Once a separate city, this area west of Downtown Doha is now a vital part of Qatar’s cultural and economic expansion efforts.
Al Rayyan’s modern development glitters next to arid desert surroundings. While the municipality extends to Qatar’s western coast, most of its attractions are near Doha. Arrange accommodation here or simply visit to enjoy Al Rayyan’s many educational, cultural, recreational and shopping sites.
Visit Education City where you’ll find beautiful campuses for the Qatar satellites of Virginia Commonwealth, Georgetown, Carnegie Mellon, Texas A&M, Northwestern, UCL and Weill Cornell Medicine universities as well as Qatar’s Hamid Bin Khalifa. Look for the extraordinary architecture of the Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies and the tall curved minarets of the Education City Mosque.
Additional modern architecture is on display at the Qatar National Library and Qatar National Convention Centre. Outside Sidra Medicine, study the Miraculous Journey, 14 sculptures documenting the path to human birth. Find more artwork inside this hospital for women and children. Head west to browse among 15,000 artefacts of Islamic art and Qatar heritage at the Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum.
The area has excellent recreational facilities, including sites built for the FIFA 2022 World Cup soccer competition. Look for the impressive Al Rayyan Stadium, Education City Stadium and Khalifa International Stadium, which show Qatar’s dedication to promoting sports.
Aspire Tower, now a five-star hotel, resembles an Olympic torch and held the flame for the 2006 Asian Games.
Aspire Park, Oxygen Park, Education City Golf Club and Al Shaqab Equestrian Centre support varied recreational pursuits.
Al Rayyan’s shopping opportunities offer wide choices, not only for boutique, international and luxury retail brands, but also for entertainment. Shop at the Italian-themed Villagio and take a break for a gondola canal ride. Doha Festival City has great shopping as well as wintry play at the Snow Dunes activity area. KidzMondo theme park at Mall of Qatar offers hours of edutainment play for kids while parents enjoy retail delights at the mall.
Travel to Al Rayyan by car in about 20 minutes from Downtown Doha or 30 minutes from the airport. Buses also serve the area.
