Middle East - How does Doha compare to Dubai and Abu Dhabi?

Hey everyone. I've been curious about the status of Doha as a major city along the Persian Gulf region.

How does Doha compare to other Middle Eastern cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi?

Dubai is known as a global city and business hub. Dubai's economy was built on the oil industry, and its main revenues are now from high-class tourism, real estate, and financial services- similar to that of Western countries. Dubai has recently attracted world attention through many innovative large construction projects and sports events. Dubai is also an international financial and commercial center, and has been called the "shopping capital of the Middle East", making it one of the biggest tourist destinations in the world. Plus, the city is a major entertainment mecca, as many recording artists have performed there. Clearly, Dubai has a lot going for it.

Abu Dhabi is the richest city in the world, mostly due to the oil industry. Like Dubai, Abu Dhabi has actively attempted to diversify its economy in recent years through investments in financial services and tourism. Abu Dhabi has grown to be an advanced cosmopolitan metropolis with its rapid development and urbanization. Today, the city is the UAE's hub for political, industrial activities, and a major cultural and commercial center.

What about Doha? How can Doha compete with Dubai and Abu Dhabi?

From what I've heard, Doha hasn't grown as quickly as Dubai and Abu Dhabi have. Doha isn't a major tourist destination. The city doesn't have the same amount of architectural advancements that Dubai and Abu Dhabi has. Plus, Doha isn't really known as a hub for finance, commerce, culture, and entertainment. In contrast to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Doha seems to be one of the most unhead-of places in the world.

So what does Doha have to offer that Dubai and Abu Dhabi don't have?

To any Qataris here- I was hoping if you could share your persepectives.

Thanks guys!

So what does Doha have to offer that Dubai and Abu Dhabi don't have?

Nothing. Qatar has been more conservative in spending than Dubai, and the culture is less worldly and progressive than Abu Dhabi. This is reflected in the business environment, which is more insular and backward than the UAE or Bahrain (at least before the uprising). There are really few Qatari companies that compete regionally, much less globally. Al Jazeera and Qatar Airways come to mind, but beyond that, there aren't really any, contrasted with the UAE, Lebanon, Jordan, even Saudi Arabia, and other countries in the region.

It is trying to establish its own identity, and Qatar has succeeded in establishing itself as an important player in regional and global politics to a greater extent the UAE. It is trying to create high-end cultural amenities, but hasn't been as effective in Abu Dhabi (it is trying to home-grow institutions, compared to importing brands like Abu Dhabi). Its Education City is more advanced than any similar institution in the UAE.

There are no really good restaurants (though that is changing) nor any destination hotels in Qatar. Perhaps I am being unfair, because Qatar is a generation behind the UAE in its development. Qatar's West Bay skyline is beautiful however; I love the architecture.

But, ultimately, there is really no reason to visit Qatar for tourism, besides just the general strategy of wanting to see it for the sake of it, which of course I would advocate.

There's the Museum of Islamic Art that as of today beats any museum in the UAE. Hard to justify a trip to Doha just to see it though.

I enjoyed a weekend visit to Doha as a side trip from Dubai. The aforementioned Museum of Islamic Art is world class. And I really enjoyed exploring the souks.

Nothing. Qatar has been more conservative in spending than Dubai, and the culture is less worldly and progressive than Abu Dhabi. This is reflected in the business environment, which is more insular and backward than the UAE or Bahrain (at least before the uprising). There are really few Qatari companies that compete regionally, much less globally. Al Jazeera and Qatar Airways come to mind, but beyond that, there aren't really any, contrasted with the UAE, Lebanon, Jordan, even Saudi Arabia, and other countries in the region.

It is trying to establish its own identity, and Qatar has succeeded in establishing itself as an important player in regional and global politics to a greater extent the UAE. It is trying to create high-end cultural amenities, but hasn't been as effective in Abu Dhabi (it is trying to home-grow institutions, compared to importing brands like Abu Dhabi). Its Education City is more advanced than any similar institution in the UAE.

There are no really good restaurants (though that is changing) nor any destination hotels in Qatar. Perhaps I am being unfair, because Qatar is a generation behind the UAE in its development. Qatar's West Bay skyline is beautiful however; I love the architecture.

But, ultimately, there is really no reason to visit Qatar for tourism, besides just the general strategy of wanting to see it for the sake of it, which of course I would advocate.

Does that mean that Doha will never catch up to Dubai or Abu Dhabi in terms of eventually becoming a "jewel of a city"?

Does that mean Doha will never catch up to Dubai or Abu Dhabi in terms of eventually becoming a "jewel of a city"?

It's really difficult to say.

On the one hand they've got the money to spend and are not shy of spending huge sums of money to get what they want.

On the other, I don't see any significant move of commercial activity to Doha from the UAE. Most major companies I work with operate Dubai or Abu Dhabi as their major operation between Europe and Asia, and if they are in Qatar it is in a token sense, as an offshoot of Dubai or as a project office.

Cultural attraction wise, agree that Museum of Islamic Art is world-class, the building in particular is a cracker. That said Abu Dhabi does have the Cultural District on Saadiyat under development (Maritime Museum, Guggenheim, Louvre, etc) and a fairly well developed strategy for expanding its cultural offering. As for Dubai, I'm pretty sure that its appeal to visitors lies elsewhere!

Agree with mecabq... Qatar is certainly taking a very slow approach to growth and a very cautious one too. They are a few decades behind but they are catching up by leaps and bounds. I think we will see Qatar as a more prominent Gulf destination in the next decade or so and you can tell they are working on it. Hosting the World Cup in 2022 will help push that strategy forward.

Hey guys. I just visited a website called iloveqatar.net.

http://iloveqatar.net/forum

On this website, I found these two threads:

http://iloveqatar.net/forum/read.php?30,3916,3916

http://www.iloveqatar.net/forum/read.php?5,511,598

According to Qataris posting on these threads, Doha is slowly developing bit-by-bit. Unlike Dubai, Doha just started late.

These Qataris also say that Dubai is great place to visit with all its outward beauty and entertainment attractions. However, no one would want to live there. The quality of life is terrible. The rent is too high, the roads are too congested, and the developed areas are too overcrowded.

According to them, Doha is a more laid-back place to live. In Doha, there's no stress of a "big city life".

Are what these Qataris saying accurate?:confused:

Are what these Qataris saying accurate?:confused:

There's a grain of truth (though most was far more true three years ago before the Dubai bubble burst) - but there's a reason most expats choose to live in Dubai and not in Doha.

Doha is a more laid-back place to live. In Doha, there's no stress of a "big city life".

I can't speak for myself as have only been to Doha for work, and once for the weekend to see the Islamic Art Museum, but it is definitely fair to say Doha is less full-on than Dubai and I quite enjoyed that as temporary respite.

That said, of the three good friends I have who have relocated to Qatar from Dubai; one moved back as soon as he could transfer back to a Dubai based engagement, one decided after six months that he would actually prefer to move to Riyadh, and the last one is still working there but has moved his wife and kids back to Dubai and flies back every weekend (I think a threat of divorce may have been involved).

The consensus in all of these is that you could perhaps replaced laid back with dull as ditchwater.

I would agree with typical that the view of Dubai is perhaps outdated. Rent has plummeted (I pay less now for a 3 bed villa than I did for a one-bed apartment 4 years ago) and road congestion is hugely reduced.

According to Qataris posting on these threads, Doha is slowly developing bit-by-bit. Unlike Dubai, Doha just started late.

These Qataris also say that Dubai is great place to visit with all its outward beauty and entertainment attractions. However, no one would want to live there. The quality of life is terrible. The rent is too high, the roads are too congested, and the developed areas are too overcrowded.

According to them, Doha is a more laid-back place to live. In Doha, there's no stress of a "big city life".

Are what these Qataris saying accurate?:confused:

Of course Qataris' statements about the environment in Doha vs. Dubai are a matter of opinion, and I am not surprised that Qataris posting on an "I love Qatar" forum would prefer Qatar over the UAE. :p Many older (35+) people I know, especially with families, prefer the laid-back, spread-out lifestyle of Qatar. Young, urban singles from the West would probably generally prefer Dubai.

It's hard to compare rents. I believe that rents in Dubai (for upscale, expatriate-oriented places) are generally lower than in Doha, but then again salaries might be lower. Aside from rent, cost of living is pretty comparable in the two places. Traffic in Dubai seems not as bad as it used to be, and in Qatar it can be terrible. Qatar is less dense, so it has a form of suburban traffic (huge roads, interminable traffic circles, traffic lights in which you have to wait three cycles to get through), whereas Dubai has more highway traffic and urban gridlock, though also large suburban areas.

I don't agree at all that "However, no one would want to live [in Dubai]. The quality of life is terrible." I prefer the quality of life in Dubai, with far more cosmopolitan amenities and overall variety of things to do, compared to Qatar. Driving, trying to find parking, and the general coarseness of society can be unpleasant in Doha.

It's like saying that the quality of life, and the "stress," of New York City is terrible, and that quality of life is much better in Albuquerque. Many people believe this, which is not irrational; it depends on one's lifestyle preferences.

Doha is very much a work in progress, but I like it. Maybe not so much as a destination in itself, but not a bad getaway from elsewhere in the Gulf or part of a longer Gulf itinerary.

The Islamic Art museum designed by IM Pei is wonderful in itself, not to mention all of the artifacts on display inside. The new Mathaf museum of modern art is outstanding. The new National Museum should be finished in a few years, and probably won't disappoint. There are some outstanding hotels (the W is nice), family areas (north of the city), and shopping galore. The Souqs are also pleasant and ever growing to appeal more to an upmarket Arab and international tourist crowd -- the mystique of many other souqs in the region without the in-your-face touts, with decent restaurants and cafes built in.

In the cooler months, walking along the corniche with views of the skyline is way more impressive and beautiful than 'walking' the Emirati cities to the south.

So, yes, Doha does have a lot to offer, but it is still very much under construction.

Hey guys. I was thinking that maybe Doha could build an entire complex that could serve as an entertainment attraction to draw tourists to the city.

Just look at Moncton, New Brunswick, which is situated in the middle of nowhere in the Canadian Maritimes. In the outskirts of the city, they built a large concert venue, a water park, and a giant zoo in the same area.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_Hill_Area_Moncton

Perhaps Doha could accomplish the same thing.

Do you guys thinking something like that could be possible?

Hey guys. I was thinking that maybe Doha could build an entire complex that could serve as an entertainment attraction to draw tourists to the city.

Perhaps Doha could accomplish the same thing.

Do you guys thinking something like that could be possible?

Why would they want to? :confused:

Anyway, to see what happens when a project like that goes out of control, pour a stiff drink and do a search for "Dubailand"...

This could help
http://www.qatarliving.com/node/2704257

There are no really good restaurants

As a Doha resident, yes there are!

Indian
Chingari in the Ramada is wonderful - plush red colours and low tables, tandoori food and ghazals playing Indian classical music - a great place to linger
Taj Rasoi in the Marriott is very tasty indeed!

Italian
Lo Spaghetto in Al Sadd is really good - better than any Italian in the UK - the chefs are Italian, everything is home made and the restaurant is not too pricey - apparently the Qatari owner wanted a nice Italian restaurant to take his friends to and was willing to pay western salaries to ensure he got it

Steak
JW's Steakhouse in the Marriott is quite special! The pan fried foie gras is excellent and the quality of the meat is top notch

As a Doha resident, yes there are!

Indian
Chingari in the Ramada is wonderful - plush red colours and low tables, tandoori food and ghazals playing Indian classical music - a great place to linger
Taj Rasoi in the Marriott is very tasty indeed!

Italian
Lo Spaghetto in Al Sadd is really good - better than any Italian in the UK - the chefs are Italian, everything is home made and the restaurant is not too pricey - apparently the Qatari owner wanted a nice Italian restaurant to take his friends to and was willing to pay western salaries to ensure he got it

Steak
JW's Steakhouse in the Marriott is quite special! The pan fried foie gras is excellent and the quality of the meat is top notch

Chingari is probably the best upscale Indian in Doha in my opinion, but I find Taj Rasoi to be mediocre and overpriced -- a basic chain like India Palace in the UAE is better. JW's is also poor compared to a good steakhouse in the U.S., and Dubai has much better options (e.g., Ruth's Chris, Asado). Bentley's is better anyway in my opinion.

I have not been to Lo Spaghetto, and I agree that it gets good reviews. But to say that it is better than any Italian in the U.K. is implausible on its face.

Of course, as Doha residents, we must make do. And of course there are decent places to go. But there is no restaurant that I get enthusiastic about, and I don't think that anyone would consider the food as a factor in choosing to visit to Doha over other regional cities.

Chingari is probably the best upscale Indian in Doha in my opinion, but I find Taj Rasoi to be mediocre and overpriced -- a basic chain like India Palace in the UAE is better. JW's is also poor compared to a good steakhouse in the U.S., and Dubai has much better options (e.g., Ruth's Chris, Asado). Bentley's is better anyway in my opinion.

I could not disagree more with what you say! But we are all different! :)

I have not been to Lo Spaghetto, and I agree that it gets good reviews. But to say that it is better than any Italian in the U.K. is implausible on its face.

Lo Spaghetto has Italian chefs and is managed by Italians. I will clarify my statement a little! It is better than any Italian that I have been to in the UK! :)

Hey everyone. I read on Wikipedia that Beirut is quickly becoming an elegant tourist destination for Westerners.

Do you think Doha will catch up?


Frankly, I don't see how Dubai could be much of a tourist destination for Westerners. Sure there's shopping and a man-made waterfront. However, much of Dubai is currently construction sites. Add to that the effects of the financial crisis on Dubai's economy.