The skyline of Qatar’s opulent capital city Doha is continuously changing, with new openings springing up almost weekly this year. This week is no different as three of Qatar’s latest luxury properties open their doors to the public in time to welcome visitors for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The small gulf nation has welcomed The Ned Doha, Raffles Doha and The Outpost Al Barari to its portfolio of exclusive properties.
Qatar is one of the most luxury-minded countries in the world, which is reflected in every element of the capital’s hotel landscape, each with its own unique flare – from The Ned’s first Middle Eastern property that is championing local, female artists; to The Outpost Al Barari’s luxury tented desert camp with close-to-nature experiences at the forefront of its ethos, and Raffles Doha – Qatar’s only all-suite hotel.
The Ned Doha
The Membership Collective Group’s third Ned hotel and members’ club and its first location in the Middle East, opened its doors to the public on 23 November 2022. The hotel is set over five floors in the former site of the Ministry of Interior, overlooking the Arabian Gulf and Doha’s skyline. The Ned Doha features 90 bedrooms and suites, six public restaurants, a pool and club lounge, a health club with spa, salon, and fitness centre, and a new 775sqm event space for large-scale conferences, events and receptions.
Originally designed in the 1960s by Lebanese architect William Sednaoui, the building has been redesigned by David Chipperfield Architects of London with interiors by Soho House Design. Drawing inspiration from The Ned’s original address in London, there is a live performance stage beneath an atrium surrounded by a collection of restaurants and rich green marble sourced from the Greek island of Tinos.
Set across five floors and facing the Al Corniche Waterfront, the arrival experience showcases a water feature, contemporary sculptures, as well as a striking, concrete pergola. Interiors are inspired by 1970s glamour with terrazzo flooring, silk drapery, marble furniture, woven and mirrored fabric headboards, as well as indoor-outdoor spaces for guests to meet, work and have a good time.
The members’ club experience plays out in two settings at The Ned Doha. On the ground floor, Ned’s Club Pool has private cabanas overlooking a 30m pool with terrazzo flooring and green and white striped daybeds. On the rooftop, Ned’s Club Upstairs is a lounge with a warm wood palette, touches of gold, statement furniture and unparalleled views of the West Bay and the IMIR Diwan – the seat of rule of Qatar.
The Ned Doha celebrates local and regional creativity with an extensive collection of original artworks created by close to 100 artists, more than half of whom are based in Doha and nearly three quarters of whom are female.
Introductory rates at The Ned Doha start from 1,000 QAR (£227).
Raffles Doha and Fairmont Doha
The ultra-luxury Raffles Doha and luxury Fairmont Doha have made their long-awaited debuts in Qatar this week as they opened exclusively for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 guests and VIP delegation. The dual-branded five-star properties, housed within Katara Towers, have welcomed their firsts guests this week. In addition, seven outstanding food and beverage outlets and restaurants have opened to the public, four located within Raffles Doha and three in Fairmont Doha.
Raffles Doha, an opulent 132-key ultra-luxury property and Qatar’s only all-suite hotel, offers an awe-inspiring suite experience and décor, paired with views of the Doha skyline. Each suite experience is enhanced with personalised butler service, bespoke amenities including an exclusive scent from Frederic Malle, a gallery wall with a collection of curated books and an in-suite boutique.
Raffles Doha also features Katara Hall, a dazzling space at the heart of the hotel which sets new aspirations for lavish events, with 22-metre-high ceilings – making it the largest ballroom with daylight in the country. The hotel also has advanced beauty and wellbeing offers with nine spa and fitness suites, each equipped with their own state of the art treatment rooms and some offering private outdoor terraces and plunge pools.
The luxurious Fairmont Doha contains 270 rooms, 92 suites, four themed suites and one presidential suite, all inspired by the interiors of luxury yachts along with an exclusive lifestyle hotel floor, Fairmont Gold, which is a privileged hotel-within-a-hotel experience. Featuring gold mosaic wall tiling and rich wood panelling, the rooms present an outstanding visual spectacle, spacious layout and incorporation of elements inspired by Qatari design, which boast a separate guest bathroom and a large furnished terrace offering panoramic coastline views.
The Outpost Al Barari
The Outpost Al Barari is the first of its kind in Qatar, situated in the stunning Inland Sea nature reserve surrounded by soaring sand dunes and desert wilderness. The resort offers 21 luxury lodges with private pools that integrate for close-to-nature experiences, sustainability and luxury hospitality for guests.
The unique desert experience provides guests with a combination of wellness retreats, world-class luxury hospitality and farm-to-table dining. Wake up with a desert yoga experience, learn about the flora and fauna in guided excursions or participate in one of the many outdoor activities such as hot air balloon rides and immersive desert and wildlife encounters.
Leave feeling healthier thanks to The Outpost Al Barari’s curated desert workout programmes complete with a personalised meal plan for each guest and indulge with a transforming massage treatment or unwind at the spectacular open-air infinity pool – complete with sweeping desert views.
King beds from 1560 QAR (£354) per night, based on two adults staying on a bed and breakfast rate.
Qatar’s luxury hotel portfolio will continue to expand into 2023 as the Middle Eastern nation will welcome the Rosewood Doha and Rosewood Residences Doha, The Doha EDITION and Oberoi Doha West Bay. For more information on Qatar’s hotel offerings, visit visitqatar.com.
