Why a holiday to Qatar offers a much better value proposition than a Dubai holiday

Most people will have heard of Qatar because of their national airline and because it is host to the 2022 World Cup. What many people might not be aware of is that Qatar is also a great holiday destination with some amazing resorts. In fact the number of beach resorts in Qatar is roughly the same as the number of beach resorts that Dubai had 15 years ago. And like Dubai 15 years ago, resorts in Doha are, for the quality and luxury of product on offer, very cheap.

What is Qatar like as a destination?

Qatar holds the world\'s third largest natural gas reserves and is the largest supplier of liquefied natural gas. With a population of only 300,000 nationals, this makes Qatar the richest country per capita in the world. The vast wealth has allowed the country to build an outstanding modern domestic infrastructure. In addition, the government, which owns most of the luxury hotels in the country, has spent lavishly on its tourism facilities- largely to accommodate the visitors that will be attending the 2022 world cup. The consequence of this spending means that Qatar currently has a lot more rooms at its many luxury resorts than it has tourists and that means some phenomenal deals!

The beach hotels in Qatar

There are about 13 hotels we feature that have a beach in Qatar. Of these 7 are targeted leisure hotels with all the features and facilities you would expect from a luxury resort hotel. The remaining 6 hotels are on the beach, and whilst leisure travellers will not be disappointed with their holiday experience, these hotels are targeted at both business and leisure travellers.

The hotels located on the beach and targeted at both business and leisure travellers are:

-    The Four Seasons Doha
-    The Ritz Carlton Doha
-    Doha Marriott
-    Mövenpick Hotel West Bay Doha
-    Hilton Doha
-    Sheraton Doha

The best resort hotels in Qatar

Qatar truly has some of the finest resort hotels in the Arabian Gulf. Our favourites are:

-    Grand Hyatt
-    Sharq Village & Spa
-    Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara
-    The St. Regis Doha
-    Marsa Malaz Kempinski The Pearl Doha
-    Sealine Beach Resort
-    InterContinental Doha Hotel

Why Qatar holiday resorts offer an excellent value proposition

Qatar has broken diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia, a country where strict Islamic Law restricts many of the activities permitted in neighbouring Qatar. As a result, holidays in Qatar were popular destination amongst Saudi consumers as it was a destination where the could enjoy the freedoms not available to them in Saudi Arabia. The fact that Qatar has a lot of rooms and a limited tourism market means that supply outstrips demand which brings the price down. In addition to the hotels being cheaper than in Dubai, Doha is also a cheaper destination all arround. Shopping, taxis, restaurants and excursions are all cheaper than the many equivalent facilities in Dubai.

A 7 night holiday at the Grand Hyatt Doha which makes use of some of the fantastic savings on offer from airlines during the January sale for travel during the May half term holidays would cost £599 per person for 2 adults sharing. That is exceptionally good value when compared with equivalent standard hotels over the same period in Dubai.

Is Qatar more conservative than Dubai?

Qatar has an expat population of over 1 million people, so they are used to other cultures and indeed highly tolerant of other cultures and religions. Qatar is not a dry country and offers a very similar tourist experience to Dubai. Qatar does however offer more of a cultural experience for those looking for more than just time on the beach and a desert safari. Qatar has used its vast wealth to acquire Islamic and Arabian art and artefacts from across the world and has a stunning collection at the Islamic arts museum.

Is a family holiday in Qatar a good idea?

All of the resorts in Qatar that we feature have exceptional facilities for children. All offers kids clubs and a range of activities to keep the children occupied. The malls have huge indoor amusement parks – like funfairs in the UK where rides are very good value for money. Aqua Park occupies a site of 50,000 square meters and is about 35 minutes drive from downtown. The theme park has a range of water based rides, slides and activities in addition to a kids driving school.

Why now is an amazing time to experience a Qatar holiday

Qatar is now actively seeking to raise its profile as an alternate tourist destination in the Arabian Gulf. Like Dubai, it is only a matter of time before its popularity soars, and prices rise in line with the newly created demand. At this time however you don’t just benefit from very good value pricing- you benefit from the fact that Qatar is trying very hard to establish itself, and that means the most impeccable standards of service and meticulous attention to detail. All of this means you will enjoy an incredible Qatar holiday experience.