Umm Bab Beach (Palm Tree Beach)

Umm Bab Beach, known as Palm Tree Beach, is a quiet public beach with calm, shallow water on Qatar's west coast, about 85 km west of Doha and 25 km south of Dukhan. It is free with almost no facilities, and suits campers, barbecue groups and families who bring their own supplies for a half day or a night under the stars.

Umm Bab is a small settlement in Al-Shahaniya Municipality, about 25 kilometres south of Dukhan and 85 kilometres west of Doha. Its beach is known locally as Al Kharaij Beach and more widely as Palm Tree Beach, after a small group of palm trees near the shore by a small breakwater.

The area grew with Qatar's oil industry. An 85-kilometre pipeline built in the 1940s carried oil from Dukhan to Mesaieed for the country's first oil export in December 1949. In 1948 a housing village was built south of Umm Bab for Qatar Petroleum workers and local residents, most of them from the Al Murrah tribe.

The Qatar National Cement Company set up its headquarters in the area in 1965 and began processing cement in 1969, one of the first major industries outside oil in the country.

The beach has soft sand and calm, shallow water facing west, so evenings bring sunsets over the Gulf. Camping, barbecues and stargazing are the main activities, along with swimming and walks along the shore.

There is no entry fee and almost no facilities: no lifeguards, shops or restrooms, so bring water, food, shade and rubbish bags. The drive from Doha takes about an hour along the Dukhan Highway and south towards Umm Bab. The cooler months from November to March are the camping season; in summer, arrive early or late, as the palms give the only shade.

The drive takes about an hour west on the Dukhan Highway and then south towards Umm Bab, and there is no public transport. The Al Reem Biosphere Reserve lies inland. The beach is soft sand with no boardwalks or accessible facilities. Driving on protected dunes, disturbing wildlife and bringing glass onto the beach are all prohibited.

Visit Qatar describes soft white sand, calm shallow water and desert dunes close behind the shore, so the beach mixes sea and dune scenery. Late afternoon brings the best light, and an overnight stay away from city lights gives clear skies for stargazing. The official listing confirms there are no restaurants, shops, restrooms, changing rooms or lifeguards.