How to Discover the Magical Beauty of The Pearl Qatar – Everything you need to know
Published by Luxury Travel,
Known for posh neighbourhoods, lavish hotels, and fancy restaurants, The Pearl Qatar, is a man-made island. The island is built on reclaimed land and has an area of four million square metres. Community lifestyle is the theme of the island, and with that, the island attracts the rich and the elite. Dining, shopping, and beach time are a few things marketed to tourists. Budget tourism isn’t really a thing here, so if you’ve decided to visit, be ready to splurge.
History
The project was first brought to the world’s attention in 2004. The estimated cost was USD 2.5 billion, and the project was planned by Callison, a design firm. The development was done by the United Development Company.
Location
This man-made island is located by Doha’s West Bay, a short distance from Lusail Village, Doha’s business centre, and Katara Cultural Village. You find some of the best hotels in Doha here, and you can get here from Al Najada Doha Hotel by Tivoli within 25 minutes. Taxis are the best way to get here from anywhere in Doha. From Hamad International Airport, it’s only 30 to 40 minutes.
What can you experience?
The island is home to an array of luxury hotels, villas, towers, and luxurious shopping centres. Pearl Qatar is known for its Mediterranean lifestyle, which is one of the main draws for those visiting the island. The dining experience you can have here varies from cafes and modern diners to five-star restaurants; all these establishments serve up a variety of culinary delights. Pedestrian-friendly squares are another highlight, and make sure you pay attention to the collection of landscaped gardens as well. The Pearl Qatar is all about elegance, sophistication, and lavish experiences. It’s become so much popular among Doha visitors, and it’s even called the 'Arabian Riviera’.
Good to know
The island has three different sections with very distinct features. Qanat Quartier, a neighbourhood that looks like Venice, is great for a stroll and taking in the views, one of the best things you can do here; you can also drop in at one of the cafes for a delicious cup of coffee and chat with a friendly tourist. Porto Arabia is another area worth visiting. This is a Mediterranean part of the island that’s both traditional and modern. You’ll find a diverse selection of restaurants here serving loads of mouth-watering foods and drinks. Medina Centrale, on the other hand, is ideal for families; you’ll find gardens where kids can play and cafes and restaurants where you can have a nice meal.
Things to do
The Island offers you so much nightlife; you can eat, dance, and mingle with locals all you want; you’ll find that there’s a range of private beach clubs here. The cabanas and lounges are excellent for an afternoon snooze. What’s more, you have endless opportunities to indulge in some retail therapy – be prepared to spend a bit of money; you cannot shop on the cheap here! Make sure you also have time to relax on the beaches while sipping on a delicious drink. Make sure you don’t stuff your schedule with too many things to do; The Peral Qatar is a beautiful place with so much surreal beauty, so make sure you have time to take that all in.
Best time to visit
The climate of Pearl Qatar is hot and humid for the best part of the year. This doesn’t mean you cannot visit the island whenever you want. However, the best time for tourist visits is from November to April. During this time, the temperatures are quite low with bearable humidity.
Nearby attractions
If you find time to visit The Peral Qatar, there are a few other places you can visit on your way to the island or on your way back. Doha Golf Club, Museum of Islamic Art, and Souq Waqif are a few nearby attractions you should visit. Souq Waqif is a great place to immerse yourself in the traditional lifestyle of Doha, and the Museum of Islamic Art has an excellent collection of Islamic artworks.