Doha, Qatar - The Pearl of the Middle East
The Old Palace grounds of the National Museum of Qatar
Lets start with a little backstory …..
A couple of months ago I made a trip to Kazakhstan with layovers in Doha, Qatar both ways. My first layover was only 4.5 hours long and instead of going to the business class lounge I opted to treat myself to an hour at the airport spa, which would lead me to meeting a wonderful new friend who happened to be there at the same time as me. I will call him ‘K’. K and I started chatting while we were both in the spa lobby. It was one of those meetings where in a matter of minutes you feel like old friends. At K’s invitation went upstairs to the Qatar platinum lounge to have coffee and talk some more, discussing everything from Coachella to philanthropy, before he had to catch his flight. After we parted ways we kept in touch and on my way back, with a 9hr layover in Doha I reached out to see if K wanted to grab another coffee and have a friendly chat. Unfortunately the day I was scheduled to be in Doha K would be on a business trip so he asked me if it was ok if he organized a small tour of the city for me. I had absolutely no plans and was up for surprises so I said yes. Within an hour in my inbox I received a full itinerary of what my layover in Doha was going to look like. And I must say, it was so generous and so thoughtful, that my first impression of Doha has forever been cemented in my head as one of the best and most spontaneously luxurious whirlwind adventures I’ve ever had. There is quite nothing like Arab hospitality.
7:45am I arrived at Doha International Airport and was picked up by a private chauffeur dressed to the nines in a slick black sedan and taken to the port where I boarded a speed ferry to the private Banana Island. Tucked away from Qatar's vibrant capital, Banana Island Resort by Anantara is the newest addition to luxury hotels in Doha offering world-class facilities. Now I have experienced travel both backpacking and luxury travel but the service I encountered here was top class. At the port my bags were carried from the car to the boat, I was offered a refreshment and a private guide to my seat. The trip to the island took about 30 minutes, with a fantastic morning view of the Doha city skyline. When we landed, I was welcomed by K’s friend in the resort lobby, offered delicious local dates and coffee. Now I have to point out that local coffee is unlike anything I’ve ever tried before, it was Sienna yellow and had a very distinct taste I could not quite pin down. I quite enjoyed it. From the lobby I was whisked away to my hour long full body massage at the resort’s VIP spa suites. Having just spent 3 weeks travelling from place to place and carrying a heavy backpack, you can imagine how needed this treatment was and how grateful I felt. It was definitely up there with the top three massages I’ve ever gotten in my life. When it was over I had about 15 minutes to enjoy the whirlpool Jacuzzi and order my breakfast. Originally I was meant to enjoy breakfast on the beach but because of my flight coming in late was running an hour behind schedule. Everything felt rushed but oh so beautiful.
View of Doha from the speedboat to Banana Island
Anantara Resort Massage Suite
At around 11am I boarded the ferry from Banana Island to Doha. At the port I was greeted by my chauffeur and whisked away to the National Museum of Qatar. My car was ushered to the VIP entrance where I was greeted by a red carpet and a procession of the Museum’s representatives who welcomed me into this absolutely spectacular building. Inside I was introduced to ‘A’, one of the museum’s top guides who proceeded to give me an hour long tour through the various levels and exhibits the museum has to offer. The current museum building opened to the public on 28 March 2019, replacing the previous building which opened in 1975. The building was designed by the French architect Jean Nouvel who was inspired by the desert rose crystal, which is found in Qatar. The interior of the museum is packed with state of the art exhibit halls showcasing Qatar’s proud history as the world’s leading exporter of pearls until 1939 - when it became one of the world’s richest nations due to the discovery of underground oil reserves in the Dukhan Field, located on the west coast of the country. Why are the museums halls ‘state-of-the-art’? Because not only are you treated with rich visual displays and projections, but the museum also employs the use of olfactory exhibits. I have been in many museums and it’s the first time I was able to ‘smell’ an exhibit.
One of the most exquisite things I had the pleasure of seeing firsthand at the museum was the pearl carpet of Baroda. As described by wikipedia: Originally a part of the five piece set, the carpet was commissioned by Khande Rao Gaekwad, the Maharaja of Baroda, in 1865.[4] He intended to gift the carpet to adorn the Prophet's Tomb in Medina.[2] However, the maharajah died in 1870 before the donation was made and the pearl carpet remained in his family. In 2009 an anonymous buyer bought it for $5.5 million at a Sothebys Auction in Doha.[5] It is now a part of the permanent collection of the National Museum of Qatar.[7]
Different varieties of pearls found in the Gulf of Qatar
The Pearl Carpet of Baroda
The new museum is adjacent to The Old Palace at NMoQ. At the heart of the National Museum of Qatar, this recently restored architectural treasure was once the home of the ruler of Qatar. The Old Palace was built in the early 20th century by Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani, who is today considered to be the father of modern Qatar.
As we explored deeper and deeper into the museum’s grounds I was made aware that I had mere minutes before I had to jump into the car and be driven back to the airport. An hour flew by like a few minutes. I was so grateful to ‘A’ for the immense amount of knowledge he imparted onto me during this hour - about Qatar and its rich history, its pearl trade and traditions. I left the museum with a newfound love for Qatar and its people. I wish to return here someday and spend more time in Doha exploring its streets.
I am incredibly grateful to my friend ‘K’ for gifting me with such a special experience, one that showcased both the heart and soul and the material luxury of Qatar in just under 9 incredible hours.