Aspire Tower (The Torch Doha)

Aspire Tower rises in Aspire Zone, the sports district of Doha in the municipality of Al Rayyan, next to Khalifa International Stadium and Aspire Park. It was designed by the architect Hadi Simaan with AREP and the engineers Arup, and built as the centrepiece of the 15th Asian Games, held in Doha in December 2006. During the Games, a flame burned at its top.

The tower has also been known as the Khalifa Sports Tower and the Doha Olympic Tower. At about 300 metres, it is one of the tallest structures in Qatar.

Its shape recalls a sports torch: a slim concrete core rises from a broad base and widens near the top into a mesh-covered head. The tower contains The Torch Doha, a hotel with rooms and suites, and a revolving restaurant near the top that turns slowly to give a full view over Doha, the stadium and the desert. A sky lounge offers more views from above the restaurant. At night the tower is lit with changing colours, and it often shows designs for national and sporting events.

Aspire Park, the largest park in Doha, spreads out at the tower's base, and Villaggio Mall is across the road.

There is no fee to see the tower from outside. Access to the upper floors is for hotel guests and restaurant or lounge customers, and bookings are advised. Sport City station on the Gold Line serves the area.

The tower has 36 floors and was built at a cost of about €133 million, with Buro Happold also listed among the structural engineers. The hotel inside has 163 rooms and suites. The restaurant at the top is called Three Sixty, after its full rotation, and the tower also has an observation deck.