Old Doha Port

Old Doha Port lies at the eastern end of the Doha Corniche, on a peninsula reaching into Doha Bay opposite the Museum of Islamic Art. For decades it was Qatar's main commercial harbour, until cargo shipping moved to the new Hamad Port south of the city.

After the cargo operations moved, the old port was rebuilt as a passenger and leisure harbour. It now handles cruise ships at its passenger terminal, and its basins hold marinas for yachts and traditional wooden dhows.

The most visited part is Mina District, a waterfront neighbourhood of low buildings painted in bright colours, opened in time for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Its streets hold cafes, seafood restaurants, small shops and galleries, and murals and art installations make it popular for photographs. A fish market and a waterfront promenade complete the area.

From the port, dhow cruises and other boat trips run along the bay with views of the West Bay skyline and the Corniche. Events, markets and festivals are held in the open spaces, especially in the cooler months.

Entry to the public areas is free. The district is most pleasant from late afternoon into the evening, when the heat eases and the cafes fill.

The port was Qatar's oldest harbour and its main trade gateway from the 1940s, which explains the working feel that survives in names such as Containers Yard. That corner of the waterfront is built from colourful repurposed shipping containers. Parking is available there and outside Mina District.

Cruise traffic is now the port's main business. In 2024 the Grand Cruise Terminal handled 81 ship calls and about 350,000 passengers, its busiest season so far. Passengers can walk off the ship straight into Mina District.

Food is the other draw. The port has more than 50 places to eat, from seafood grills facing the dhow harbour to coffee kiosks in the pastel lanes, and the five-star Mina Hotel and Residences stands inside the district. The wider port has walking and cycling tracks, the largest boat slipway in Qatar and more than 500,000 square metres of landscaped parks, with the Museum of Islamic Art park and Al Bidda Park close by.

Without a car, take the Doha Metro Gold Line to National Museum station and walk about 20 minutes along the Corniche, or take a taxi from Souq Waqif.