[Artanis]

As my first post I want to show you some pictures that I've taken in August 2006, while I was doing an internship in Qatar. Some of the pictures are taken whilst driving to the city center, a very big shopping center. That and my crappy camera, explains the lower quality then that you are probably used to.
Anyhow, it should give you a nice idea on the huge number of projects that are busy now in Qatar. And this is just one part of the city.

Let's start in the suburbs: all over Doha, there are towers painted with sport activities for the upcoming Asian Games in November:
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/9742/p8180054ba4.jpg

One of the things I really don't understand is why the hell there are so many roundabouts in Qatar. I mean, you don't use a roundabout on highways! For me that's one of the reasons why there is traffic jam all the time.
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/4981/p8180055wt3.jpg
This one is taken on the corniche, a road near the shore.

Also on the corniche, near the little harbour, you can find some authentic looking buildings:
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/962/p8180066rd9.jpg
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4025/p8180065mt3.jpg

On the corniche, you can have a nice view of a whole new district being build. They don't have to worry about urban planning, they just build on another place in the desert.
http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/4687/p8180063tu0.jpg
http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/4021/p8180067pz3.jpg
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/6352/p8180068wz1.jpg

Now it was time to get back to the car, August is really the worst time to go to Qatar: the humid levels are spiking and the temperature reaches 50°C. Luckily there is more Airco then humans. We now drove to the city center, one of the few places where you can eat, having fun or shop. On the way I took some more pictures:
http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/6840/p8180081by9.jpg

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6382/p8180082is7.jpg

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/7844/p8180083db0.jpg

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/6633/p8180084aa4.jpg

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/9379/p8180085cg8.jpg

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/8125/p8180086mg8.jpg

http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/7716/p8180087xi2.jpg

The Sheraton Hotel:
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/9833/p8180088mt0.jpg

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/9537/p8180090rv3.jpg

And the entrance of the City Center, where our voyage stops:
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/2606/p8180091qp6.jpg

I hope you enjoyed it. I can ensure you, this is only a very small part of the construction fever in Qatar!

[JBinCalgary]

way to represent Qatar. one of the most underrated skylines in the world imo

[burpp]

Qatar, like most countries in the Middle East, are surprisingly vibrant and exotic. Hope to visit some day ;)

[hunser]

Qatar, like most countries in the Middle East, are surprisingly vibrant and exotic. Hope to visit some day ;)
sorry, but i can't imagine that. for me a vibrant city is
-- where i can say what i wanna say
-- where i can make party
-- where i can pick up women / go out with women
-- where women dress properly (i.e. especially in summer)
-- etc. etc

and thats just not possible in a muslim society. (maybe for the rich ones, they have their own way of life there). same thing with duabi imo.

[CharoogAjram]

^^ Try Beirut, Lebanon. It is an amazing city!

[MolsonExport]

So is Qatar really pronounced "Kutter"?

Nice photos, by the way.

[hunser]

^^ Try Beirut, Lebanon. It is an amazing city!

yeah, im with you :D - beirut is really an exception, very liberal and tolerant.

[Chrissib]

yeah, im with you :D - beirut is really an exception, very liberal and tolerant.

Maybe because Lebanon is 33% christian.:haha:

[CUclimber]

That looks neither vibrant nor exotic. Like much of the modern middle-east it looks rather desolate and sterile.

[Pizzuti]

sorry, but i can't imagine that. for me a vibrant city is
-- where i can say what i wanna say
-- where i can make party
-- where i can pick up women / go out with women
-- where women dress properly (i.e. especially in summer)
-- etc. etc

and thats just not possible in a muslim society. (maybe for the rich ones, they have their own way of life there). same thing with duabi imo.


Now you guys all just sound ignorant. Have you ever heard of Albania, Turkey, Indonesia? Those are all Muslim countries that are secular, diverse and tolerant. There is much to criticize about the way things are run in the Middle East - no beleiver in Democracy would disagree with you there. But don't overgeneralize and confuse religious strife with the word "Muslim." There are secular, tolerant Muslim populations all over the world.

[dubaivillas]

I think QATAR is going to be the NEW DUBAI

[ThreeHundred]

^ Which is saying what?

[Kingofthehill]

Now you guys all just sound ignorant. Have you ever heard of Albania, Turkey, Indonesia? Those are all Muslim countries that are secular, diverse and tolerant. There is much to criticize about the way things are run in the Middle East - no beleiver in Democracy would disagree with you there. But don't overgeneralize and confuse religious strife with the word "Muslim." There are secular, tolerant Muslim populations all over the world.

Indonesia, with its wholesale, state-sponsored slaughter of Christians and persecution the of animist minorities, is anything but tolerant. And Albania? LOL, its shrouded in atheism.

[GO_UAE]

Indonesia, with its wholesale, state-sponsored slaughter of Christians and persecution the of animist minorities, is anything but tolerant. And Albania? LOL, its shrouded in atheism.

Indonesia ? are you sure ? Christians being slaughtered and this is the first time i hear of it ?

the whole european union and the US are doing nothing while christians are being slaughtered in a muslim nation ? i doubt it

[davidchimwaza]

Doha is gworing day by day