A Short Trip to West Bay, Doha

Business travels are part of my professional journey now. I love the short trips, thought not an ample time to visit a whole gamut of places. Yet sufficient to peek into few places and relax the mind. Recently I visited Doha, Qatar and most of my time was spent at West Bay. Today I felt like penning down my short and sweet experience at West Bay. Not an elaborate one but yet was fascinated by the buildings with their architectural beauty and the views of the beach nearby.

An overview of West Bay

A beautiful place, bright and shinning with the skyscrapers, sea views, beaches, hotels, parks, restaurants and some of the best shops for the tourists and locals. It is said to be the business district of Doha, essentially since there are headquarters of Corporate offices and of the government too. Travel to West Bay is easy, connected via Metro and bus routes. I availed the Metro though as I was at staying at Holiday Inn at the Business park which is about 3 to 4 stations away from West Bay. The metro services are extremely good, hence you can travel with no worries. The bus services are also excellent equipped with AC and frequency is also high.

Attractions at West Bay

The main attraction of West Bay is the Doha tower or also known as Burj Doha. The design is significantly unique, the brainchild of the French architect Jean Nouvel. The concept is based on the ancient Islamic patterns. Luckily the building was near my office and when I spotted the building I was unaware of its history. In 2012, the building earned two awards – The best tall building in the Middle East and North Africa by Chicago-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat named and Overall Project of the Year award at the fifth annual Middle East Architect Awards 2012. The shape of the building is like a bullet and if you watch it carefully, you can notice the Islamic latticework. The sun rays reflect on the design and create stunning geometric patterns of light.

The beach near West Bay is one of the key attractions at West Bay. You can go for a cruise and visit the islands nearby. If you love water adventure sports, you can go for jet skiing along the sea waters. Overall a unique experience, but better to attempt once the sun rays are pleasant else its too hot during the day. If you are visiting during the months of December, January or February, its pleasant. You can also avail the cruises during the night when the weather is comparatively cool and soothing. In fact, if you ask me, I will recommend to cruise during the night when the lights are on, a view around which is truly mesmerizing.

The skyscrapers around the place are something to be appreciated. The Islamic bank headquarters, Burj Al Mana apartment, Qatar energy headquarters, QIC headquarters and many more are present at West Bay. I kept on clicking photos especially because of the elegant style of architecture. The buildings are remarkably tall and capture the eyes. At night the view is truly awesome, the lights sparkling across and creating a different environment.

Food stalls and restaurants

Here is a list of restaurants near West Bay, Doha for a fabulous lunch or dinner.

1. Ar Mourjan
2. Qatar Sports Club
3. Dalchini Restaurant and Bar
4. Maya Doha
5. Shanghai Garden
6. Avoca restaurant
7. Maison de Sushi
8. Nobu Doha
9. Twisted Olive
10. Sabali
11. Sora Rooftop
12. Boston’s
13. Olive Oil
14. The Den
15. Caramel

Shopping Arena

The City Center Mall is the perfect place to satisfy your shopping spree. There are plenty of shops inside where you can stroll around. If you want to buy some clothes, you can select from the popular global and local brands. If you want to buy some shoes, there are options available. Best is the CarreFour where you can check for bakery products, fresh ruit juices, pancakes and many more. If you are looking for currency conversion, there are authorized money exchangers to help you. Overall a truly amazing experience with all the luxuries and comforts.

I will be coming up with more such short trips soon.