In Al Khor, the summer is long, hot, muggy and arid. It reaches temperatures of 43ºC. Winter is more pleasant, although dry and with strong winds.
It is a perfect setting for those who want to experience the desert climate of Qatar.
The city was once a small and isolated town, about 50 km from the capital Doha, which played an important role in the country’s pearl industry before becoming exploited by tourism.
It was there that Ecuador beat the home team in the opening of the World Cup, at the Al Bayt stadium, by 2-0.
It is also one of the places sought after by tourists who traveled to the country of the World Cup to stay in tents that try to reproduce Bedouin tents, such as the Fan Village Al Khor.
The village offers accommodation in rustic tents in a desert region, but close to the gulf. So, despite the desert climate, there are some beaches close by, such as Al Farka and Al Thakhira.
There are more than 200 accommodations that began to be built in April, and took six months to complete. The management plan, however, is for the village to be permanent and, after the championship, improved. The value of the work was not informed.
The space is reserved through the website managed by the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy and, like all events and venues managed by it, does not sell alcohol.
The accommodation, for example, has a Fan Zone, but the space does not have beer with alcohol – as well as the on-site restaurant, which offers international cuisine.
Friends Jasem Yousef, 45, and Mohammad Alqallaf, 37, are enjoying the accommodation. They came from Kuwait to watch the World Cup games and opted for tents to have an experience different from those offered by hotels in the city.
Distance is not an issue. They schedule car services two or three hours in advance when they need to leave at the most requested times, such as to go to the stadiums.
They like the food and cleanliness and are not critical of the services in the village.
“It’s very good. If you want a hotel, there are a lot of them in Doha. Here they are tents, it’s a different experience”, says Yousef.
The accommodation also has areas dedicated to children, with recreational space for them to play.
The Chinese Michael Zheng, 38, and Judy Lee, 37, who live in Australia, are the parents of Jolena and Henry. They came to Qatar to spend four days after planning their trip since the beginning of the year. The family had not taken such an outing since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
Lee finds the style of accommodation unique, especially since they live in such a different location. Zheng remembers that the village is not a hotel and therefore offers a completely different experience.
“The team is very good. It is very patient”, he says. “And they’re very careful with the kids,” adds Lee.
A room that can accommodate a family of four, with two children, costs at least R$ 3,700 per night. If you want a sea view, the price can reach around R$5,200 per night.
The suite offers a king size bed and two single beds, as well as a closet, a large drawer, minibar, smart TV, safe, air conditioning and Wi-Fi.
The amenities, in a way, take away from much of the desert isolation experience.
Air conditioning, for example, is present everywhere. Inside the accommodations, it gets so cold that you forget that it is a desert there, especially if you turn on the TV and connect your streaming services, something that would certainly not be possible in a truly authentic desert experience.
Nor was the intention, after all, the place is presented as a “luxury” lodging in the desert.
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