10 Best Adventure Sports in Qatar

Dune bashing in Qatar is one of the best ways to experience the country's unique desert landscapes. You can either rent a dune buggy or rent an experienced driver with a 4WD who will take you to Khor Al Adaid. This UNESCO-recognised nature reserve is well-known for its picturesque beaches with crystal-clear waters and golden sand dunes.

Keep in mind that dune bashing is an adrenaline-fuelled activity that’s not suitable for the faint-hearted. But if you’re up for it, it’s not to be missed.

The warm turquoise waters of the Arabian Gulf are home to incredible marine life, so it comes as no surprise that scuba diving is a must-do in Qatar. Head out to the man-made Old Club Reef, one of the most popular diving sites in the country. You can enjoy a pleasant diving experience at the Macadeen shipwreck by taking a chartered boat.

You’ll find many centres in Qatar that offer diving lessons for both beginners and experienced divers. Some of Qatar’s most popular scuba diving companies are Poseidon Diving Center, the Qatar Scuba Center and Qatar Divers.

If you want to experience the adrenaline rush that comes with rock climbing, Qatar has several options. Home to extraordinary rock formations, Bir Zekreet is located on the west coast of Qatar and is a great place for rock-climbing. Feel the exhilaration and accomplishment as you reach the top and take in the fantastic views.

If you’re interested in bouldering, visit Musfur Sinkhole, a cave in Umm Al Shabrum. Families, or those who prefer staying indoors where it’s cool, can opt for the Galaxy Sports at Ezdan Mall in Gharafa.

Skydiving is one of the most adventurous things you can do in Qatar. True daredevils and first-timers alike will want to seek out companies like Skydive Qatar, which have an excellent safety record and offer professional instructors who can teach everything there is to know about skydiving.

Take to the sky and see Qatar spread out below you. Then, after you leap to feel the air rushing past you, you can enjoy spectacular views of the futuristic metropolis of Doha below, surrounded by a vast desert.

Kitesurfing is an excellent water sport to try in Qatar and many places in the country offer ideal conditions for this adventurous activity. Located just a short drive from Doha, you'll find Fuwairit. Unlike most beaches in Qatar, Fuwairit is easily accessible and attracts many kite surfers.

There’s also Zekreet, a huge lagoon with shallow waters located just an hour's drive from Doha. This enclosed bay is an ideal spot for beginners. Some of the other popular kitesurfing locations in Qatar include Majfar, Sumaysimah, and Al Alia Island. Kitesurfing season in Qatar runs from January to June.

There are many places in the world where you can have close encounters with camels, but Qatar takes things to the next level. You can either watch a camel race or enjoy a ride over the sand dunes in Qatar. Visit the Al Shahaniya Race Course, which organises competitive domestic and international tournaments, and offers visitors an opportunity to see prized camel races.

If you want to ride a camel to admire the fascinating desert landscapes, a typical package includes a 1-hour-long camel ride, hotel transfers and refreshments like Arabic coffee and tea.

When you’re out in the desert, quad biking is a great activity to enjoy. Similar to dune bashing, quad biking in Qatar is suitable for both experienced riders and beginners, although novices usually stick to the flat terrain and leave the steep dunes to the pros.

Sealine Beach is one of the most popular destinations for quad biking in Qatar. There are numerous outlets where you can rent quads. Take to the desert and blaze a trail across the dunes, taking in the incredible Qatari landscape as you go.

A combination of snowboarding and water skiing, wakeboarding has become a very popular activity in Qatar over the last couple of years. If you're a beginner, you’ll be happy to hear that this water sport is quite easy to learn, while people with experience will find plenty of places to enjoy themselves.

Located near Pearl Qatar, the Diplomatic Club is the best destination in Doha to try wakeboarding. There are plenty of other locations to try run by water sports enthusiasts who can make your wakeboarding adventure a memorable experience.

Thanks to its geographical location, Qatar offers ideal conditions for sailing year-round. Sailing enthusiasts new and old will want the chance to take to the waves around this peninsula.

With help from the Doha Sailing Club and the Regatta Sailing Academy, sailing the waters of the Arabian Gulf has never been easier. The highly experienced instructors offer a variety of certified sailing courses for all ages and abilities. A wide variety of boats and yachts can also be hired from Boat Lagoon Yachting.

If jet skiing is what you’re after, you’ll be happy to hear that Qatar offers many jet-ski safari tours. You can enjoy magnificent views of places like Pearl Qatar and the Corniche with a group of fellow thrill-seekers or opt for a solo journey with a jet ski.

As Qatar is a peninsula, there’s sea in practically every direction. So head for a beach and get ready to feel the spray of water in your face as you race across the waves.