7 unexpected natural wonders of Qatar

When it comes to desert countries, travellers – not surprisingly – don’t usually expect any natural spectacles, or even much variation within the desert theme. But while neighbouring countries may well have endless sand dunes stretching to the horizon, Qatar offers a surprising array of landscapes, even some splashes of colour. Here are some of the more unexpected natural sights you can find around Qatar.

The Inland Sea probably conforms the most to the picture-postcard image of undulating sand dunes, and its serene beauty together set along the inlet from the Persian Gulf, is even included on the UNESCO World Heritage Site tentative list. The high sand dunes of the Inland Sea, right at the southern edge of Qatar by the Saudi Arabian border, is the last bit of the Rub-al-Khali, the Empty Quarter desert, which stretches across the Arabian Peninsula and is the world’s largest sand desert. In Qatar, it reaches a natural salt water creek, making for a magical mix of cream-coloured sand dunes and turquoise water. Here you can enjoy dune-bashing, riding up and down the dunes with an experienced driver for a thrill like no other, stargazing, overnight camping, and sports such as scuba diving or sand boarding.

These dunes differ from the Inland Sea dunes by being horseshoe-shaped and occurring somewhat more solitarily. Found in the rocky scrubby desert in central Qatar, they are made up of fine sand and need to be climbed and then slid down to make them ‘sing’. Well, true singing might be too much to expect, but there is a definite and unique sound, more like a low groan, generated when the fine grains of sand compact from your weight sliding on them.

On the opposite side of the country from the capital Doha, there is a little thumb-shaped peninsula jutting out from the large thumb-shaped peninsula that is Qatar. This is where you find eerie mushroom-shaped rock formations, eroded over time by the coastal breeze and the sand in the air, leaving often thin stems with flat tops sticking out of the otherwise flat desert. Despite its otherworldly atmosphere, here you also find a surprising array of local wildlife, from Arabian Oryx to small gazelles and desert foxes hiding among the rocky outcrops. Look out for them first thing in the morning and around sunset.

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In winter Qatar is home to migrating Great Flamingos adding a dash of pink to the sandy surroundings. They tend to arrive in late November and leave again in spring, and are most abundant in the Inland Sea, where there is an spot appropriately called the Flamingo Lake which at times fills up with flamingos. They can also be spotted throughout the Al Khor Mangrove Reserve (see below), and even along the north coast of the man-made The Pearl Island, a residential neighbourhood of Doha.

The Al Khor Mangrove Reserve is a green oasis, where you can find some 150 species of birds, including said flamingos. The low growth of mangroves spreads across several small islands, including Purple Island, a historic spot where, some 3,000 years ago, purple dye was extracted from crushed marine snails. You can explore the nature reserve either by walking along a wooden boardwalk or by kayak, and it is at its most scenic first thing in the morning.

This wetland, some 60km southwest of Doha, is teeming with birds year round, but comes into its own in winter, when migratory birds stop over here to rest in the grasses and reeds. Formerly a wastewater dumping ground, now a nature reserve, the area has been regenerated and is a superb example of how nature can mend itself if given a little help. Birds spotted here include ospreys, water pipits, purple herons and the occasional flamingo settling before they realise this is a fresh water lagoon.

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This beachside area in Qatar’s northeast is a superb mix of rocky outcrops perfect for snorkelling, and sandy beaches for swimming and kitesurfing. One of the most popular public beaches in Qatar, this is where locals and expats come for camping and picnics over the weekends, but during the week it is quiet, and you might even spot dolphins.