Gentlemans Butler has put together a 48 hour luxury jet set weekend in Doha. Many of us will pass through Doha for travel or business so next time take time out to discover this much talked about Arabian country.
Qatar has a population of just over 2 million, is in the Middle East whilst being part of the Asian continent, is the biggest exporter of natural gas in the world, has the fastest growing economy in the world and has the highest per capita income of any country in the world.
So you could say it’s a good place to jet set.
Story of “Michael of Arabia”
One day in 1994 a young television professional found himself applying for a job for an Arab Television Station called MBC Television . You might think they were based somewhere in the heat and sand but no Parsons Green in leafy South West London was the location……skip to the early 2000’s MBC had moved to Dubai, during which time Michael set up his own television production company New London Films that would specialise in lifestyle but also try to tell the stories from the Arab world to create a broader understanding.
In early 2004 Michael Grenville and his colleague Michael Elphick found themselves heading out to Qatar for New London Films first project. A project called “Sounds from The Gulf” filmed in Doha, Qatar was a documentary unravelling one of Arabia’s key defining cultures, its music, which not only has its own scale but in its own right starts to introduce you to the way Arabs live.
I have included an extract for you to view.
Forward wind to 2011 when I formed Gentlemans Butler and it was always our plan to look after discerning Arab clients’ needs but to also return to Arabia and introduce our readers to many of their wonderful sights, sounds and people.
It is in many ways the people as with most regions that define a culture and the Arab world is indeed a culture where hospitality is taken seriously and the old tales of offering the guest the best place at the table still holds true.
In 2014 I was tantalised with a stopover in Doha when travelling to Malaysia, and then at the end of December 2015 I made a journey back to Doha, 11 years after my first visit.
I think one of the things I always like to remind westerners of is that Arabia is a part of world where romance, beauty and the art of enjoying time with friends is integral.
For such a young and small country their journey is absolutely historic. Between the 2004 and 2015 the scale of change is genuinely meteoric, and this will advance yet again between now and 2022 when they hold the FIFA world cup.
I think for many you might have heard of Qatar for the following reasons, though not in any particular order.
FIFA Football World Cup Qatar 2022
Emir & Wife
Education – The Qatar Foundation … An integral part of their development has been given great importance by The Qatari Royal Family
Al Jazeera Television – Doha is the home and birthplace
Doha Hamad Airport – increasingly a hub airport
Wealth – highest per capita income than any country in the world
Business – With its very large energy sector Doha is a big centre for business
Qatar is becoming a real centre for Sports events (tennis, cycling, triathlon, golf)
These are all very pragmatic areas, though unquestioningly impressive here at Gentlemans Butler we like to talk just as much about pampering, spoiling, beauty and just unwinding…..
So you could possibly also think about
The beautiful maroon colour of the Qatari flag which I think is so chic
Their love of horses. The new long term sponsor of the famous Glorious Goodwood The Qatar Goodwood Festival , which Gentlemans Butler featured in 2015 – Qatar Goodwood Festival: English Social Season
With the amazing Museum of Islamic Art, plus modern art and much more you will find both the inside and outside of these buildings of interest
Doha has over 100 luxury 5 star hotels…
The Desert, camels and the beautiful Persian Gulf with the old stories of Pearl diving for which Qatar became famous.
The desert is a defining factor for the Arab world and personally for me I love where the sea meets the desert. Sitting there with the wind blowing, the sun beating down, whilst in the shade it is really peaceful……
In the next six years if you have not heard of Qatar then I think it is very likely you will, apart from anything else they are a major investor in the UK.
Its close ties with the U.K. come from the fact it is a British protectorate and Qatar and the British Royal families have strong links.
With the idea of enticing you to this beautiful Qatari Pearl we have put together our own luxury weekend….
Gentlemans Butler luxury weekend in Qatar for you and your loved one.
If you think you might be stopping over, changing planes, visiting on business why not take time out to discover, relax, be pampered and very likely surprised in Qatar
Day 1 – Arrive 1800hrs at The Four Seasons Doha
As you would imagine with a city of so many luxury hotels the choice is huge. For Gentlemans Butler one of the key factors is the quality of service. Yes there are possibly some hotels that are funkier and we should note that The Four Seasons are refurbishing their rooms but for me I want to stay in luxury but equally I want stay somewhere where they know what they are doing. This is certainly the case here, perfect for the luxury jet set.
We suggest you get the hotel to unpack for you, take a quick shower and then head out to the Souk Waqif for a wander for about an hour.
I am not sure you should expect to decorate your apartment in Belgravia from here but it’s a lovely place to wander, sit and have a tea and watch the world go by.
Then onto
2030 Dinner at The St Regis Hotel Doha. It’s a great setting and yes surprise surprise the food is fantastic.
1030 head back to the Four Seasons, and if you are still awake ….sit outside and let the gentle waters relax you ready for sleep.
Day 2 – Breakfast at The Four Seasons is a must. I am a big fan of breakfast all over the world and Doha did not disappoint. Sit outside, enjoy the sounds of birds, yes in a big city and enjoy a fresh and tasty start to your day.
You must experience the Dune Bashing excursion.
The 4×4 will pick you up from the hotel drive out of Doha for about an hour and then you get a pit stop to see the camels. It’s fairly scruffy but in a friendly way with locals, tourists and camels enjoying themselves.
It’s here they deflate the car tyres to drive in the sand
We went in a convoy with a family run company and they really do chuck these vehicles around but is great fun.
You stop by the sea and then drive on to what I thought was really quite a charming beach settlement where you have a BBQ and can swim.
After lunch it’s a speedy drive by the sea another stop to pump the tyres up for the road again and then homeward bound.
Desert Safari with lunch – QAR2500
On your day of adventure and pampering we suggest you stop by the Six Senses Spa at The Ritz Carlton. I have to confess I did not personally have time but it does look stunning.
The 6,500-square-meter Six Senses Spa at Sharq Village & Spa, the largest in the region, features four villages that encompass 23 treatment rooms; state-of-the-art fitness facilities; changing, prayer and relaxation rooms; and private majlis areas. A spa menu of more than 250 treatments range from traditional Arabian, Thai and Swedish therapies to more holistic offerings, each expertly performed by trained international therapists.
I imagine you could look to have a stay there from about 1600 to 1830 and then return to The Four Seasons where you will be for the rest of the evening as they have the recently opened Nobu which is just a few hundred feet away, but of course you are taken by car.
This is super cool, with great views and for me is a true slice of jet set.
Go for dinner and cocktails and either spend the evening with your loved one or if you have friends in town then why not make it party night, particularly if you are trying to impress……… I was impressed and that’s not easy….
Day 3 – Breakfast at the hotel
0930 – 1100 Morning shopping, walk around The Pearl marinas, yachts, shopping and flats.
I love being by the water and it’s a lovely place to gently meander, chat and peruse.
– 1100 – 1230 – Speedboat Ride around the bay In case you were getting jealous of those out on the water, well why not join them for a James Bond style speed boat ride around the bay where you can not only have a lot of fun but get to see the city from the water which is in my opinion is one of the best.
www.traveldesigner.qa about 450 QR per hour and it can fit up to 5 people
– 1300 – 1400 – Try the super slick restaurant/cafe at The Museum of Islamic Art
We had a lovely museum guide Aesheh Piroozi,
who I gather is also studying in London and I also learnt the museum has a working relationship with UCL in London.
You could spend hours here as it really is very good but suggest 2 hours is a good amount to leave.
From antiquities, religious artefacts, bronze, gold to fabrics and pottery you will learn a lot about history, the customs and is a real insight into the people such as never asking an Arab lady her name…
If you want more then you can very happily spend an hour in the very cool Arab Museum of Modern Art which is just next door
or head back to the Four Seasons and enjoy some late afternoon tea outside by the water as The Butler packs your bags for you ready for you to depart, refreshed and invigorated.
For more information on Qatar please visit: www.visitqatar.com
Qatar Airways flies from London Heathrow to Doha 42 times a week. For more information on Qatar Airways please visit: www.qatarairways.com
Please feel free to e-mail Gentlemans Butler at [email protected]
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