When you’re perusing global travel destinations in search of a beach holiday, Qatar may not be the first place that springs to mind. But with nearly 600km of coastline – a lot of it totally untouched by development – Qatar is well served with beaches of all kinds, from urban strips of sand in Doha to luxury beach clubs and dramatic lagoons surrounded by mountains of sand.
One benefit of Qatar’s small size is that many of its best beaches – even those considered ‘out of the way’ by Qatari standards – are reachable within one or two hours by car. On weekends, locals and residents pack up their SUVs and head out to camp in the more remote locations, while the country’s high-end beach clubs attract those looking for sun loungers and relaxation.
Beach sports are also growing in popularity, particularly kite-surfing, which has taken Qatar by storm in recent years. Fuwairit, on the north coast, is the superlative spot for that. All of the beach clubs will offer water-sports such as jet-skiing and water-skiing.
Swim wear is appropriate at private beach clubs and resorts but swimmers on public beaches – both men and women – tend to wear long shorts and t-shirts even in the water, similar to elsewhere in the Middle East. Most public beaches are separated into family (open to women, children under eight, and male members of the family) and male-only sections.
There is an exclusive women-only beach, Al Mamlaha, which is fenced off for privacy, and parts of some beaches, such as Al Farkiah and Simaisma, reserve certain days and times for women.
1. Khor Al Adaid (Inland Sea)
Qatar’s UNESCO-protected inland sea at Khor Al Adaid is an extremely popular weekend destination, and you can expect to see groups of friends and families camping here in their droves in the winter. You will also see lots of young Qataris in souped-up 4WD hairing up and down the dunes at breath-taking speeds, a local passion known as ‘dune-bashing’.
Despite the crowds and the popularity on weekends, Khor Al Adaid is a place of epic beauty and tranquility, a natural lagoon surrounded by dunes, some of which come right up to the water’s edge. Visitors can camp, swim and fish, and some bring kayaks and canoes to take out on the water. You will need a 4WD and supplies, as there are no facilities here.
2. Sealine Beach
To the north of Khor Al Adaid, Sealine Beach is a wide and windswept stretch of sand that is popular with locals, who park up in their cars and SUVs on the weekends and evenings. There toilets, gazebos, tables and benches, and lifeguards are on duty from 6am to 6pm daily.
Near Mesaieed, Sealine is a stop on many desert safari tours because of its proximity to the sand dunes (for dune bashing and sand-boarding) and operators that provide camel-riding. It can also be visited in a day trip that also takes in Khor Al Adaid, a little further south.
Sealine can be reached by bus from Doha, but most visitors have their own wheels. If you want to stay over, Sealine Beach Resort – to the north of the public beach – has villas and rooms as well as pools, restaurants and a dedicated area for kids.
3. Katara Beach
Located in the newly-developed Katara Cultural Village, Katara Beach is a 1.5km stretch of sand with wonderful views out over the Arabian Gulf. On clear days the bay is full of dhows and the high-rises of downtown Doha and the Pearl dot the skyline.
Katara Beach is separated into areas for families and single men, which have separate entrances. Single men – or groups of men – are not permitted in the family section. Katara Beach is also the only beach in Qatar where bikinis are expressly banned. Men also must cover their upper bodies and wear long shorts, even when swimming in the sea.
You can do a range of watersports at Katara, including water-skiing, knee-boarding, parasailing and speed boat rides. There is also a dedicated area for children within the family area. If you get hungry, there are a number of places to eat, and the Katara Cultural Village is walkable.
Large stretches of the beach near Katara have been colonised by the various luxury hotels, and day rates for the beach clubs – where rules are more relaxed and facilities (pools, spas) fantastic – can be relatively affordable, even if you’re not actually staying at the hotels.
4. Simaisma Beach
Just 30 minutes north of Doha, Simaisma beach was the go-to spot for families on the weekends, notable for its soft sand, shallow waters, and shady spots. As of June 2025, it was announced that the beach would be closing for five years (!) to make way for the development of a vast new project by Qatari Diar, that will see a monumental new kids hotel and theme park built on the site, and a Trump-branded golf course and hotel.
5. Al Thakhira Beach
As we wait for the Simaisa project to wrap up, families might instead want to head to Al Thakhira Beach, east of Al Khor, where a new 1.8km boardwalk, cycle path, playground, benches and toilets make it a popular destination on weekends. You can also kayak in the mangroves (at high tide), fish and spot wildlife including flamingos and herons. There are few facilities at Al Thakhira, so be sure to bring food and water with you.
6. Fuwairit & Al Maroona (North Coast)
Fuwairit is Qatar’s kite-surfing destination of choice, with perfect wind conditions and a pristine shoreline for the sport, as well as a number of operators and resorts that offer one-off lessons, equipment hire and longer courses for those that want to learn the sport. The beach is closed from April to July, when hawksbill turtles stop by to lay their eggs on the sand.
A new hotel complex, Fuwairit Kite Beach, has been purpose built by Hilton for kite-surfers, with beachside rooms, restaurants, and the requisite spa and pool facilities to chill out in after a long day in the surf.
Nearby Al Maroona is a public beach with picnic areas and the option to rent chalets and caravans with alfresco areas right on sand, all lit up with fairy lights. There are very few facilities here so visitors usually come in their own cars and bring their own food and water.
7. Doha Sands / West Bay Beach
Just off Doha Corniche, Doha Sands Beach Club and nearby West Bay Beach are the best options for urban beach-goers, with food kiosks, volleyball and football pitches, kids’ zones, and great city views. Doha Beach Club on West Bay is home to the largest floating waterpark and has a Ladies Day on Tuesdays and a Ladies-Only Area at all other times, which has dedicated showers and all-female staff. Kids under 8 are allowed to come in with their guardians, but older boys will have to remain in the general section.
8. Zekreet West Beach and Umm Bab Beach
Located on Qatar’s wilder and more remote western coast, these two beaches are only accessible by car but visitors are rewarded by a wild, untamed beauty that includes strange rock formations, wildlife and date palms. Umm Bab Beach has the best facilities of the two, with barbecue spots and play areas for kids. Zekreet Beach, just over 60km west of Doha, is a good spot for snorkelling. Inland, a nature reserve is home to ostriches and gazelles.
