Enjoying Qatar Outdoors

There are a number of outdoor activities that can be enjoyed in Qatar, such as windsurfing and kite surfing, sailing, fishing, diving, sand boarding, blokarting, and desert driving. The country also boasts of nature reserves that thrive in the warm subtropical climate.

Water sports have gained unprecedented popularity in Qatar, best enjoyed along its warm waters and seemingly endless coastline. During not so windy days, Qataris hit the beach for a day of windsurfing and kite surfing. The so-called summer shamal wind creates the perfect conditions windsurfing. On days with lighter winds, kite surfing is a preferred choice. It is easy to learn and the combination of cool breezes and warm waters makes it a delight to practise. A favourite beach to surf in is the Fuwairit beach, located 80km north of Doha. For beginners, there is the lagoon at Zeekret, a popular surfing spot among locals.

The Qatar International Regatta is a major annual event that has popularized sailing, and contributes to world sailing rankings. It is supported by the Doha Sailing Club, which offers tuition for all levels. It also hosts competitions, as well as a social hub for sailing and rowing. Facilities are available for different boat types, including Optimists and Lasers. Moreover, the Doha Sailing Association conducts weekly and monthly races for Laser class boats.

Fishing in Doha is a well-loved activity . In the Doha waters thrive hundreds of fish species.

The Gulf's warm clear waters provide ideal conditions for diving, as well as the habitat a range of marine wildlife. Divers can observe the rich life of rays and sea snakes, as well as dolphins and turtles.

In Qatar, shore diving is popular, although there are also a number of spots for deep sea diving among wreckage. Well-visited areas include the the Sealine Beach Resort, as well as Messaid's Old Club Reef, the New Club Reef, and the Halool Island's Al-Sharqi. For an abundance of fish, the sheltered reef area at the Inland Sea in Udaid is the perfect spot.

Sand boarding is the summer alternative to snowboarding, practiced on sand dunes instead of snowy mountains. The Sealine Beach resort is a favorite among tourists and locals alike. For the daring, sand skiing is a more adventurous option. It involves riding dunes using traditional-style skis. The perfect place to practice is the inland sea or Khor Al Adaid, which boasts of a number of gigantic sand dunes.

A blokart is a wind powered go-kart, invented in New Zealand in the year 2000. Blokarting is like sailing on land. Enthusiasts get to sail without being at sea, and can even conduct races, since blokarts can go at high speeds on the sand.

The Qatari desert also invites off-road driving on four-wheel drive vehicle, there are good desert safari deals in doha for those who are after the full outdoor experience.

A great part of Qatar's land area has been identified as a natural reserve, which offer tourists and locals the chance to enjoy nature and its landscape, history, and wildlife.

Among the famous Qatari natural reserves is the Al Thakhira, long coastline located at Al Khor Corniche's northern end, which is popular for among bird watchers and those who explore the area’s mangroves.

The Umm Tais a collection of beaches, sand bars, islets, and mangrove forests. In addition for its rich bird and marine life, it also holds a beach for nesting turtles. The ancient village of Al Mafjar used to reighn majestic in the area.

Bir Zekreet, more popularly known as Ras Abrouq, is a popular camping site complete with bays, coves, and rocky outcrops. It is located northeast of Dukhan, at the tip of a peninsula.

Northwest of Qatar lays the Al Reem, which abounds in wildlife, including the elusive Arabian gazelle.

The Inland Sea, also known as Khor Al Adaid, has a part of its lengthy shoreline in Doha and the other in Saudi Arabia. It is one of Qatar’s most famous tourist spots, famous for the lovely crescent sand dunes.