World 2022 in Qatar, the countdown begins!

The rich gas Emirate of Qatar is regularly pointed out by NGOs, such as Amnesty International, for the indecent working conditions of foreign workers employed on the construction sites of the 2022 World Cup stadiums. Qatar is in any case counting on this planetary event to try to restore its image and highlight its tourist assets.

It is the nerve, beating heart of Doha, the capital, where it all began too. The Souq Waqif is a labyrinth of corridors, alleys and small squares, where we find the merchants gathered by specialties: fabrics, perfume, gold and jewelry, pearls, pet shop or restaurants.

“Waqif, it means standing souk, explains Véronique Hauacker, tourist guide in Doha, since at the time of the route to India, the boats which stopped there made very rapid exchanges. They didn’t have a lot of time, so it’s a souk where people were standing haggling.

Here we find Qataris, expatriates, Asian communities: it is really a place where people love to come and where we can dine, go see the hawks in the souk, meet friends, have a good time. ”

It is in the evening that everything comes alive. Here we come across wealthy Qataris who have come to do their shopping, a wheelbarrow porter behind them, and passing tourists from all over the world. The 85% of foreigners who make up the Qatari population also meet there.

Built on the site of an old market, the place may be reminiscent of a movie set but everything rings true here. Getting lost through these covered alleys, we sometimes land at a falcon merchant.