Doha is the capital of the State of Qatar, and was originally a small village where the population fished and pearled. Today, with a population of approximately 400,000, Doha contains about half of the country’s population, and is the country’s only major city.
Doha, located along the Persian Gulf, is the country’s main port and home of the Doha International Airport, and is the economic, educational (link to our article on Western programs in Qatar), sports (link to our article on sports in Qatar), and cultural center of the country.
Things to do and see are many, no matter what one’s age, including large shopping malls and traditional souks; the Qatar National Museum and Museum of Islamic Art (open, but with its official opening scheduled for November 2008); traditional dhow boat tours; off-roading in the desert; beaches; restaurants, cinemas, night clubs, and sports bars; ice skating; the Doha Zoo and Rumeilah (Al-Bidda) Park for the kids; and more.
Doha’s location means it has an arid climate, with mild, pleasant winters, and very hot, humid summers; sandstorms are common in spring and winter. For today’s weather in Doha, see the Civil Aviation Authority’s Department of Meteorology.
Finally, if you want to find your way around Doha, look at DohaMap.info.
