Qatar

AI may have contributed to this destination’s text and activity data. Confirm opening days, transport, prices and entry conditions with the relevant operator or authority; automatic live-data updates do not verify these descriptions.

Dukhan

Qatar's first oil town on the western coast

Visa & entry checker Plan a trip to Dukhan Plan a trip around Qatar

Best time to visit: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Currency: QAR
Time zone: UTC+3
Country: Qatar

Photo: Mohamod Fasil, CC BY 2.0

Dukhan is an industrial oil city on Qatar's western coast, about 80 km from Doha, built around the country's first oil field. Visitors come for the beaches, the historic Al Khotba Mosque, and the desert and coastal scenery around Zekreet and Ras Abrouq.

Largest cities

Doha
Al Rayyan
Al Wakrah
Al Khor
Lusail

Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: Qatar
Capital: Doha
City population: 7,250
Population of Qatar: 2.6M
Country area: 11,437 km²
Official language: Arabic
Currency: Qatari Riyal (QAR) · 1 USD ≈ 3.64 QAR
Time zone: UTC+3
Calling code: +974
Drives on the: Right
Elevation: 32 m
Plugs: D / G · 240V
Emergency numbers: 999
Best time to visit: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar

Temperatures through the year

Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.

Temperatures through the year

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	21°	22°	27°	32°	37°	40°	41°	41°	38°	34°	29°	23°
Low	15°	15°	18°	22°	27°	29°	31°	31°	29°	25°	21°	17°

Best time to visitOther months

Approximate daily cost

Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.

ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$45
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$105
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$250

Plan a trip to Dukhan

Top things to do

Free
Dukhan Beaches
Sandy public beaches north and south of the water sports club are good for swimming, surfing and picnics; watch for sharp rocks under the water and snorkel the rocky reef 200 m off the southern beach.
- Half day
- Dukhan town and beaches
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
Free
Al Khotba Mosque
Dukhan's main mosque, also known as Dukhan Masjid and recognised by its large minaret, stands just outside the main security gate next to the small shopping centre; dress modestly and avoid prayer times.
- Half day
- Dukhan town and beaches
- Good for kids
- Indoors
Free
Dukhan Masjid
The town's main mosque, also known as Al Khotba Mosque and recognised by its large minaret, sits just outside the main security gate near the small shopping centre.
- Half day
- Dukhan town and beaches
- Good for kids
- Indoors
Free
Dukhan Souq and shopping centre
The central marketplace near the Khatiya area has shops, a bank, a pharmacy and a post office, while the shopping centre by the gate offers fast food and a small supermarket.
- Half day
- Dukhan town and beaches
- Good for kids
- Indoors
- Good in the evening
Free
Zekreet village and prehistoric graves
An ancient village with historic ties to Bahrain, set among rugged hills with bedrock-cut prehistoric graves, Dilmun burial mounds, an 18th-century fort and madabes; the shallow inlet is popular with kite surfers.
- Half day
- Zekreet
- Good for kids
Free
Film City, Ras Abrouq
A large building used as a film set for a Qatar TV series, with a small village 1 km north; the peninsula is now a nature reserve where ostriches, gazelle and foxes may be seen, and fossilised seaweed and shells lie on the rocky outcrops.
- Half day
- Ras Abrouq Peninsula
- Good for kids
Free
Ras Abrouq Peninsula day trip
A full day exploring the nature reserve's limestone hills, beaches and wildlife; a 4WD is strongly recommended for the rough dirt tracks.
- Full day
- Ras Abrouq Peninsula
≈ $120
Dolphin Reef dive
An 18 m-deep artificial diving area known to attract dolphins, reached by your own boat or a guided dive organised through Doha dive centres.
- Full day
- Umm Bab and southern coast

Before you go

Entry and visas

Many nationalities, including UK, EU, US, Indian and Latin American passport holders, can get a free visa waiver or visa on arrival for stays up to 30 days; other nationalities need to apply in advance. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months from arrival, and travellers staying more than 30 days must buy local health insurance. Check the latest rules on the Qatar Ministry of Interior website before booking.

Official website

From the airport

Most visitors arrive via Hamad International Airport in Doha, then drive about 80 km west on the four-lane Dukhan Highway, which takes just over an hour. Route 104 and 104A buses also run from Doha's Al Ghanim Bus Station, taking about 2 hours 10 minutes.

Getting around

A car is essential, as there is no public transport within the Dukhan area; a 2WD handles most sights, but a 4WD is recommended for Film City and the Ras Abrouq peninsula.

Local tips

The town itself is closed to non-residents and requires a QatarEnergy entry gate pass, so plan to stay outside the security gates and visit the public beaches and nearby sights.
Photography and video are strictly prohibited in Dukhan and the surrounding region.
There is no accommodation in Dukhan; camping south toward Umm Bab or near Zekreet is the usual option, so bring your own supplies.
Summer heat is extreme from May to September, with highs above 40°C; visit between November and March for comfortable temperatures.