What are the 10 best things to do in the man-made island of Pearl Qatar? Although it may be off the beaten path for some, The Pearl Qatar is steadily rising in popularity among present-day international and national travelers alike. Nestled in the heart of Qatar, The Pearl Qatar displays magnificent architectural beauty as well as quaint Mediterranean charm.
The Pearl Qatar is situated in the municipality of Doha and sits on reclaimed land located just outside of the West Bay district. Construction of the island lasted approximately 14 years and resulted in a leisurely built island that offers residential areas, luxury shopping, fine dining, and scenic backdrops. A visit to The Pearl Qatar is a highlight of many people’s visit to Qatar.
The Pearl Qatar offers more than 7,000 residential units, 360 retail shops, a 3.5 km waterfront promenade, and an 891-dock marina. While many tour agencies offer packages of day excursions to The Pearl Qatar, this guide will allow you the necessary information and freedom to explore the island at your own will and at your own pace.
We will provide “all you need to know” details about traveling to this beautiful slice of paradise in the Middle East. We will include the 10 best things to do in The Pearl Qatar and weekend travel ideas for your smooth planning.
So sit back, relax, and welcome to The Pearl Qatar!
Qanat Quartier
Greetings from the Venice of Qatar! This adorable neighborhood of The Pearl not only houses gondola-ready canals in-between buildings, but also pastel-colored buildings which will remind you of Italy.
There are even bridges over the canals, which are the ideal location to take a perfect Instagram photo or simply soak in the scenery. Your vacation photos from Qanat Quartier will be among your favorites due to the adorable colored backdrops here.
Take a relaxing boat ride (typically offered from 9am- 11pm) along the canals of this Middle Eastern Venice, or simply visit this area for a steaming cup of coffee. Either way, we guarantee that you will love your time spent at Qanat Quartier. There are adorable restaurants lined up along the waterways and at night, the hanging lights above the establishments make for an incredibly romantic setting.
This picturesque community also offers small boutiques. Our ideal way to spend the day in this neighborhood is to first take a scenic ride in a water taxi under the bridges and around the various shops and restaurants of the area, then relax with a nice cold gelato at a nearby ice cream store and people watch. Or, if ice cream isn’t your forte, perhaps a nice ice coffee will do the trick at one of Qanat’s nearby coffee shops.
The residential community here is absolutely calming, clean, and comfortable. Apartments and flats for rent are hot on the open market, and living in this neighborhood even temporarily is sure to bring your blood sugar levels down and ease your ways of living.
Medina Centrale
The Medina Centrale is in the heart of The Pearl Qatar. This town square draws many visitors to its inviting environment each day. It is one of the most popular hang out spots among both locals and tourists alike.
A big, refreshing water fountain stands boldly in the middle of the plaza and is surrounded by palm trees that line this Pearl Central Park. Shops and restaurants are available on either side of the Medina Centrale and the plaza is backdropped by colorful yet elegant apartments which rise above the skyline.
The Medina Centrale houses gardens, terraces, canopies, and a grand piazza that resembles those of Europe.
The style of the Medina Centrale appeals to residents and tourists and its serene ambiance contributes to the charm of the man-made island.
During the weekends in the winter, this area hosts many events and celebrations that are safe for the family because the streets are blocked off. Pedestrian-friendly streets give parents a peace of mind regarding the safety of their children.
Along with the communal events in the winter, this precinct regularly ties the community together and is an all-inclusive gathering place. Play areas are also present for children so parents can relax on a nearby bench while their kids play in a safe area.
Enjoy a beverage from a nearby coffee shop and stroll the inviting streets of the Medina Centrale. Or, if you prefer to drive over to the plaza, there are 3,600 parking spaces in the area which make for a headache-free excursion. Valet options are also available nearby.
Porto Arabia Marina
This modern Mediterranean district is a lovely place to take a stroll, take a deep breath of fresh sea air, and admire the lavish boats and mini yachts docked at the marina. There are also a variety of shops and restaurants at the marina, as well as a 5-star hotel. The residential facilities near the marina are upscale living and the dining options are similarly luxurious.
The marina boasts 891 docks, which provides for very entertaining sightseeing. Settle down at a nearby cafe or restaurant and watch the hundreds of boats stroll in and out of the marina. If you are lucky, you may even catch some active wildlife such as jumping fish or dolphins in the distance. Make sure to have your camera ready.
This marina is the largest of The Pearl Qatar’s marinas. The residential population at the marina district is 15,000 and the apartments and townhouses typically rise high and overlook the sea.
If you are lucky enough, or know the right people, yacht owners are also known for throwing and catering private dinner parties at the marina. Some tour services offer this option in their packages, but you may be able to get lucky and find a dinner party on your own if you ask around.
We personally like to take our coffee to go and watch the boats glide in and out of the marina from the Riviera-like boardwalk and really soak in the Mediterranean ambiance.
Harvest Cafe
One of our favorite cafes in The Pearl Qatar and an absolute must-see is Harvest Cafe. This adorable cafe has a French renaissance style and provides the customer with much more than just coffee.
Their most popular items consist of grilled cheese pesto sandwiches, americano coffees, berry iced teas, granola bowls, and chicken sandwiches. Our personal favorites are their banana breads, the protein shake, and the iced flat white latte.
The environment is incredibly inviting and welcomes quick customers as well as writers, readers, and business people who like to take their time working and enjoy their coffee at their own pace. Travelers to this cafe can get lost in how much time they spend here and accidentally spend their whole morning drinking espresso, people watching, and getting absorbed in a good book.
Harvest Cafe has only been open for two years but their food and beverages are gourmet and have even won awards. Along with their minimalist decor, this spot makes for great social media photos as it overlooks the sea.
In the owner’s words, “Harvest is a place of expression and a multicultural place to feel at home.” This cafe is a communal space that brings people of many different backgrounds together. They support local artists and even participated in the Free Palestine movement, hosting week-long informative screenings.
As a non-profit, they do not charge artists to display their art nor do they charge a commission on pieces they sell. Along with incredible coffee and delicious food, we love Harvest Cafe because they are a socially-forward establishment with fresh ideas and a holistic outlook.
Shopping in The Pearl Qatar
The Pearl Qatar has many options for shopping that will satisfy your every fashion need. Here, you can find elegant shopping options for clothes, jewelry, and beauty products, as well as smaller boutiques that are equally as reputable for shopping.
The Pearl Qatar offers similar indoor and outdoor shopping opportunities in an upscale, yet relaxed atmosphere. Here you can find some of your favorite brands, which makes an extended stay in The Pearl very worthwhile.
Some of these stores include:
- Euro Fit Design
- Youssef Al Jasmi
- Hadarah Perfumes
- The Bedroom Store
- Lui Milano
- On Fleek Beauty
- La Casa del Habano
There are also a number of services at The Pearl Qatar such as Looks Men’s Salon, Niya Yoga, Twenty Three Fitness, Marsa Marine Entertainment, Salik Rent a Car, Kiddy Corner Day Care, and Doha Craft Marine.
The Pearl Qatar is a beacon for leisurely activities. It has everything that a great family day-out should include. To make things easier on the parents, there are also a few Valet car options so you don’t have to worry about finding a place to park. Valets also give you a peace of mind while you are shopping because your car is in a safe parking area.
Concierge’s also await the customer at many of The Pearl’s store entrances to greet them and make them feel welcomed. The luxurious hospitality on the island is more than tenfold and ensures that customers want to come back for more.
If you want your shopping experience to be even more elegant, you may also hire a limousine to drive you around, drop you off to shop, and pick you up when you are done.
Shopping is one of the best activities on the island and its many resources available make a day out worry-free.
Viva Bahriya, The Pearl
Viva Bahriya offers sophisticated beach front living arrangements. The architecture present at this precinct showcases some of the best Arabic styles with a hint of Moroccan influence.
The apartments and townhouses here resemble a Moorish elegance and are a perfect fit for either single residents or families.
This residence is located in a quieter area of The Pearl Qatar, offering a relaxing setting to its inhabitants. There is still much going on, however, and there is seldom a dull moment.
Viva Bahriya is one of the prime residential locations on the island due to its beachfront position. This complex offers one to four room options and tower penthouses. A little something to suit everyone’s needs. The units vary in size from 107 to 623 square meters.
Each complex offers a direct beach view, which is great for a multitude of reasons. Not only can you eat breakfast with a jaw-dropping view of the beach and a fresh sea salt scent, but you can also gauge how busy the beach is and decide whether or not you want to visit the beach based on the population count.
The most lavish residential features in Viva Bahriya are the Al Mutahidah Towers. These are comprised of two connected towers each with 24 floors and 480 high-rise residential units.
These consist of studios, lofts, luxury apartments, townhouses, and top-grade penthouses. This offers plenty of variability for everyone and contributes to Viva Bahriya’s wide popularity.
This property is a great rental option for seasonal visitors who wish to stay at The Pearl for extended periods of time. It is also a smart option for tourists who wish to move permanently to the island, or have a permanent business apartment to host clients in.
Piano Stairs
The piano stairs are located in the Qanat Quartier and consist of 30 step-notes. The staircase is in a prime location and overlooks the many retail shops at Qanat.
This musical ensemble is popular not just among children, but tourists of all ages and genders. These musical steps produce a melodic tone and blinking lights upon every step.
The piano steps draw many visitors to the Qanat Quartier alone and are a main attraction at The Pearl.
Passers-by have the option to jump, skip, and twirl across the stairs to produce a rare and personal masterpiece composed by themselves. The stairs are also programmed with ten classical melodies that visitors can enjoy when no one is producing their own song.
Even if you are not so inclined to create your own song, the environment is very inviting and it is fun to simply watch others enjoying the steps and exploring their creativity.
Due to its prime location, after playing on the piano stairs, feel free to take pictures at the Qanat Quartier’s picturesque canals and bridges or enjoy a coffee or ice cream at one of the many surrounding establishments.
Megapolis Entertainment Center in The Pearl Island
The Pearl Qatar offers many entertainment activities. This Megapolis is an indoor entertainment destination located in the Medina Centrale. While it caters to children and young adults, parents will also enjoy the fun ambiance and joy that it brings to their kids.
Here, one can find a variety of high-tech games, arcades, and attractions with colorful interiors and life-size cartoon characters walking around.
This is a dreamland for kids and will keep them entertained for hours. This state-of-the-art entertainment center also offers activities that older adults will enjoy as well such as an escape room, virtual reality, bowling, darts, billiards, karaoke, a racing simulator, and food and beverage options, including a sushi bar.
This complete set of entertainment has something for everyone and makes one fall in love with visiting The Pearl Qatar. This is a popular place for birthday parties and celebrations alike. This is usually the favorite destination to visit in The Pearl for families with children.
The Megapolis also offers mini golf with its own in-house PGA instructor. It is easy to see why the Megapolis is extremely popular among visitors to The Pearl. Some tourists even visit the Megapolis with their families for the sole purpose of hosting their child’s birthday party.
Now that’s a birthday you’ll never forget.
Immerse yourself in this thrill-seeking world at the newly established Megapolis.
Go Apartment Hunting and Live Like the Locals
With over 7,000 residential units, The Pearl Qatar has plenty of space for newcomers. Many tourists visit this man-made island and fall in love. It is not unusual for tourists from both Qatar and abroad to move to The Pearl as either a primary or secondary homestead option.
The most popular residential areas are either near the Porto Arabia Marina or Qanat Quartier. Almost anywhere apartments and townhouses are available on the island, however, have a view of the sea and are each prime locations.
Sites such as ours help the apartment hunter find either a forever or vacation home in Qatar. With over 360 retail shops and restaurants, The Pearl Qatar offers enough attractions not to become bored or idle on the small island. It is much quieter than the nearby big city of Doha yet still receives its fair share of visitors, making for a perfectly balanced residential location.
Even if you are not particularly looking to live in The Pearl, touring different apartments and townhouses for rent allows you to experience the style of local living quarters. This is a great cultural experience and by understanding more about local living arrangements, you can get a better feel for the lifestyles of the Qatari culture.
Go on a Water Taxi Tour
Rent your own taxi boat or hire a guided driver to fully experience all that The Pearl has to offer by boat. A typical price is 25 riyals per person, or 200 Qrs for a private boat. The water taxis tour visitors for approximately 20 minutes around the Porto Arabia Marina. We recommend going for or around the sunset to experience a truly magical boat tour with relaxing waters and a color-changing sky.
The boat ride is safe for children and offers many great Instagram photo opportunities.
For 65 Qrs per person, the water taxi drivers can even take you straight to the Museum of Islamic Art and back. This way, you can cross two activities off of your Pearl travel list at once.
The water taxi services running from the Porto Arabia Marina are usually operating from 8am until midnight everyday. The Qanat Quartier services are from 2:30pm- 10:30pm on the weekdays and operate until 11:30pm on the weekends. Anytime before 2:30 is open only for residents and operates on an on-call basis.
As there is only one road in and one road out of the island, traffic can be dense on the weekends. The water taxis are an increasingly popular way to get around The Pearl Qatar for a small price and no traffic.
There is also an option for residents to purchase a monthly water taxi pass for only 150 Qrs per two people.
Conclusion
The man-made island of The Pearl Qatar is an excellent vacation get away for both Qatar residence and international tourists alike. There are plenty of activities for the family to keep you occupied and the island offers a slower pace of living.
Its many restaurants, ice cream shops, and cafes give the island a homey feel and welcome visitors for the long run.
There are countless available options for housing in The Pearl and apartments and townhouses are often on the market.
After a few days of exploring The Pearl Qatar, the big city of Doha is just a short car ride away and offers much variability in leisure activities as well as international food.
It is very easy to spend a few days, weeks, or even months at The Pearl Qatar and its surrounding areas. The many luxury hotel options make it hard to leave the island, as their 4 and 5 star staff treat their guests like royalty.
If you are new to Qatar or have visited before but didn’t get a chance to explore The Pearl Qatar, you will not be disappointed at the welcoming environment of the island and the innumerable enterprises that it has to offer.