The Wonder of Qatar – See the Desert by the Sea!
Full of charm and undiscovered places, Qatar is undoubtedly the hidden gem of the Middle East! Not only is its capital, Doha, a magnificent city, but despite its rapid modernization and economic progress, it has preserved remnants of its rich history and culture in various aspects of life, ranging from sports to cuisine. Let’s explore Qatar’s wonders together and encounter this country’s marvels.
Qatar State Mosque
The Qatar State Mosque, also known as Imam Abdul Wahhab Mosque, is the largest mosque in Qatar. It features a central hall with 28 large domes and an additional 65 domes surrounding it. The mosque has a capacity of 30,000 people.
Al Zubarah Fortress
Al Zubarah Fortress is a historic fortress and the most significant archaeological site in Qatar. One peculiar feature of this fortress is its roof constructed with compacted mud bricks.
Singing Sand Dunes
One of the wonders of Qatar is the Singing Sand Dunes. Singing Sand Dunes, also known as Whistling Sands or Parsonic Sands, refer to the sand dunes that produce a singing or whistling sound when the wind passes through them. It is a sound similar to the sound of a flute and can be heard emanating from the sand dunes located outside of Doha.
Museum of Islamic Art
The Largest Museum of Islamic Art, covering an area of 45,000 square meters, has been built in Qatar. One interesting fact about this museum is its exceptional and unique design, as well as being the most comprehensive collection of Islamic artworks worldwide.
Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum
Undoubtedly, one of the wonders of Qatar is the Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum. This museum consists of five halls and exhibits a remarkable collection of artifacts. Rare wildlife, vintage cars, antiquities, and more are among the notable attractions in this museum, which welcomes everyone through its doors.
Falconry – The Most Beloved Pastime
One of the wonders of Qatar that cannot be found anywhere else in the world is falconry. In Qatar, falcons are considered symbols of courage, freedom, and determination, and owning a falcon is a prestigious symbol for the country. Falconry involves using a trained bird of prey to hunt wild animals and has been a Qatari tradition for centuries.
Cardamom-flavored Coffee
In Qatar, coffee is served in a unique way compared to other parts of the world. It is done in small handleless cups, but most importantly, it is flavored with cardamom. Cardamom-flavored coffee is another wonder of Qatar, and it is brewed in a special pot.
Absence of Trees
The absence of trees and forests is considered one of the wonders of Qatar. However, Qatar is not the only country without forests; San Marino, Greenland, and Oman are also exceptions to this rule.
Teddy Bear at the Airport
A giant teddy bear is sitting right in the middle of Hamad International Airport, waiting for you to take a selfie with it. This teddy bear, one of Qatar’s wonders, is valued at nearly $7 million and weighs approximately 20 tons. Interestingly, this teddy bear is very popular among tourists.
Camel Racing in Qatar
It’s time to learn about one of the exciting facts and wonders of Qatar. One of the favorite sports of the local people is camel racing. Until 2004, they used children as camel riders, but it was deemed too dangerous, and they were replaced with robots. Yes, there are camel racing competitions with robots in Qatar!
Qatar’s Pearls
In the days when Qatar hadn’t discovered its natural gas and oil yet, people made a living by diving for pearls. Yes, pearls were abundant in this country, and even today, an artificial pearl string island has been created above one of the most famous pearl diving spots in the past, known as the Pearl-Qatar.
Qatar is Flat
Apart from the absence of trees and forests, you won’t see any hills or rocks in Qatar. Qatar is the second flattest country in the world after the Maldives. In fact, when you visit this country by booking a flight to Qatar, you won’t see any hills or rocks. Instead, you’ll have to rely on skyscrapers to feel the grandeur of the place. However, seeing them is also quite amazing.
Desert by the Sea
Have you ever seen a desert by the sea, where white sand dunes meet a vast blue sea? It’s very interesting and one of the wonders of Qatar. Khor Al-Adaid is one of the few places in the world where the sea meets the desert. While the extensive sand dunes in this country are a unique sight to behold, Khor Al-Adaid presents a completely different story.
Arabian Oryx: National Animal
The Arabian Oryx is known as Qatar’s national animal. This beautiful animal was saved from extinction in the 1970s by various wildlife reserves and zoos. It is a mountain goat with long, straight horns and a tufted tail. Wherever you go in Qatar, you will definitely come across images of their national animal.
The Longest Oil Well
Many Arab countries have oil wells, and most of their income comes from these resources. However, one of the realities and wonders of Qatar is that it has the most extended oil well ever drilled in the world. This oil well also holds a Guinness World Record and solidifies its position as the longest well in the world.
The ratio of men to women is 3 to 1.
This is an exciting fact about Qatar! If you have made a tour reservation to visit Qatar and are traveling to this country, you will notice that the number of men is significantly higher than women. According to the latest census in September 2020, there are three men for every woman in Qatar.
Longest Cycling Route
The Olympic cycling track in Doha holds the Guinness World Record for having the longest continuous cycling route in the world. This fascinating track, completed in 2020, is 33 kilometers long. The Olympic cycling route features various straight, underpass, and overpass tracks, as well as 100 benches and 20 rest areas.
