Qatar
When
Nov to March
Price
From 1 800€ excl. flights
(based on 2 people sharing)
How long
3 nights
Ideal length
Al Wakrah, a port town south of Doha, was for centuries one of the Gulf's main natural pearl-fishing ports, before the industry collapsed in the 1930s with the arrival of Japanese cultured pearls. Its restored waterfront, traditional coral houses, and morning fish market retain the atmosphere of a Qatar that existed before the natural gas boom transformed the country from the 1990s onward.
Before the discovery of oil, Qatar's economy rested almost entirely on natural pearl diving, a perilous activity practised by free divers who sometimes descended over twenty metres with no equipment, holding their breath for over a minute to harvest pearl oysters. Al Wakrah ranked among the busiest ports of this industry, which employed up to half the country's male population before the market collapsed in the 1930s.
Al Wakrah's waterfront, restored in keeping with traditional coral-and-gypsum architecture, comes alive every morning around the return of fishing boats and a fish market where the day's catch is still traded. The nearby small souk, more modest and less touristy than Doha's, retains an authentic neighbourhood atmosphere appreciated for strolling away from the capital's crowds.
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An Al Wakrah Waterfront Guesthouse
A traditional-style guesthouse on Al Wakrah's restored waterfront, within walking distance of the fish market and local souk.
A South Doha Hotel
A comfortable hotel between Al Wakrah and Doha, modern rooms, a convenient base for exploring both the pearling heritage and the capital.
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