Qatar undoubtedly has an interesting culture and history, and a number of museums, forts, and heritage sites do exist around Doha and the rest of the country. However, it must be said that the region's rich heritage is not exploited to the best of its potential. Erratic opening hours and a general lack of information and/or facilities means that many venues are far from visitor-friendly. Until recently though, Qatar was never considered a tourist destination, and therefore such issues were not a priority. With the expected rise in tourist and visitor numbers (thanks especially to the 2006 Asian Games and the surrounding publicity),

Enormous amounts are being spent creating world-class cultural centers (such as the Museum of Islamic Art and the Photography Museum) and rejuvenating existing ones. An unfortunate short-term effect of this regeneration is that visitors may find some attractions closed until the work is finished. In time though, Qatar will come to be known locally and internationally for its cultural and heritage sites and museums. For the time being, bear in mind that some venues may be hard to find and perhaps

Inaccessible, and that the displays and information may not be of a very high standard. For first-time visitors who are not sure of the exact locations of some attractions, it may be best to arrange a trip through a tour operator in Doha.

Very few archaeological sites exist in Qatar, despite the country's history dating back thousands of years. Around 20 years ago archaeologists began excavations of the buried city of AI Zubara on the north-west coast, and some of the finds are now displayed in the museum at the neighboring fort.

Slowly but surely the outlines of old walls and buildings are emerging from the sand, and if you're lucky you may get to talk to someone on the dig. The only other archaeological site of interest to visitors is at Al jassasiyeh .

These rocky hills that overlook the north-eastern coast of Qatar between the two villages of AI Huwailah and Fuwairit contain various stone carvings and engravings believed to date back to prehistoric times. There are more than 900 carvings depicting different types of boats, seen from above and the side. The carvings also depict rows of cup-marks or depressions, believed by some to have been used for traditional games called al-Aailah and al-Haloosah which were played using stone counters. Others though believe that the depressions were designed simply to catch rain-water. The carvings were first photographed in 1962 by a Danish archaeological team and were later catalogued in 1974. AI Jassasiyeh is considered the most significant of several similar sites in the country as it is the only one to feature carvings of boats.

This is an open site and anyone can simply go and look around. There are no entrance fees. Jassasiyeh is around 60km north of Doha, on the road to Al Huwailah. As the area may be difficult to find, and the carvings could prove difficult to spot, you may want to take along someone who's been before, or arrange a trip through a tour company.

Qatar has several old forts dating back hundreds of years. Some have been restored and some are currently used as excavation sites for archaeologists, but visitors may be disappointed by a lack of information once they reach a particular site. Some forts have no proper gates or doors so can be visited anytime, while others may open from 08:00 - 13:00 and then 16:00 - 19:00. Entry is nearly always free of charge. Note that summer opening hours vary greatly and some may close their doors for the whole summer season. Many of these forts are outside of Doha city in unpopulated areas.

Al Rakiyat Fort

Al Rakiyat Fort was constructed between the 17th and 19th centuries, and restored in 1988. It is made of stone and mud and, similar to other forts in the country, is rectangular with a tower at each corner - three square and one round. The fort is located just off the coastal road between Al Zubara and Madinat Al Shamal, near a camel farm. You'll have to drive off-road for a few hundred metres but it is possible in a normal car. The site is open to the public, but apart from the building itself there's little else to see at the site.

AI Wajbah Fort

With its high towers and thick walls, this fort is considered one of the oldest in the country. It the site of a famous battle in 1893, when the people of Qatar (under the leadership of She Qasim Bin Mohammed Al Thani) defeated the Ottoman forces. As a result, the name of Wajbah evokes a strong feeling of pride among local people. The fort has two large towers and inside there is a small display of weaponry and details of the fort's history. To reach the fort, turn off the roundabout before the Emir's palace (if driving from Doha), go over the speed bumps and turn right at the end of the gravel track. Entry is free.

Al Zubara Fort

Located 110km from Doha, on Qatar's north-west coast, Zubara is an important archaeological site that is famous for its fort. This fort was built 1938 during the reign of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani, and erected beside the ruins of a neighboring, much older, fort. The impress structure is square in shape, with high, t walls, and has circular towers in three of its corners and a rectangular tower in the fourth. The fort once served as a coastguard station, and until the mid-1980s it was still being used by the military. It now houses a small museum that contains one or two artifacts from the nearby archaeological dig of the old town. It's a long drive from Doha, along rather bumpy roads, so probably not worth a special trip but definitely worth checking out if you're in the area.

Doha Fort (AI Koot Fort)

Located in the heart of Qatar's capital, this white Moorish-style fort now houses a museum featuring a small exhibition of local handicrafts, paintings, weavings, gypsum carvings and ornate wooden door pieces. Established in the 1880s, Al Koot Fort was originally used as a guard and police post for the nearby Souk Waqif. Located on the corner of jasim bin Mohammed and Al Qalaa streets, it is one of the remaining military forts in Doha. There is a large open courtyard and it is possible to climb the steps and walk around the exterior wall. Entrance is free of charge.

Umm Salal Mohammed Fort

Located in Umm Salal Mohammed, approximately 20km north of Doha, this fort was built during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is notable for its thick high walls and impressive facade. The fort is next to Barzan Tower, which is the western tower of two that were built as watchtowers. Its 'T' shape is considered a unique architectural style in the Gulf region. The fort is actually something of a ruin, but climbing around and exploring is great fun. There are no doors as such, so entrance is free of charge.

Other than the the museums mentioned later in this section, there are few other sites of historical interest in the city. Souk Waqif is a must though for a taste of traditional shopping , and the nearby Windtower House is certainly worth a visit. Windtower House This is one of the last traditional windtowers Qatar. It is located off Grand Hamad Street and Ali bin Abdullah Street, and is actually enclosed within the Najada Shopping Plaza. Windtowers, know as 'barjeel' in Arabic, were used in the days before electricity as a primitive form of air conditioning. They function the opposite way to a chimney. By sucking fresh cool air into a house. This building was once the Ethnographical Museum and you may still see it described as such, but the museum is closed and sadly the house is no longer open to the public (although some people have reported being able to talk their way inside for a look around ). Even if you do have to appreciate it from the outside only, this is a worthwhile stop and a good photo opportunity.

In addition to the forts, museums, and archaeological sites mentioned elsewhere in this section, there are one or two others dotted around the country that may be worth a visit if you're passing by. If you have a spare day, the coastal drive from Doha all the way round to Dukhan (or vice versa) and back to Doha will while away a few hours. At the top end of the peninsula you'll pass plenty of traditional old fishing villages, which, while not dedicated 'heritage sites' as such, can still give you an idea of how life may have been before the advent of the modern world. There's also a number of watchtowers and fortifications along the coast, a reminder of the relative instability in the region just a few generations ago.

Doha city has two main museums, the Qatar National Museum and the Weaponry Museum (details below). However, the ambitious (and expensive) building projects coming up on the corniche mean that in a couple of years Doha will also boast the world-class Museum of Islamic Art and the Photography Museum, providing a real treat for heritage and culture lovers.
Qatar National Museum

The museum has been under renovation for a number of months and is scheduled to reopen to the public in the near future. The museum portrays a history of Qatar through the years, with various archaeological artifacts, coins, jewellery, traditional clothing, household items and tools. There are also areas that recreate Bedouin scenes, and the section on Qatar's geology takes an interesting look at the oil industry. A large aquarium contains marine creatures native to local shores. The museum is located just off the corniche, and is based around the restored Old Salata Palace of Sheikh Abdullah Bin Qasim. If you look in front of the museum there is a water lagoon that indicates where the original shore of Doha used to be located. For further information and updates on the reopening, call the National Council for Culture, Heritage and Arts on 466 8777.

Weaponry Museum

This museum is located in a complex of three villas in AI Luqta, near the Gharrafa Interchange. and is home to a superb collection of weapons and antiquities from Qatar, the Gulf, and around the world. There are countless gold and silver swords and 'khan jars', pistols and rifles in al shapes and sizes, plus armour and artwork portraying ancient weapons and battles. There are also many knives, and bows and arrows or; display. Much of what is on show was once the private collections of Sheikh Hassan bin Mohammed bin Ali Al Thani - he donated it to the museum for others to enjoy. The third villa also contains a selection of gifts given to the Emir b visiting dignitaries or during state trips abroad. Visits to the museum must be arranged it; advance, either by calling the above number, C' through a Doha tour company.

In addition to the museum at AI Zubara Fort there are three further museums outside of Doha that are worth a mention.

Al Khor Museum

The museum at Al Khor is located in a former police station and customs house by the dhow harbour. The building was restored in 1987. Portraying the history of the region and its people, the rooms on the ground floor showcase the fishing and pearling industries and dhow building, and feature displays of traditional clothing and examples of natural history. There are also samples of incense burners, which traditionally are the speciality of Al Khor's craftsmen. The upper floor displays archaeological finds from the Neolithic and bronze ages that were discovered nearby. There's a shaded area next to the museum with a children's playground and pleasant views of the harbour and out to sea - a good spot for a picnic (depending on the weather). After visiting the museum you could drive further along the corniche and visit the old watchtowers that still stand guard over the town.

Al Wakrah Museum

Based in a restored traditional house, Al Wakrah Museum depicts the natural history of the area, as well as the region's distinctive architecture. There are displays of the fishing and pearling industries and reminders of the town's seafaring heritage. The museum also has some fine examples of traditional old Arabic wooden doors. You'll find the museum next to the 'Buoy' Roundabout by the coastguard station and fishing harbour. Nearby is one of the oldest mosques in the country, and its well worth taking a drive around this old area for a fascinating glimpse of traditional Arabian buildings and mosques in varying states of repair.

Sheikh Faisal bin Qasim Al Thani Museum

Sheikh Faisal's personal collection at his farm near AI Shahaniya is considered by many to be one of the best museums in the country. Housed within a huge rectangular fort complex, the museum has thousands of fascinating and rare exhibits. Hall number one contains a large collection of Islamic art, including glass and ceramics, jewellery, and metalwork. There's an impressive range of ancient weaponry too, with guns, daggers, swords and armour, some of which dates back to the 15th century. Hall number two has more Islamic artifacts such as doors, furniture, and a selection of antique Mogul carts. This hall is also where you'll find the Sheikh's impressive collection of vintage cars, including Model T Fords and classic 50S motors complete with fins and lots of chrome. Hall three displays old currency, while hall four contains rare books and manuscripts with examples of Arabic calligraphy. Hall number five is home to various fossils and archaeological finds from around the region, and hall six has textiles, clothing and embroidery from the Ottoman era. One corner of the museum recreates a traditional Qatari house, and there is also a library with over 12,000 books covering history, religion and poetry. To visit the museum you have to ring in advance to make arrangements. The 'advisor', Dr. Talib Al Baghdadi, can be reached on 556 1498, while the 'administrator', Shadi A. Aall, is on 522 0530. Alternatively, you could ask one of Doha's tour companies to arrange the visit for you.