAR350 ($139) at Coya, in the W Doha, with Peruvian cuisine and dancing to tribal beats, (coyarestaurant.com).

AVOID

Don't leave home without your mobile being charged. It is your entry to every location as you need your Etheraz app to show your COVID health status (ehteraz.gov.qa). You also get an SMS notification for every transaction on your card, every expenditure is tracked for convenience. You get to know how your bank account looks at every alert, convenient but heart-sinking at times.

THRIVE

Women are still expected to cover shoulders and knees in most places and public displays of affection are forbidden, except in the international hotels and The Pearl, the expat residential location.