Maroona Beach — Attraction in Ash Shamal

Situated on the northeastern tip of Qatar, just before Fuwairit Beach, Al Maroona is a natural treasure trove; the sand is soft and golden and the sea a big, warm paddling pool full of fascinating sea life to explore. We saw a starfish, tiny hermit crabs, plenty of fish and even a turtle! Visitors may see jellyfish as well, but this needn't put you off—the clarity of the water makes them very easy to spot.

Your water babies and little swimmers will love playing in the shallow water. Nonetheless, as with many of Qatar's beaches, you would have to walk quite a distance to immerse yourself in the water and swim properly.

Don't forget your bucket and spade—the sand is perfect for building sand castles. However, when you hit the beach, you may notice deep holes with mounds of sand right next to them. Ghost crabs have dug these holes and there might just be one taking cover inside. This is good to know should one pop out as you're tucking in to a sandwich and give you a fright! Don't worry, they are not dangerous and will scurry back in when they see you.

Wild, undeveloped and natural, Al Maroona is a great place to come and escape the city—arrive early in the morning and be the first ones there.

Basic information Nearby landmarks: Ras Laffan Industrial City can be seen in the distance to the right as you face the sea.

Parking: Park on the sandy ground just before the beach.

Toilets: No

Doha Family tips Don't forget!

Take food and drinks with you—there are no refreshment outlets nearby. If you haven't had a chance to prepare a picnic, there are plenty of good service stations en route selling snacks and drinks. Bear in mind that this is an isolated beach in the desert—take your own shade. It's a great place to take photos so don't forget your camera! Al Maroona beach starts getting busy at around midday when space on the beach may be harder to find. Make a day of it and visit the nearby Al Jassasiya Rock Carvings, just slightly further down the coast.

Other information Food and beverages: No Showers: No Nearby mosque: No

Driving directions Head north out of Doha on the Al Shamal Road. Exit the Al Shamal Road at exit 72. As you come off you will see a blue signpost for Al Maroona. Take a left onto this road that runs north, parallel with the Al Shamal Road. Stay on this road for approximately 3 km. Then you will see another blue signpost for Al Maroona. Turn right here. Follow this narrow, straight asphalt road for circa 6 km parallel to the telegraph poles, until the road veers to the left. At this point turn right off the asphalt road, onto a bumpy dirt track. Follow the telegraph poles towards a large white castle-like house. Just before the white house turn left towards the sea. The beach is in front of you between two large...

Maroona beach is also known as “French Beach”. It is located in northeastern tip of Qatar, just near Fuwairit Beach.

The beach sand is soft and golden color,the sea is warm and clear. You can the small fishes swimming along with you. Its a bit rocky on the first part of the sea but if you walk further the you can feel the fine sand in your feet. There are also private cabins in the area, I was told that the rent for this cabins cost around 900-1,500 Qatari Riyals. But if you don’t have plans on staying overnight, you can arrive there early as 4am.

The only backlash on this is that there is no public toilet to be found. No food stalls , so make sure you bring enough food and drinks with you.

To get there, take the turn off from Al shamal (north) road 42km north of the Al Khor turn off. There is a very small post marked “Maroona” leading to narrow tarmac road. You will also be passing by a gasoline station before this post, you can also buy your food and drinks from there before heading...

A tranquil day at the beach proved that simplicity can be utterly enjoyable. With no public facilities, the soothing sound of waves was my backdrop as I set up a cozy spot on the soft sand. The absence of distractions heightened my connection with nature. The sun's warm embrace and the gentle breeze provided the perfect atmosphere for relaxation. A small, secluded cove offered a serene environment to wade into the clear, refreshing waters. As the day unfolded, I lost myself in a good book, occasionally taking breaks to dip into the ocean. This minimalist beach escapade was a reminder that nature's beauty is...