Souq Waqif and the Corniche, the heart of the city
This is undoubtedly the lively heart of the city, where Qataris gather after work or at weekends to smoke shisha, drink tea or go family shopping in the narrow galleries lined with artisan shops. This human-scale city center is expanding with its neighbor, the Gold Souk. Not far away, the Islamic Cultural Centre (Fanar), with its minaret pointing high into the sky, resembles a fantastic castle tower. This ensemble is completed by the Qatar National Museum, a sand rose-shaped edifice designed by French architect Jean Nouvel. In line with its destiny as a cultural area, this part of central Doha is also seeing the emergence of new hotels and restaurants.
The corniche or seafront, located between West Bay and the old airport, forming a circle 5 km in diameter, has now been transformed into a tree-lined pedestrian promenade. It has become a favorite stroll for Qataris. Fitted out with palm trees and wide sidewalks, it is bordered on the inside by the new Al Bidda Park, which creates a remarkable and refreshing green corridor in the heart of the city. The Park Hotel, located around the Sheraton near West Bay, is also a small green lung in the heart of the city, where families come to picnic in the cool evenings, as is the arched park on the water of the remarkable MIA.
Msheireb, the new eco-neighborhood, heart of Doha
This new heart of Doha is located between the Corniche, the Souq Waqif and the new Al Bidda urban park. It takes its place where, in the 1970s, Art Deco buildings stood, linked by wild electrical cables and anarchy of cars turning in the dust to feed in the local stores. Abandoned by the wealthy classes and populated by the working poor, it fell into insalubrity. Today, this completely razed district has been redesigned as a human-sized city center, with squares, fountains, mosques and human-sized streets. No skyscrapers here, but harmonious architecture in beige tones of buildings with Islamic shapes and motifs, the whole of which has obtained LEED certification, i.e. eco-friendly, favoring reduced resource consumption, waste control, lower operating costs and a reduced carbon footprint, notably through the use of natural light and ventilation and the use of state-of-the-art technologies and methods that guarantee more efficient and sustainable use of water and electricity.
West Bay and Katara, by the sea
West Bay starts at the end of the Corniche and goes all the way to Katara, covering what is known in the USA as Downtown , the business district planted with tall towers. New skyscrapers are constantly springing up in this financial and economic heartland. Toponymic acrobatics in Qatari style: West Bay is the "commercial" name used by the hotels, restaurants and boutiques located in the Business Diplomatic District, which will soon no longer be diplomatic since embassies have been asked to move to the Pearl. Between West Bay and The Pearl, Kata is THE leisure and beach area of Doha. Everything is centered around the Katara Cultural Center, where you'll find cafés, restaurants, family beaches, an amphitheater, large squares for outdoor events, art galleries and more. Plenty to keep the whole family entertained. Access is via the Lusail Express, the highway that runs from the center of town, by taking the Katara exit. Right next door, a recently inaugurated children's amusement park comes alive every evening in the cool of the evening.
The Pearl, the artificial island almost completed
North of Doha, the "pearl" of Pharaonic, or rather Qatari, architectural follies houses three marinas on three artificial islands linked by breakwaters. Brand-new, it is orchestrated for nautical activities and luxury shopping. Two circular centers, each with a recreational island in the middle, the first Porto Arabia bristling with nearly 31 identical towers, with the famous Croisette and its many moored yachts in the middle, and the second Viva Bahryia with 20 towers. Everything has been studied here: pretty promenades for strolling or cycling, malls, restaurants... Driving around, you feel as if you're in a giant Playmobil town that you've put up at the foot of the Christmas tree on the 25th. Curiosity: the Qanat district is a little Venice replicated here, with colorful buildings that are rather low-rise compared to the adjacent towers, with canals, Venetian bridges and even gondolas! You can even go stand-up paddling in the canals.
Lusail, the new "smart and green city
Lusail aims to be a connected, green city, including 4 new islands and 19 neighborhoods combining residential, recreational and commercial development. This new city boasts 22 new hotels, a golf course, a local tramway connected to the metro leading to Doha center and the airport, businesses grouped into technology hubs especially in the renewable energy economy, a marina, a media hub and plenty of entertainment, especially in sports and water sports. A residential area dubbed Petit Paris is a copy of Haussmann streets in the architectural style of buildings, cobblestones and house interiors. And this district is centered on the Place Vendôme shopping center, which faithfully reproduces the Vendôme column as a bonus. Careful attention is paid to pedestrian areas, bike paths, water cabs, marinas and promenades, vegetation and parks to ensure a pleasant urban whole.
Aspire Zone and Education City, conceptual entities
Aspire Zone or Sport City is a large park housing the new Olympic Museum and The Torch, a high-rise hotel dedicated to sports with large playing fields. Its international renown and importance in Qatar's strategy of influence extend as far as the shores of PSG. Education City owes its name to the Qatar Foundation. A non-profit organization chaired by Sheikha Mozah. It also aims to improve the lives of Qataris through community development initiatives such as Doha Debates, Reach out To Asia and Al Jazeera Childrens Channel.
