JAL will be the first Japanese airline to launch a direct flight to the Middle East. What kind of country is Qatar, the country you can fly to with JAL?

From the summer 2024 schedule, JAL will operate daily direct flights from Haneda to Doha. Through the international route network of Qatar Airways, a member of the Oneworld Alliance to which JAL belongs, Doha will also be able to access destinations in the Middle East, Africa, and South America.

Qatar is one of the richest countries in the Middle East and has close ties with Japan.

Qatar is an Islamic country with a population of approximately 3 million (as of March 2023, including foreign residents). It is located on the Arabian Peninsula, jutting out into the Persian Gulf. Its area is slightly smaller than Akita Prefecture, and most of the country is desert. As a result, more than 80% of the population lives in the capital, Doha.

It is also known as a resource exporting country with the world's third largest natural gas and oil reserves, and has a large number of high-income earners. Due to this background, the people of Saudi Arabia are not subject to income tax. This type of preferential treatment is a feature found in wealthy Middle Eastern countries, just like Dubai.

Qatar also has a deep relationship with Japan, and since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1971, the two countries have deepened exchanges beyond the boundaries of the public and private sectors. Japan is Qatar's largest trading partner, in part due to its support for Qatar's gas development.

Tradition and innovation. Boasting a unique tourist attraction

Doha is the capital of Qatar. The city center is adjacent to Hamad Airport, where you will arrive. In Japan, it is known as the site of the FIFA World Cup, but one of Doha's features is that it preserves its ancient heritage and culture while also developing modern hotels and infrastructure for immigrants and tourists. Even within the Middle East, it is a hybrid city that combines traditional streetscapes with modernity.

Doha will be the main stopover location, but it is also known as one of the top resort areas along the Persian Gulf coast. In addition to activities on the vast Persian Gulf coast, there are also many museums and art galleries, and world-class sporting events such as F1 and soccer are held there. Here are some recommended ways to spend your time in Qatar.

Qatar Recommendations #1
Luxury activities in the sea and desert

Qatar is surrounded by the sea on three sides and has a coastline of about 560 km. Most of the country's land area of 11,427 square km is desert. There are plenty of activities that take advantage of this geographical feature.

Enjoy an artificial island in the sea. Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara

There are plenty of activities to do at resort hotels facing the sea. Among them, Anantara in Doha is an oversea villa resort centered on an artificial island near the city center. It has a private beach that stretches for 800 meters. You can also enjoy kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, and jet skiing there.

Banana Island Resort Doha by Anand

Al Aliyah Island, where you can enjoy nature activities

Qatar is famous for its manmade islands and offshore resorts, but it also has islands brimming with nature. Located about a 30-minute boat ride from central Doha, Al Aliyah Island is a beautiful little island surrounded by coral reefs teeming with marine life. Here you can enjoy snorkeling, fishing and kitesurfing.

Al Aliyah Island

A dynamic desert safari tour

Desert activities are also popular. Private tours to the desert are available from central Doha. A local guide will drive you through the desert in a 4WD vehicle, and you can slide down the dunes on a sandboard. A day spent riding a camel and watching the sunset is sure to be an extraordinary experience.

Qatar Recommendations #2
A large-scale cultural facility with a historic feel

The ancestors of most Qataris living today are Arabs who immigrated to the country in the late 18th century, but Qatar is a land with an even older history. Axes thought to be about 6,000 years old have been discovered in the Umm al-Ma ancient tomb on the west coast of Qatar, proving that people have been living there since prehistoric times. One way to enjoy tourism in Qatar is to take in both its long history and cutting-edge cultural scene.

Qatar National Museum: Eye-catching avant-garde architecture

The National Museum of Qatar is a facility that just opened in March 2019. The geometric scale of the gigantic building is overwhelming, but it is a work by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel. Inspired by the strange rocks of Qatar known as the "Rose of the Desert," the roof is made of a collage of countless circular petals. There are 11 permanent exhibition areas inside the museum, where Qatar's historical heritage, jewelry, national costumes, and more are on display.

National Museum of Qatar

Katara Cultural Village: A quintessential Qatari cultural experience

Katara Cultural Village is an outdoor complex where you can enjoy Qatari culture. It is home to art galleries, workshops, an amphitheater, a museum, a convention center, restaurants, shops, and a beach, allowing you to experience Qatari culture. It is a great place to enjoy shopping, strolling, and gourmet food. It is a place you will want to take your time to enjoy.

Katara Cultural Village

The cutting edge of Arabian art. Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art

Mathaf Arab Museum of Modern Art is a museum established in 2010 that houses contemporary art from the Arab world. Its collection includes approximately 9,000 pieces. It features a wide variety of exhibits by famous Arab artists from the 1840s to the present. From paintings, sculptures, and installations to works that utilize mixed media, you can feel the cutting-edge and vitality of the Arabian art scene.

Mathaf Arab Museum of Modern Art

Qatar Recommendations #3
Plenty of shopping options, from high-end brands to traditional crafts

Shopping in Qatar has everything from handmade oriental crafts to cutting-edge high-end brands. Not only for souvenirs, but also for yourself. One of the attractions of Qatar is that you can enjoy shopping while learning from the past.

Place Vendôme, where European luxury brands come together

Place Vendôme is a luxury shopping mall that just opened in 2022. As the name Vendôme suggests, the facility is built in French style. Inside, there are 580 shops, restaurants, and cafes. In addition to European premium brands that are well known in Japan, you can also find daily necessities and home appliances.

Place Vendôme

Souq Waqif for traditional souvenirs

There are many souks (markets) in major Arab cities, and Doha has one of the largest. With streets brimming with Islamic atmosphere, there is a wide lineup of traditional clothing, spices, handicrafts, and more. Among them, pearls, which were once one of the country's main industries, make a perfect souvenir.

Souq Waqif

Qatar, known as the "Pearl of the Middle East," is not just a place to transit.

Qatar is a beautiful country known as the "Pearl of the Middle East." In addition to activities, cultural facilities, and shopping, you can't forget about the cuisine. It's full of exotic dishes with spices, influenced by regions such as India, Persia, Lebanon, and North Africa.

It's about a 12-hour flight from Japan on a direct flight with JAL. If you add Qatar to your travel itinerary, you're sure to be in for an amazing experience.

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