There is a rich athletic scene in Doha, with sports leagues, teams, and clubs to suit every skill and interest level. Although Doha's climate can be very hot, local sports clubs and stadiums work to accommodate the heat through their schedules.
Sports seasons in Doha:
- Football: October to May
- Tennis: October to March
- Racing and Equestrian: October to May
- Camel Racing: October to April
- Dune bashing: Year-round, but October through March preferred
- Golf: October to May
- Water sports: Year-round, particularly in the cooler months between October and March
Stadiums in Doha
Doha is home to a number of sports stadiums and venues, many of which were recently renovated to host the 15th Asian Games (2006). Sports venues in Doha and its immediate regions include:
- Hamad bin Khalifa Stadium
- Thani bin Jassim Stadium
- Jassim bin Hamad Stadium
- Al Rayyan Stadium
- Al-Arabi Stadium
- Hamad Aquatic Centre
- Khalifa International Stadium (Main venue for the 15th Asian Games)
- Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex
- Qatar Sports Club Stadium
- Losail International Circuit (MotoGP)
The Hamad Aquatic Centre, Khalifa International Stadium, and Aspire Tower (the tallest structure in Doha) and Aspire Academy for sports are located in the Doha Sports City Complex (also known as Aspire Zone).
Two other stadiums, the (underground!) Wall Stadium and the Paralympic Stadium, are currently under construction in Doha.
Sporting Events in Doha
Doha hosts many regional and international sporting events owing to its ever-improving sports infrastructure.
Qatar hosts the Qatar Open tennis tournament for women and the ladies ITF tournament in Doha each year.
In the past Doha has hosted numerous international sporting events, such as the 2009 Oryx Cup World Championships for hydroplane boat racing, the 2012 World Squash Championships, the 3rd West Asian games in 2005, the 2011 Asian Indoor Games, the finals of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, and the 2011 Pan Arab Games.
In 2014 Doha will host the FINA World Swimming Championships. In 2022, Doha will host the World Cup.
An official sports events calendar can be found at:
http://qatartourism.gov.qa/en/international-sports-events.html
Sport Activities in Doha
Popular sporting activities for residents in Doha include walking and jogging along the Corniche, sailing, rugby, hockey, swimming and water sports.
Sailing in Doha
Regatta Sailing Academy
Phone: +974 5550 7846
Email: regattasailing@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.regattasailingacademy.com/
Doha's Regatta Sailing Academy holds regattas throughout the year for children and adults.
Rugby in Doha
Doha Rugby Football Club
Email: membership@doharfc.com
Website: http://www.doharfc.com/
You can also join the Doha Rugby Club, whose membership season runs from 1st July to 30th June annually. Family, student, and temporary memberships are available. Prices range from 500 to 2100 QR seasonally. Membership applications can be submitted online at https://www.clubsys.net/drfc/members/.
Squash in Doha
Doha John Lord Duffers Squash League
Email (Club leader Mark Williams): williams@qp.com.qa
Website: http://www.squashleagues.com/
The Duffers Squash League welcomes players of all ages and abilities. You can register for a membership on their web site.
Field Hockey in Doha
Doha Field Hockey Club
Email: info@DohaHockeyClub.com
Website: http://www.dohahockeyclub.com
The Doha Field Hockey Club is open to all members seeking to play social hockey. Membership to the club is 400 QR annually and includes a hockey kit with tops, shorts/skirts, and socks. You can register at http://www.dohahockeyclub.com/membership.html
Running in Doha
Doha Bay Running Club
Website: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dohabayrunningclub/
The Doha Bay Running Club runs long and short distances and trains on Fridays and Tuesdays at the Corniche, Qatar Sports Club, Al Sadd track, Hyatt Park, and Beach Tower. You can request to join the group through their Facebook page.
Swimming in Doha
H20 Swimming Club
Phone: +974 5564 1475
Email: info@h2oswimclub.com
Website: http://www.h2oswimclub.com/
The H2O Swimming club offers competitive and leisure swimming leagues for children and adults with facilities at Al Sadd (50 m indoor pool), ASD (25 m indoor pool) and ASD (25 m outdoor pool). Membership fees start at QR 1,450 per term for adults and children. Swimming schedules can be found at http://www.h2oswimclub.com/schedules-qatar.php
Racing in Doha
Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club
Phone: +974 4419 7664
Email: info@qrec.gov.qa
Website: http://www.qrec.gov.qa/website/
The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club hosts horse racing, horse shows, and a riding school. It is located on Al Furousiya Street in Al Rayyan, Doha.
Qatar Racing Club
Phone: +974 4450 9357
Email: http://qrc.qa/contact-us/
Website: http://qrc.qa/
The Qatar Race Club is the country's premiere drag racing facility offering freestyle drifting, drifting, the Qatar Mile, and street drag events.
Camel Racing
Al Shahaniya Racetrack
The Al Shahaniya Racetrack is located 30 minutes outside Doha. It hosts the annual Camel Racing Festival (March-April) and general camel racing events.
Camel races started in Qatar in 1972 under the patronage of H.H. the Emir. Races at Al Shahaniya Racetrack are 6, 8 and 10 kilometers long.
Gyms in Doha
Most hotels and accommodation facilities (apartments and villas) have gym facilities. There are also independent gyms outside hotels, such as the Diplomatic Club, Fitness First, Fitness Qatar, Energie, Curves, Cloud Nine, QMotion, and Bootcamp Qatar. Women's-only gyms are also available.
Diplomatic Club
Phone: +974 4484 7444
Hours: Open daily from 7 am to 11 pm
Email: info@dclub.com.qa
Website: http://www.thediplomaticclub.com/
Doha's Diplomatic Club is located on the West Bay shores between Katara and the Pearl Qatar. It offers premium recreation facilities, including a private beach, swimming pool, gym, work out studio, squash courts, tennis courts, a sailing club, spa, sauna, steam room, beach volleyball, kids club, table tennis, badminton, yoga, football, waterskiing, wakeboarding, fishing trips, personal trainers, a salon and restaurants. Corporate and private memberships are available. Private swimming, squash, and tennis lessons are also available from QR 75 per hour. Watersports cost from QR 150 for 30 minutes.
QMotion
Phone: +974 6617 0911
Email: info@qmotion.com.qa
Website: http://www.qmotion.com.qa/
QMotion is a sports and leisure centre offering facilities and lessons to adults and children. QMotion is located at Doha College. You can apply to become a member at http://www.qmotion.com.qa/. Annual memberships are 325 QR.
Bootcamp Qatar
Phone: +974 7756 7527 or +974 3000 8974
Email: info@bootcampqatar.com
Website: http://www.bootcampqatar.com
Fitness First Qatar
Phone: +974 4411 5999
Website: http://www.fitnessfirstme.com/Qatar/
Fitness First is located at the Ramada International hotel in Doha. Memberships start from 1999 QR annually and include access to gym, spinning room, classes, members' lounge, sauna and steam room. Fitness First also has a women's-only located at Al Khor. Phone: +974 4472 6588.
Energie
Email: info@energie-qa.com
Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Energy-Fitness-Club/145208688878986
Energie is located on the Airport Road in Doha.
Cloud Nine Women's Gym
Phone: +974 5520 0810 and +974 4493 3057
Website: http://www.ezyqatar.com/business_details/Nzk4/7
Cloud Nine Spa offers a fitness centre for women with a swimming pool and fitness classes in aerobics, Pilates, yoga, Swiss ball, water aerobics, hip hop, Latin dance, belly dance, jazz dance, kick boxing, and more. Personal training services are also available.
Curves Women's Gym
Phone: +974 4469 9995 and +974 4421 7755 and +974 4455 2477
There are three Curves gym locations in Doha at Salwa Road, Duhail and the Airport. Curves women's gyms are an international chain of gyms.
Cabana Club / Ramada Plaza Doha
Phone: +974 4428 1428
Email: info.doha@radissonblu.com
Update 24/03/2017
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