Welcome to Al Wakrah, Qatar. Located just 20 kilometres south of Doha , Al Wakrah is a historical centre of pearl diving and finishing that has also become one of the largest cities in Qatar. Its name is derived from the word nest or wakar, due to the location of the mountain of Al-Wakrah in which birds build their nests.
Al Wakrah is very much worth exploring and in this post, I will share with you 5 things to see in Al Wakrah.
If you’d prefer to watch our video instead, then head to 5 things to see in Al Wakrah, Qatar | Exploring Qatar
The futuristic Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah opened in May of 2019 and it was built for the upcoming FIFA World Cup event in 2022. As Al Wakrah is a historical centre of pearl diving and fishing, the design of Al Janoub Stadium was appropriately inspired on the dhow boats that were used for these activities.
Al Janoub Stadium will seat 40 000 visitors and is expected to be hosting a total of 6 matches under its roof. After the World Cup, the capacity of Al Janoub stadium will be reduced to 20 000 seats and will remain as an sporting and entertainment hub. Moreover, the other 20 000 seats will be donated to football development projects overseas.
In addition, the grounds of Al Janoub Stadium have been designed to bring the community together. For instance, it has a lot of beautiful parkland, a garden, a variety of gym equipment, a children’s playground and an exercise path suitable for walking, running and biking.
If you’d like to find out more about the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar Stadiums, watch our video here!
The charming Souq Al Wakra or Al Wakra Old Market, was opened in 2014, and it is the located directly on Wakra beach. The Souq is a marketplace that resembles old Qatari homes and villages. In other words, a perfect blend of new and old. Here you will find a variety of products and wares including: men’s and women’s accessories; perfumes; handicrafts; carpets; flowers; sweets; jewellery; cheese; nuts; souvenirs; swords; animal markets; and hawks and falcons.
Within Souq al Wakrah, you will find a wide variety of cafes and restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets. The majority are located on the sea front by the beach. As you wander through the walkways, you will also find the Abu Monatarain mosque which was built in 1940. Manaratain means two minarets and strangely this mosque only has one. Additionally, Souq Al Wakra is also home to the five star Souq Al Wakra hotel by Tivoli. Lastly, there’s a museum on site but it is currently closed. We look forward to being able to visit it in the near future and we will update this post when we have more information.
The Souq offers a well maintained, spacious family beach with bathrooms and shower facilities for ease of use. Also at the far end of the Souq you will also find an extensive sandy playground for all ages. For instance, this is actually one of our favourites due to the variety of equipment offered to suit a wide range of ages. In addition, it has a convenient parking area and a bathroom near by that is kept fantastically. Above all, the sea view and sea breeze while the kids play is easily one of our highlights.
Most shops are open from 10am – noon and again from 4pm – 10pm. Restaurants are open from 1.30pm to 11pm.
Make sure to visit this place both at daytime and night time too, for two complete different experiences.
The Al Wakra Public Garden is a lovely little gem. It is one of the oldest public parks in Qatar and it has well appointed facilities. This lush green park in the heart of al Wakra city, offers a large shaded playground, air conditioned toilet facilities, well maintained grounds with a wide number of large shady trees, and many seated areas through out the vicinity. Lastly, entry is free and the opening hours are as follow:
Sunday to Thursday: 09:00 am to 11:00 pm
Friday: 10:00 am to 11:00 pm
Saturday: 03:00 pm to 12:00 am
The beaches of Al Wakrah are not only beautiful, they are also some of the closest to Doha. And with many beaches to choose from, you are sure to be able to find a favourite. Dotted along the Al Wakrah coastline you will find: Dog Beach, Souq Al Wakrah Family Beach, New Al Wakra Public Beach and Al Wakra Municipality Family Beach.
Dog Beach is very popular and feature in our video. People can actually drive up to the beach and to the water’s edge. The water here is nice and shallow, which is perfect for young families. This is a public beach open to everyone and visitors can wear whatever swimming attire they feel most comfortable with. Furthermore, you won’t find any facilities here. Lastly, people have been known to get stuck out in the water so be mindful of the tide here as it can change very quickly.
Souq Al Wakrah Family Beach is located at the Souq and it is for families only. Being part of the Souq, this beach is very well looked after with easy access to facilities including beach chairs, parking, change rooms, toilets and lots of restaurants. There is a dress code to utilise this beach so make sure to bring modest swimming wear.
New Al Wakra Public Beach is the newest beach park in the area. The area is completely fenced off and also has a security guard at all times. It has easy to access parking and toilets available for public use. The beach here is quite rocky so make sure to pack beach shoes.
Al Wakra Municipality Family Beach is the last beach on this stretch and possibly our favourite out of them all. This beach has multiple facilities including: secure walled off grounds, lots of parking space, playgrounds, toilets, barbeques and shady seating areas. Certainly, the three large enclosed playgrounds are our favourite attraction here. You can find plenty of seating and shade through out. Additionally, they have lots of equipment directed at a wide variety of ages. Our favourite time to visit here is in the morning when we are likely to have it all to ourselves, as well as when the tide is out so we can walk out to the sandbanks and into the turquoise waters.
The Al Wakrah Fort is a significant landmark that dates back to the 20th century. It is conveniently located opposite to the Al Wakrah Souq and the beautiful Masjid Hamza Bin Abdul Mutalib. Interestingly, this fort was built on the ruins of an already existing fort which was used as barracks and police offices. The modern fort has also been recently restored gaining its white washed look and smaller towers. Unfortunately, the fort is not currently open to the public. However you can enjoy a pleasant walk around its perimeter.
I hope you have enjoyed my list of 5 top attractions to visit in Al Wakrah. Why not head over to our top list of 8 Things to See Near Souq Waqif and make the most out of your next visit there?
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