Join the incredibly hospitable team at National Cruise Qatar for an evening of perhaps the best views of the rapidly expanding Doha skyline. Take it all in with a dinner prepared on-board and a breezy sail around the harbor, to the tune of old, traditional fishing songs played aboard. Dhow-farers have the option to hang out in an air conditioned indoor section or up on the cushion-lined top deck. And while the tradition of the dhow boat in this region dates back thousands of years, these Arabic fishing boats have been modernized to create an intimate atmosphere in which visitors can comfortably acquaint themselves with the whole city and its history.

A trip to the desert is not generally accompanied by a trip to the sea, unless you’re on Qatar’s southeastern coast, which is one of the few places in the world where the desert actually meets the sea. After a long day of desert safaris and vigorous “dune bashing”—otherwise known as a Qatari’s favorite way to spook wimpy tourists by snaking around the desert really fast in a Land Rover—nothing beats the stunning, albeit unexpected, sight of the beach. Wave hello to Saudi Arabia, Qatar’s southwestern neighbor (on a clear day, you can see it from the shore), and enjoy the calm, cerulean waters of the Arabian Gulf before round two of your all-wheel-drive adrenaline party. An easy day-trip from the city center, visitors to Doha are able to escape the hustle and bustle for a nice day at the beach; but if the Gulf is the main attraction of your Qatari adventure, the Sealine Beach Resort is a luxurious seaside alternative.

Due to its natural gas reserves and ranking as the wealthiest country in the world, opulence in Qatar is not hard to come by. And while just about every hotel in the city has at least one lovely pool facility, the five-star Westin Doha Hotel and Spa ups the ante a bit with their family villa option, each one complete with a private swimming pool. When it comes to water, this hotel has nothing short of options (and we’re not just talking about still or sparkling). Lounge by the sprawling outdoor infinity pool or swim laps in the indoor one, test your stamina in the wave pool, or revel in the luxury of your own personal pool in the family villa.

Nowadays, Qatar makes its (massive) wealth from oil and natural gas preserves; but before Qatar’s oil was discovered in 1939, pearling was the main source of revenue for this little country on the gulf. And while pearl diving has been a staple of the region since early Mesopotamian civilizations in 2,000 B.C., pearling became a Qatari tradition around the time of its settlement in 1700. Divers faced great peril as they would free dive to depths of 200 feet in waters populated by aggressive predators like sea snakes, barracuda, and sharks to gather as many oysters as possible. In modern day Qatar, pearls remain a major cultural symbol and are sold around the country, especially in markets along Souq Waqif in Doha. One Souq pearl shop in particular is run by Saad Ismail Al Jassim, who, at 80 years old is known locally as "the old pearl diver" and has been hunting for pearls since his teenage years. If you're lucky, he'll share stories about his past and pose for a photo in front of a portrait taken in his glory days. Outside the Souq, there are still ways to engage with Qatari pearl culture. While a four-month-long, old-school pearling journey isn’t presently available to tourists, there is the annual Qatar Marine Festival, hosted at Katara Cultural Village, where visitors can learn all about the history of pearling and even embark on a short educational voyage around the harbor.