What to do in Al Shamal

On Qatar’s northeastern coastline, Fuwairit Beach is one of the favorite secret getaway spots for expats, visitors and local residents. Dig your toes in the soft sand and wade into the blue-green waters of the Persian Gulf. Visit Fuwairit Beach for a quiet escape close enough to get to with an easy drive and far enough from the city that you won’t find crowds.

At first glance, an Al Jassasiya visit may seem anticlimactic, given the barren desert setting and lack of signage, yet dig a bit further and you’ll soon discover the astonishing petroglyphs for which this site is renowned. While petroglyphs can be found along Qatar’s coast and on Al Hawar Island in Bahrain, the Al Jassasiya site is the most impressive.

For those with an interest in history and archaeology, visiting Freiha is a Qatar highlight. Among the many ancient discoveries across the country, this deserted village on the peninsula’s northwest coast is one of its most noteworthy.

Constructed in the 19th century and renovated in 1988, Al Rakayat Fort is a good example of the many abandoned protective defenses across the Qatari peninsula. Visit Al Rakayat Fort to see the typical design and construction that was easily achieved using local materials. The structure provided a defense against enemies as well as shelter from the sun.

While many of the historic sites in northwestern Qatar are in various early states of excavation and preservation, Al Thagab Fort has already been restored twice to the structural appearance it had when it was occupied. When you visit Al Thagab Fort notice the coral, limestone and mud materials and building techniques used in the 2003 reconstruction. These are similar to those used during the fort’s original creation hundreds of years ago.