The Qatar peninsula is blessed with a 563-kilometer stretch of beautiful and unique sandy beaches with several islets, sand bars and reefs. And, one of the most popular beach destinations in this peninsula is Ras Abrouq, or commonly known as Bir Zekreet. Trust me, a visit here will definitely induce an extra dose of excitement and fun to your trip in Qatar.
Camping and Swimming
Located at the very tip of Dukhan peninsula, Bir Zekreet is indeed a perfect spot for weekend camping activities and whatnot. The place has no shops nearby, so you need to be well-prepared before reaching this place. By the way, there is an occasional sight of an Arabian red fox around the area when camping at night.
The immense golden landscape and shining white limestone mesas blend perfectly with its shallow sea water, which is ideal for skinny dipping, as there are no inshore currents. But, it is highly recommended to wear shoes while swimming off the coasts due to rocky formation under the waters. Also, there are schools of stone fish lurking among these waters and rocks.
Although it is generally safe to plunge into the waters of Bir Zekreet, getting there could be rather tough, as it is required to travel here by a four-wheel vehicle 70-kilometer west from Doha.
Photo by D@LY3D
Land of Desert Mushrooms
If you have never heard of a desert mushroom, then you are in for a treat in Bir Zekreet. As the name suggests, a desert mushroom is a rock formation that resembles the shape of an actual mushroom. The Bir Zekreet’s striking limestone escarpment is basically the result of the wind’s years of whittling on the sedimentary rock.
Enjoy the spectacular sights of different desert mushrooms in the area, and don’t forget to take a picture of a lovely glowing sunset on the horizons of the desert.
Film City
If you have bumped into the mystical-looking place on the horizon of a hot desert, then you’re already in the famous Film City. At first glance, it may seem to be an abandoned village, or filming location like what we see in Hollywood – no one can be certain because the place is completely uninhabited, despite the ethereal beauty of this truly bizarre place.
Being laid behind a canyon in the desert of the Zekreet peninsula makes it perfect as a setting for a movie production. There have been tons of rumors suggesting that it was supposed to be used as a set for a big Hollywood production some kind of a native Arab film. Others, though, believe that Qatar will be using the place for a video promotion for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.