A royal Mercedes and rare classics on display in Doha
Also this week: A new beach club in Doha and Holi celebrations
Welcome to AL-MONITOR Doha.
The beach season has arrived, and Doha is ready for it. A new waterfront destination just opened its doors, a race kicks off before sunrise at Qetaifan Island, and the National Museum of Qatar has three cars on display that are worth the visit on their own. There is also a Holi celebration at Al Wakra and a mangrove cleanup that ends with a sunset. The week has its own current. You just have to get in.
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Thanks for reading,
Reve
P.S. Have feedback or tips on Doha's culture scene? Send them my way at contactus@al-monitor.com.
1. Leading the week: A sneak peek at the Qatar Auto Museum Project Exhibition
1965 Mercer-Cobra Roadster, Paris Motor Show. (Photo courtesy of National Museum of Qatar)
There is a 1970 Mercedes-Benz 600 sitting in the Mawater Gallery at the National Museum of Qatar that is worth going to see for two reasons: It was used during Queen Elizabeth II’s state visit to Qatar in 1979, and it belonged to Sheikh Khalifa Al Thani, the sixth ruler of Qatar. The bulletproof glass, the glass partition and the royal flag mount are all still there. It is the kind of object that embodies history in a way that a photograph cannot.
The exhibition is an updated version of the Qatar Auto Museum’s ongoing sneak peek, offering an early look at the stories, craftsmanship and engineering excellence that will shape the future museum’s collection. Three exceptional automobiles are on display, each chosen to represent innovation, performance and cultural significance across different eras. Alongside the Mercedes sits a 1957 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Tour de France, one of only nine built to its specification, with coachwork by Sergio Scaglietti and a competition history that includes the Mille Miglia and the German Grand Prix.
The third is a 1965 Mercer-Cobra Roadster, a one-of-a-kind concept car designed by Virgil Exner Sr., with 11 different copper and brass finishes across its exterior. Two cars remain on display throughout, while the third rotates every few months, which gives visitors a reason to return to the exhibition.
Date: Until Feb. 2, 2027
Location: National Museum of Qatar, Mawater Gallery
Find more details here.
2. Word on the street: Nami Beach
Nami Beach, a new beachfront destination in the heart of Doha, Qatar (Photo courtesy of Qatar Living)
Doha has a new beach club, and Qatar Tourism clearly put some thought into it. Nami Beach sits on the waterfront and positions itself as a city escape that does not require leaving the city. Inspired by coastal calm, an infinity pool facing the sea, landscaped garden areas, beach lounges and cabanas make up the setting.
The dining side covers enough ground to anchor a full afternoon there. Nami handles the casual end, Nami Greek brings traditional sharing plates and comforting mains inspired by the Greek seaside, and Olive Green keeps things light with freshly made sandwiches, juices and quick bites for whenever you need to refuel without breaking the pace of the day.
There is also a ladies-only section, Nami Ladies, with complimentary access for children under 7. No alcohol, no motorized water activities and no outside food keeps the atmosphere on the quieter, more family-oriented side of things, which is clearly the point.
Location: Diplomatic Street
Find more details here.
3. Doha diary
Azure Beach, Qetaifan Island North, Lusail. (Photo courtesy of Azure Beach)
- QTRI Azure Beach Aquathlon 2026
The race starts before sunrise. By 6 a.m., swimmers are already in the water at Azure Beach Club on Qetaifan Island North, with the sprint distance covering a 1 kilometer swim followed by a 5 kilometer run. There are categories for kids and youth too, which makes it a fun family outing even if you are not competing. Registration closes at noon on April 30, and there will be no sign-ups on race day, so if this is on your radar, you should act now.
Date: May 2
Location: Azure Beach Club, Qetaifan Island North, Lusail
Find more information here.
- Holi Celebration: Colours of Fun – Qatar Edition
Al Wakra Public Beach is hosting a Holi celebration on Thursday afternoon, with organic colors, flower holi, games and a food kiosk on the program. It is the kind of event that works best if you go in with no real plan and just let it unfold. Tickets cover entry, colors and flowers, with a family package available.
Date: April 30
Location: Al Wakra Public Beach
Find more information here.
- Mangrove cleanup at Al Thakira by Deap Qatar
DEAP Qatar is organizing a family-friendly cleanup at the Al Thakira mangroves, with gloves and bags provided. The agenda leaves room for more than just the work itself: After the cleanup wraps up at 5:15 p.m., there is an hour of social time to take in the mangroves and catch the sunset before heading home.
Date: May 1
Location: Al Thakira Mangroves, Qatar
Find more information here.
4. Book of the week
“An Archival Journey Through the Qatar Peninsula: Elusive and Precarious,” by Sue-Ann Harding, is the kind of book that takes familiar sources and reads them against the grain. Published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2022, it moves through the landscape of the Qatar Peninsula drawing on digitized maps, manuscripts, hydrographic surveys, traveler accounts and early photographs, not to retell the official history but to surface the stories that tend to get left out of it. Harding, a professor at Queen’s University Belfast who lived and worked in Doha for nearly five years, is less interested in the singular, streamlined version of Qatar’s past than in the messier, more complicated one that sits just beneath it. At 351 pages, it is a patient and quietly subversive read, and one that will surprise even those who think they already know this place well.
5. View from Doha
Sadd's Italian coach Roberto Mancini is presented with the winner's trophy after the Qatar Stars League match between Al-Sadd and Al-Shamal at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on April 27, 2026. (Karim JAAFAR / AFP via Getty Images)
6. By the numbers
- Qatar has over 563 kilometers of coastline with at least 28 public beaches and more than 20 private ones.
- Sea temperatures in Doha in May average around 28 C, making it one of the most comfortable months to be in the water before the summer heat sets in.