Al Wakra

The town of Al Wakra can be looked at as a part of Doha as it is just five miles south of the outskirts of Doha. The town was a former pearling and fishing village, but now it has become a famous tourist destination. The population of the town is about 30,000 and it could be called a satellite town of Doha. Many people have taken a house for rent here to escape the astronomical rentals prevailing in the capital city of Doha. The town is situated between two popular tourist destinations of Doha and Umm said which has led to the flourishing tourist industry. With many people having taken houses on rent in Al Wakra, the road from Doha to Al Wakra has become notorious for traffic jams with commuters competing in the heavy traffic.

As you enter the town, you will see the beautiful Al Wakra harbor and where you can see a number of dhows and other fishing boats. This place is extremely popular with fishermen and amateur anglers. You can see the children’s park just opposite the harbor. The park is green and full of trees which provide good shade, and it also has a children’s play area for the entertainment of children.

Just ahead of the park, you will come across an extremely fine sandy beach and some shallow water. The water looks very tempting and inviting, but take care to see that you do not go bare foot in the water as there many sharp objects in the water, courtesy of previous visitors.

A visit to the Al Wakra Museum will give you an insight into the culture, tradition, history, architecture, and living style of the people of the region through the several artifacts being exhibited. There are a number of ancient forts in and around the city which can help you to know about the region. Since the town was earlier a fishing center, you have some excellent displays of the marine life of the earlier days.

If you are staying at a hotel in Al Wakra you could take in the tourist destinations of the surrounding places. Go to Doha and take a walk along the long stretch of the Corniche and enjoy the pleasant atmosphere. Take a trip to Doha Fort and look at the museum there and also take in the Ethnographic Museum as well as the Qatar National Museum.  A visit to the Palm Tree Island just across the Corniche Bay is a must.

Have the pleasure of a dhow cruise along the Corniche at night and enjoy the beauty of the lighted Corniche. Take a desert safari and go dune bashing. Try a camel ride in the desert. Enjoy a dinner in the traditional Arab style and spend a night in a Bedouin tent amidst stars.

You can travel from Al Wakra to Doha by taxi on one of the mornings and spend the entire day visiting all the malls in the city. Doha is a shopper’s paradise and you can go to either the ultramodern air-conditioned shopping malls or the traditional souqs. You could visit the City Centre Mall, the Landmark Mall, the Villagio or the Souq Wakif if you want to do shopping by the traditional way of bargaining.

You can visit the nearby places of Al-Khor, Al Rayyan, Al Wakra, Umm Said, and Dukhan towns.