Al Zubarah, a pearling town on the World Heritage List
A walled coastal town, Al Zubarah flourished on pearling and trade in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, before it was destroyed in 1811 and abandoned in the early 1900s, UNESCO notes. Founded by merchants from Kuwait, it had trading links across the Indian Ocean, Arabia and Western Asia. The site has been on the World Heritage List since 2013.
A layer of sand blown in from the desert has protected the remains: palaces, mosques, streets, courtyard houses, fishermen’s huts, a harbour, double defensive walls, a canal and cemeteries. Only a small part of the site has been excavated.
The fort and the old town
Al Zubarah Fort, built in 1938 according to Visit Qatar, displays objects found on the site: cooking pots, diving weights, cannonballs, clay pipes, coins. According to Qatar Museums, the site stretches 2.5 km from the fort to the coast and covers 60 hectares; a shuttle links the fort to the old town, and a Service Centre with restrooms stands near the fort.
Entry is by ticket, through Qatar Museums, which also publishes the opening hours, shorter on Fridays: check them, and ideally buy tickets in advance, before setting a departure time.
Qatar Museums points out that its heritage sites are often remote, with limited or no facilities, and that conditions may be rugged: bring comfortable shoes and clothing.
The drive from Doha
The site lies some 100 km north-west of Doha, according to Qatar Museums and Visit Qatar. For Al Shamal, in the north of the country, 97 km from Doha, Visit Qatar gives a drive of about an hour and a half; the actual time depends on your starting point and the traffic.
With the drive there, the visit and the drive back, allow at least half a day: it is a long-distance journey, to be booked as a chauffeur by the hour so that your chauffeur waits for you on site. Depending on passengers and luggage, an SUV or a van such as a Mercedes V-Class may suit better than a saloon; vehicles are provided by the Federation’s members, subject to their availability.
Choosing the season and the time of day
The visit takes place in the open air. Visit Qatar recommends October to May for time outdoors; from June to September, the heat is intense, and humidity can be felt on the coast. An early start, on a day other than Friday, leaves the visit to the coolest hours.
During Ramadan, shops, restaurants and cultural venues mostly stay closed during the day and reopen after iftar, according to Visit Qatar: check the site’s opening hours and plan lunch accordingly.
Planning the day
An unhurried visit is better than a crowded itinerary. A few combinations that work well:
- An early start from Doha, a visit to the fort and the old town, back in the afternoon.
- Al Zubarah in the morning, then Lusail on the way back, for dinner by the marina. See Private chauffeur in Lusail.
For your quote, tell us the date, the address and time of departure, the number of passengers, your visiting slot if you already have tickets, and when you want to be back. Let’s talk about your visit.