Entertainment Side of Qatar

thexonic
By thexonic

So I see a lot of people still complain about entertainment in Qatar. But the main question is, who do you hang out with? Not where do you hang out!
If you spend your time with a bunch of boring friends, then you will be bored even at the most entertaining place on earth!

You might have to expand your budget a little bit more for entertainment, but there are alternatives. Fun doesn't have to cost money, it's the luxury you pay for.

Another thing I realized in Qatar is a racial thing. Even though we live in a multicultural society in Qatar, I dont see much diversity when it comes to hanging out!... be liberal people!

If you get your finances and friends right and you are not being lazy, then here are a few things you can do around (of course this is based on my research):

For weekends

Budget QRs. 0 - 300 Per person

Pool & Bowling - Places like hotshots, kazaa, Qatar bowling center are all over the city, make use of them!

Aqua park - The aqua park might be

Paintball - There are 2 paintball places in Qatar:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/PaintballInQatar/?fref=ts

Katara beach - There are a number of affordable activities:
http://www.katara.net/english/the-village/fun/

Cinema - Every week there's at least 1 good movie worth watching:
http://www.cinecomovies.com/

Swimming & Tanning - From beaches near Dukhan free of cost to 60 Riyals at Oasis beach gives us a good variety of selections (long drive to Dukhan can be considered as an activity).

Walking - The weather is getting a bit better now, its a good time to go out for a stroll at Corniche, Katara or even at the Pearl.

Massages & Spa - Once a month or 2 months it is not a bad idea to pamper yourself, get a treatment. Relax and be stress free. Look up at the affordable massage place or spa near you and visit it.

Malls - There are a bunch of malls all over Qatar now, go get some shopping done!

Cafes & Cakes - I think most of you love coffee and almost every month there are new cafe or bakery opening in Qatar, check it out... they are good like Tasmeem, Red velvet, MBCo. etc.. try something new today.

Food - Don't even get me started on this, there are as many food outlets as there are people here and variety of price ranges.

Shisha - It's usually a good idea to have your shisha after your dinner or lunch. There are a bunch of cafes ranging from 20 to 50 riyals to have shisha at. Cafes like Grand Joud, Souq Waqif (is filled with Shisha cafes), Petit Cafe etc..

Cricket - You can find people playing cricket on weekends all over Doha, usually after Friday prayers... go socialize and have fun together!

Museums & Art Galleries - Visit the Islamic Museum and utilize the park they have made for you, Look up Malawal... It might interest you. There are a bunch of art galleries and shows going on around now a days at Katara as well.

SUCQ - Stand up comedy nights happen every month, once or twice. It is worth a visit and if you are funny, then the stage is yours!
Keep updated at: www.sucq.org

Track & Drift - If you own a sports car and are interested in racing related activities drag, drift, track day etc... or even interested in watching the show, there events happening every now and then at Qatar Racing Club in industrial area or at Lusail Circuit.
https://www.facebook.com/qatarracingclub

Daily basis:

Gyms, Zumba, Martial arts - are a few things you can take under consideration.

Shisha's have been my friend, of course the ghetto places. Shisha and a cup of tea or coffee.

There are plenty other activities and events happening around. Keep yourself updated either online on various websites like QL, ILQ, Qatar happening or pick up a magazine like Timeout Doha, FACT etc.. Or even google and facebook can guide you to them!

Now I know they are not the best or what suitable for your taste but, no harm in trying!... Who knows you might start enjoying them.

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By anonymous• 31 Oct 2012 17:41
anonymous

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By Helmy88• 26 Oct 2012 15:42
Helmy88

You rock dude thanks for the tips ;)

By rimazsocial• 22 Oct 2012 11:44
Rating: 4/5
rimazsocial

This is the best positive post I have ever read abt Qatar & its Entertainment, Thank you Friend.

I am impressed on these words :

"If you spend your time with a bunch of boring friends, then you will be bored even at the most entertaining place on earth!"

"Another thing I realized in Qatar is a racial thing. Even though we live in a multicultural society in Qatar, I dont see much diversity when it comes to hanging out!... be liberal people!"

And its true

By halalbilal• 21 Oct 2012 14:28
halalbilal

This is our next event - check it out: http://www.qatarliving.com/events/comedy/comedy-showdown-team-qatar-vs-team-expat

By anonymous• 21 Oct 2012 12:49
anonymous

http://www.facebook.com/?sk=h_chr#!/pages/Where-In-Qatar/276934289094755

By mohammed31• 21 Oct 2012 12:41
mohammed31

Excellent post.

Boredom is an attitude.

By halalbilal• 21 Oct 2012 00:16
halalbilal

Good to be listed with all these cool activities - thanks for the support and look forward to seeing more people at our next show.

We are actually planning a COMEDY SHOWDOWN > TEAM QATAR VS TEAM EXPAT. This event aims to bring together all the different communities that call Qatar home, both nationals and expatriates. Come and enjoy some muticultural humour, and lets laugh at ourselves, and each other - but do it all together!

By mohdata• 20 Oct 2012 14:07
Rating: 4/5
mohdata

thanks to the OP for finding time to contribute so constructively to these forums. and to some others, please do not drag down the post by pointing out how the suggestions don't work and how other places are better. The post only suggests how you can make the most of the situation and nowhere suggests that all is perfect and rosy in qatar. abu dhabi has nice seafronts and dubai has chilled beers but you are here and this post is about here so yeah:-)

By Victory_278692• 20 Oct 2012 13:08
Rating: 2/5
Victory_278692

entertainment comes heavy on the wallet with not so good quality. Secondly consider a family of 4 to 5 persons, the entertainment budget would be QR1,000/- a month with much hassles and at not good value for money. Take an example of one and only Aqua Park, how you rate this place in terms of safety, distance from Doha and quality of entertainment vis a vis to the cost of 5 adults visits.

No doubt Qatar is working hard to make this place lively but with very slow pace and missing quality and expensive.

By Brave_heart_2010• 20 Oct 2012 09:42
Rating: 4/5
Brave_heart_2010

thexonic,... great ideas and you are right. but the problem is in two things, Quality and Quantity :

most of these services you mentioned is low quality. compare Cornech here and in AD. here, bathrooms not enough, dirty. no good resturents, no cofeeshops,..bad and very limited kids areas (cannot they make 100 swings on that big supports..!!)

Quantity : every where you have to queue,.. no parking, tell me where you can find a parking in friday at 6pm,...!! not in cornech, malls, even musume parks,...

Aqua Park and Katara beach are charging 100QR for all, kids, maid,..etc. and it's far from Doha(Aqua). and guess what,..usually crowded,...

By nomad_08• 20 Oct 2012 09:31
nomad_08

For 'bachelors' entertainment its the Corniche and Souq only...sorry.

By kobashi• 20 Oct 2012 08:40
kobashi

and what about "family days" that bachelors can't enter to some places!

By thexonic• 19 Oct 2012 22:35
thexonic

You are most welcome Fatima :)

By FathimaH• 18 Oct 2012 21:12
FathimaH

An invaluable post indeed.Pretty much sums up all Qatar has to offer as entertainment. Well done..

By thexonic• 18 Oct 2012 17:47
Rating: 2/5
thexonic

Well then they can go to Dubai, no one is stopping them. If they are that sick minded, they shouldn't be here to begin with!

Qatar is better off from your definition of "girls" and chill beer!

By MANAT2010• 18 Oct 2012 15:50
MANAT2010

for most of population entertainment means girls and a chill beer!!!!!!! that you will not get in Qatar...only in Dubai...........

By thexonic• 18 Oct 2012 15:17
thexonic

You all are most welcome.

Just arrived, you do need to take some time out for activities. "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" remember?

Prism, yes indeed few are missing.

Smoke yes I am still around, just been busy. U know life lol.

By Prism• 18 Oct 2012 12:43
Prism

Nice post...seems a few are left out still. Track and drift is cool but doing it yourself is super cool. It was a bit scary in the beginning but now I am getting hang of it..:)

By smoke• 18 Oct 2012 12:38
smoke

TheXonic you are alive? Long time no see :)

By anonymous• 18 Oct 2012 12:34
anonymous

My problem is not being bored. But don't have enough time to do it.

One of the most important thing that they can do is work, work and work. Then go on vacation and spend all your time in doing what you want to do.

By osamabawab• 18 Oct 2012 12:14
osamabawab

TFS

By painther• 18 Oct 2012 12:10
Rating: 5/5
painther

Fantastic Post (after ages in QL), Thanks for summing it up all.

Nicely put, "If you spend your time with a bunch of boring friends, then you will be bored even at the most entertaining place on earth!"

By thexonic• 18 Oct 2012 11:38
thexonic

By the way Summer is not 6 months over here, its around 5 months more or less!

By thexonic• 18 Oct 2012 11:38
thexonic

U can do most of the activities I have mentioned during summer too. Re-read what I wrote, most of them are indoor!

By Victory_278692• 18 Oct 2012 11:35
Victory_278692

contribution and suggested ideas for entertainment during this period.

What to do in 6 months of burning summer in dusty doha?

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