Al Wakrah Beach

Al Wakrah Beach is a free public family beach beside Souq Al Wakrah in Al Wakrah, about 15 kilometres south of Doha on Qatar's east coast. With calm, very shallow water, playgrounds and seafood restaurants a few steps away, it suits families with small children and visitors who want a beach and a souq dinner in one outing.

Al Wakrah is the capital of Al Wakrah Municipality and began as a fishing and pearling village; pearling drove its economy before oil. The Al Wakrah Spit reaches about 2.5 kilometres into the Gulf, and the shore along the town is wide, soft sand. About 4 kilometres of coastline run from the beach to the fishing harbour.

Shallow water and wide tidal flats at low tide

The water is calm but very shallow, and at low tide it retreats across wide tidal flats. Swimmers may have to walk a long way out to reach water deep enough to swim, so check tide times and aim for high tide. Small children can paddle safely near the shore, though there are rocks in places, so water shoes help.

Mangroves and small fish live in the shallows. There may be no lifeguard on duty, so supervise children closely at all times.

Gazebos, barbecue areas, showers and free entry

Visit Qatar and Marhaba list gazebos, umbrellas, playgrounds, a volleyball court, a football pitch, barbecue areas, showers and toilets. Replica dhows sit on the sand, and parking is shared with the souq. Entry is free and the beach is open all year, around the clock; some activities around the souq are paid.

Souq Al Wakrah and the old town

Souq Al Wakrah opened in late 2014 with more than a hundred shops, restaurants and cafés in traditional buildings along the waterfront, and the beach beside it opened to the public in mid-2017. The heritage village covers more than 3 kilometres of waterfront next to the port. Al Wakrah has more historic wind towers than any other town in Qatar, built to catch the breeze and cool the rooms below. Al Wakrah Fort, about a kilometre away, dates from the early 20th century and has two round towers.