Umm Bab Beach is a stretch of white sand on Qatar's western coast. Often quiet or deserted because of its remote location, it’s a nice spot for sunbathing or swimming. Visit Umm Bab Beach on a daytrip from Doha or do as the locals do and pitch a tent for a night in the desert.
Like many of Qatar's strips of sand, Umm Bab Beach can often be quiet and deserted. On occasion you’ll find locals camping, making fire pits and having barbeques. It is a clean, sandy beach, with clear water. The ground slopes very gently to the sea, making this a very good place for kids to splash and paddle.
Come here on a daytrip across the desert from Doha and stay for a spectacular sunset, with the sun dropping below the horizon of the sea. Alternatively, bring a tent and spend the night camping and stargazing on the beach. In cooler weather, cycling and hiking in the desert landscape are popular activities.
Umm Bab Beach is south of the Al Reem Biosphere Reserve, which makes up a large portion of northwestern Qatar. The protected area is mostly desert and has interesting plants and animals. Look for Arabian oryx and ostriches, which roam freely in the area.
Facilities at Umm Bab Beach are sparse, consisting of a children's play area and public toilets. Note that there are no lifeguards. If you plan on visiting Umm Bab, bring everything you need with you for a day at the beach, including sun umbrellas or some other means of shade. A few palm trees here give the area the nickname Palm Tree Beach.
Travel by car to the beach from Doha in just over 1 hour. From the beach, it is a 6-minute drive to the small village of Umm Bab and a 25-minute drive to the nearest larger town of Dukhan.
On your way to or from Umm Bab Beach, stop at the famous East-West/West-East sculpture by renowned U.S. artist Richard Serra. This art installation of four huge steel plates is about a 50-minute drive north of the beach.
