Things to do in Al Shahaniya

Visit the Doha Corniche to look outward at the Persian Gulf or inland to the West Bay’s eclectic skyline of tall buildings. The walkway along the water extends for 4 miles (7 kilometers). Enjoy a sunrise here before high temperatures later in the day make being out of air conditioning uncomfortable.

The City Centre Shopping Mall is one of Doha’s oldest shopping centers and remains one of the largest in the region. It is loved by locals, expats and tourists who come to browse the 350 stores or enjoy the range of entertainment options. At peak times the mall can accommodate up to 70,000 visitors. Visit the City Centre Shopping Mall for international brands including items fitting a mid-range budget.

The Souq Waqif stands in an area of Doha where nomadic people of Qatar and maritime traders have long come to trade with local residents. Visit the renovated site of the Souq Waqif to observe traditions that have lasted for centuries.

View an astounding collection of Islamic and other art and artifacts when you visit the Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum (FBQ Museum). The museum is housed in a large, flat, sand-colored structure resembling an ancient fort, yet it was opened only recently, in 1998. As you approach the building, notice the corner turrets, arched doorways and arrow slits in the thick stone walls that give it an authentic appearance of an ancient fortification.

The crumbling ruins of Zekreet Fort appear to be ancient, but the site was built only 200 years ago, perhaps by the pirate leader, Raḥmah ibn Jābir al-Jalāhimah. It was used for just a decade or two. Visit Zekreet Fort to see how Qatar’s sun, sand, winds and occasional rains have reduced the structure to an outline of the former fortification. Walk around the fort’s typical square shape. Note its corner towers including three circular in shape and one square.

The East-West/West-East art installation by Richard Serra stands tall in the Qatari desert, often without any visitors, as it’s quite a distance from Doha. Completed in 2014, the artwork consists of four tall steel plates set at intervals in a 0.6-mile (1-kilometer) line. Walk close to one of the pillars to inspect it or pick a spot along the plateau on either side of the collection to view all four pillars at once. Each rises to a height greater than 45 feet (14 meters), the ancient position of sea level in the area.