Al Safliya Island

Al Safliya Island is a small island in the shallow waters off Doha, the capital of Qatar. It lies about 3 miles north of Ras Abu Aboud, facing the Corniche and the West Bay skyline across the water.

The island is about 2 miles long from east to west and very narrow, flat and sandy with only scattered patches of grass, and it has no permanent residents. It has long been a weekend escape for Doha residents with private boats, and in recent years it has become a standard stop on dhow cruises and speedboat trips from the Corniche and the Old Doha Port.

The appeal is simple: clear, shallow turquoise water, a white sand beach and wide views back toward the city. Visitors swim, snorkel in the shallows, paddle board, kayak and picnic on the sand. Organised trips usually stop for one to three hours and may provide shade, drinks and snorkelling gear. At low tide, large sand flats appear around the island.

There are no shops, freshwater taps or permanent toilets on the island, and shade is scarce. Tour boats bring what is needed for a short visit.

There is no entry fee for the island itself, but the boat trip is paid. The journey from Doha takes about 30 to 40 minutes. The cooler months from October to April are the most comfortable, and calm, low-wind days give the best swimming.

Why is it called Al Safliya?

Al Safliya means "the lower one" in Arabic. The name comes from its position south of Al Aaliya Island, "the upper one", and Visit Qatar places it just south of The Pearl. Its base is mostly coral reef, which sets it apart from Qatar's outer islands such as Halul and Shra'ouh, which sit on ancient igneous and metamorphic rock.

Pergolas, crowded shade and cleaning up after yourself

Shade on Al Safliya comes from the 35 pergolas installed by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment in 2015, during a clean-up that removed waste and cans left by earlier visitors. A few wooden umbrellas have been added since, but they fill quickly on Fridays. Take every bag and bottle back to the boat with you, as there are no bins.