Travel as far north as you can in Qatar to reach this town near the Persian Gulf. Nearby, view an ancient fort, an organic farm and a soccer club.
Visit Madinat ash Shamal, a main urban centre of the northernmost municipality of Qatar known as Al Shamal. Established in the 1970s, this community is a bit inland from the port towns of Al Ruwais and Abu Dhalouf.
Plan to attend a soccer game at Al Shamal Sports Club in Madinat ash Shamal. Founded in 1980, the local Al Shamal team has had national success and now competes in the Qatari 2nd Division. About 1 mile (1.6 kilometres) northwest is Al Shamal Park, whose restaurant, playgrounds and grassy areas are open only to women and children.
One of the area highlights is Al Zubarah Archaeological Site, a UNESCO-listed walled city from the late 1700s. Mosques, a souq and many artefacts of this fishing and trading port village remain buried under the desert sands. You may not be able to access the active excavation site, but stop at nearby Fort Zubarah, built in 1938, where there is a visitor centre that provides information about the town and displays some recovered artefacts. The site is about a 25-minute drive southwest of Madinat ash Shamal. As you meander through the area, look for oryx, gazelles and ostriches in the Al Reem Biosphere Reserve. Join a guided tour to visit Al Zubarah Beach.
Despite its desert environment, the Al Shamal region has many irrigated green spaces. Bring kids to one of its farms. North Sedra Farm has organic vegetables and honey as well as animals. You might see donkeys, deer, llamas, goats, geese, camels and turtles among the animals here.
Travel to Madinat ash Shamal by car on the northwestern coast of Qatar in less than 2 hours from Doha. The road to the main city is nicely paved. However, you may want to rent a four-wheel-drive vehicle to explore rock formations and historic and other sites off the main highway.
