Electric Qatar

As Doha prepares to make history by hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, we dropped in to take the temperature of a city full of surprises.

- Kathy Glavas

IF ONE OF THE BEST REASONS to travel is to broaden your horizons – to chip away at preconceptions of how others live, work and play – then, for me, Doha is a brilliant destination.

Before touching down at Hamad International Airport around midnight on a Saturday, what do I imagine Qatar’s capital will be like? Hot, most definitely. But as we’re heading to our hotel I’m blown away by the stunning neon-lit skyline, motorways and harbour – and by the buzz emanating from the streets.

Okay, but let’s get the heat out of the way. Yes, it’s hot – really hot! Temperatures during my stay climb into the high 40s. One afternoon, while I’m hanging out by the pool, I’m approached by a staffer who says gently, “You shouldn’t be out now – it’s nearly 50 degrees”. Nightfall brings relief, though on most nights it’s also the cue for the humidity to kick in. Let’s just say you wouldn’t want to run an ultramarathon in this city.

But the point isn’t that Doha – surprise, surprise – gets hot. Rather, it’s that its residents are acutely aware of this and do all in their power to keep visitors (and themselves) comfortable. For a start, the scope and quality of air conditioning in this city are beyond extraordinary. Air con is everywhere – and works a charm. And wherever I go, I’m offered either bottled water or Karak tea, the unofficial national drink, a refreshing mixture of tea leaves, evaporated milk and spices.

So, while you need to choose carefully the times you get out and about, you have to do it because Doha’s attractions are many and varied. And come on! We’re Australians. We’re used to scorching weather.