There’s lots to do this festive season around Qatar if you are sticking around for the holidays. Take a look at our picks for the most family-friendly Christmas and New Years activities around Doha.Tree Lighting CeremoniesInterContinental Doha-The City will host a festive tree lighting ceremony to welcome the festive season on 19 December (6–8pm). Eggnog and festive treats will be available as you listen to a choir sing traditional festive carols. Free and no bookings required. Call +974 4015-8888 for more information. On 20 December (6–7:30pm) family and friends are invited to The St. Regis Doha to celebrate the beginning of the festive season…
Author: Katherine Latto
Sometimes it is nice to take a break from the daily routine and eat out, but when there are little people to feed it can be a bit complicated. Will they like the food? Will they stay in their seats? How do you keep them entertained? In the summer months, heat is another factor to consider as a picnic at the local park or the beach is no longer an option. Luckily, there are a number of restaurants in Doha with indoor play areas to suit different tastes and budgets and that aren’t fast food. Top five picksChef’s GardenChef’s Garden…
Children are naturally creative. They love painting, drawing and colouring. Toddlers explore with playdough, finger paints and any other messy materials they can get their little hands on. As children grow, they develop these creative skills by sketching their friends for fun, designing posters for a school production or building model airports using recycled cereal boxes. If your budding artist is ready to hone their creative skills, check out one of these extracurricular art classes on offer in Doha. VCUQatarThree times per year, VCUQatar’s community education programme offers a variety of classes including photography, film-making, drawing, painting, fashion, jewellery, interior…
When you wish to escape from the heat, the dust and the day-to-day routine or want to expand your children’s exposure to culture, playing “tourist” with the kids and exploring Qatar’s cultural landmarks is a great way to escape the daily grind. Such a tour wouldn’t be complete with visiting Doha’s growing collection of—mostly free—family-friendly museums.Museum of Islamic Art (MIA)The jewel in the crown of Qatar’s museums and Doha’s skyline, the Museum of Islamic Art is the first stop on any cultural tour of the city. Designed by renowned architect, I.M. Pei, the MIA building is a marvel on its…
With pregnancy comes a rapidly changing body and, especially the further along you get, the sudden realisation that your clothes no longer fit.But finding comfortable and fashionable maternity wear in Qatar can be an endeavour—especially if you’re struggling with morning sickness and the exhaustion that often comes with being pregnant, so we’ve come up with a list of the shops in Qatar with the best clothing selections for your growing bump. Best one-stop shopBella Materna FashionDedicated maternity clothes boutique Bella Materna Fashion stocks the largest range of maternity clothes, including evening gowns, sportswear, work wear, pregnancy support tights, bump bands…
Saying goodbye to friends isn’t easy especially when they are moving to another country and you’re not sure when you’ll next see them. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to stay in touch—Facebook, email, video chats, snail mail—and it’s always nice to have someone to visit when you go on holiday. But for that special friend who has left an imprint on our hearts, sometimes we want to give them something to remember us when we can’t chat with or visit them. So we’ve picked out a few unique, handmade items that would make lovely farewell Qatar gifts. These gifts…
Fantastic Facebook Groups to Help You Settle InLove it or loathe it, Facebook is very helpful for expats settling in a new location. Whether you are maintaining friendships from afar, sharing photos with family or establishing new connections, it remains many people’s favourite form of social media. Local Facebook groups can be a fantastic way to find out about upcoming events, get help and advice about living in Qatar. LivingThe best way to find out about upcoming events and get recommendations from long-term residents is by poking around Doha’s most active Facebook groups. Start with the Doha Family Community Facebook group to ask about…
Most of us have had, or will have, family or friends come to visit us during our time living in Qatar. It’s a great opportunity to showcase the country but what are the can’t miss experiences? We have put together a five-day itinerary of Qatar’s hottest tourist spots, historical treasures, the country’s culture and national interests, and some of the latest developments in this rapidly growing country. So, put your feet up and relax, we’ve got you covered!DAY 1: PACK YOUR WALKING SHOESStart with breakfast in Café#999 at the old fire station on the northwest side of Al Bidda Park.…
Chores are a necessary part of life. The laundry won’t fold itself. The dishes need to be washed. Lunches must be packed. The rubbish needs to be put outside. Here in Qatar, many of us are lucky to have a maid or nanny to help with some tasks, but there are always other things that we need to be responsible for. And that’s what chores really are—a responsibility. A great friend and the head of Early Years at a British primary school reminded me recently that chores should be seen in a positive light. Rather than being a negative part…
When Faye Caranto was first considering in vitro fertilisation (IVF) options in Qatar, the obvious choice was Hamad. However, at the time, Hamad Women’s Hospital prioritised Qatari nationals for IVF. When Hamad reopened their IVF services to expats in 2015, Faye was ready to start her IVF journey. After two rounds of treatments, Faye gave birth to a baby girl in 2017. Fertility treatment, in general, is highly individual and should be tailored to a woman’s specific needs. The tests, medication and procedures involved in IVF will vary depending on the fertility issues faced by the couple. There is no…