Five Major Tourism Developments Opening in Qatar Before the FIFA World Cup 2022™

Jul 20, 2022

DOHA, Qatar - July 20, 2022 - (Newswire.com)

Before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ kicks off in November an assortment of exceptional new tourism developments will open across the country. From a winter-sun wonderland to a water sports paradise, these developments each add something special to the peninsula's eclectic mix of attractions and activities to suit every type of traveller.

One year after Qatar re-opened its borders to the world on 12 July 2021, Qatar Tourism reveals the latest attractions that will build on the extensive tourism development strategy of the last few years. Qatar aims to capitalise on the influx of over one million visitors expected for the FIFA World Cup 2022™ and show the world its hidden treasures and unmissable holiday potential.

Chief Operating Officer of Qatar Tourism, Berthold Trenkel, said: "The countdown to the World Cup is well underway and there's lots of world-class attractions to come before the matches begin. Amongst the buzz around the tournament itself we hope people are wowed by Qatar's state-of-the-art new tourism developments, significantly boosting the country's appeal as a leading holiday destination. There are new beaches for those looking for sun, sea and sand, theme parks and water sports hotels for the adventurous, and lots of new resorts, spas and restaurants for visitors seeking a more relaxing getaway."

Five major upcoming openings

Winter Wonderland

Pack your shades and sun cream for the Doha Winter Wonderland, set to be launched in Qatar later this year on a sandy island. Instead of the icy cold temperatures that greet visitors at the famous sister event in Hyde Park, London, travellers to Doha Winter Wonderland will be able to relax on the beach under delightful average temperatures in the mid 20°Cs.

Doha Winter Wonderland will feature seafront chalets, restaurants, festival games, 50 rides, and cafes, bringing the festive spirit to the Middle East.

Situated near Lusail City just north of Qatar's capital, the upcoming 200,000 square metre attraction will be operated by IMG (International Marketing Group), the same company that manages Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park each year.

Fuwairit Kite Beach (FKB)

FKB is an upcoming state-of-the-art kite beach resort in Fuwairit. Fuwairit is a coastal village an easy hour drive north of Doha with excellent kitesurfing conditions thanks to consistent winds, ideal ocean water and powder-soft sands.

The resort is designed around the kitesurfer's lifestyle with everything you need for the water and even more when you are out of it. There will be a yoga studio, fully equipped gym, restaurants, pool and much more.

The Outpost Al Barari

The Outpost will be the first of its kind in Qatar, integrating close-to-nature experiences, sustainability, and luxury hospitality into one beautiful resort in the globally unique Inland Sea nature reserve.

Surrounded by soaring sand dunes and desert wilderness, 21 luxury lodges with private pools will provide the perfect retreat from hectic city life. Stargazing, hot air ballooning, and immersive desert walks where you will learn about the local wildlife will be among the experiences on offer, alongside "Emerge in Nature" spa treatments and sensational culinary experiences.

Qetaifan Island North

Billed as the first "Entertainment Island" in Qatar, Qetaifan Island North will feature floating hotels, beach clubs and a water park with 36 rides - including "The Icon Tower" zone, featuring an 85-metre-high slide set to become the highest of its kind in the world.

Set over 1.3 million square metres, the island is close to the Lusail Stadium, where the final of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ will take place.

West Bay North Beach Project

West Bay North Beach is an extensive new tourism development being constructed, covering 40,000 square metres of a premium beachfront in the heart of Doha. The public and private beach areas will offer three distinct beach experiences with a wide variety of food and beverage offerings, to create a sought-after city beach experience for everyone to enjoy.

The wave of new resorts and attractions adds to a flurry of openings in Qatar over the last couple of years. In March 2022 the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum launched as one world's most innovate sports museums. In 2021 one of the region's largest theme parks called Desert Falls Water & Adventure Park opened with 28 slides and rides. And last summer a theme park called Quest Doha was unveiled featuring the world's tallest indoor rollercoaster.

There will also be lots of exciting events in Qatar after the FIFA World Cup 2022™. The country will host a Qatar Formula 1 Grand Prix for at least a decade from 2023, along with the new Geneva International Motorshow Qatar.

For the latest on Qatar's best attractions and vibrant calendar of events visit: www.visitqatar.com

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For media-related inquiries, please contact Qatar Tourism's Press Office on:

+974 7774 7863 | [email protected]

About Qatar:

Qatar is a peninsula surrounded by the Arabian Gulf in the heart of the Middle East, with 80% of the earth's population within a six-hour flight. Ranked the safest country in the world in 2022 by Numbeo, Qatar welcomes all travellers, and guests from over 95 countries can enter visa-free. Qatar has an incredible variety of easily accessible tourist attractions, a plethora of fauna and flora including Whale Sharks and the majestic national animal the Arabian Oryx, and most experiences are a unique combination of cultural authenticity and modernity. From iconic museums to high-rise restaurants, from thrilling desert adventures to world-famous events including none other than the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, there is something for all types of travellers and budgets. Travellers set to transit through Qatar should turn one holiday into two with the world's best value stopover packages, launched by Qatar Airways and Discover Qatar and supported by Qatar Tourism.

About Qatar Tourism:

Qatar Tourism is the official government body responsible for the development and promotion of tourism in Qatar, facilitating the sector's exponential growth. Qatar is a destination where people of the world come together to experience unique offerings in arts, culture, sports, and adventure, catering to family and business visitors, rooted in Service Excellence. Qatar Tourism seeks to boost the entire tourism value chain, grow local and international visitor demand, attract inward investment, and drive a multiplier effect across the domestic economy. The Qatar Tourism Strategy 2030 sets an ambitious target to attract over six million international visitors a year by 2030, making Qatar the fastest growing destination in the Middle East.

Web: www.visitqatar.com

Twitter: @VisitQatar

Instagram: @VisitQatar

Press Release Service by Newswire.com

Original Source: Five Major Tourism Developments Opening in Qatar Before the FIFA World Cup 2022™

Padel Pilipinas makes historic Asian Games debut as Abad, Malazarte break into Asia’s Top 4

MANILA, Philippines — From the bottom seed to the final four, Filipino national athletes Danna Abad and Joshea Malazarte delivered a breakthrough performance for padel at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026. The youngest pair in Team Padel Pilipinas entered the women’s draw as the No. 23 seed — the lowest-seeded pair in the 23-team field — but battled through three rounds of competition to earn a semifinal berth in padel’s historic Asian Games debut. Held at the Higashi Sports Center from September 28 to October 3, the padel competition brought together 13 nations — the Philippines, Lebanon, Qatar, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Japan, with Saudi Arabia competing exclusively in the women’s division. “Being part of the Asian Games is a huge step for padel in the Philippines. Our athletes showed that they can compete on this stage, and more importantly, they gained the experience of going up against some of the best in Asia. This is an important foundation for where we want to take the sport next,” said Padel Pilipinas President Jeff Cheng. In the first match of Team Philippines, Abad and Malazarte opened with a dominant 6-1, 6-0 victory over Saudi Arabia’s Samaher Alkurdi and Lina Alabdullatif, immediately setting the tone for what would become a breakthrough showing. National Team Captain LA Cañizares and Jason Tamayo followed with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Indonesia’s Christian Alvin Edison and Giorgio Soermarno, while Tao Yee Tan and Marian Capadocia battled Kazakhstan’s Albina Khabibulina and Mariya Sinitsyna to a 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 victory. The Round of 16 brought another pair of victories for the Philippines, with Abad and Malazarte overcoming Hong Kong’s Venise Chan and Hiu Wai Lau, 6-1, 6(5)-7, 6-3, in a tightly contested three-set battle. Cañizares and Tamayo also advanced after defeating Hong Kong’s Kwan Lam Vincent Chau and Lok Pui Lawrence Lo, 6-2, 6-2. Tan and Capadocia, meanwhile, bowed out after a closely contested three-set match against Hong Kong’s Hiu Laam Chan and Yik Yan Law, falling 7-5, 4-6, 4-6. The Philippines’ second men’s pair, Abdulqoahar Allian and Raymark Gulfo, also concluded their campaign after losing to the United Arab Emirates’ Fares Al Janahi and Abdullah Alabdulla. Abad and Malazarte kept their momentum rolling in the quarterfinals, overcoming Iran’s Saba Najafi Dehaghi and Neda Mohammad Taghipour, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, to punch their ticket to the semifinals. On the other hand, Cañizares and Tamayo faced a tough quarterfinal challenge against Malaysia’s Christian Didier Chin Zao Quan and Aidan Yunus. After taking the second set, the Filipino pair ultimately fell 3-6, 6-3, 3-6, bringing their run to a close. Entering the tournament as the No. 23 seed — the lowest-seeded pair in a 23-pair field — Abad and Malazarte quickly became one of the tournament’s surprise stories. They climbed through the draw, knocking out higher-ranked opposition and earning their place among the final four, alongside three top-seeded teams: Japan’s No. 2 seed and Indonesia’s No. 3 and No. 7 seeds. In the semifinals, the duo faced Indonesia’s Fadona Kusumawati and Fitriani Sabatini. They lost and returned to compete for bronze against Indonesia’s Novela Putria and Beatrice Gumulya, ultimately finishing fourth. From the bottom seed to the final four, Abad and Malazarte became one of the defining moments at the Asian Games. Securing Top 4 in Asia marked a breakthrough for the next generation of padel in the Philippines. Secretary General Duane Santos said, “We are proud of how every athlete represented the Philippines in Nagoya. Some matches did not go our way, but each pair showed resilience, competed hard, and gained valuable experience on the Asian Games stage. This is only the beginning, and we look forward to seeing these athletes continue to grow and push the sport forward. Our focus now is on building a stronger pipeline of athletes through grassroots programs, developing young players from an early age, and giving them more opportunities to train and compete. We want to make sure that the next generation has the foundation and support to take padel in the Philippines even further.” Senator Pia Cayetano, a competitive padel player and the founder of Padel Pilipinas, marvelled at Team Philippine’s showing in the first ever padel tournament in the Asian Games. She said, “I’ve seen the work our players have put in and think we’ve been able to show that with proper and consistent training throughout the year, and the support our national team receives, we can compete on the Asian stage.” The team’s campaign was backed by a dedicated coaching staff led by Head Coach Bryan Casao, with Coach Tomás Vasco, Mental Performance Coach Ayel Estrañero, Strength and Conditioning Coach Jaric Lavalle, and Coach Eric Marquez working together to prepare the athletes for the competition. The national padel athletes showed grit, composure, and competitive fire against some of Asia’s strongest. Together, they carried the flag with honor and made the country’s historic padel debut one to remember. The result provides a strong foundation for the continued growth of the sport and the athletes who will carry the sport forward. TMT