Things to do in Al Rayyan

The Qatar National Convention Centre is a great place to enjoy entertainment in Doha. The building opened in 2011 as part of the Qatar Foundation’s efforts to establish Qatar as a global leader in gathering people for learning and culture. When you visit the Qatar National Convention Centre, notice Arata Isozaki’s architectural design, with wide branches growing from the ground to support the building’s roof. This feature represents the Sidra tree, which provides shelter for desert travelers, who share knowledge in the shade of its protective branches.

Qatar National Library opened in 2018 with a vision of becoming one of the world’s outstanding centers of learning, research and culture. Visit this impressive building in Doha to learn about Qatar, see state-of-the-art library features, attend an educational event or browse its extensive range of materials. Many activities and documents are available in English.

The Al Shaqab Equestrian Center in Doha is where the world’s top Arabian horses are bred and trained. The Arabian horse plays a vital part in Qatar’s cultural heritage, with myths and legends tied to Muhammad. Visit Al Shaqab for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see this purebred animal in the flesh.

The Miraculous Journey, an art installation by Damien Hirst, is a fitting sight along the roadway outside Sidra Medicine, a hospital dedicated to women and children. Fourteen larger-than-life bronze sculptures show images of the fetus from conception through the full cycle of gestation. One statue depicts twins in utero, lined up head to foot. Another shows a fetus in breech position. Gaze up at the final statue of a newborn child, which is 46 feet (14 meters) tall. The sculptures weigh 216 tons (196 metric tons) and took three years to create.

Visit the Qatar Faculty for Islamic Studies (QFIS) to see some of Qatar's most iconic architecture. The dazzling white complex covered in gold Arabic calligraphy was a winner in the 2015 World Architecture Festival competition. The British firm Mangera Yvars Architects created this innovative center.