The Doha Corniche is a waterfront promenade extending for several kilometers along Doha Bay in the capital city of Doha

Doha

Doha is the capital city of the state of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf, it had a population of 998,651 in 2008, and is also one of the municipalities of Qatar...

, the state of Qatar

Qatar

Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...

. Running parallel to the Corniche is Corniche St., a main thoroughfare which connects Doha's emerging West Bay business district with the south of the city and Doha International Airport

Doha International Airport

Doha International Airport is the only commercial airport in Qatar. It has three mosques, free Wi-Fi, a duty-free area, a few eateries and 42 parking bays for aircraft. There are also 60 check-in gates, 8 baggage claim belts and over 1,000 car parking spaces.The airport suffers from...

. Formed following extensive dredging work carried out during the late 1970s and early 1980s which reshaped Doha's coastline, the Corniche is today a popular location among walkers, bikers and joggers.

Easily one of the most attractive areas of the city, a significant number of Doha's landmarks are found along the Corniche. Development has increased exponentially in the last decade in the area due to its attractiveness and its proximity to the sea, with dozens of skyscrapers rising towards the north of the Corniche. The Corniche begins near the newly constructed Museum of Islamic Art, and ends at the Sheraton Park near the distinctive pyramid-shaped Sheraton Hotel

Sheraton Doha Resort & Convention Hotel

Sheraton Doha Resort & Convention Hotel is a five-star luxury hotel run by the Sheraton Hotels and Resorts overlooking the Persian Gulf in the western bay area of Doha, Qatar.Located approximately 2 miles northwest of the port area, it reportedly covers an area of around 10,000 square metres.The...

.

The Corniche used to be an empty stretch of walkway, in which the only visible edifice was the Sheraton Hotel. Now, it has become the embodiment of development, surrounded by skyscrapers reminiscent of New York City. The walkway has expanded incredibly, most of this change occurring in the last twenty years, due to the new fame of Doha (Qatar's capital and the most popular city), the economic boom the country has been experiencing, and the country's desire to open up and promote tourism, which was facilitated by the 2006 Asian Games.

The Corniche attracts a diverse crowd, depending on the time of day, and permitting weather (the State of Qatar can be unbearably hot, making ventures out into the blistering heat during summer days a health hazard). In the morning, foreigners who enjoy an early jog can often be found getting their exercise in before their day starts. This crowd opens up as the day progresses, to families and couples. Late at night, however, the Corniche visitors change greatly. Youngsters often visit a coffee shop at the Corniche, a shabby place that makes up for appearance in its coffee, teas, and Karak (a traditional drink made with tea and milk). Demonstrating the change the country has seen that is so evident in its landscape, the Corniche has also become a meeting place for a new generation of Qataris. Qatari rebels also congregate in the area, with motorcyclists and other non-traditional looking youngsters meeting in the area to meet up or make noise. The Corniche at night is a great place to go when looking for a different cultural view of the city.

Significant landmarks located along the Corniche include:

• The Emiri Diwan
• The Museum of Islamic Art
• Doha Port
• Qatar National Museum
  Qatar National Museum
  The Qatar National Museum opened in 1975 in a restored palace originally built in the early 20th century by Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al-Thani. It served as his family residence and the seat of government for approximately 25 years. In addition to the original Amiri Palace, the former Qatar...
  
  
• Qatar National Theatre
• Dubai Towers - Doha
  Dubai Towers - Doha
  Dubai Towers - Doha is a super-tall skyscraper with a roof height of under construction in Doha, Qatar. The estimated cost of Dubai Towers - Doha is 2.3 billion Qatari Riyal...
  
  
• Sheraton Doha
• Commercialbank Plaza
  Commercialbank Plaza
  Commercialbank Plaza is a 20 storey office building on the North Shore of Doha, Qatar, built as a new head office by the Commercial Bank of Qatar. The building was opened on May 13th 2009 by H.E. Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar. The building...