Filmed and Edited by: Kirill Neiezhmakov
Picture an impressive skyline with buildings that are so innovative they verge on being works of art, and a waterfront promenade that effortlessly houses the traditional alongside the ultra-modern.
For centuries, Doha was a fishing village known for its pearl trade. The country’s pearl divers were famed for their skill in finding the largest and most perfectly formed pearls, and the original village (which was known as Al Bidda) was also a busy fishing port for generations. With the wealth gained from the oil trade in the 20th century, Doha became one of the key commercial centres for the entire region. Today, it is the economic and metropolitan centre of the State of Qatar and an epicentre for business and finance in the Middle East.
Sites of interest include Clock Tower Square, the souk (marketplace), and Government House (1969), built on reclaimed waterfront land. Further cultural developments include the establishment of a world-class Museum of Islamic Art (2008; designed by I.M. Pei) on an island offshore. Doha International Airport is located just southeast of the city.
