Beaches and Pool Days Around Doha: Free, Day Passes and Beach Clubs

Qatar's beach days fall into three types: free public beaches with basic facilities, beach clubs that charge entry (often redeemable on food and drink), and hotel pool and beach day passes. Prices below come from each listing and change by day and season, so check before you book.

Katara Beach in particular has a dress code, so check it before you go. Summer midday heat is intense: beach days work best in the cooler months or in the evening.

Katara Beach is Doha's main free public beach, with free entry, sunbeds and umbrellas for around QAR 5 and water sports from QAR 50. Al Wakrah Beach, south of Doha, is a free family beach with shaded gazebos, a playground and a promenade of restaurants. Simaisma Beach, 40 km north, is quieter, with shallower water that suits families, and Umm Bab Beach on the west coast is known for palm trees along the shoreline.

Fuwairit Beach, far north, is undeveloped: you bring everything, and the turtle nesting zone is closed from April to August.

Doha Beach Club in West Bay is listed at QAR 60 on weekdays and QAR 80 on weekends for ages 16 and over, free after 5pm, with under-16s accompanied by an adult. Azure Beach on Qetaifan Island in Lusail charges QAR 100 to 250 depending on day and ladies or gents, fully redeemable on food and drink, with an infinity pool and resident DJs.

Several hotels sell day passes. Mondrian Doha is QAR 60 to 100 for adults and QAR 60 for children, Sheraton Grand Doha sells a weekday pool and beach pass from QAR 150 with a food-and-drink credit, and St. Regis Marsa Arabia sells an adult pool pass at QAR 200 including QAR 100 credit. Marsa Malaz Kempinski on The Pearl is QAR 175 for children to QAR 300, Raffles Doha in Lusail has adults-only passes from QAR 99, and Sharq Village & Spa has three pools and 400 metres of private beach (contact the hotel for rates).

For a full day away, Banana Island Resort sells a day pass at QAR 395 for adults and QAR 150 for children, reached by a 20-minute ferry, and Al Majles Resort at Sealine combines beach and dunes with a meal included.

On a budget or with young children, use Katara or Al Wakrah. For an easy afternoon with food and drink included, a beach club or a hotel pass with a credit gives better value than paying for entry alone. For a full day or special occasion, Banana Island or Sealine.