Qatar with Qatar Airways: Here are 5 great experiences from Doha to Ras Abrouq 

Qatar with Qatar Airways: Here are 5 great experiences from Doha to Ras Abrouq is written by Jacob Gowland Jørgensen. The editors were invited along for the ride Visit Qatar and Qatar Airways. All opinions are, as usual, those of the editors.

Travel with Qatar Airways to Doha – and the rest of Qatar

Qatar became known throughout the world for the 2022 World Cup finals in football, where Argentina won after the most nerve-wracking game in football history. Their airport in Doha, Hamad International Airport (DOH), is also one of the busiest in the world, with Qatar Airways flying to over 170 destinations.

But otherwise, few people know much about the small state, which is considered to be the world's richest country in relation to the number of inhabitants.

The small peninsula close by Dubai og Bahrain takes up only a quarter of Denmark, and most of it is even desert. Yet Qatar actually offers a great deal to the discerning traveller.

So here you get 5 travel tips for what you can bring on a holiday in Qatar, and there will probably be a surprise or two in the package.

The journey to Qatar starts on the plane: With Qatar Airways in Q-suite Business Class

My tea is steaming, and the little crispy croissant is waiting.

I am sitting in the Adventure Lounge at CPH, Copenhagen Airport, looking out at the planes. I have been upgraded to business class which gives fast track and lounge access, and I sit and enjoy that. But the best is yet to come, because for the first time I will try Q-suite, which is the iconic business class at Qatar Airways.

Seat 5A is waiting for me.

I get on the plane quickly, and the most service-oriented crew is ready to make the 6-hour trip directly from Copenhagen to Doha a breeze. I have been plenty of times with Qatar Airways before, but always in economy, and there the service is certainly good and includes really good food. But the experience in the Q-suite is just in a league of its own.

Flight attendant Evelyn makes everything happen in no time. So 5 minutes after walking out the gate I'm sitting on the plane with a 'So Jeannie' cocktail in hand and feet up.

Fantastic.

There is of course an order-yourself menu with an accompanying wine list, where I can recognize several of the French wines. She asks when I want to eat, in what order I want it and what I would like from the excellent menu.

Being the curious person that I am, I curiously inquire, and it turns out that she is from Hong Kong as part of quite an international team on the plane, and she immediately shares a few pleasant Hong Kong anecdotes with a smile.

The journey is underway and I can feel the butterflies in my stomach. Now it starts.

They hand out some pajama-like clothes, Q-suite lounge wear, so I'm crawling in that, and it's absolutely right. Super comfortable and relaxed.

I've never experienced 6 hours go by so fast on a plane before. Never. And I've been to 105 countries, so I've been in the higher air layers quite a few times before.

The good food, cool drinks, copious amounts of chai, cozy chats with the crew and a few movies in my little cabin where you really get privacy that I've never experienced before - not even in business class anywhere else, yes, the time flies really fast.

If I can, I always choose the national airline when going somewhere new. Because the journey already starts on the plane, and there you are just lucky that Qatar Airways has been voted one of the world's best airlines. And Doha airport, DOH, often wins the Skytrax poll for best airport in the world. So also in 2024.

It's not every day that you can fly in business class, but if I had to choose an airline to do it on, Qatar Airways is an obvious choice.

Doha: A big city with room for people – Mina and Al-Maha

The first surprise came already a few hours after we had landed.

I had been to Qatar once before on a long layover for 36 hours. It was 10 years ago, and I had just managed to see a part of the centre.

A lot had happened since then. Both because of the World Cup in football, but also because the country has actively decided that they want a capital where both tourists and locals have enough to experience. And surprisingly, the new was actually very human-friendly – ​​yes, even cozy.

The Mina district by the old harbor consists of a cozy pedestrian street with new low houses in traditional style. A small main street completely without traffic with local shops, fish shops and restaurants. Here we went after the sun had set and the dry desert heat had become tolerable here in April. Yes, it's new, but it feels like they've made an effort, and we met lots of local couples on the evening walk.

Al Maha area is full of restaurants along the water. And again: There are no tall buildings here, but rather a harbor promenade with a view of the city's skyline on the other side of the water plus a funfair with space for children and childish souls.

We ate at Carbone, an Italian restaurant with a water view from the terrace, and it was to be the first of many amazing meals in Qatar.

Doha is also home to two world-class museums, both of which are architectural gems, and whether you're interested in art and history or not, they're well worth a visit.

The Museum of Islamic Art is out in the water by itself, because the architect wanted to make sure that it would not be overshadowed by anything else. It is an extraordinarily beautiful building that becomes absolutely magical at sunset. Get here early if you want to see what the museum has to offer in terms of art treasures.

The National Museum in Doha is in the same league. It is from 2019 and was built with inspiration from a so-called sand rose - also called desert rose - which is a rather unique desert stone without straight angles. Wildly beautiful. And the exhibitions were made with the latest technology, so that even the dustiest history becomes relevant.

They can both be recommended.

It may be tempting to think that Doha is like Dubai, but it certainly isn't.

Doha is smaller, there are clearly fewer people, and there are the cozy areas inside the city itself, where Dubai is more characterized by the ultra-tall buildings. Doha also has a nice skyline - it just has the more down-to-earth aspect.

Hotels in Doha – an experience in itself

A local told me that almost every month during the winter months a new hotel opens in Doha. Tourism is here to stay, and there must be room for it.

In February 2024, the Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay opened, a sister hotel to the classic and iconic hotel Waldorf Astoria in New York. Yes, the one that was in the Eddie Murphy movie Coming to America.

The hotel is therefore also a fascinating mix of vintage luxury and state-of-the-art facilities. We were going to live here, and I got a huge suite walk in closet, living room and a fantastic view.

We try everything at the hotel.

First, the spa with the latest technology and everything from sauna to massage.

Then The Cortland Bar, where there is live music and several famous drinks.

We test the bistro restaurant Tribeca Market for lunch, where we get small dishes from all over the world.

And then the grand finale: The gourmet restaurant Muru, which is a tribute to the four elements of nature. We threw ourselves into the large tasting menu created by chef Mauro Colagreco, who is one of the famous Michelin - chefs in Europe. However, he is originally Argentine, and there is no denying that, because there was of course an Argentine as well roast, where delicacies can be roasted 'live'.

It's been a long time since I've been this full because everything tasted amazing so it all had to be tried and it was. Served with a smile and in the best way.

It can definitely be recommended.

The Desert of Qatar: An Adventure

Our Habitats Ras Abrouq is as beautiful a place as the name is tongue-in-cheek. It is an hour's drive from Doha on the other side of the peninsula and is a new luxury beach resort with a focus on well-being and tranquility.

Here, time stands still in the best way. Here, life is easy and manageable.

Beach, large pool, small pool. Repeat.

Breakfast lunch dinner. Repeat.

Kayak, yoga, bonfire evening. Repeat.

Calm quickly fell over one, and the employees from all over the world also did their part to make it easy.

We lived in an elegant and still cozy beach villa with a direct view of the beach and the sea. With Danish new classics from Caneline as lounge furniture and locally inspired art on the wall.

The resort is very keen on creating community. You all eat in the restaurant. There is a communal bonfire at the beach. And at the same time there is plenty of space for privacy and peace.

On the way out we spotted the national animal; the impressive oryx, a kind of gazelle with fine twisted horns. That such an animal can survive in the desert, where there are extreme temperature fluctuations and surprisingly little to eat, is deeply impressive.

More of these desert resorts and beach camps are coming, and they come in different price levels from affordable to absolute luxury.

The desert is the core in Qatar and therefore also an important part of the culture.

Service, safety and smiles in Qatar

The whole world meets in Qatar.

Not just at the airport, but also quite literally, it is a country that brings people together from many places.

I made it a habit to ask the people I met where they were from, and we made it most of the way around the world: Senegal, Kenya og Morocco. The Netherlands, Italy og Sweden. Bangladesh, Phillipines og Hong Kong.

This cultural melting pot often delivers a towering level of service, because that's why they're there. Usually even with a sincere smile.

This, combined with the fact that Qatar is one of the safest countries to be in, makes the country a really easy, well-functioning and safe destination. On the other hand, it is not the cheapest place to be, but the quality is usually fine.

And it's a small country that's easy to get around in. It can certainly do something.

The flight home with Qatar Airways: With Møns Klint to port

Before departure, I cheered myself up by eating in the new Louis Vuitton Lounge at the airport.

The flight home went even faster than the flight out because it was a night flight, and then 6 hours are quickly over. The sun rose as we approached Denmark, and out of the morning mist came the mountain Moens Klint to port. Beautiful sight.

The service was again absolutely excellent.

I love to travel, and I'm just as excited to return home. And the sight of Møns Klint gave a good feeling that a good journey was now well over.

Have a good trip to an overlooked and safe travel country - have a good trip to Qatar.

15 facts about Qatar for your trip

1. Location: Qatar is located on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula.
2. Capital: Doha is the capital and largest city of Qatar.
3. Economy: Qatar has the world's third largest natural gas reserves, which have contributed to the country's economy and development, along with finance, technology, healthcare and tourism.
4. National Day: Qatar National Day is celebrated on December 18 and commemorates the country's unification in 1878 under the rule of Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani.
5. Qatari cuisine: Qatari cuisine is a blend of traditional Arabic, Persian, Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine. Popular dishes include machboos (seasoned rice with meat) hummus and grilled meat.
6. World Cup in football 2022: Qatar hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup, making it the first Middle Eastern country to host the prestigious football tournament.
7. Desert landscape: Qatar's desert landscape is a paradise for adventure enthusiasts and offers activities such as dune bashing, desert safaris and camel races. It provides a unique experience of traditional Qatari culture.
8. Museum of Islamic Art: The Museum of Islamic Art in Doha is a stunning building and houses one of the world's most extensive collections of Islamic art. The collection spans 1400 years of history and displays masterpieces from all over the Islamic world.
9. Souk Waqif: Souq Waqif, a traditional market in the heart of Doha, offers an insight into Qatari culture with its labyrinthine alleys, shops, restaurants and cafes.
10. Katara Cultural Village: Katara Cultural Village is a center for art, music and cultural events. It hosts festivals, exhibitions and performances from around the world.
11. Qatar National Library: The Qatar National Library, which opened in 2017, is not only an architectural gem but also a center of learning and cultural exchange.
12. Education City: Education City in Doha is an educational initiative that houses branches of prestigious international universities. This makes Qatar a regional center for higher education and research.
13. Aspire Zone: Aspire Zone in Doha is a modern sports complex with facilities for football, tennis, athletics and other sports.
14. Pearl-Qatar: The Pearl-Qatar is an artificial island that covers almost 400 hectares and includes luxury residences, hotels and marinas.
15. Qatar Airways: Qatar's national airline, Qatar Airways, has won numerous awards and is known for its luxurious service and modern fleet. The company connects Doha with over 150 destinations worldwide.