Soft sands, sunrises and kite surfing bring visitors to this very quiet beach in northern Qatar where turtles come to lay their eggs.
On Qatar’s northeastern coastline, Fuwairit Beach is one of the favorite secret getaway spots for expats, visitors and local residents. Dig your toes in the soft sand and wade into the blue-green waters of the Persian Gulf. Visit Fuwairit Beach for a quiet escape close enough to get to with an easy drive and far enough from the city that you won’t find crowds.
One of the beach’s most appealing features is the lack of crowds. There are no vendors to bother you. Especially on weekdays, it’s often possible to stroll along the shoreline and not see another person. Enjoying this solitude requires special planning. As there are no shops or facilities within miles of the beach, bring all you will need for the hours you’ll be here. In Qatar’s desert, that always means bringing extra water and something to provide shade.
Camping is popular at Fuwairit Beach. Bring a tent, firewood and food for a barbecue dinner. The beach is on the eastern side of Qatar’s peninsula, so plan to wake up early to watch the sunrise. Later in the day, watch kite surfers zipping past in the breeze. Stroll along the shore and look for a few palm and date trees, shells and unusual rocks.
Fuwairit Beach is a key nesting area for endangered hawksbill turtles, along with Al Ghariyah, Umm Tiss Island and several other places on the northern part of the peninsula. A wildlife team monitors the area and conducts counts and completes activities to protect the eggs and hatchling turtles. As many as 5,000 baby turtles crawl to the sea each season.
Although the site is closed to visitors during nesting, check to see if and when a nighttime visit is allowed during the hatch in late July.
Travel to Fuwairit Beach by car from Doha in just under 2 hours. Use a four-wheel-drive vehicle to approach the ocean, but be careful not to get stuck in soft, wet sands. Note that parts of the beach are likely to close from April through July when turtles are nesting.
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