At Shaqab Stud

Owned by the Emir, HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khakifa al Thani, this farm provides the opportunity for viewing some of the best quality thoroughbred Arabian horses, many of which are world champions. Located in old Rayyan, behind AI Rayyan Football Club and next to Education City, the stud has world-class facilities to care for the horses, including a therapeutic pool. There's also a riding school providing classes for all ages and abilities. Visits can be arranged through one of the local tour operators, at least 24 hours in advance, or by contacting the stud directly on 4800348 or 4803353 (the above number is for the riding school).

Palm Island

Located in the centre of Doha Bay, this palm-fringed island is an ideal open-air destination providing distractions and entertainment for both adults and children. Just a 1Q-minute dhow ride from the jetty near the Sheraton Hotel, the resort has a cafeteria, a restaurant, children's playground and a sandy beach with shade, changing facilities and shallow water - ideal for novice swimmers. While leaving your children to enjoy the amusement rides and water sports, make sure you try the restaurant's tasty seafood selection. It is also worth mentioning that this is one of the few places where you can get alcoholic drinks outside the boundaries of hotels, which makes dining here even more unique. During the holidays the island offers entertainment activities such as live music and swimming galas. The entrance fee is QR 20 for adults and QR 15 for children. This includes a two-way dhow trip to the island in addition to soft drinks, but the rides, games and activities cost extra. Note - private boats are not allowed access to the island.

Jungle Zone

Jungle Zone is located at the Hyatt Plaza and is open daily. This children's area has nine attractions that all are themed around the jungle world. It is located in the food court area so parents can let the children play and eat all in one s~_ Prices are QR 45 on weekends (Thursdc. Saturday) and QR 30 during the week.

Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland is where you'll find the ice-skating rinks located in the middle of City Center which can be seen from each floor. When the temperature outside gets unbearable, what better way to cool down than a quick skate on the ice? -rinks are open every day. The cost is QR 35 for hour and a half of skating, and spectators can QR 10 to sit in the bleachers.

The Kingdom of Aladdin provides 18 different activities for children of all ages. It houses theatre, cafeteria and an artificial lagoon. Located

Oryx Farm

Located in the AI Shahaniya region in central Qatar, this protected farm houses a herd of onyxes, which once were on the brink of extinction. The Oryx is the national animal of Qatar, and the mascot of both its national airline and the Asian Games. To visit this farm you need a special permit from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture, but visitors will probably find it easier to go through a tour operator.

This is a popular and important sport in Qatar and is run under the umbrella of the Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF), which organizes world-class events in powerboat racing and equips local sportsmen to take part in international competitions. There are no membership fees but registration fees are required to take part in the events.

The leading powerboat sports here are Class 1 Offshore Powerboat Racing and Formula 2000 Powerboat Racing (Boat GP). Every year the QMSF organizes two rounds of Class 1 Offshore Powerboat Racing, one round of Formula 2000 Powerboat Racing and one round of the Middle East Formula 2000 Powerboat Championships. For more information on the QMSF and the events they organized, visit their website (www.qmsf.org) or call them on 437 9744.

Open daily this water park is for younger kids (age one to nine) who must be accompanied by an adult. There are no instructors in the water but there are two lifeguards on duty. The water levels are quite low (below the knee of an adult) making it perfect for younger kids and there are small water boats and waterfalls in addition to basic water slides. While there are no food outlets, there is a supervision/spectator area where parents can sit, and you are allowed to bring your own snacks and drinks.

Other than the Oryx farm mentioned on the left, the only other venue where you can visit animals in captivity is the Doha Zoo.

Doha Zoo

The Doha Zoo is located 15km out of Doha city on Salwa Road, in the industrial area near the Equestrian Club. It houses over 1500 animals from around the world. The collection includes Oryx, giraffes, elephants, baboons and zebras. Many of the animals (with the help of their trainers) give frequent live shows to enthusiastic audiences - the elephant performance should not be missed. The zoo has a cafeteria and children's playground located within its beautiful 42 hectare grounds. A trip to the zoo makes a great weekend excursion for children and adults. The entrance fee is QR 5 for adults and QR 2 for children under nine. Tuesday afternoons are for ladies and children only.

Bahrain

Bahrain is a popular jaunt for residents of all the GCC countries. There should be a little something for everyone, from the wide selection of fine dining (and drinking) to a spot of shopping and sightseeing. L could visit a fort or two, take in a museum, have spin around the new grand prix circuit or hop on a boat to one of Bahrain's many islands. For more information and inspiration.

Kuwait

While Bahrain, UAE and Oman may be quite popular spots for residents of Qatar, Kuwait is not always immediately considered as a weekend break destination (no alcohol don't forget), however, the colorful and somewhat tainted heritage of this small yet rich country means it is still worth a visit. Kuwait may be one of the world's smallest countries but its 500km coastline has endless golden beaches that remain refreshingly tranquil. From the Grand Mosque to the Kuwait Towers there are many architectural splendors to take snaps of while Al Qurain House, which still shows the scars of war with its immortal bullet holes, gives you a fascinating insight into the troubled times of the Iraqi invasion. There is also Green Island, an artificial island linked by a short bridge and home to restaurants, children's play area, and providing a great alternative view of Kuwait's shoreline. For more information and inspiration, check out the Kuwait Explorer from Explorer Publishing.

Oman

There are countless reasons to visit Oman, and with frequent flights from Qatar there's really no excuse not to. The Gulf of Oman's rich sea life, the historic buildings, the wildlife, and the variety of unspoilt landscapes including vast dramatic deserts, rugged mountains and lush green wadis and valleys, are all things that you will remember fondly. The fascinating sights and sounds of the capital Muscat will provide more than enough to keep any weekend visitor busy, but Oman has much more. You should also consider exploring the Mussandam Peninsula with its amazing dive sites, the historic mountain towns and villages with stunning scenery, the turtle beaches in the east, and the blissful summer rain in the southern Dhofar region. For more information on all these areas and details of all there is to see and do, grab a copy of the Oman Explorer from Explorer Publishing.

UAE

Often described as the city of gold, a shopper's paradise, and one of the best nights out in the Middle East, Dubai is by far the favorite destination in the Emirates. There's so much to see and do you're unlikely to fit everything into one weekend, but some visitor 'musts' include exploring the creek and the historic souks, enjoying the thrill of a desert safari, doing some serious shopping, and then treating yourself to some hard-earned pampering at one of Dubai's luxury spas. The range of eating, drinking, and dancing options is also worth the airfare alone! Don't forget the other emirates though, including Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Funeral. There's a bag of culture and heritage to discover, no end of golden sandy beaches, and the east coast has some great snorkelling and diving sites. To help you make the most of any trip to the Emirates, don't miss the Dubai Explorer, the Abu Dhabi Explorer, the UAE Off-Road Explorer, and the UAE Underwater Explorer - all from Explorer Publishing.

Travel Agencies

Doha is home to a number of travel agencies that can help you decide where to go on holiday. For a comprehensive list of popular agencies in Doha, refer to the travel agencies table below. Some agencies stand out because of special service: Regency Travel is good because they are open seven days a week; while Mannai Air Travel are renowned for attention to detail and personal customer service.

Travel Agencies
Ali Bin AU Travel	4441161
Arabian Adventures	4361461
Around the World	4427992
Travels Darwish Travel	4418666
Mannai Air Travel	4442402
Qatar International Tours	4667782
Rayan Travel & Tours	4418587
Regency Travel	4344444
Thameo Travel	4424244
Time Travel & Tours	4437575
Travel Qatar Holidays	4366737
United Tours & Travel	4866280