Guide to Qatar windsurfing holidays

Qatar is best known for its oil wealth. But, of course, there is much more to the country than that. Qatar lies on a small peninsula in the Arabian Gulf, surrounded by warm blue seas. Naturally, those seas attract water sports fans, including windsurfers. This is our guide to Qatar windsurfing.

Qatar’s winds blow at around 8-15 knots for most of the year. It’s not a place to break speed records, but the winds are consistent enough to be able to get some satisfying sailing in. They are great for beginners, strong enough to catch but not too strong. During the summer months, the Shamal winds blow strong – speeds over 20 knots are not uncommon.

Qatar is surrounded by beaches. Fuwairit Beach, on the northern tip of Qatar, is one of the most popular spots. It catches some of the country’s strongest winds and has become a firm favourite with both windsurfers and kitesurfers. Doha Bay is also a popular spot, especially with expats living in the capital. On the western side of Qatar, the seas around Dukhan can get quite choppy, giving wave-sailors something to keep them happy.

Those seeking stronger winds and more challenging conditions can head to Oman. It is around a day’s journey by car, but is worth it for many, especially in summer when the winds are strongest. Oman is starting to attract windsurfers from Europe to its shores, lured by big waves and winds that can be 25 knots or more.

Take a Qatar windsurfing trip and explore its wind and waves. The country is surprisingly windsurf-friendly and the sport is growing there. Catch the summer Shamal winds and you’ll be away…

A Qatar Summer Holiday For Kids

In Qatar, kids enjoy a longer summer season than the rest of the world. There are excellent past times for children that keep them occupied and entertained during the hottest time of the year.

A popular activity is the summer camp, usually ran by schools and offer multi-discipline activities. A variety of camps abound in Qatar that can be perfect for every child’s interest -- dance and ballet, maths, languages, trainings for the mind, sports such as football and swimming, as well as camps that hold mixed activities.

Summer camps are flexible and adaptable to unique needs. Kids can try out their activities for a day to see if it suits their interests, allowing them to take full advantage of what the camp has to offer.

Children can also work on their own personalized projects during the summer break. Having a project  of the week can be a fun way to ward off the boredom.

Starting a garden and growing flowers or vegetables in the yard, or baking their favourite snacks, can prove to be productive as well as enjoyable. Arts and crafts, or learning a new skill, can also be a great, formative way to spend the summer.

Kids should be able know how to swim, and summer is the perfect time to learn. A first aid course can complement that training. Learning a new language can also be fun. Getting advanced training in Arabic classes or obtaining sign language proficiency are just a few skills that can benefit children in the long run.

A number of charity initiatives in Qatar invite kids to help out the community through volunteer activities, as children with special needs could always use an extra helping hand. Pet organisations invite volunteers to walk abandoned dogs, an activity that is sure to foster an appreciation for animals.

Exercising and keeping active is a good way to combat the temptation to spend the entire break on the couch. Early morning before the day gets too hot, or just as the sun is about to set, are the ideal times for an outdoor workout. Indoor exercise can also be fun with exercise videos or a games console.

It’s the perfect time to get social. Kids love to see their friends for extended play hours and having them over to play games and share their toys. This makes them less fidgety during the summer months, in addition to fostering social interaction and expanding their life skills.

Finally, summer vacations are always a fail safe way to make the warmest months worthwhile. A trip to nearby travel hotspots such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Oman only takes a short flight.

A combination of these fun and exciting activities are more than enough to keep children occupied and enable them to learn a thing or two, making even the leisure times worthwhile.