Qatar, pearl of the middle east
At the invitation of Qatar Airways, a group of eight Uniglobe employees left for Qatar in February 2019 with the aim of getting to know this still relatively unknown destination well. Together with Discover Qatar, an intensive and varied program was drawn up so that the various facets of Qatar were experienced.
Qatar is developing tremendously, and in addition to gas and oil production, the country has for some time been known for hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Sporting events are major focal points of Qatar anyway, with more and more major global sporting events taking place in the country, with every top-notch facility imaginable. The capital is Doha, which is also home to the modern Hamad International Airport, the home of Qatar Airways. The airport is widely used by transit passengers flying from Europe to Asia and vice versa. However, Qatar has much to offer that calls for a longer stay than just a short stopover.
Business class flying to Qatar
The trip begins at Schiphol Airport, where colleagues from various Dutch Uniglobe offices are gathering. We receive a warm welcome from Qatar Airways and soon some excitement ensues, as we may be on the flight the exclusive award-winning Businessclass (called Qsuite) to experience for themselves.
In Qatar Airways' new business class, each passenger has their own cabin with sliding doors, offering plenty of privacy. In addition to the world's first double bed in Business Class, and the ability to create rooms, QSuite also features customizable panels and movable TV screens in the middle four seats. This allows travelers to transform their space into a private room where they can work, eat and socialize together.
Guided tour
The afternoon flight is very pleasant and, partly due to the 2-hour time difference, we arrive in Doha by the end of the evening. The transfer, perfectly arranged by Discover Qatar, goes smoothly and within 30 minutes we arrive at our hotel: the Radisson Blu Doha. The next morning we are given a tour of the hotel. With nearly 600 rooms in different types, this hotel has the highest number of rooms in Doha. In addition, there are nine restaurants and seven bars, of course the swimming pool is not missing. Following the tour, Discover Qatar presents itself. This company is part of Qatar Airways and in cooperation with Uniglobe, tailor-made programs can be put together for our relations.
City Tour of Doha
After a delicious lunch provided by the hotel, we depart for the City Tour. This tour takes us past some of the highlights of Doha:
- The Museum of Islamic Art: This museum has both permanent and temporary exhibits. The building is very impressive not only on the outside, but also on the inside.
- Katara Cultural Village: This completely newly developed area is used for all kinds of cultural events. For example, there is an open Amphitheater that seats 5,000 people.
- The Pearl: An artificial island with luxury apartments, stores and restaurants. There are beautiful yachts in the harbors and an atmosphere similar to that of Venice.
- The Souq Waqif: Here we experience the living heritage and traditions of the city and enjoy the colorful trade and culinary offerings in the lively alleys.
Safari through the desert
In two Land Cruisers, we set off early the next day toward the desert for a Dessert Safari. The scenery is breathtaking: high dunes, the Persian Sea, endless space, the clear blue sky. Driving over high sand dunes also gives frequent surprises: the wind constantly changes them, so you never know what lies behind a dune. Suddenly we come to a magnificent oasis, where we will enjoy our lunch. The Regency Sealine Camp is an oasis of tranquility and fully equipped. The luxurious desert camp offers the comfort of a 5-star hotel. After a delicious lunch, we will return to the hotel.
Experience richer
In the evening we take a dinner cruise with a traditional Arabian Show. We cruise past the beautifully lit Museum of Islamic Art before passing the skyline of Doha's beautifully colored residential and working towers. While enjoying delicious dishes, we arrive at The Pearl. After a short stop, we sail back again. We got a great impression of this country that has much to offer.
This item is from the Traveletc #1 2019
Update: This blog first appeared on May 19, 2019 and was updated with new information on Nov. 18, 2022.
