As everybody knows by now, the Middle-East is quickly becoming one of the biggest tourist attractions around, not only because of its warm climate and beautiful sights but also because of its boundary-pushing architecture.
They already have the recently opened Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the famous palm-tree island resort, dozens of jaw-dropping 5 and 6 star hotels, (with accompanying shopping malls and spas of course) and now, Qatar are in the final stages of their latest project, The Pearl Qatar project.
Standing at a staggering four million square metres, the Pearl Qatar project is set to be one of the biggest and most expensive Shopping, tourist and residential resorts any country has undertaken. Here's the clincher though; because it's built entirely on reclaimed land and is “owned” by several foreign entities, the Qatari ban on alcohol does not apply. (good news for it's foreign visitors and residents as alcohol is under strict laws throughout the rest of the Qatar).
Upon completion there will be over thirteen individual islands within The Pearl Qatar project, with the largest island featuring a host of luxurious villas, apartments, 5-star hotels as well as two million square metres of retail stores, cafes, restaurants, cinemas and other entertainment outlets. Eight of the thirteen islands will eventually go up for sale to private buys, all of which can build whatever they please once they've signed the contract. That's not even including the myriad of schools, community facilities, yacht hubs, town houses, beaches and marinas that'll be there too!
Part of the Pearl Qatar Project has been completed with apartments already up for rent, shops are open and cafes along the marine open for business. Visitors can sit out on comfortable sofa’s with a glass of wine and watch enviously as the luxury yachts sail in and out of the marina.
Why name it the Pearl though? Well, it's all down to the part of sea that the entire resort actually sits on top of. Qatar was once known for their quality pearls and one of their most famous pearl spots sits directly under the nearly-completed project. Once complete and open the site will not only represent their rich history in the pearl industry but will also look like one giant string of pearls.
It's always exciting and refreshing to see new designs and ideas with architecture and The Pearl-Qatar looks likely to once again further push the envelope on whats possible to create with man-power. Though it's not doubt cost an untold amount of money to create, you can't help but be flawed at the intricate detail and work the people have put in to create such an unbelievable work of art.
Anyone visiting the middle east should, if possible, visit the exciting and extra-ordinary Pearl Qatar project and witness the growing culture that the country holds.
Click here for more infomation on the Offical Pearl Qatar Project website
Sunday, 26 September 2010
Sunday, 19 September 2010
Eating out at Souq Waqif
We have been to Souq Waqif for dinner several times now and have found a few amazing restaurants that have exquisite food, in fabulous environments.
Recently we went to the Chinese restaurant called "Soy", which sits above Souq Waqif. I have to say, it is by far, the biggest restaurant I have ever been in.
It sits above a complete section of the marketplace and has a mass of windows overlooking the streets below. People watching from here is fascinating, and amusing!
The Soy Restaurant is decorated, as you would expect, in brilliant Red's and gold's, with large traditional wall covering and luxurious curtains. Although the restaurant is extremely large, there is a definite cosy feel to it, with the curtains being tastefully used to section off areas, giving you a feeling of privacy.
The food was amazing, both in tastes and presentation.
Like all restaurants in Souq Waqif, and indeed all of Qatar, no alcohol is allowed, but they do have a great "mocktail" menu, with lots of different fruit flavours available.
The menu was impressive with food listed from China & Thailand with different meats, fish, rice's & noodle. The sweet & sour chicken is to die for! Unless you have a big appetite, I suggest you only order one rice or noodle between two people, the portions are large.
Desserts look good to. The fried banana was exceptional, as was the coconut ice-cream.... so my husband says!
Service here was outstanding, with the waiters far enough away not to bother you, but close enough to give you 5 star service.
It was a wee bit expensive compared to other places we have eaten, but, personally, I felt it was worth the bit extra and I will definitely be eating there again.
Recently we went to the Chinese restaurant called "Soy", which sits above Souq Waqif. I have to say, it is by far, the biggest restaurant I have ever been in.
It sits above a complete section of the marketplace and has a mass of windows overlooking the streets below. People watching from here is fascinating, and amusing!
The Soy Restaurant is decorated, as you would expect, in brilliant Red's and gold's, with large traditional wall covering and luxurious curtains. Although the restaurant is extremely large, there is a definite cosy feel to it, with the curtains being tastefully used to section off areas, giving you a feeling of privacy.
The food was amazing, both in tastes and presentation.
Like all restaurants in Souq Waqif, and indeed all of Qatar, no alcohol is allowed, but they do have a great "mocktail" menu, with lots of different fruit flavours available.
The menu was impressive with food listed from China & Thailand with different meats, fish, rice's & noodle. The sweet & sour chicken is to die for! Unless you have a big appetite, I suggest you only order one rice or noodle between two people, the portions are large.
Desserts look good to. The fried banana was exceptional, as was the coconut ice-cream.... so my husband says!
Service here was outstanding, with the waiters far enough away not to bother you, but close enough to give you 5 star service.
It was a wee bit expensive compared to other places we have eaten, but, personally, I felt it was worth the bit extra and I will definitely be eating there again.
Saturday, 11 September 2010
Sealine Beach Resort, Qatar
P.O. Box 58255
Mesaieed Qatar
Phone: +974 4476 5299
Reservations: +974 4476 5233
Fax: +974 4476 5298
There is a 5 star hotel on the Resort, which seems to be reasonably priced and has a wide variety of facilities on offer.
If you live in Doha, Sealine Beach Resort can make a pleasant weekend break from the busy traffic, building works and shopping malls.
Sealine Beach Resort is set amidst the dunes of the Arabian Desert, about 50 mins drive from Qatar Airport and is an oasis of tranquillity, with its soft white sands and warm gulf sea waters. The lawns and abundance of plants life, trees and shrubs are a welcome change from the desert and pale buildings in the more built up residential areas.
If you are not staying at the hotel at Sealine Beach Resort there is a charge to enter the site for the day, but you are able to use the facilities available, which include restaurants, swimming pool, gym & Jacuzzi.
If it’s just the beach you are looking for and are happy to forgo the facilities the Sealine Beach Resort offer continue driving for about 10 mins, some off-road, until you hit the dunes and the sandy white beaches.The weather is just as good, the beaches are just as white and you can relax at your own pace. There are limited facilities available so bring your own food, water & tissue paper!
Mesaieed Qatar
Phone: +974 4476 5299
Reservations: +974 4476 5233
Fax: +974 4476 5298
If you live in Doha, Sealine Beach Resort can make a pleasant weekend break from the busy traffic, building works and shopping malls.
Sealine Beach Resort is set amidst the dunes of the Arabian Desert, about 50 mins drive from Qatar Airport and is an oasis of tranquillity, with its soft white sands and warm gulf sea waters. The lawns and abundance of plants life, trees and shrubs are a welcome change from the desert and pale buildings in the more built up residential areas.
If you are not staying at the hotel at Sealine Beach Resort there is a charge to enter the site for the day, but you are able to use the facilities available, which include restaurants, swimming pool, gym & Jacuzzi.
If it’s just the beach you are looking for and are happy to forgo the facilities the Sealine Beach Resort offer continue driving for about 10 mins, some off-road, until you hit the dunes and the sandy white beaches.The weather is just as good, the beaches are just as white and you can relax at your own pace. There are limited facilities available so bring your own food, water & tissue paper!
Friday, 10 September 2010
Working in Qatar, Mesaieed
Mesaieed is currently a predominantly industrial city. There are big plans in place for expansion and to build facilities for the local community, which is mainly made up of expats.
The industrial city is run pretty much by Mesaieed Industrial City (MIC) who control all the existing community services and also the on-going projects including housing, waste disposal, park and recreation facilities.
QAPCO which was established in 1974 as a joint multinational venture to utilise the associated and non-associated Ethane gas from petroleum production in line with the industrialization plan of the State Qatar.
Qatar Fertilizer Company (QAFCO) was established in 1969 as a joint venture between the Government of Qatar and a number of multinational firms to utilize Qatar's abundant gas resources for producing ammonia and urea fertilizer.
Qatar Steel Company, founded in 1974, [formerly known as QASCO], is the first integrated steel manufacturing plant in the whole Arabian Gulf. Steel production commenced in 1979 and later in 1997, the company became wholly owned by the Government of Qatar.
Qatar Chemical Company (Q-Chem) is a joint venture between Qatar Petroleum and Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC. QP owns 51% of Q-Chem with the remaining 49% owned by Chevron Phillips.
Qatar's largest shipping company, with 18 ships of over 0.8 million DWT, comprising 96% of the Qatar's shipping fleet. Developing to become one of the world’s largest owners/operators of LNG tankers in the World.
There are many more companies that are already based here or have future plans to build and provide jobs in Mesaieed
Building and road works are extensive, and there are plans for an extension to the current shopping facilities and it surrounding parks.
Currently the majority of residents work at the power stations & aluminium smelter. The smelter is running, although not to full capacity and the power station being commissioned by Qatalum has been running, but has had its fair share of issues.
The community has its own schools, medical centre etc; again these are under the control and supervision of MIC who deal with recruitment for these services.
The industrial city is run pretty much by Mesaieed Industrial City (MIC) who control all the existing community services and also the on-going projects including housing, waste disposal, park and recreation facilities.
Some of the existing employers for working in Qatar, Mesaieed are:
QAPCO which was established in 1974 as a joint multinational venture to utilise the associated and non-associated Ethane gas from petroleum production in line with the industrialization plan of the State Qatar.
Qatar Fertilizer Company (QAFCO) was established in 1969 as a joint venture between the Government of Qatar and a number of multinational firms to utilize Qatar's abundant gas resources for producing ammonia and urea fertilizer.
Qatar Steel Company, founded in 1974, [formerly known as QASCO], is the first integrated steel manufacturing plant in the whole Arabian Gulf. Steel production commenced in 1979 and later in 1997, the company became wholly owned by the Government of Qatar.
Qatar Chemical Company (Q-Chem) is a joint venture between Qatar Petroleum and Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC. QP owns 51% of Q-Chem with the remaining 49% owned by Chevron Phillips.
Qatar's largest shipping company, with 18 ships of over 0.8 million DWT, comprising 96% of the Qatar's shipping fleet. Developing to become one of the world’s largest owners/operators of LNG tankers in the World.
There are many more companies that are already based here or have future plans to build and provide jobs in Mesaieed
Building and road works are extensive, and there are plans for an extension to the current shopping facilities and it surrounding parks.
Currently the majority of residents work at the power stations & aluminium smelter. The smelter is running, although not to full capacity and the power station being commissioned by Qatalum has been running, but has had its fair share of issues.
The community has its own schools, medical centre etc; again these are under the control and supervision of MIC who deal with recruitment for these services.
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
Doha, Capital of Qatar
Things to do in Doha Qatar
By: Nicky Meintjies
Qatar is an incredibly rich nation, both in culture and history. If you are planning a visit to the Arab emirate, you can be sure to find a great number of things to do inside and out. With Qatar being one of the wealthiest nations in the world, there are a great many activities for any tourist to participate in while visiting.
The nature of Qatar's location and ecosystems lends to a variety of events constantly transpiring within the country. Being surrounded by water on three sides means that there are plenty of maritime activities to participate in, something recognized by and encouraged by the state's government. Of course, being a Middle Eastern nation, the Qatari landscape is largely desert, and there are plenty of things to do out in the dunes and sand hills of this fine emirate.
In the water, there are a good number of sports and boating events available for tourists. As far as boating style activities, there's kayaking, which requires a few hours of training for certification, as well as power boat races in the main harbor, with boats that go up to 160 km/h! One can also go out on dhow cruises, which are rides on traditional Arab vessels that have been used in Qatar for centuries. There's fishing to be done as well, with many Qatari hotels sponsoring excursions and renting out vehicles to their guests. Fishing in Qatar is lucrative, with schools of puffer and angel fish, dorados, king and queen fish, as well as crabs and urchins. There's lots of laws regarding fishing in Qatar, and several reserves set up for protecting the stock; it's good to get familiar with what's what before going out and dropping a line. Last but certainly not least is water skiing. It's a great break from the heat. If you don't want to go down to the harbor though, you can always sand-board; getting on an inline board similar to a snowboard and riding the dunes throughout the day.
While you're out in the sand, there are lots of other activities to try as well. Parasailing isn't strictly limited to the harbor; out in the dunes you can get set up with a truck that will tear along at top speeds while you're tethered to it with a chute, allowing you to soar into the sky for a beautiful view of the desert. This is another event that your hotel can arrange for you. If you want to try something by yourself, Blokarting is one of the newest and most exciting land sports around. Invented by New Zealanders in 200, it's a land based sailing sport focused on an easy to assemble kart device with wheels and a sail similar to what you'd find on a small boat. They're incredibly safe, easy to learn (even kids can do it!) and they can be 'sailed' pretty much anywhere in Qatar.
Most famous of the attractions in Qatar however is the camel race outside of Doha. Head out of the city on Al Rayyan road towards Dukhan, and after passing the Al Rayya soccer stadium, take the first exit at the traffic circle and then turn left at the Oryx sign. There you'll find the Al Shahaniyah camel track, home to the exotic racing scene in Qatar. Following regulations to make the region more friendly to tourists, Qatar's camel races are highly moderated by the government, eliminating the once fervent child jockey trade in the Middle Eastern country. The animals are raced with either a human on top or a robotic counterpart; the autonomous jockeys do as good a job as their human comrades while costing more as an initial investment; however due to their small size and wide variety of customization options, teams using bot-jockeys are just as unique as those still using humans.
Overall Qatar has many things to offer; whether you decide to jog along one of the many walking paths in Doha or if you decide to experience the bountiful nature of the country, you can find something to amaze you and give you memories that will last a lifetime.
About the Author
The author is the owner of a Qatar Hotels website. To learn more on Doha Hotels visit BestQatarHotels.com
(ArticlesBase SC #810571)
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Things to do in Doha Qatar
Sunday, 29 August 2010
Shopping in Doha - Souq Waqif
Souq Waqif is prossibly one of most favourite places in Qatar so far.
Souq Waqif is situated in the heart of Doha, just past the illustrious Emir’s palace. There is ample parking, although if you get there to late you will have difficulty finding a spot. You’ll find another entrance opposite the PDF Islamic centre.
The original Souq Waqif was an old Souq, and it was decided to knock it down and replace it with a new “old looking” Souq, but with beautiful stone built buildings, narrow walkways creating a maze effect of corridors, and I have to say, they did a fairly good job of it!
There is a “flea market” feel to parts of Souq Waqif and bartering is acceptable. You can buy almost anything from here, from pots, pans & kitchen accessories, clothes, shoes, bags to sunshade canopies to wooden, pearl & traditional trinkets. Rugs, carpets even musical instruments are sold here. I don’t think I have been to the Souq for something and mot been able to find it.!!
My favourite walkway has to be the herbs and spices, the smell and colours are incredible and the choices are endless. Rock incense is used to enhance the look & scents. All you need do is follow your nose.
There is a main street running the length of the Souq full of traditional coffee shops where you can have anything from a variety of refreshments from Turkish coffee, latte, or fruit Shisha.
Purchases to heavy to carry? No problem, men with wheelbarrows wait in the walk ways ready to carry your purchases.
Not far off from the main section of the Souq is the gold souq, this is were some real bargains can be found. There are rows and rows of shops selling jewellery with gemstones of every colour, shape and size. You can have anything you wish made for a fraction of the price in the UK. Gold here is good quality, but very yellow compared to what we are used to
The original Souq Waqif was an old Souq, and it was decided to knock it down and replace it with a new “old looking” Souq, but with beautiful stone built buildings, narrow walkways creating a maze effect of corridors, and I have to say, they did a fairly good job of it!
There is a “flea market” feel to parts of Souq Waqif and bartering is acceptable. You can buy almost anything from here, from pots, pans & kitchen accessories, clothes, shoes, bags to sunshade canopies to wooden, pearl & traditional trinkets. Rugs, carpets even musical instruments are sold here. I don’t think I have been to the Souq for something and mot been able to find it.!!
My favourite walkway has to be the herbs and spices, the smell and colours are incredible and the choices are endless. Rock incense is used to enhance the look & scents. All you need do is follow your nose.
There is a main street running the length of the Souq full of traditional coffee shops where you can have anything from a variety of refreshments from Turkish coffee, latte, or fruit Shisha.
Purchases to heavy to carry? No problem, men with wheelbarrows wait in the walk ways ready to carry your purchases.
Not far off from the main section of the Souq is the gold souq, this is were some real bargains can be found. There are rows and rows of shops selling jewellery with gemstones of every colour, shape and size. You can have anything you wish made for a fraction of the price in the UK. Gold here is good quality, but very yellow compared to what we are used to
Thursday, 26 August 2010
Shopping In Doha
Qatar Shopping
By: Qatar Visitor
Stroll along a canal while browsing shops, or enjoy a meal over flowing water. Admire the gondolas, stare up at the blue skies and fluffy white clouds above you or admire the moon and star constellations above you. You could be forgiven for thinking you were in Venice – but actually you are in Qatar, a tiny desert peninsula country on the outskirts of Saudi Arabia. The mall is Villagio: Qatar’s newest and most stupendous shopping centre – and that’s even before it’s finished.
For such a small city (in such a small country!) there is a huge range of shopping. Doha. may not yet match Dubai in shopping terms (although Qatari ladies – expert shoppers if there ever were any – maintain Doha’s shop prices are substantially cheaper), but as ever it is determined to catch up with its neighbour.
Qatar shoppers certainly have the money to spend – Qatar now has an average annual income of over $60,000 a year. That’s substantially more than the average income of an American.
Villagio alone has over 130,000 square metres of retail space – which will include a cinema (with 3-d screens), ice-skating rink and even an roller-coaster.
But Doha offers far more than luxury shopping malls. Souq Waqif is a huge sprawling traditional Arab Souq – traditional in style at least, the actual buildings have all been rebuilt. Here you can find colourful arrays of spices, Indian clothing, falcons and much more.
If you prefer something more basic you can head out to the wholesale markets on the outskirts of towns. In addition to the superb vegetable market, a live animal market (be sure to check out the camels) and a fish market you can also find the Omani market.
Here you can buy traditional pottery, huge dried fish and even – in wet winters – desert truffles.
The only thing to remember when booking a visit to Qatar is the weather. Don’t go in the summer. Otherwise the inside of those luxurious (and air-conditioned) shopping malls is the only thing you’ll be going to see.
About the Author
This article was provided by Qatar Visitor. Qatar Visitor is a tourist and resident's website providing extensive information about jobs, travel, flights, culture and the history of Qatar, and includes images, sounds and videos.
(ArticlesBase SC #193877)
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Qatar Shopping
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